This preposition overview has information on simple prepositions, complex prepositions, prepositional complements, and the roles of prepositional phrases. You will be given the definition and examples of each type of these prepositions.


Prepositions are used to introduce prepositional phrases, devices for adding modifying information in ways beyond what adjectives and adverbs can do. The preposition is followed in the prepositional phrase by the object or complement.

Simple Prepositions

Prepositions have a single form that is used any place they are used in a sentence. This is a list of fifty-five of the most common simple prepositions:
aboard
but (except)
over

about
by
past

above
concerning
per

across
considering
regarding

after
despite
since

against
down
than

along
during
through

among
except
throughout

around
for
till

as
from
to

at
in
toward

before
into
towards

behind
like
under

below
near
until

beneath
of
upon

beside
off
with

besides
on
within

between
onto
without

beyond




Here are some example sentences:

Harold ran far beyond the finish line.

Barbie went without breakfast.

They said it was the longest line in the world.

If you want to narrow it down even more, the most common are these twenty-three:
about
for
than

after
from
through

as
in
to

at
into
under

before
like
with

between
of
within

by
on
without

during
over



It is important for you to know that many of these words are not solely prepositions, but fulfill the roles of multiple parts of speech. Many prepositions are also conjunctions or adverbs. Of the first ten prepositions on the list of fifty-five, all but against and among are also adverbs, while after, as, before, for, since, than, and until are conjunctions.

Complex Prepositions

Complex prepositions are formed of more than one word. Many of these prepositions begin with in or on, and end with from, of, to, or with. Here are a number of them:
according to
except for
on behalf of

along with
in accordance with
outside of

apart from
in addition to
owing to

as a result of
in comparison with
prior to

as for
in contrast to
rather than

as to
in front of
regardless of

as well as
in light of
so far as

because of
in regard to
subject to

by means of
in spite of
thanks to

by way of
in view of
together with

care of
instead of
with reference to

close to
next to
with regard to

contrary to
on account of
with respect to

due to




Here are some example sentences:

In accordance with the state code, the paper mill will have a week to respond to the charge.

Please choose me instead of Jim!

Next, we will discuss plans with respect to the merger.

We can all get home before seven p.m. thanks to Sally and Ned and the crew.

Prepositional Complements

The complements of prepositions are usually noun phrases (see the article “Nouns Overview”), or nominal clauses. Prepositional complements take the objective form when available in formal style, and so this mainly affects the choice of pronouns:

Objective Pronouns

First person singular
me

First person plural
us

Second person singular
you

Second person plural
you

Third person singular:
him, her, it

Third person plural
them


Here are some example sentences:

Don’t go without me!

Take it from him!

On behalf of all of us, I offer Miss Pritchard the heartiest congratulations.

Roles of Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrases serve as modifiers, and they can act both like adjectives and adverbs. Prepositional phrases can modify a wide variety of sentence elements.

1) Prepositional phrases can modify nouns (notice that it can go after the noun, whereas most adjectives in English are place before the noun).

SueEllen Smith of 2914 Chestnut Ave. was the first witness.

I am vacuuming the Oriental rug in the hall.

2) Prepositional phrases can modify adjectives.

Rich was unaware of the circumstances.

Fido was confused by the strange scent.

3) Prepositional phrases can modify verbs.

The child stood near the merry-go-round.

Lubee grabbed the artichoke without a second thought.

And prepositional phrases can modify other sentence elements, and even entire sentences.