What Is a Preposition?
A preposition is a word (or group of words) used before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show direction, time, place, location, or spatial relationships.
Example: The book is on the table.
Example: She arrived at 5 p.m.
Common Prepositions
- Place: on, in, at, under, over, between, beside, near
- Time: at, on, in, before, after, during, until
- Direction/Movement: to, from, into, onto, toward, through
Key Prepositions Explained
At, In, On – Time
- At – specific times: at 3 p.m., at noon, at bedtime
- In – months, years, centuries, long periods: in July, in 2025, in the morning
- On – days and dates: on Monday, on Christmas Day, on July 4th
At, In, On – Place
- At – a point: at the door, at the bus stop
- In – an enclosed space: in the room, in the car, in London
- On – a surface: on the wall, on the table, on the floor
Quick Quiz
Choose the correct preposition:
"I’ll meet you ___ the café."