Prepositions of Place and Time

Prepositions
- Prepositions of Place and Time




Introduction



The following information and rules will help you
use prepositions of place and time correctly.
Prepositions of Place (Location/Destination)




1. Use “on” with lines and surfaces.

Vancouver is
on the west coast of
Canada. --> line

Put the vase on the table. --> surface

They were sitting
on the grass. --> surface

2. Use “in” with areas that have boundaries
and enclosed places.

I was born
in England, but I grew up

in Canada. --> areas that have boundaries

We had a picnic
in the park last Saturday. --> enclosed
place

I think I left my keys
in the bedroom. --> enclosed
place

3. Use “arrive” + “at” with activities,
buildings and general locations.

Everyone
arrived at the picnic at
the same time. --> activity

The tour group will
arrive at the Empire State Building
at three o'clock. --> building

The bus arrived at the station earlier than we
expected. --> location

4. Use “arrive” + “in” with countries, states
and cities.

Which month did you
arrive in
Victoria?

5. Prepositions are not used with the
following locations or destinations:

overseas,
inside,

here, home, upstairs, downtown,

abroad, outside, there, where, downstairs



6. Some other prepositions of location
are:
next to, beside, between, in front of, under.

On my desk, the telephone is
next to
the lamp.

The computer monitor is
beside the lamp.

The speaker is
between the telephone and the monitor.

The keyboard is
in front of the monitor.

The computer is
under the desk.

7. Use “to”, “into”, and “onto” to show
movement.

When our car broke down, we walked
to
the nearest gas station.

The delivery people carried the new couch
into the
living room.

The man slipped, and fell
onto the couch.

Note: The
opposite of “to” is “from” / the
opposite of “into” is “out of” / the
opposite of “onto” is “off”.

8. Some other prepositions which show
movement are: through, across, up, down, along, past

The train went
through a tunnel.

When the forest fire started, the deer swam
across the
river to safety.

We walked up/down/along
the street until we found a restaurant.

The parade went
past city hall and ended at the new
arena.


Prepositions of Time




1. Use “at” for specific times.

The movie starts
at 7:00.

2. Use “in” with months, seasons, and years.

We got married
in December.

Most people prefer to get married
in the spring or
summer, but we chose to get married
in the winter.

Note: We say “in the morning”, “in the afternoon”, and “in the
evening”, but we say “at night” and “by day”.

3. Use “on” for days and dates.

I had to work late
on Wednesday, so
I missed the bus. --> day

Diane's friends held a party for her
on her birthday.
--> date

4. Use “since” to say when an activity began,
and “for” to say how long it has been going on.

He has been president of the company
since
2003.

We have been waiting
for twenty minutes.

I have lived here
for two years.

Note: The
present perfect is often used with “since” and “for” to talk about
activities which began in the past and continue in the present.