Parts of speech

Prepositions indicate some kind of relationship between two items. Please see the sections below for more information on the four types of prepositions:

• Time, place, and to introduce objects
• Direction
• Location
• Spatial relationships

There is an extensive list of prepositions that are used to indicate time, place, and to introduce objects. The list includes:

• On
• At
• In
• Near
• Over
• Among
• Of
• For

For example:

• I'll meet you at four o'clock.
• You can find your hat on the shelf.
• The bird flew over the tree.
• I'm looking for my sweater.

For more information regarding this type of preposition, including examples, please refer to The OWL at Purdue: Prepositions of Time, of Place, and to Introduce Objects.

Prepositions of direction express a movement toward something and appear with verbs of motion:

• To
• On(to)
• In(to)

For example:

• Please give the paper to me.
• Place the paper on my desk.
• The rain fell on(to) the field.
• Place the paper in my tray.
• The rain dripped in(to) my eyes.

For more information regarding some of these prepositions, please refer to The OWL at Purdue: Prepositions of Direction--To, The OWL at Purdue: Prepositions of Direction--Onto and The OWL at Purdue: Prepositions of Direction--Into.

Prepositions of location assist in describing states of being or condition:

• At
• On
• In

For example:

• I'll meet you at the house.
• I put the icing on the cake.
• Would you like some ice in your drink?

For more information regarding this type of preposition, including examples, please refer to The OWL at Purdue: Prepositions of Time, of Place, and to Introduce Objects.

Prepositions that indicate a spatial relationship explain where one object is in relation to another. Prepositions in this category include:

• Inside
• Beside
• Above
• Across
• Off
• Within

For example:

• Please place the gift inside the box.
• Won't you sit beside me?
• I wish my cat would get off my lap.
• Please mark your choice within the circle.

For more information regarding this type of preposition, please refer to The OWL at Purdue: Prepositions of Spatial Relationship.