Tips for prepositions
At tells where an object or subject is
and
to refers to
another location.
Examples:
She is at work.
The bus arrived at
the station.
She was here but she
went to the shop.
He returned to
the club.
At refers to specific places and
addresses.
She lives at n°45, 72nd
street.
The Thompsons live at 160
Byrd road.
For measures time but since refers to a specific period.
Examples:
He worked here for
only two years.
Or:
She has been working for
ten years.
He has worked here since
2010.
He has been in contact
with the company since it was established.
Or:
He has been working
here since 2010.
In or for are used
with general measurements while on or at are used for specific dates.
Examples:
She will be here in
a couple of months.
She went to England for
the summer.
On the 7th of July we’ll have another
meeting.
We are going to have
dinner at 9 o’clock.
The preposition on or for are used for specific dates and for
general measurements we use the preposition in.
Examples:
He’ll
be here on Monday the 8th.
She‘ll finish the work
for tomorrow.
She loves to go skiing
in winter.
He is going to a party
on the 3rd of August.
About, around and up
to are options to
create approximate quantifications or to express quantities.
Examples:
She travelled around the
world.
She’ll be here about
six.
He hasn’t done it up
to now.
In refers to geographic regions,
continents, countries and cities or towns and villages.
Examples:
She was born in
Germany.
He studied in
New York City.
She works in
town.
We use the preposition on when referring to a street or road.
Examples:
It is on
Broadway Avenue.
He lives on
Savile Row.
Infinitives require the preposition to.
Examples:
I
learn to know more.
She would like to
join us.
Many contractions don’t need
additional prepositions.
Examples:
He is off the
school. Not off of the school
She
is off the office. Not off of the office.
Or:
She is out of the office.
Turn off (Phrasal verbs)
Most up with. *most
with
Where is she? And not: where is she at?
Although ending with a
preposition is incorrect, it’s commonly used in everyday language.
Phases that require a preposition
Examples:
Look at it: (To see)
Speak to me
Talk to you
Worry about
Search for
Look for: (take care of)
Study for
Concern for
Contact with
Afraid of
Love of
Connect to
Stay in contact
Keep in touch
In some commands, directions given
and orders we don’t need
prepositions
Examples:
Go home.
Go upstairs/downstairs
Go uptown/downtown
Go inside/outside.
In making comparisons the second
preposition can be omitted if it’s the same as the first. However it must be
included in if the second phrase requires a different preposition.
Examples:
The weather in Britain is
much better than Iceland.
We went to the seaside and
swam in the ocean.
