Grammar study – Prepositions: Time/Place/Movement

 Autor: Lúcia de Freitas Silva Página 1 de 5 
Grammar study – Prepositions: Time/Place/Movement 
PREPOSITIONS OF TIME 
Preposition Use Examples 
in 
in months in July; in September 
year in 1985; in 1999 
seasons in summer; in the summer of 69 
part of the day 
in the morning; in the afternoon; in the 
evening 
duration in a minute; in two weeks 
at 
part of the day at night 
time of day at 6 o'clock; at midnight 
celebrations at Christmas; at Easter 
fixed phrases at the same time 
on 
days of the week on Sunday; on Friday 
date on the 25th of December* 
special holidays 
on Good Friday; on Easter Sunday; on my 
birthday 
a special part of a day on the morning of September the 11th* 
after later than sth. after school 
ago how far sth. happened (in the past) 6 years ago 
before earlier than sth. before Christmas 
between time that separates two points between Monday and Friday 
by not later than a special time by Thursday 
during 
through the whole of a period of 
time 
during the holidays 
for period of time for three weeks 
from ... to 
from... till/until 
two points form a period 
from Monday to Wednesday 
from Monday till Wednesday 
from Monday until Wednesday 
past time of the day 23 minutes past 6 (6:23) 
since point of time since Monday 
till/until no later than a special time 
till tomorrow 
until tomorrow 
to time of the day 23 minutes to 6 (5:37) 
up to not more than a special time up to 6 hours a day 
within during a period of time within a day 
 Autor: Lúcia de Freitas Silva Página 2 de 5 
PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE AND MOVEMENT 
Preposition Use Examples 
above higher than sth. The picture hangs above my bed. 
across from one side to the other There is a bridge across the river. 
after one follows the other The cat ran after the dog. 
along in a line; from one point to another They're walking along the beach. 
among in a group I like being among people. 
around in a circular way We're sitting around the campfire. 
behind at the back of Our house is behind the supermarket. 
below lower than sth. Death Valley is 86 metres below sea level. 
beside next to Our house is beside the supermarket. 
between sth./sb. is on each side 
Our house is between the supermarket and 
the school. 
by near He lives in the house by the river. 
close to near Our house is close to the supermarket. 
down from high to low He came down the hill. 
from the place where it starts Do you come from Tokyo? 
in front of facing sth./sb. Our house is in front of the supermarket. 
inside opposite of outside You shouldn't stay inside the castle. 
into entering sth. You shouldn't go into the castle. 
near close to Our house is near the supermarket. 
next to beside Our house is next to the supermarket. 
off away from sth. The cat jumped off the roof. 
onto moving to a place The cat jumped onto the roof. 
opposite on the other side Our house is opposite the supermarket. 
out of leaving sth. The cat jumped out of the window. 
outside opposite of inside Can you wait outside? 
over above sth./sb. The cat jumped over the wall. 
past going near sth./sb. Go past the post office. 
through going from one point to the other You shouldn't walk through the forest. 
to towards sth./sb. 
I like going to Australia. 
Can you come to me? 
I've never been to Africa. 
towards in the direction of sth. We ran towards the castle. 
under below sth. The cat is under the table. 
up from low to high He went up the hill. 
 Autor: Lúcia de Freitas Silva Página 3 de 5 
Exercises 
1. Fill in the blanks with the prepositions of time. 
a) She was born __________________ 1997. 
b) I never go out __________________ Sundays. 
c) Call me __________________ 5 o’clock. 
d) I’ve been waiting _____________ half an hour. 
e) He works _______________ night. 
f) I have been waiting for you _____________ 7 o’clock. 
g) I usually go to the beach _______________ my holidays. 
h) We stayed in the restaurant _____________ 10 o’clock. 
2. Use the map to choose the correct answer for each question about prepositions of 
place. 
 Autor: Lúcia de Freitas Silva Página 4 de 5 
a) Which state is above Iowa? _______________________________________________ 
b) Name one state near the bottom of the United States. __________________________ 
c) Name one state near the top of the United States. _____________________________ 
d) What state is between Mississippi (Miss) and Georgia? _________________________ 
e) What states are below New York? __________________________________________ 
________________________________________________________________________ 
f) What state is between South Dakota and Kansas? _____________________________ 
g) Name two states that are close to Ohio. _____________________________________ 
h) Name two states that are far away from Florida. _______________________________ 
________________________________________________________________________ 
i) What state is right beside California? ________________________________________ 
j) What state is to the left of Virginia? _________________________________________ 
k) Name all the states that are around Utah. ____________________________________ 
________________________________________________________________________ 
l) Name two states that are below Michigan. ____________________________________ 
m) Name two states that are between Kansas and Indiana. ________________________ 
n) Which state is above South Dakota? ________________________________________ 
3. Fill in the blanks with the prepositions of movement. 
a)Peter ran __________ the wall. b)Tim jumped ___________ the pool of water. 
 Autor: Lúcia de Freitas Silva Página 5 de 5 
c)They went __________ the stairs. d)He rode his camel __________ the desert. 
e)Columbus sailed __________ the Atlantic Ocean. f)John ran __________ the stairs. 
g)Sarah walked __________ the street. h)Joan looked __________ the window. 
i)The man went __________ the river. j)He drove the lorry __________ the hill. 
k)The ball went __________ the net. l)The farmer drove __________ the hill.