26.12.2022
English prepositions all types in the table
Prepositions play an important role in the English language, sometimes working wonders. When added to a verb, they completely change a word meaning. Used with nouns, they allow words to change without having to use many cases, as in Russian, for example. English prepositions, when used in a sentence, help move objects, send you in the right direction, and explain what happened.
It’s hard to overestimate their importance. So today, we offer you a list of all the main prepositions in English with their use examples.
Time prepositions
| English preposition | Translation | What it means / How it is used | Use example |
| Time basic prepositions | |||
| At | В, на, без перевода (падежное окончание) | specific time on the clock; with the words weekend, night; long holidays; the present moment (at this moment, at present); meals | He leaves the house at 7 o’clock. — Он выходит из дома в 7 часовAt night he always sleeps. — Ночью он всегда спитWe will go to grandma’s at Christmas. — Мы поедем к бабушке на Рождественские праздникиHe behaved strangely at dinner. — Он странно вел себя за ужином |
| In | В, через, на, без перевода | Time of daymonths, seasonsyearsintervals (in,through) | He likes to read in the evening. — Он любит читать вечером I will go on vacation in September. — Я поеду в отпуск в сентябреI graduated from university in 2007. — Я окончил университет в 2007 годуI learned to play the violin in a year. — Я научился играть на скрипке за год |
| On | В | Days of the week and specific dates | The new school year starts on Tuesday. — Новый учебный год начинается во вторник |
| A long time prepositions | |||
| Since | С тех пор как, начиная с | Action occurs (has occurred) since some point in the past | I have been playing the cello since I was 7. — Я играю на виолончели с 7 лет |
| For, over | В течение, на протяжении, за | Time period when action is occurring for: during the interval before the present tense: during the interval in the future | I’ve been playing the cello for 7 years. — Я играю на виолончели уже 7 лет I’ve changed a lot for the last year. — Я сильно изменился за последний годI have a lot to do over the next month. — Мне нужно много сделать за следующий месяц |
| Till/until | До / до тех пор, когда / пока | End of time period | I will not start working until I receive all the data. — Я не начну работать пока не получу все данные |
| From + to/till/until | От… до | Denotes the beginning and the end of an action | The library is open from Tuesday to Saturday. — Библиотека работает со вторника по субботу |
| During | Во время, в течение | Specified time period | He walked a lot during the holidays. — Он много гулял во время каникул |
| While/as | В то время как | Specified time interval (there must be 2 concurrent actions in the sentence) | He was cooking dinner while she was walking. — Он готовил обед, пока она гуляла |
| Other time prepositions | |||
| Past/after | После | After some time | He felt bad after a sleepless night. — Он плохо себя чувствовал после бессонной ночи |
| Before | До, перед | Earlier than some time | Read the rules before you start working. — Прочитайте правила до начала работы |
| By | До, к | No later than / before some point in time | You should be home by 8 pm. — Ты должен быть дома до 8 часов вечера |
Directional prepositions
| English preposition | Translation | What it means / How it is used | Use example |
| Across | Через | From one side to the other | It was difficult to get across the road. — Перейти через дорогу было трудно |
| Along | Вдоль, по | Forward in the direction of something | Go along this street. — Идите вдоль этой улицы |
| Round/around | Вокруг | Move in a circle | They danced around the tree. — Они танцевали вокруг дерева |
| Down | Вниз | From high to low | He rolled down the mountain. — Он скатился вниз с горы |
| Into | В | To go in | We came into the store. — Мы зашли в магазин |
| Out of | Из | Go out, move inwards outwards | We went out of the library late at night. — Мы вышли из библиотеки поздно ночью |
| Over | По | Walk towards something | He walked over the bridge and did not notice anyone. — Он шел по мосту и никого не замечал |
| Through | Сквозь, через | Go from one side to the other | He didn’t want to walk through this forest. — Он не хотели идти через этот лес |
| To | К | Towards something | I went to the theater but did not recognize this place. — Я подошла к театру, но не узнала этого места |
| Up | Вверх, по | Move from low to high | To get to the dining room, go up the stairs. — Чтобы попасть в столовую, поднимитесь по лестнице |
Place prepositions
| English preposition | Translation | What it means / How it is used | Use example |
| At | В | Being inside for a specific purpose | Anna is at hospital (she is ill). — Анна сейчас в больнице (она болеет) |
| In | В | Being in | Mom is in the hospital now (she came to visit Anna). — Мама сейчас в больнице (она пришла навестить Анну) |
| On | На | Be positioned on top of something | There is a pencil on the table. — Карандаш на столе |
| Above | Над | Above something | There is a lamp above the table. — Лампа над столом |
| Under | Под | beneath something | There is a ball under the table. — Мячик под столом |
| In front of | Перед | In front, facing someone/thing | There is a sofa in front of the wardrobe. — Диван перед шкафом |
| Behind | За, сзади | Behind, behind | I don’t like it when someone is standing behind. — Я не люблю, когда кто-то стоит сзади |
| Between | Между | Between two things | The motorcycle drove between two cars. — Мотоцикл проехал между двух машин |
| Among | Среди, между | Between many things, surrounded by many things | Among the green peppers, I saw the red one. — Среди зеленых перцев я увидела один красный |
| Inside | Внутри | Being inside for a specific purpose | In the morning, I did not find my car inside the garage. — Утром я не нашел машину в гараже |
| Outside | Снаружи | Being in | It’s very noisy outside. — Снаружи очень шумно |
| By | У, около | Be positioned on top of something | There is a rug by the bed. — Ковер у кровати |
Предлоги причины
| Englishpreposition | Translation | What it means / How it is used | Use example |
| Of | От, из-за | The reason why something happened | He died of extensive lung damage. — Он умер из-за обширного поражения легких |
| For | Для, из-за, за | For what purpose, for what reason | I bought this dress for vacation. — Я купила это платье для отпуска |
| Because (of) | Потому что, из-за | The reason for what happened | He didn’t want to come because of your behavior. — Он не захотел прийти из-за твоего поведения |
| Due to | Из-за | Reason for what happened (often negative meaning or in formal speech) | The match was canceled due to a hurricane. — Матч был отменен из-за урагана |
| Thanks to | Благодаря чему-либо, из-за | Reason for what happened (positive meaning) | We managed to do everything on time thanks to your help. — Нам удалось сделать все вовремя благодаря твоей помощи |
| From | По, из | Explanation of what you are thinking or asserting | From his expression on his face, I realized that it is better to remain silent. — По его выражению лица, я понял, что лучше сейчас промолчать |
| In accordance with, according to | Согласно, в соответствии с | The action happens according to a rule (in formal speech) | According to this clause of the contract, we have fulfilled all obligations. — Согласно этому пункту договора, мы выполнили все обязательства |
English prepositions are a vast subject and within this article, we can introduce you to the main prepositions and show you common examples and uses. To learn all the nuances and learn to use them correctly, it’s best to practise in a group or individually with a teacher. You can choose the EnglishPapa English language school format that suits you best.
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