What is a preposition?
A preposition shows how one thing is linked to another: where it is, when something happens, or which way it goes.
| Type | Prepositions | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Place | in, on, under, behind, between, beside, above, below, opposite | The cat hid under the bed. |
| Time | at, on, in, before, after, during, since, until | We ate lunch after swimming. |
| Direction | to, into, through, across, towards, over | The ball flew over the fence. |
At, on or in for time?
| at | exact times | at 3 o’clock, at lunchtime, at night |
|---|---|---|
| on | days and dates | on Monday, on 5th May, on my birthday |
| in | months, years, seasons, parts of the day | in June, in 2026, in winter, in the morning |
Watch out! between is for two things (between the bank and the shop); among is for more than two (among the trees).
Top tip: think of a box and a ball: the ball can be in, on, under, beside or behind the box. Those are all prepositions.
👆 Preposition hunt
Our cat hid under a table during the storm. Tap every preposition.
🎮 Fill the gapQuestion 1 of 5