Prepositions for Kids: A Fun and Easy Guide

Understanding prepositions is a crucial step in mastering English grammar. Prepositions are the little words that show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence. They tell us where things are located, when things happen, and how things are connected. This guide is designed to make learning prepositions fun and easy for kids, with plenty of examples, exercises, and helpful tips. Whether you’re a student, parent, or teacher, this article will provide you with everything you need to understand and teach prepositions effectively.

Table of Contents

• What is a Preposition?
• Structural Breakdown of Prepositions
• Types of Prepositions
  • Prepositions of Place
  • Prepositions of Time
  • Prepositions of Movement
• Examples of Prepositions
• Usage Rules for Prepositions
• Common Mistakes with Prepositions
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

What is a Preposition?

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. It usually comes before a noun or pronoun, which is called the object of the preposition. Prepositions describe location, time, direction, and other relationships. They are essential for creating clear and understandable sentences.

Think of prepositions as the glue that holds your sentences together. They provide context and detail, helping your readers understand exactly what you mean. Without prepositions, sentences can be confusing and difficult to interpret.

Structural Breakdown of Prepositions

Prepositions typically consist of a single word, but they can also be phrases. The most common structure involves a preposition followed by a noun or pronoun, creating a prepositional phrase. This phrase then acts as an adjective or adverb, modifying other words in the sentence.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Preposition: The word that shows the relationship (e.g., on, in, at).
• Object of the Preposition: The noun or pronoun that follows the preposition (e.g., the table, him).
• Prepositional Phrase: The entire unit, including the preposition and its object (e.g., on the table, at him).

For example, in the sentence “The book is on the table,” the preposition is “on,” the object of the preposition is “the table,” and the prepositional phrase is “on the table.” This phrase tells us where the book is located.

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions can be categorized based on the type of relationship they describe. The three main categories are prepositions of place, prepositions of time, and prepositions of movement.

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place indicate where something is located. They describe the spatial relationship between objects or people. Common prepositions of place include on, in, at, under, over, beside, between, behind, in front of, and near.

For example:

• The cat is under the chair.
• The picture is on the wall.
• The store is near the park.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens. They describe the temporal relationship between events. Common prepositions of time include on, in, at, before, after, during, until, and since.

For example:

• The meeting is at 3 PM.
• I was born in 1990.
• We will go on Monday.

Prepositions of Movement

Prepositions of movement indicate the direction or path of something. They describe how things move from one place to another. Common prepositions of movement include to, from, through, across, into, out of, up, down, and around.

For example:

• We are going to the store.
• The bird flew through the window.
• The ball rolled down the hill.

Examples of Prepositions

To help you better understand prepositions, here are several examples categorized by type.

Table 1: Prepositions of Place Examples

This table illustrates how prepositions of place are used to describe the location of objects in relation to other objects.

Sentence	Preposition of Place	Object of the Preposition
The book is on the table.	on	the table
The cat is under the chair.	under	the chair
The picture is on the wall.	on	the wall
The keys are in the drawer.	in	the drawer
The dog is beside the house.	beside	the house
The ball is behind the sofa.	behind	the sofa
The children are playing in the garden.	in	the garden
The car is parked in front of the garage.	in front of	the garage
The lamp is above the table.	above	the table
The clock is on the wall.	on	the wall
The pen is inside the box.	inside	the box
The bird is in the cage.	in	the cage
The flowers are near the window.	near	the window
The store is across from the bank.	across from	the bank
The restaurant is between the library and the post office.	between	the library and the post office
The park is around the corner.	around	the corner
The school is opposite the church.	opposite	the church
The bridge is over the river.	over	the river
The cat is sleeping on the rug.	on	the rug
The mouse is hiding beneath the floorboards.	beneath	the floorboards
The vase is on the shelf.	on	the shelf
The painting is above the fireplace.	above	the fireplace
The computer is on the desk.	on	the desk
The phone is next to the lamp.	next to	the lamp
The squirrel is in the tree.	in	the tree
The statue stands at the entrance.	at	the entrance
The children sat around the campfire.	around	the campfire
The guard stood by the door.	by	the door

Table 2: Prepositions of Time Examples

This table provides examples of how prepositions of time are used to specify when events occur.

Sentence	Preposition of Time	Object of the Preposition
The meeting is at 9 AM.	at	9 AM
I was born in 1995.	in	1995
We will go on Friday.	on	Friday
I will see you before lunch.	before	lunch
She arrived after the movie.	after	the movie
He will be there during the summer.	during	the summer
I will wait until 5 PM.	until	5 PM
I have lived here since 2010.	since	2010
The class starts at 10 o’clock.	at	10 o’clock
We eat breakfast in the morning.	in	the morning
The concert is on Saturday night.	on	Saturday night
The store closes at midnight.	at	midnight
I will finish the project by tomorrow.	by	tomorrow
They lived there for five years.	for	five years
The event will take place over the weekend.	over	the weekend
He called me around noon.	around	noon
The festival is held in July.	in	July
The rain started during the night.	during	the night
She studies until late.	until	late
They have been friends since childhood.	since	childhood
The show will start in a few minutes.	in	a few minutes
I’ll be there by the evening.	by	the evening
He finished the race in record time.	in	record time
The package arrived on time.	on	time
The store is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.	from…to	9 AM, 5 PM
The class lasted for an hour.	for	an hour
The movie starts at 7 PM sharp.	at	7 PM sharp
I woke up before sunrise.	before	sunrise

Table 3: Prepositions of Movement Examples

This table illustrates how prepositions of movement are used to indicate the direction or path of movement.

Sentence	Preposition of Movement	Object of the Preposition
We are going to the park.	to	the park
The bird flew through the window.	through	the window
The ball rolled down the hill.	down	the hill
She walked across the street.	across	the street
He jumped into the pool.	into	the pool
They ran out of the house.	out of	the house
The cat climbed up the tree.	up	the tree
The river flows around the bend.	around	the bend
The train travels over the mountains.	over	the mountains
The children walked along the beach.	along	the beach
The road leads to the city.	to	the city
They drove towards the sunset.	towards	the sunset
The ball bounced off the wall.	off	the wall
The plane flew above the clouds.	above	the clouds
The hikers walked through the forest.	through	the forest
The boat sailed across the lake.	across	the lake
The package was sent from New York.	from	New York
The path goes under the bridge.	under	the bridge
The dog ran around the yard.	around	the yard
The car swerved off the road.	off	the road
The students went on a field trip.	on	a field trip
The athlete practiced running around the track.	around	the track
The children skipped along the path.	along	the path
The climber ascended up the mountain.	up	the mountain
The river flows into the sea.	into	the sea
The cat jumped over the fence.	over	the fence
The car sped past the building.	past	the building

Usage Rules for Prepositions

Using prepositions correctly can be tricky because their usage often depends on context and idiomatic expressions. Here are some general rules and guidelines:

• Placement: Prepositions usually come before their objects (nouns or pronouns). For example, “The book is on the table.”
• Object Case: The object of a preposition should be in the objective case (e.g., me, him, her, us, them). For example, “The gift is for him,” not “The gift is for he.”
• “In,” “On,” and “At”: These prepositions have specific uses for place and time.
  • In: Used for enclosed spaces, larger areas, and general times (e.g., in the box, in the city, in the morning).
  • On: Used for surfaces and specific days (e.g., on the table, on Monday).
  • At: Used for specific locations and times (e.g., at the door, at 3 PM).
• Prepositional Phrases as Modifiers: Prepositional phrases can act as adjectives or adverbs, modifying nouns or verbs. For example, “The house with the blue door” (adjective) and “He ran with great speed” (adverb).

It’s important to remember that there are exceptions to these rules, and some usages are simply idiomatic. Pay attention to how native speakers use prepositions to improve your accuracy.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions

Here are some common mistakes people make when using prepositions, along with corrections:

Table 4: Common Preposition Mistakes

This table highlights frequent errors in preposition usage and provides the correct alternatives.

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
I am good at English.	I am good at English.	This is correct.
Meet me on the library.	Meet me at the library.	“At” is used for specific locations.
The book is in the table.	The book is on the table.	“On” is used for surfaces.
He arrived at Monday.	He arrived on Monday.	“On” is used for days of the week.
She is interested to music.	She is interested in music.	“Interested in” is the correct idiom.
I depend of my parents.	I depend on my parents.	“Depend on” is the correct idiom.
He is angry to me.	He is angry with me.	“Angry with” is used for people.
She is afraid from spiders.	She is afraid of spiders.	“Afraid of” is the correct idiom.
I agree to you.	I agree with you.	“Agree with” is used for people.
He is different than me.	He is different from me.	“Different from” is generally preferred.
The cat jumped over from the fence.	The cat jumped over the fence.	Avoid redundant prepositions.
Where are you at?	Where are you?	Avoid unnecessary prepositions.
He is waiting for to see her.	He is waiting to see her.	“For” is not needed before “to” in this context.
I’m looking forward to meet you.	I’m looking forward to meeting you.	“To” is part of the phrasal verb; use the gerund.
He is good in math.	He is good at math.	“Good at” is used for skills and subjects.
I live at New York.	I live in New York.	“In” is used for cities and countries.
See you in Monday.	See you on Monday.	“On” is used for specific days.
I was born on 1990.	I was born in 1990.	“In” is used for years.
She arrived to the airport.	She arrived at the airport.	“At” is used for specific locations.
He is married with her.	He is married to her.	“Married to” is the correct form.

Practice Exercises

Test your knowledge of prepositions with these practice exercises. Choose the correct preposition for each sentence.

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Preposition of Place

Complete the following sentences with the correct preposition of place: in, on, at, under, over, beside, between, behind, in front of, near.

Table 5: Practice Exercise 1 – Prepositions of Place

This table presents sentences with missing prepositions of place for students to fill in.

Question	Answer
1. The cat is sitting ______ the chair.	on
2. The book is ______ the desk.	on
3. The park is ______ the school.	near
4. The dog is hiding ______ the table.	under
5. The car is parked ______ the house.	in front of
6. The children are playing ______ the garden.	in
7. The lamp is ______ the sofa.	beside
8. The ball is ______ the box.	in
9. The picture is ______ the wall.	on
10. The store is ______ the bank and the post office.	between

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Preposition of Time

Complete the following sentences with the correct preposition of time: at, in, on, before, after, during, until, since.

Table 6: Practice Exercise 2 – Prepositions of Time

This table provides sentences with missing prepositions of time for students to fill in.

Question	Answer
1. The meeting is ______ 2 PM.	at
2. I was born ______ July.	in
3. We will go ______ Tuesday.	on
4. I will see you ______ lunch.	before
5. She arrived ______ the party.	after
6. He will be there ______ the summer.	during
7. I will wait ______ 6 PM.	until
8. I have lived here ______ 2015.	since
9. The class starts ______ 9 o’clock.	at
10. We eat breakfast ______ the morning.	in

Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Preposition of Movement

Complete the following sentences with the correct preposition of movement: to, from, through, across, into, out of, up, down, around.

Table 7: Practice Exercise 3 – Prepositions of Movement

This table presents sentences with missing prepositions of movement for students to fill in.

Question	Answer
1. We are going ______ the beach.	to
2. The bird flew ______ the open window.	through
3. The ball rolled ______ the stairs.	down
4. She walked ______ the park.	across
5. He jumped ______ the river.	into
6. They ran ______ the building.	out of
7. The cat climbed ______ the tree.	up
8. The river flows ______ the town.	around
9. The train travels ______ the tunnel.	through
10. The package was sent ______ London.	from

Advanced Topics

For more advanced learners, here are some more complex aspects of prepositions:

• Phrasal Prepositions: These are multi-word prepositions, such as according to, because of, in spite of, and due to. They function as single prepositions but consist of multiple words.
• Prepositions Followed by Gerunds: When a verb follows a preposition, it usually takes the gerund form (-ing). For example, “He is good at playing the piano.”
• Stranded Prepositions: In some cases, it is acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition, especially in informal speech. For example, “What are you looking at?”
• Complex Prepositional Phrases: These involve multiple prepositions and objects, creating more intricate relationships within a sentence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about prepositions:

1. What is the object of a preposition?
   The object of a preposition is the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition and completes its meaning. For example, in the phrase “on the table,” “the table” is the object of the preposition “on.”
2. Can a preposition come at the end of a sentence?
   Yes, it is acceptable in informal speech and writing to end a sentence with a preposition. This is called a stranded preposition. For example, “What are you looking at?”
3. How do I know which preposition to use?
   Preposition usage often depends on context and idiomatic expressions. Pay attention to how native speakers use prepositions and practice using them in different situations.
4. What is the difference between “in,” “on,” and “at”?
   “In” is used for enclosed spaces, larger areas, and general times; “on” is used for surfaces and specific days; and “at” is used for specific locations and times.
5. What are phrasal prepositions?
   Phrasal prepositions are multi-word prepositions that function as single units, such as “according to,” “because of,” and “in spite of.”
6. Why are prepositions so difficult to learn?
   Prepositions can be challenging because their usage is often idiomatic and context-dependent. There aren’t always clear rules, so practice and exposure are key.
7. Can a prepositional phrase act as an adjective?
   Yes, a prepositional phrase can act as an adjective, modifying a noun. For example, “The house with the blue door.”
8. What happens if I use the wrong preposition?
   Using the wrong preposition can make your sentence confusing or incorrect. It’s important to choose the right preposition to convey your intended meaning clearly.

Conclusion

Understanding prepositions is essential for mastering English grammar. Prepositions help to clarify the relationships between words in a sentence, providing context and detail. By learning about the different types of prepositions and practicing their usage, you can improve your communication skills and write more clearly and effectively. Remember to pay attention to how native speakers use prepositions and don’t be afraid to ask questions when you’re unsure.

Keep practicing with the exercises and examples provided in this guide, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering prepositions. With consistent effort, you’ll find that these small but mighty words can make a big difference in your English proficiency.