Prepositions:The Tricky Particles? (A Complete Guide for ESL Learners)
- Rose Sensei
- Dec 4
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 6
Your Ultimate Guide to Understanding, Using & Mastering English Prepositions
Prepositions may be small, but they carry big meaning. They tell us where, when, how, and why things happen. And for English learners, they can be confusing because one tiny word can change the whole message!
This pillar post explains everything clearly — with examples, visuals, stories, and worksheets you can add to your lessons.
⭐ What Are Prepositions?
Prepositions are small words that show relationship between two parts of a sentence. They often answer Where? When? How? Why?
Common Prepositions
Place: in, on, at, under, behind, near, between, beside
Time: at, in, on, during, before, after, until
Movement: into, onto, across, through, towards, past
Others: with, without, about, for, of, by
1. Prepositions of Place
These tell us where something is.
Core Rules (Simple!)
IN = inside a space
ON = touching a surface
AT = a specific point or location
Examples
She lives in Singapore.
The keys are on the table.
We met at the café.
More Place Prepositions
under
behind
between
next to / beside
in front of
near
Examples:
The cat is under the sofa.
The bank is near the station.
The bookstore is between the bakery and the florist.
👉 Need a deeper explanation?
Explore the full guide to IN, ON, and AT for place here.
👉Prepositions of Place: IN / ON / AT Explained Clearly
2. Prepositions of Time
These tell us when something happens.
Core Rules
IN = months, years, seasons, long periods
ON = days, dates
AT = specific clock times & fixed phrases
Examples
We travel in July.
The class is on Monday.
The movie starts at 7pm.
Other Useful Time Prepositions
before / after
during
until
by (deadline!)
Examples:
Finish the task by Friday.
She slept until 10am.
👉 Still unsure about time prepositions?
3. Prepositions of Movement
These show direction.
Examples:
He walked across the street.
The cat ran into the house.
She walked through the garden.
They moved towards the station.
👉 Want more examples?
Learn how to use across, through, along, into, and more here.
4. Preposition + Verb Combinations
Some verbs “marry” specific prepositions:
talk to someone
talk about something
depend on
listen to
wait for
pay for
belong to
worry about
Examples:
It depends on the weather.
I’m waiting for the bus.
👉 Learn the natural combinations.
See the full verb + preposition list with examples.
5. Preposition + Adjective Combinations
Useful for everyday conversation:
afraid of
interested in
excited about
famous for
good at
proud of
Examples:
She’s interested in photography.
We’re excited about the trip!
👉 Sound more natural when describing feelings.
Explore adjective + preposition pairs.
6. Preposition + Noun Combinations
These are fixed expressions learners must memorise:
a reason for
a photograph of
an example of
the price of
an increase in
a solution to
Examples:
Do you have a solution to this problem?
The price of coffee increased.
7. The Most Confusing Prepositions (With Simple Fixes)
IN vs ON vs AT (Place)
In = inside → in the room
On = surface → on the wall
At = exact point → at the bus stop
IN vs ON vs AT (Time)
In → in 2020
On → on Thursday
At → at night / at 3pm
TO vs FOR
To = destination
For = benefit / purpose
Examples:
I’m going to the gym.
This gift is for you.
IN vs INTO
In = already inside
Into = movement inside
Example:
The dog jumped into the car.
BY vs UNTIL
By = deadline (not later than)
Until = continuing up to a time
Examples:
Please arrive by 6pm.
The shop is open until 10pm.
8. Mini Preposition Story for ESL Learners (Lifestyle + Travel Theme)
Perfect for reading + listening practice.
Short Story 📚A Day at the Art Market
Lina arrived at the weekend art market at 10am.
She walked through the colourful stalls and stopped at a booth selling handmade jewellery.
A friendly artist stood behind the table. Lina looked at the necklaces on display. One necklace with a floral charm reminded her of her trip to Bali.
She talked to the artist about the design and learned it was inspired by tropical flowers. Lina fell in love with it instantly.
She paid for the necklace and placed it in her bag.
Before leaving, she sat on a bench near the fountain and wrote a note in her journal about her beautiful morning.
9. Common Mistakes Learners Make (Easy Fixes!)
❌ WRONG: She arrived to the office early.
✔️ CORRECT: She arrived at the office early.
❌ WRONG: I will meet you in Monday.
✔️ CORRECT: I will meet you on Monday.
❌ WRONG: The price depends from the size.
✔️ CORRECT: The price depends on the size.
❌ WRONG: He is married with Anna.
✔️ CORRECT: He is married to Anna.
❌ WRONG: She walked in the bridge.
✔️ CORRECT: She walked on the bridge.
👉 Avoid the errors most learners make.
Read the top preposition mistakes and easy fixes.
🧩 10. Quick Practice
Fill in the blanks:
We will meet ___ 8pm.
She lives ___ a small village.
The cat jumped ___ the table.
He walked ___ the forest.
I’m interested ___ healthy cooking.
This gift is ___ you.
The museum is ___ the post office and the library.
She waited ___ the bus for 20 minutes.
📩 Get the Free PDF
11. FAQ: Prepositions Made Simple
Why are prepositions difficult?
Because they don’t always translate directly from other languages and many are part of fixed expressions.
How can learners improve?
Practice with real-life examples, short stories, and lots of exposure — especially reading and listening.
Are prepositions always followed by nouns?
Often yes — but they can also be followed by gerunds (verb + -ing).
Example: She’s good at cooking.
We hope you enjoyed the above Prepositions Guide and do explore more real-life English examples:
📌Check out related Grammar and Quiz videos:
🎥 YouTube Channel Playlist
🔗English Prepositions Lessons & Stories https://tinyurl.com/4c9msmwa
🔗Learn Grammar Through Engaging Stories https://tinyurl.com/bvwvckfu
🔗Grammar Challenge - Test Your English Skills https://tinyurl.com/y23ajb24
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Thank you for reading & Happy Learning!
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