Master the core categories of prepositions that tell us WHERE, WHEN, and WHERE TO. Move beyond basics and learn to precisely describe location, timing, and direction.
✅ Recommended for: Class 6-8 (Core Learning) | Class 9-10 (Review)
1. Prepositions of Place (Static Location)
| Preposition | Meaning & Rule | Example Sentence | Visual Clue |
|---|---|---|---|
| in front of | Facing something/someone | The car is in front of the house. | You can see it directly ahead. |
| behind | At the back of | The garden is behind the school. | The opposite of 'in front of'. |
| next to / beside | At the side of, very near | My house is next to the park. | Immediate neighbor. |
| between | In the middle of two things/people | She sat between Rohan and Priya. | Think of a sandwich filling. |
| among | In the middle of three or more things/people (a group) | I saw him among the crowd. | Surrounded by many. |
| opposite | Facing, on the other side | The bank is opposite the post office. | Like two teams facing each other. |
| at | General location, point | Meet me at the bus stop. | Think of a dot on a map. |
2. Prepositions of Time (Extended)
| Preposition | Rule & Usage | Example | Common Error |
|---|---|---|---|
| for | Duration of time (how long?) | She studied for three hours. | Not used with specific start/end points. |
| since | Starting point of time (from when?) | I have lived here since 2020. | Always used with Perfect Tenses. |
| from...to | Start and end of a period | Office hours are from 9 to 5. | Don't use 'to' alone for time range. |
| by | Deadline, at or before a time | Submit your work by Monday. | 'By Monday' means on or before Monday. |
| until / till | Continuation up to a time | Wait here until I return. | Focuses on the duration leading to the point. |
| during | Throughout a period / within it | He fell asleep during the movie. | Followed by a noun (the movie), not a time number. |
3. Prepositions of Movement & Direction
| Preposition | Meaning | Example Sentence | Static vs. Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| to | Destination, direction towards | We are going to Delhi. | Movement: to Delhi. Static: in Delhi. |
| into | Movement from outside to inside | He jumped into the pool. | Movement: jump into. Static: be in the pool. |
| onto | Movement to a surface | The cat climbed onto the roof. | Movement: climb onto. Static: sit on the roof. |
| towards | In the direction of (not necessarily arriving) | She walked towards me. | Shows direction, not completion. |
| across | From one side to the other | Walk across the street carefully. | Implies crossing a surface. |
| through | Movement within something, entering and exiting | We drove through the tunnel. | Implies being surrounded (by walls, forest, etc.). |
| around | In a circular path, surrounding | Children ran around the tree. | Can mean movement or position. |
| past | Going beyond something | Go past the hospital, then turn left. | Movement that goes by something. |
4. Quick Practice (5 Questions)
5. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Wrong ❌ | Right ✅ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Divide it between all four friends. | Divide it among all four friends. | Use between for two, among for three or more. |
| I will be there since 5 o'clock. | I will be there from 5 o'clock. I have been here since 5 o'clock. |
Use since with perfect tenses for a starting point in the past that continues. Use from for a future start time. |
| Throw the ball in the basket. | Throw the ball into the basket. | Use into to emphasize the movement of entering. |
| We walked through the road. | We walked across the road. | Use across for flat surfaces you cross. Use through for things with boundaries (tunnel, forest, crowd). |
| Wait by I come back. | Wait until I come back. | Use until/till to mean 'up to the time that'. By means a deadline. |
🎯 Category Challenge: Place, Time, or Movement?
Identify what the highlighted preposition expresses in each sentence.
1. The meeting will start at 10 AM.
Category: Time (specific point)
2. The ball rolled under the sofa.
Category: Place (static location)
3. She has been studying for two hours.
Category: Time (duration)
4. They sailed across the ocean.
Category: Movement/Direction
Answers are in grey text above.
6. Memory Aids & Tips
Between vs. Among:
BETWEEN has 'TW' in it → Think of TWO.
AMONG has 'M' → Think of Many or a Mob.
For vs. Since:
FOR + a period of time (for hours, for days).
SINCE + a point in time (since Monday, since 2020).
Tip: 'Since' is always paired with Perfect Tenses (has/have/had).
Into vs. In / Onto vs. On:
• Add '-to' for movement and change.
• Use the simple form for static position.
He is in the room. (Static)
He walked into the room. (Movement)
Across vs. Through:
• Walk across the road. (Flat surface, side to side)
• Walk through the park. (3D space, surrounded by things)
• Drive through a tunnel. (Enclosed space)
Exam Tip:
1. For fill-in-the-blanks, first decide: Is it showing Place, Time, or Movement?
2. Remember the 'TW' trick for between (two things).
3. Check if the verb shows action/movement (use into, onto) or state (use in, on).
4. 'Since' is a red flag—look for a Perfect Tense verb (has/have/had) in the sentence.
5. Draw a quick mental picture of the sentence to choose the right preposition.
📝 Practice Place, Time & Movement Prepositions
Test your understanding with our 25-question worksheet on using the right preposition for location, timing, and direction!
Go to Prepositions of Place, Time & Movement WorksheetIncludes answer key • Categories • Common errors • Fill-in-the-blanks • Picture-based questions
