Course on Prepositions - TOEIC® Preparation
In English, a preposition is a word (or a group of words) that establishes a relationship between a noun (or a pronoun) and the rest of the sentence. It can indicate place, time, direction, cause, possession, agent, etc.
- The book is on the table.
Most of the time, the preposition is placed before the noun or pronoun. However, in modern English, it is sometimes acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition, especially in colloquial language and certain idiomatic constructions.
- What are you looking for?
- This is the house in which I grew up.
1. Prepositions of Place
Prepositions of place indicate where someone or something is located in space.
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in | Inside | She is in the room. |
| on | On a surface | The book is on the table. |
| at | At a specific point | We met at the bus stop. |
| above | Above without contact | The painting is above the fireplace. |
| over | Above with covering | She put a blanket over the baby. |
| below | Below (without contact) | The temperature is below zero. |
| under | Under (possible contact) | The shoes are under the bed. |
| beneath | Under (literary register) | He hid the letter beneath his pillow. |
| between | Between two elements | She sat between her two friends. |
| among | Among several elements | He was among the crowd. |
| amid | In the middle of (formal) | They remained calm amid the chaos. |
| inside | Inside | She is inside the house. |
| outside | Outside | He waited outside the building. |
| near | Near | The school is near the park. |
| next to | Next to | She sat next to me. |
| beside | Next to (synonym) | He placed his bag beside the chair. |
| by | Next to | The house is by the river. |
| adjacent to | Adjacent to | The café is adjacent to the bookstore. |
| behind | Behind | The car is behind the truck. |
| in front of | In front of | He stood in front of the mirror. |
| before | Before (order or time) | She arrived before noon. |
| underneath | Under (more hidden) | The keys were underneath the papers. |
| opposite | Opposite | The restaurant is opposite the cinema. |
| within | Within limits | The package will arrive within two days. |
| without | Without | He left without his keys. |
| against | Against a surface | She leaned against the wall. |
| alongside | Parallel to, along | The ship sailed alongside the coast. |
« In » - « on » - « at »
-
« In » is used to talk about a closed space or a geographical area. It highlights a place inside a defined surface.
- She is in the kitchen.
- They live in France.
- The keys are in my pocket.
-
« On » is used to talk about a flat surface or a surface perceived as such. It often indicates contact with the surface.
- The book is on the table.
- He sat on the bench.
- Her picture is on the wall.
-
« At » is used to designate a specific point in space. It marks a specific location without emphasizing inside or surface.
- I will meet you at the bus stop.
- She is at the entrance.
- Let’s meet at the restaurant.
Nuances between « in », « on », « at »
- « At » focuses on the precise point, an exact location (e.g., at school, at home)
- « In » refers to a closed place or a larger area (e.g., in the room, in the house)
- « On » emphasizes the surface contact or the position on a plane (e.g., on the table, on the floor)
Special cases: In the car / On the bus / On the train
- We say « in » for the car, as it is a more confined and personal space.
- I’m in the car.
- We say « on » for the bus, train, plane, boat, as one can move inside and there is the idea of public transport.
- She is on the bus.
« Above » - « over »
« Above » and « Over » can both mean « above », but:
- « Above » is generally used without the notion of direct contact between the two objects, or the notion of covering of the object above on the object below.
- The painting hangs above the fireplace.
- « Over » can indicate a movement above something or the act of covering something.
- He put a blanket over the baby.
« Below » - « under » - « beneath »
« Below », « under », and « beneath » mean « below », but:
- « Under » is the most common to indicate that something is below another
- The cat is under the table.
- « Below » is mainly used when there is a certain vertical distance or to mark a lower position in a text or diagram
- The temperature is below zero.
- « Beneath » is more literary or more formal, and can also have a figurative connotation (e.g., beneath one's dignity)
- He hid the letter beneath his pillow.
« Between » - « among » - « amid »
- « Between » means that something is located between two things.
- I'm standing between my two best friends.
- « Among » means that something is located in the middle of a group of more than two elements, without a precise notion of being physically surrounded.
- She found a letter among the papers on her desk.
- « Amid » means that something is surrounded or immersed in something (usually a situation, an atmosphere). It is mainly used in a formal or literary register.
- They stayed calm amid the chaos.
« Across » - « Through » - « Along »
-
« Across » indicates the act of crossing something from one side to the other.
- They walked across the street.
-
« Through » emphasizes a movement inside a confined space or a mass.
- We drove through the tunnel.
-
« Along » indicates a movement or position following a line or border.
- She walked along the river.
2. Prepositions of Time
Prepositions of time indicate when an event occurs, its duration, or its frequency.
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in | Used for months, years, centuries, parts of the day | We met in July. |
| on | Used for days, specific dates, and events | The meeting is on Monday. |
| at | Used for hours and precise moments | I will see you at 5 PM. |
| by | Before a specific moment (deadline) | Finish the report by Friday. |
| before | Before a given moment | I arrived before noon. |
| after | After a given moment | Let's meet after lunch. |
| until | Until a specific moment | She stayed until midnight. |
| till | Until a specific moment (more informal) | I'll wait till you arrive. |
| since | Since a specific point in time | I have lived here since 2010. |
| for | For a given duration | They traveled for two months. |
| during | During a specific period | It rained during the night. |
| within | Within a given period | The package will arrive within 24 hours. |
| from | Start of a period | We worked from 9 AM to 5 PM. |
| to | End of a period | The shop is open from Monday to Friday. |
| between | Period between two moments | The event takes place between 3 PM and 5 PM. |
| around | Approximately at that moment | He arrived around noon. |
| about | Approximately at that moment | The class starts about 10 AM. |
| past | After a precise hour | It's past midnight. |
| up to | Until a given moment | The offer is valid up to the end of the month. |
| as of | From a given moment | The policy applies as of next year. |
| throughout | During an entire period | The song played throughout the concert. |
| over | During a given period | He stayed over the weekend. |
| ahead of | Before a given moment (more formal) | We must plan ahead of the deadline. |
« In » - « on » - « at »
- « In » is generally used to talk about long periods (months, years, seasons, parts of the day).
- in May, in 2025, in the morning
- He was born in 1990.
- It often rains in winter.
- « On » is used for days and specific dates.
- on Monday, on December 5th
- My birthday is on July 10th.
- We will meet on Christmas Day.
- « At » indicates a precise moment.
- at 5:00 PM, at sunrise, at midday
- Let's meet at noon.
- We usually have dinner at 7 PM.
Nuances between « in », « on » and « at »
- In the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening but at night (idiomatic exception).
- At the weekend (British English), on the weekend (American English).
« By » - « before » - « until » - « from ... to »
-
« By » indicates a deadline, a limit moment.
- Finish this report by Friday.
- I'll be there by 6 PM.
-
« Before » indicates that something happens earlier than another event or moment.
- We must leave before sunset.
- Finish your homework before dinner.
-
« Until » indicates the continuity of an action or state until a specific moment.
- I stayed at the office until 7 PM.
- He waited till midnight.
-
« From ... to » indicates the start and end of a period.
- I work from 9 AM to 5 PM.
- They were on vacation from Monday to Thursday.
« During » - « for » - « since »
-
« During » highlights the period during which an event occurs, without specifying the exact duration.
- He called me during the meeting.
- It rained during the night.
-
« For » indicates a duration.
- They studied for three hours.
- We lived in London for five years.
-
« Since » is used to indicate a starting point in the past and an action or situation that lasts until the present.
- I have lived here since 2010.
- She has been waiting since this morning.
3. Prepositions of Direction or Movement
These prepositions describe where one moves or how a movement occurs.
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| across | From one side to the other | He walked across the street. |
| through | Through a closed space | The train passed through the tunnel. |
| along | Along | We walked along the beach. |
| onto | Onto a surface | He jumped onto the table. |
| into | Into an interior space | She went into the room. |
| out of | Out of | He got out of the car. |
| from | Origin of a movement | He came from London. |
| towards | Towards | She ran towards the exit. |
| to | To a destination | We are going to Paris. |
| off | Off a surface | She fell off the chair. |
| up | Up | He climbed up the ladder. |
| down | Down | She walked down the stairs. |
| beyond | Beyond | The town is beyond the hills. |
| past | Past | She walked past the bank. |
| around | Around | They traveled around the world. |
« To » - « into » - « onto »
- « To » indicates a direction or a destination.
- I'm going to the store.
- He walked to the bus stop.
- « Into » highlights the idea that someone or something enters a place / into another object.
- She poured the tea into the cup.
- « Onto » indicates a movement onto a surface.
- He jumped onto the table.
Confusions between « in » / « into » or « on » / « onto »
- « In » (static) vs. « into » (movement to enter).
- (static position): She is in the room.
- (movement to enter): She walked into the room.
- « On » (static) vs. « Onto » (movement to climb).
- (static position): He stands on the stage.
- (movement to climb): He jumps onto the stage.
In / To + country
- We generally use « in » to indicate being in a country.
- He lives in Spain.
- We use « to » to express movement to a country or city
- He moved to Spain last year.
« Around » - « About »
- « Around » or « about » can indicate a circular or approximate movement around a place.
- He wandered around the park.
- They walked about the city, exploring the streets.
4. Other Common Prepositions and Their Uses
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| with | Indicates accompaniment, use of a tool, or manner | She wrote with a pen. / I went to the party with my friends. |
| without | Indicates absence of something | He left without his phone. |
| by | Used to indicate the agent of an action (passive), a means of transport, or a nearby location | The book was written by Shakespeare. / We traveled by car. |
| about | Indicates the subject of a discussion or an approximation | We talked about the new project. / There were about 50 people in the room. |
| like | Introduces a comparison | She runs like a cheetah. |
| as | Indicates a function, role, or comparison | He works as a teacher. / Do it as I showed you. |
| except | Excludes an element | Everyone came except John. |
| apart from | Can mean "except" or "in addition to" depending on context | Apart from English, he speaks Spanish. |
| instead of | Indicates an alternative | Take tea instead of coffee. |
| according to | Indicates the source of information | According to the news, it's going to rain. |
| because of | Indicates the cause of an event | The flight was delayed because of the storm. |
| due to | More formal form of "because of" | The delay was due to technical issues. |
| owing to | Also used to indicate cause (more formal register) | The match was canceled owing to heavy rain. |
| thanks to | Indicates a positive cause | We succeeded thanks to your help. |
| in spite of | Indicates opposition | He finished the race in spite of his injury. |
| despite | Synonym of "in spite of" | She won despite the difficulties. |
| instead | Indicates a replacement (without "of") | I didn't take the bus. I walked instead. |
| unlike | Indicates a difference | Unlike his brother, he loves sports. |
| contrary to | Indicates opposition to a belief or expectation | Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind. |
| regarding | Introduces the subject of a document or discussion | I have a question regarding your proposal. |
| concerning | Synonym of "regarding" | He called me concerning the contract. |
| apart | Indicates separation | They live far apart from each other. |
| toward(s) | Indicates an intention or abstract direction | His attitude towards work has changed. |
| beyond | Indicates a limit exceeded (figurative or spatial) | This problem is beyond my understanding. |
| against | Indicates opposition or physical contact | They are against the new policy. / She leaned against the wall. |
| per | Indicates frequency or proportion | He earns $20 per hour. |
| via | Indicates an intermediary or passage through a point | We traveled to Italy via Paris. |
| as for | Introduces a different subject in conversation | As for the budget, we need to cut costs. |
| as well as | Indicates an addition | She speaks French as well as Spanish. |
| rather than | Indicates a preference | I would stay home rather than go out. |
| except for | Indicates an exception | The report is complete except for a few details. |
« With » - « Without »
- « With » indicates accompaniment, the use of a tool, the manner in which something is done.
- I went to the party with my friends.
- She cut the bread with a knife.
- « Without » indicates the absence of someone or something.
- He left without saying goodbye.
- I can't live without music.
« By »
« By » has several meanings depending on the context:
- In the passive voice, « by » introduces the author.
- This book was written by J.K. Rowling.
- « by » indicates the method or tool for performing an action.
- We traveled by car / by train / by plane.
- « by » indicates a location (near, next to)
- My house is by the river.
- « by » to say "pass by"
- We walked by the park on our way home.
« About »
« About » can mean « about » or « approximately ».
- We talked about the new movie.
- There were about fifty people at the party.
« Like » - « As »
« Like » allows for comparing 2 things or 2 situations.
- He runs like a cheetah.
« As » can have several meanings. One common usage is « as »
- I work as a teacher.
Nuance between « like » and « as »
« Like » and « as » can sometimes be interchangeable to express a comparison, but:
- « as » often introduces a clause (as if, as though)
- « like » is often followed by a direct noun or pronoun.
« Except » - « Apart from »
« Except » marks the exclusion of an element.
- Everyone passed the exam except John.
« Apart from » can be used to exclude or include, depending on the context.
- Apart from Monday, I'm free all week.
- Apart from that little issue, everything went fine.
5. Special Cases and Traps
« At night » vs. « in the night »
We use « at night » to talk about the night in general (time of day).
- I usually sleep at night.
We use « in the night » to say during the night, often to talk about a specific event that happens during the night.
- It started raining in the night.
« Different from » - « different to » - « different than »
« Different from » is the most common form and often considered standard.
- His style is different from mine.
« Different to » is mainly used in British English
- This country is different to what I expected.
« Different than » is more used in American English
- This result is different than I thought.
« Home » (often) without preposition:
When we want to say that we go home, we generally say go home without a preposition.
✅ I'm going home. ❌ I'm going to home.
« Ask for something » (and not « ask something »):
To ask for something, the preposition for is necessary.
- She asked for advice.
« Look at » - « look for » - « look after » - « look into »
« Look at »
- Look at that beautiful sunset.
« Look for » means « to search for something ».
- I'm looking for my keys.
« Look after » means **« to take care of »
- She looks after her younger siblings.
« Look into » means « to examine », « to study a problem in detail ».
- We need to look into this matter.
« Listen to » and « hear »
« Listen to » : we listen attentively to a sound.
- I'm listening to music.
« Hear » : we perceive a sound without the notion of active concentration.
- I can't hear you properly.
« Wait for » and « wait on »
« Wait for someone/something »
- I'm waiting for the train.
« Wait on someone » : to serve someone. This expression is mainly used in the context of catering, but its usage is quite rare
- He waited on tables during the summer.
« Agree with » - « Agree on » - « Agree to »
« Agree with someone »
- I agree with you.
« Agree on a topic »
- We agreed on the best course of action.
« Agree to something » means « to consent », « to give one's agreement » to a proposal.
- He agreed to help us.
« Depend on » vs. « Depend of »
In English, we say depend on
✅ It depends on the weather. ❌ It depends of the weather.
« Belong to »
To indicate possession, we use « belong to »
- This book belongs to me.
Composition with « made of » - « made from » - « made out of » - « made with »
« Made of » is used when the material has not been transformed (wood remains wood).
- This table is made of wood.
« Made from » is used when the original material is no longer recognizable.
- Wine is made from grapes.
« Made out of » emphasizes the transformation of one object into another.
- This sculpture was made out of scrap metal.
« Made with » mentions a main ingredient or component (often for food).
- This cake is made with chocolate.
Incorrect omission or addition of to
Some verbs require the preposition to
- listen to, belong to, object to
Other verbs do not require the preposition to
- attack someone, not attack to someone
Differences between British and American English
- On the weekend (US) vs. At the weekend (UK).
- Different than (US) vs. Different from/to (UK).
Conclusion
Prepositions are among the key points evaluated during the TOEIC®. To improve your score, it is essential to:
- Master their main functions (place, time, direction, etc.) to avoid losing points in comprehension or grammar questions.
- Pay particular attention to nuances of meaning and idiomatic constructions (e.g., look at, look for, etc.), which may appear in the Reading and Listening sections.
- Familiarize yourself with exceptions and regional variations (British English vs. American English), as the TOEIC® frequently features texts and audio excerpts reflecting different registers of English.
Other courses
Here are other grammar courses for TOEIC®: