Prepositions of Places and Direction Usage
Words that develop a relationship between place as a noun with other parts of the sentence are termed as Prepositions of Place and Direction Usage.
| COMMONLY USED PREPOSITIONS OF PLACES AND DIRECTION |
| ON |
| AT |
| IN |
| BY |
| FROM |
| TO |
| TOWARDS |
| UP |
| DOWN |
| ACROSS |
| BETWEEN |
| AMONG |
| THROUGH |
| IN FRONT OF |
| BEHIND |
| ABOVE |
| OVER |
| UNDER |
| BELOW |
IN:
It highlights something that should be present on a specific location or place. It doesn’t entitle any particular name but links it to the other parts of the sentence and connects the noun with it.
Example:
Your trouser is in the closet. (The exact place is still unspecified)
She lives in China.
Sarah works in that company.
AT:
It highlights a specific place.
Example:
Robert is at the gate.
I am waiting at 12/6 George Street.
She is not at home.
ON:
It determines a position above but linking the object.
Example:
The phone is on the bed. (Phone is touching the bed)
She is on the fourth floor.
The cat is on the sofa.
ABOVE:
It highlights a position that is higher as compare to the preposition “ON” does. It is also used to highlight something that is either difficult or out of reach.
Example:
The bird is flying above my head.
The painting hanged above that statue is worth a million
Claire’s voice was barely above a whisper.
OVER:
Over describes a position that is between on and above that remains untouched.
Example:
There is a flock of birds flying over the hills.
An Eagle flew over my jeep.
My apartment is over the shop.
UNDER, BELOW
UNDER:
Under is the reciprocal of “ON” and means something that is below the surface.
Example:
The dog is under the bed.
The rug under my feet is very soft.
That magazine is under my glasses.
BELOW:
It determines something that is at a slight bit lower position than what “UNDER” highlights.
Example:
I have a wound below my chin.
Do you see the red light below that button?
Please, don’t sign below this line.
TO:
It highlights a movement in the direction of a place.
Example:
Charlotte went to the park.
Alexander is going to Berlin.
She walked from the lake to the village.
FROM:
From specifies the part on which the movement begins.
Example:
He came from Belgium.
We walked from the lake to the village.
She drove from Dallas.
INTO:
It determines a movement towards or inside something. This preposition is of multiple uses.
Example:
Alex came into the hotel.
The thief broke into the jewelry shop.
My car crashed into a police station.
OUT OF:
Out of is the opposite of into which indicates a movement towards or outside of something or somewhere.
Example:
May is going out of country.
Get out of this place.
Please stay out of this (unidentified)
THROUGH, BESIDE, OF, BEHIND, , BY ACROSS, IN FRONT, TOWARDS
THROUGH:
Through is a preposition used to highlight a movement in the middle of something.
Example:
He drove through the tunnel.
The deer came through the forest.
She came through that gate.
ACROSS:
Across means that someone is going to the opposite side of the river, road or something that is straight.
Example:
Britney went across the river.
Rob walked across the street.
My office is across the bank.
BESIDE:
It means at the side or next to something.
Example:
The jeep beside the bicycle is not mine.
Sarah is standing beside the pet shop.
I will always stay beside her.
IN FRONT OF:
It means being in a position of facing someone or something.
Example:
The uber was parked in front of my house.
I have a pool in my penthouse.
She was shivering in front of me.
BEHIND:
It means at a far side of something (it can be out of sight) as well. It is the reciprocal of in front of.
Example:
Peter parked his car behind my bike.
I have a park behind my house.
She is hiding behind that tree.
TOWARDS:
It describes a movement in the direction of something metaphorical.
Example:
She is walking towards me.
Tony moved towards the birthday party.
I rushed towards the car when the thief came on the street.
BY:
By refers to something near to or next to something or someone.
Example:
He has a villa by the lake.
He was standing by the pole.
My house is by the saloon.
UP:
It means a movement that is towards a higher place or position.
Example:
They were climbing up the mountain.
Lift her up.
Merlin is going up to Canada.
Climb up the tree.
DOWN:
This preposition indicates a meaning that is opposite of up. It shows a movement towards a lower place or position.
Example:
She is riding down the river.
Blaire is climbing down the hill.
She went down the stairs.
BETWEEN, AMONG
BETWEEN:
It highlights something or someone who is in the middle of two other things or persons.
Example:
Jason is sitting between Cedric and Bob/
The dog is between the two boxes.
The matter is between you and me.
AMONG:
Among is a preposition that indicates something or someone in the middle of a group of people or a couple of things.
Example:
Alex is sitting among the kids.
She is the best among them.
Among all the people. Blaire only had the courage to speak up.