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50 Preposition Rules with Examples (Free PDF)

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If you’ve ever felt like prepositions need a lot of attention in English, you’re absolutely right! These short words like in, on, and at may look small, but they carry a lot of power in English sentences. As the saying goes, “the devil is in the details” — and mastering these little details will make your English sound more natural, confident, and fluent.

This guide gives you 50 easy preposition rules with clear, everyday examples — perfect for ESL learners at all levels. Each rule is written in simple English and designed for both self-study and classroom use.

💡 To make learning even easier, we’ve prepared a FREE downloadable PDF version of this list with a mini prepositions quiz included — so you can print it, highlight it, and study anytime, anywhere.

50 Preposition Rules with Examples

Use in for months.
➡️ I was born in July.
Use on for days and dates.
➡️ The meeting is on Monday.
Use at for exact times.
➡️ She arrives at 8:30 a.m.
Use in for years.
➡️ He graduated in 2019.
Use at for small places or points.
➡️ We met at the station.
Use in for large places or areas.
➡️ They live in Canada.
Use on for surfaces.
➡️ The book is on the table.
Use by to show the doer in passive sentences.
➡️ The song was written by her.
Use to for direction or movement toward something.
➡️ He went to the market.
Use into for movement inside.
➡️ She walked into the room.
Use from to show origin.
➡️ She moved here from Brazil.
Use for to show purpose or intended use.
➡️ This gift is for you.
Use with to show accompaniment or tool.
➡️ I cut the paper with scissors.
Use about when discussing a topic.
➡️ We talked about the movie.
Use of to show possession or a part of something.
➡️ The cover of the book is red.
Use between for two items.
➡️ The store is between the bank and the library.
Use among for three or more items.
➡️ She found her keys among the papers.
Use over to show position above and covering.
➡️ The lamp hangs over the table.
Use above for higher position (not touching).
➡️ The picture is above the sofa.
Use under for lower position (below).
➡️ The cat is under the bed.
Use below for lower position with space.
➡️ The temperature is below zero.
Use through for movement from one side to the other.
➡️ We drove through the tunnel.
Use across to show movement to the other side.
➡️ She walked across the street.
Use along to show movement beside something.
➡️ We strolled along the river.
Use around for movement in a circle or area.
➡️ They walked around the park.
Use near to show closeness.
➡️ The school is near my house.
Use beside to mean next to.
➡️ Sit beside me.
Use behind for position at the back.
➡️ The garden is behind the house.
Use in front of for the forward position.
➡️ Park your car in front of the shop.
Use during for a period of time.
➡️ She slept during the flight.
Use by to mean not later than (deadline).
➡️ Please finish it by Friday.
Use until to show up to a time or event.
➡️ Stay here until tomorrow.
Use since to show the starting point in time.
➡️ He has lived here since 2015.
Use after to show later time or sequence.
➡️ We will eat after the show.
Use before to show earlier time or sequence.
➡️ Finish your homework before dinner.
Use about to mean approximately (time or number).
➡️ The trip takes about two hours.
Use per to show rate or measurement.
➡️ He earns $20 per hour.
Use against to show contact or opposition.
➡️ The chair is against the wall.
Use without to show absence.
➡️ She left without her keys.
Use within to show inside a limit or time.
➡️ Return the book within two weeks.
Use outside to show the exterior location.
➡️ Play outside the house.
Use inside to show the interior location.
➡️ Keep the toys inside the box.
Use toward (or towards) to show movement in a direction.
➡️ She ran toward the finish line.
Use along with to show accompaniment.
➡️ Bring your friend along with you.
Use due to to show reason (formal).
➡️ The flight was canceled due to fog.
Use because of to show cause (informal).
➡️ We stayed home because of the rain.
Use according to to reference a source.
➡️ According to the teacher, the test is next week.
Use instead of to show replacement.
➡️ Use tea instead of coffee.
Use alongside to mean next to or together.
➡️ The new bike stood alongside the old one.
Use out of to show movement from inside to outside or reason.
➡️ He climbed out of the window.