More Kinds Than You Know: Examples of Prepositions & Their Uses

If this is your first time hearing the term “preposition,” you may wonder why you should study examples of this word type. After all, prepositions, also called connecting words here, are common, short, and easy to remember. So why put so much focus on them? Well, the better you understand them, the easier it becomes to communicate your thoughts. If you need to learn the basics of connecting words and see examples of prepositions, quickly visit this page.

In fact, connecting words make it easy to create complex sentences that connect one point with another. In addition, you’re able to provide your audience with important background information by including connecting words, verbs, and nouns in your sentences. Here are a few preposition examples showing how the right connecting words give the reader key info.

Each sentence that contains at least one connecting word helps you to better understand the situation. It makes you feel like the sentences without connecting words aren’t providing the full scenario. That’s why this part of speech is important for both writing and speaking. Now that you understand why connecting words are so valuable, let’s look at the various categories. You’ll begin with time preposition examples.

Time Connecting Words: Examples of a Preposition

On is one of the most common time connecting words. You can use it to discuss days of the week in this prepositions example.

• What did you do on Friday? I didn’t see you at the party.
• Well, on Thursday night I came down with the flu. I was still sick on Friday, so my mom wouldn’t let me leave the house.

In American English, you also use on to discuss the weekend and vacations.

• I like going to the beach on weekends during summer. What do you like to do on summer weekends, George?
• You haven’t been on vacation in over three years? You need a break!

In is another common time connecting word. Use it to talk about a period of time in this prepositions example.

• I have my swimming lesson in the morning tomorrow.
• My dad went to the rooftop Beatles concert in the winter of 1969.

At is a connecting word you use to describe what happens at a particular hour or time of day.

• Did you remember we have a date at 7:00pm? Be sure not to forget!
• I can’t believe I’m jogging home this late at night.

You also use at in place of on when discussing the weekend in British English.

• In London you say, “What did you do at the weekend.”

Before you learn how to use other connecting words, take a quick break. Here are helpful lessons on MLA format and more citation styles.

Place Connecting Words: More Examples of Preposition

On, in, and at are place preposition examples. However, instead of explaining when something will happen, like time connecting words do, place words tell us where something is. For a quick intro to place connecting words and examples of a preposition, see this for further reading.

There are many reasons why you would use the word on when showing the placement of one thing in connection to another thing. First, you can use it to explain when something is on top of something else. Take this prepositions example:

• Sure, you can borrow my pencil. It’s on the bookshelf.

Second, on works with a thing attached to something else.

• I only keep the finest paintings on my wall. Nothing else will do.

Third, you use on to describe placement.

• The bathroom is upstairs and on your right.
• I’m on the fourth floor of a New York walkup.

Finally, on can describe different methods of travel.

• Henry is fearful when he flies on a plane.
• That’s true, but I love riding on trains!

In has fewer uses while acting as a place connecting words. Basically, you use it to describe when something is inside another thing.

• I can’t talk right now, I’m in the car.
• Where am I traveling now? I’m currently in Egypt.
• Cynthia got to the final level in her favorite video game.

The place word at shows the specific location of something.

• She met her friends at the ice skating rink.

You use at to describe where certain events take place.

• She did such a great job at the bodybuilding competition.
• They host a festival every year at the waterfront.

At also describes where you do typical activities.

• I’m at work right now.
• They’re both at the beach right now.

Ending a sentence with a preposition is also doable. Take a gander at these examples of a preposition at work!

• Where are you at?
• Where is he from?
• Who’s this going to?

All of these examples of preposition show connecting words ending a sentence. These cases, as you can see, typically end in the interrogative. Think you can create your own examples of a preposition, yet?

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Different Varieties of Connecting Words

Simple Preposition Examples

Of and by are a couple of simple connecting words. How do you use each one in a prepositions example?

Of can either show possession or express an amount.

• She’s a friend of Sally’s.
• I would like a half pound of french fries please.

By explains who has done something.

• My favorite book was written by R.L. Stine.
• That song by Taylor is incredibly catchy.

Examples of Prepositions: The Double Connecting Words

Take two simple connecting words and combine them to get double connecting words such as onto and into. Onto expresses movement to a certain place.

• I got onto the train to begin my trip.
• He went onto the dock to catch some fish.

You go into something when you travel inside or toward the center of that thing.

• I’m getting into the pool. Are you joining?

Examples of Prepositions: The Compound Connecting Words

Sometimes multiple words form compound connecting words. Take the words thanks to and regardless of, for instance. Thanks to means the same as “because of.”

• I’m attending Harvard next semester thanks to my generous scholarships.

Regardless of means in spite of something, or without considering it.

• He doesn’t always wear a helmet, regardless of the fact he could injure himself skating.

Examples of Prepositions: The Gerund Connecting Words

Some connecting words are gerunds, which are verbs ending in -ing like during and excluding. During explains when something happens.

• Some people didn’t enroll in the army during the Civil War.

Excluding means to not include someone.

• We all ate pizza, excluding Dave, because he’s gluten intolerant.

Phrasal Preposition Examples

Some phrases also work as connecting words. You might be familiar with as well as or with the exception of. You use as well as to include something.

• I’m headed to Prague as well as Budapest this summer.

With the exception of, excludes something.

• We all ate salad, with the exception of Dave, because he’s on the strict carnivore diet.

Examples of Preposition for Agent and Instrument

When someone creates something, they are the agent of that thing. You already know the word by from earlier. With and without also fit in this group.

With includes. Without excludes.

• He’s creating this painting with his mentors.
• She’s making pasta without any help.

Before you finish the lesson on what examples of a preposition are, you need to learn the incorrect usage or rather become more familiar with reading context. There are times when prepositions can become a part of the verb it is next to in a sentence. These preposition examples show:

• My daughter grew up so fast!
• The lights were turned on.

In both examples of prepositions, the bolded words include the prepositions up and on. They combine with their verbs preceding them and transform the meaning of the two words altogether. Now, look at how changing the context of the verb alters the connecting words purpose.

• The vines grew up along the drain pipe.
• The group of kids turn on the next light.

In both examples of a preposition above, up and on take back their original meaning as a connecting word and don’t take on the verb’s meaning.

Now that you have studied a few preposition examples, practice creating your own sentences with them. Right or wrong, learn and memorize the ins and outs of these examples of preposition. Out of all the preposition categories, were there examples of prepositions that you still don’t understand? You’ll find that you use these words often to add detail in both speech and writing. Practice makes perfect and using preposition examples goes a long way when perfecting the English language.