Prepositions for Time, Place, and Introducing Objects

Prepositions for Time, Place, and Introducing Objects


One point in time


On is used with days:

• I will see you on Monday.
  
• The week begins on Sunday.
  

At is used with noon, night, midnight, and with the time of day:

• My plane leaves at noon.
  
• The movie starts at 6 p.m.
  

In is used with other parts of the day, with months, with years, with seasons:

• He likes to read in the afternoon.
  
• The days are long in August.
  
• The book was published in 1999.
  
• The flowers will bloom in spring.
  

Extended time


To express extended time, English uses the following prepositions: since, for, by, from—to, from-until, during,(with)in

• She has been gone since yesterday. (She left yesterday and has not returned.)
  
• I'm going to Paris for two weeks. (I will spend two weeks there.)
  
• The movie showed from August to October. (Beginning in August and ending in October.)
  
• The decorations were up from spring until fall. (Beginning in spring and ending in fall.)
  
• I watch TV during the evening. (For some period of time in the evening.)
  
• We must finish the project within a year. (No longer than a year.)
  

Place


To express notions of place, English uses the following prepositions: to talk about the point itself: in, to express something contained: inside, to talk about the surface: on, to talk about a general vicinity, at.

• There is a wasp in the room.
  
• Put the present inside the box.
  
• I left your keys on the table.
  
• She was waiting at the corner.
  

Higher than a point


To express notions of an object being higher than a point, English uses the following prepositions: over, above.

• He threw the ball over the roof.
  
• Hang that picture above the couch.
  

Lower than a point


To express notions of an object being lower than a point, English uses the following prepositions: under, underneath, beneath, below.

• The rabbit burrowed under the ground.
  
• The child hid underneath the blanket.
  
• We relaxed in the shade beneath the branches.
  
• The valley is below sea-level.
  

Close to a point


To express notions of an object being close to a point, English uses the following prepositions: near, by, next to, between, among, opposite.

• She lives near the school.
  
• There is an ice cream shop by the store.
  
• An oak tree grows next to my house
  
• The house is between Elm Street and Maple Street.
  
• I found my pen lying among the books.
  
• The bathroom is opposite that room.
  

To introduce objects of verbs


English uses the following prepositions to introduce objects of the following verbs.
At: glance, laugh, look, rejoice, smile, stare

• She took a quick glance at her reflection.
  (exception with mirror: She took a quick glance in the mirror.)
  
• You didn't laugh at his joke.
  
• I'm looking at the computer monitor.
  
• We rejoiced at his safe rescue.
  
• That pretty girl smiled at you.
  
• Stop staring at me.
  

Of: approve, consist, smell

• I don't approve of his speech.
  
• My contribution to the article consists of many pages.
  
• He came home smelling of alcohol.
  

Of (or about): dream, think

• I dream of finishing college in four years.
  
• Can you think of a number between one and ten?
  
• I am thinking about this problem.
  

For: call, hope, look, wait, watch, wish

• Did someone call for a taxi?
  
• He hopes for a raise in salary next year.
  
• I'm looking for my keys.
  
• We'll wait for her here.
  
• You go buy the tickets and I'll watch for the train.
  
• If you wish for an "A" in this class, you must work hard.