Prepositions list
A preposition shows how a noun or pronoun is linked to the rest of the sentence: where something is, which way it moves, or when it happens. This list groups the common prepositions by that job, each in a short phrase.
Free printable PDF, 1st grade to 5th grade.
One page, black and white, prints the same every time.
What is on the sheet
Place, where something is
| Preposition | Example |
|---|---|
| in | in the box |
| on | on the shelf |
| under | under the bed |
| above | above the door |
| below | below the window |
| behind | behind the tree |
| beside | beside the lake |
| between | between two chairs |
| near | near the school |
| in front of | in front of the car |
| next to | next to my friend |
Direction, which way it goes
| Preposition | Example |
|---|---|
| to | to the park |
| from | from the store |
| into | into the water |
| out of | out of the room |
| through | through the tunnel |
| across | across the street |
| along | along the path |
| around | around the corner |
| over | over the fence |
| toward | toward the door |
| past | past the bank |
Time, when it happens
| Preposition | Example |
|---|---|
| at | at noon |
| on | on Monday |
| in | in June |
| before | before lunch |
| after | after school |
| during | during the game |
| until | until bedtime |
Other jobs
| Preposition | Example |
|---|---|
| with | with a friend |
| without | without a coat |
| about | about dinosaurs |
| like | like a bird |
| of | a cup of milk |
| by | a book by Roald Dahl |
| for | a gift for Mom |
How to spot a preposition
A preposition comes before a noun or pronoun, its object, and the two make a prepositional phrase: under the bed, after school, with a friend. A quick test for place and direction: if a word fits in "the cat ran ... the box", as into, around, past and behind do, it is a preposition.
Some words are prepositions in one sentence and something else in another. In "She climbed up the hill," up is a preposition. In "She looked up," there is no object, so up is an adverb. Phrases such as in front of and because of work as one preposition.
Where prepositions come up
1st grade uses the most common prepositions, such as during, beyond and toward (CCSS L.1.1i). 4th grade forms and uses prepositional phrases (L.4.1e). The place words are also the position words kindergarten learns with shapes: above, below, beside, in front of, behind and next to (K.G.A.1).
Common questions
- How many prepositions are there in English?
- About 150, counting phrases such as in front of and because of. The ones on this list are the ones children read and write most; others include inside, among, onto, since, except and instead of.
- Can a sentence end with a preposition?
- Yes. "Who are you talking to?" is fine English. The old rule against it comes from Latin grammar and most style guides have dropped it.