Prepositions

Prepositions are small but powerful words that show how one thing relates to another in time, place, direction, reason, or manner. They help us answer questions such as where, when, how, and why: in the office, after lunch, with care, because of the delay. Used well, they make sentences precise and easy to follow, whether you are describing a book on the table, a meeting at noon, or a journey across town. Although they are often short, prepositions carry a great deal of meaning, and choosing the right one can change the sense of a sentence entirely.

Prepositions matter because they shape clear, natural English in both speaking and writing. A small mistake can sound awkward or even confuse the reader, while the right choice gives your message accuracy and fluency. This page is designed to help you learn prepositions step by step, with explanations, examples, and guidance on common patterns and pitfalls. Use it to check usage, spot differences between similar forms, and build confidence in everyday communication. Whether you are revising for study, polishing your writing, or simply aiming to sound more natural, understanding prepositions will strengthen every sentence you make.

197 entries in this category

Complex Prepositions

aside from

Meaning: except for

Use: aside from one issue

Use: aside from the main point

"Aside from the delay, the trip was pleasant."

according to

Source: according to the report

Agreement: according to the rules

Reference: according to experts

"According to the schedule, the train leaves at 8 a.m."

in accordance with

Rule: in accordance with the law

Agreement: in accordance with policy

Procedure: in accordance with instructions

"The work was done in accordance with the rules."

in lieu of

Meaning: instead of

Use: in lieu of cash

Use: in lieu of flowers

"They gave a gift in lieu of payment."

along with

Addition: along with his sister

Accompaniment: along with the guests

Combination: along with other materials

"She brought her notebook along with a pen."

in regard to

Topic: in regard to your email

Reference: in regard to the matter

Formal use: in regard to payment

"I am writing in regard to your application."

in terms of

Meaning: with respect to

Use: in terms of price

Use: in terms of quality

"In terms of size, the new model is smaller."

as for

Topic shift: as for the plan

Regarding: as for your question

Reference: as for the budget

"As for dinner, we can decide later."

rather than

Preference: rather than coffee

Choice: rather than complain

Contrast: rather than wait

"She walked rather than take the bus."

without regard to

Disregard: without regard to rank

Indifference: without regard to cost

General rule: without regard to age

"The policy was applied without regard to status."

as of

Time point: as of Monday

Status: as of now

Effective date: as of January 1

"As of today, the policy has changed."

subsequent to

Meaning: after

Use: subsequent to the announcement

Use: subsequent to the event

"Subsequent to the interview, she received an offer."

with reference to

Meaning: concerning or about

Use: with reference to the letter

Use: with reference to this issue

"I am writing with reference to your message."

as per

Following: as per instructions

According to: as per the contract

Compliance: as per company policy

"We acted as per your request."

within reach of

Meaning: close enough to touch or use

Use: within reach of the shelf

Use: within reach of the shore

"Keep the medicine within reach of the child."

as to

Regarding: as to the cause

Uncertainty: as to the answer

Topic focus: as to your plan

"There is no doubt as to her ability."

by means of

Method: by means of a tool

Process: by means of careful planning

Manner: by means of a signal

"They communicated by means of sign language."

by way of

Route: by way of Chicago

Method: by way of example

Introduction: by way of explanation

"We traveled by way of the coast."

close to

Distance: close to the station

Approximation: close to ten dollars

Relation: close to the truth

"The hotel is close to the beach."

except for

Exclusion: except for one item

Exception: except for Sundays

Difference: except for the color

"Except for a few mistakes, the essay was good."

far from

Distance: far from the city

Degree: far from perfect

Contrast: far from safe

"The village is far from the highway."

in addition to

Addition: in addition to rice

Extra item: in addition to the fee

Supplement: in addition to his duties

"In addition to his job, he studies at night."

in back of

Location: in back of the house

Position: in back of the store

Relative place: in back of the car

"The garden is in back of the building."

in spite of

Contrast: in spite of the rain

Unexpected result: in spite of criticism

Resistance: in spite of pain

"In spite of the cold, they went hiking."

instead of

Replacement: instead of tea

Choice: instead of waiting

Alternative: instead of going home

"She chose water instead of soda."

on top of

Position: on top of the box

Addition: on top of the cost

Stress: on top of all that

"The papers were on top of the desk."

regardless of

Contrast: regardless of the weather

Condition: regardless of cost

Decision: regardless of opinion

"We continued regardless of the risk."

right after

Time: right after lunch

Sequence: right after the talk

Immediate action: right after the call

"Call me right after the meeting."

safe from

Protection: safe from harm

Security: safe from danger

Shielding: safe from theft

"The children were safe from the storm."

similar to

Comparison: similar to his style

Resemblance: similar to the original

Analogy: similar to that idea

"This design is similar to the old one."

together with

Addition: together with his brother

Accompaniment: together with the package

Combination: together with other parts

"She submitted the form together with the receipt."

up against

Opposition: up against a wall

Competition: up against strong rivals

Difficulty: up against a deadline

"We are up against a tight schedule."

with regard to

Topic: with regard to your request

Formal reference: with regard to the issue

Relation: with regard to the plan

"With regard to your email, I will reply today."

with respect to

Topic: with respect to safety

Relation: with respect to cost

Formal reference: with respect to the law

"With respect to your question, the answer is yes."

with the help of

Assistance: with the help of a guide

Support: with the help of friends

Method: with the help of software

"We solved the problem with the help of a calculator."

within sight of

Location: within sight of the tower

Visibility: within sight of land

Proximity: within sight of the finish line

"The village is within sight of the mountains."

Prepositions of Agent & Instrument

using

Instrument: using a ruler

Method: using a calculator

Means: using a map

Process: using careful planning

"She solved the problem using a calculator."

besides

In addition to: besides her brother

Moreover: besides that

Other than: besides me

"Besides rain, we also had strong wind."

touching

About: He had a remark touching the subject.

Concerning: The law touching taxes was changed.

Regarding: A letter touching the issue was sent.

"They discussed a plan touching the new project."

Prepositions of Cause & Purpose

because of

Cause: because of the rain

Reason: because of his advice

Phrase: because of traffic delays

"The match was canceled because of heavy rain."

in the interest of

Purpose or benefit: in the interest of safety, in the interest of fairness

Formal phrase

Used with abstract nouns

"The rule was changed in the interest of fairness."

at the behest of

Cause or purpose: formal phrase meaning at the request or command of.

Used in official or literary contexts.

Usually followed by a person or authority.

"The meeting was called at the behest of the director."

considering

Cause or circumstance: considering the weather, considering his age

Shows a surprising result given the facts

Often followed by a noun or clause

"Considering the delay, the service was excellent."

due to

Cause: due to the accident

Result: due to illness

Formal: due to budget cuts

"The flight was delayed due to bad weather."

in consequence of

Cause: formal phrase meaning as a result of.

Often used in written or legal English.

Usually followed by a noun phrase.

"The road closed in consequence of the accident."

in hopes of

Purpose: used to show that an action is done with hope of a result.

Often followed by a gerund.

More common in American English.

"They saved money in hopes of buying a house."

in light of

Cause or basis for judgment: in light of new evidence, in light of recent events

Formal and analytical style

Means considering something

"In light of the report, the plan was revised."

owing to

Cause: owing to the storm

Formal reason: owing to a shortage

Written style: owing to unforeseen circumstances

"The event was postponed owing to a power failure."

in aid of

Purpose: used to show support for a cause or charity.

Often appears in events, fundraising, and public notices.

Formal but fairly common in set phrases.

"They organized a concert in aid of the hospital."

under the influence of

Cause or motive: under the influence of alcohol, under the influence of stress

Describes being affected by something

Used with abstract or concrete causes

"He made a poor decision under the influence of fatigue."

in order to

Purpose: in order to improve

Formal aim: in order to avoid mistakes

Clarity: in order to succeed

"She arrived early in order to prepare the room."

from fear of

Cause: used to show that an action is done because of fear.

Usually followed by a noun phrase or gerund.

More formal or literary than scared of.

"He avoided the topic from fear of conflict."

so as to

Purpose: so as to reduce noise

Formal intention: so as to be clear

Negative purpose: so as not to disturb

"He spoke quietly so as to avoid waking the baby."

in honor of

Purpose or motive: in honor of a teacher, in honor of a victory

Used to show respect or celebration

Often appears in ceremonial contexts

"A dinner was held in honor of the retiring principal."

on account of

Reason: on account of rain

Formal cause: on account of illness

Explanation: on account of delays

"The school was closed on account of snow."

thanks to

Positive cause: thanks to her help

Favorable result: thanks to good timing

Often ironic: thanks to bad luck

"We finished early thanks to the extra team members."

for the sake of

Purpose: for the sake of peace

Benefit: for the sake of the children

Motivation: for the sake of honesty

"He remained calm for the sake of the discussion."

in the name of

Cause or authority: in the name of justice

Purpose: in the name of progress

Official appeal: in the name of the law

"They protested in the name of freedom."

as a result of

Cause and effect: as a result of the fire

Outcome: as a result of pressure

Formal explanation: as a result of changes

"Several roads were closed as a result of flooding."

in response to

Reaction: in response to a request

Cause and reaction: in response to criticism

Formal reply: in response to your letter

"The company issued a statement in response to the complaint."

at the request of

Cause based on request: at the request of the teacher

Formal action: at the request of the client

Courtesy phrase: at the request of management

"The speaker stayed longer at the request of the audience."

on behalf of

Representation: on behalf of the team

Speaking for someone: on behalf of my family

Formal action: on behalf of the organization

"She accepted the award on behalf of her colleagues."

in support of

Purpose: in support of the plan

Reason for action: in support of victims

Agreement: in support of the proposal

"They donated money in support of the charity."

for the purpose of

Purpose: for the purpose of research

Formal intent: for the purpose of training

Specific aim: for the purpose of improvement

"The room was reserved for the purpose of the meeting."

with a view to

Purpose: with a view to saving time

Formal intention: with a view to expansion

Planning: with a view to improving service

"The company hired more staff with a view to growth."

in view of

Reason: in view of the evidence

Considering: in view of the cost

Formal basis: in view of the situation

"The ceremony was shortened in view of the weather."

because

Reason clause: because he was late

Cause in sentence: because it rained

Explanation: because she asked

"We stayed home because it was too cold."

given

Cause or condition: given the facts

Considering: given the time

Formal basis: given the circumstances

"Given the cost, we decided to wait."

for fear of

Purpose of avoidance: for fear of failure

Reason for caution: for fear of punishment

Motivation by worry: for fear of being late

"He spoke softly for fear of waking the baby."

lest

Negative purpose: lest he forget

Formal caution: lest it happen again

Rare in modern speech: lest they arrive late

"Take notes lest you forget the details."

so that

Purpose with clause: so that we can finish

Reason and result: so that it would be easier

Intent: so that nobody gets lost

"We left a map so that everyone could find the way."

in case of

Condition or cause: in case of fire

Preparedness: in case of emergency

Formal notice: in case of rain

"Keep the exit clear in case of an accident."

in preparation for

Purpose: in preparation for the exam

Cause of action: in preparation for winter

Planning: in preparation for the trip

"They bought warm clothes in preparation for the cold season."

for lack of

Cause: for lack of money

Reason: for lack of evidence

Formal explanation: for lack of time

"The project failed for lack of funding."

because of the fact that

Emphatic cause: because of the fact that he was ill

Formal explanation: because of the fact that traffic was heavy

Wordy but clear: because of the fact that they agreed

"We stayed inside because of the fact that the storm was getting worse."

Prepositions of Direction

away from

Moving farther from: step away from the fire

Distance from a place: live away from downtown

Avoidance: keep away from danger

"He backed away from the edge."

Movement toward a destination

Used with places and people

Often followed by a noun or pronoun

"She walked to the station."

onto the side of

Movement toward a side surface

Used for climbing or placing onto a side area

Shows direction to an exterior side

"The child slid onto the side of the slide."

below

Movement to a lower place or level

Used for positions lower than a reference point

Often used in comparisons

"The valley lies below the mountain."

into the middle of

Movement to the center of a place or group

Used when entering a central area

Can show direct motion to a middle point

"The player ran into the middle of the field."

onto the

Movement onto a surface: jump onto the bed

Placement onto a place: put it onto the shelf

Transfer: load onto the truck

"The book slid onto the floor."

around the corner

Movement to the other side of a corner

Often used for nearby direction

Can describe a short turn in a route

"The bakery is just around the corner."

above

Movement to a higher place or level

Used for positions higher than a reference point

Often used in comparisons

"The airplane flew above the clouds."

off of

Removal from a surface: take it off of the table

Movement away from a surface: jump off of the dock

Separation from a place: fall off of the roof

"She lifted the papers off of the desk."

into the

Movement into a place: step into the car

Entry into an area: go into the garden

Change into a state: turn into the story

"The bird flew into the tree."

between

Movement into the space separating two things

Used with two people, places, or objects

Can show position in the middle

"The child stood between her parents."

amongst

Movement into a group of three or more

More formal or literary than among

Used in British English more often

"She sat amongst her friends."

inside

Movement to the interior of something

Used with rooms, buildings, and containers

Can mean within a boundary

"Please come inside the house."

beside

Movement or position next to something

More exact than by in some contexts

Used for being close to a person or object

"He sat beside his sister."

next to

Movement or position immediately beside something

Used for direct adjacency

Often used in everyday speech

"The lamp is next to the bed."

behind

Movement to the back of something

Used for position at the rear

Can show following position

"The car was behind the bus."

in front of

Movement to the forward side of something

Used for position before another object

Can show facing or leading position

"The teacher stood in front of the class."

towards

Movement in the direction of something

British spelling of toward

Often used with a goal or destination

"She moved towards the door."

out of

Movement from inside a place or container

Used for exiting or removing something

Shows leaving a bounded space

"He took the book out of the bag."

away

Movement to a farther place

Shows increasing distance from something

Can mean leaving or disappearing

"The dog ran away from the yard."

apart from

Movement or position separated from something

Used to show distance or exclusion

Can mean aside from

"The cabin stood apart from the village."

up to

Movement as far as a limit

Used for reaching a height or point

Can show maximum extent

"The water rose up to the bridge."

down to

Movement as far as a lower point

Used for reaching a minimum or endpoint

Can show descent toward a limit

"They walked down to the river."

throughout

Movement all through a place or area

Used for covering every part of something

Can show from beginning to end

"The smell spread throughout the house."

Prepositions of Manner

Manner: in a cheerful tone

Manner: in a whisper

Style: in English

Condition: in good order

"She spoke in a cheerful tone during the meeting."

far

Distance: far from home, far beyond

Manner: far and wide, far apart

Degree: far better, far too late

"The farm is far from the city."

with

Means: with a pen

Accompaniment: with confidence

Style: with grace

Instrument: with care

"He signed the letter with a pen."

Means: by hand

Method: by design

Manner: by chance

Speed: by degrees

"The note was written by hand."

through

Means: through effort

Process: through trial and error

Manner: through practice

Path: through the crowd

"She improved through practice."

under

Manner: under pressure

Condition: under control

State: under review

Effect: under protest

"He worked under pressure all week."

over

Manner: over coffee

Means: over the phone

Relation: over time

Comparison: over and above

"We discussed the plan over coffee."

about

Topic: about safety

Manner: about face

Approximation: about right

Concern: about the matter

"They talked about safety for an hour."

across

Manner: across the board

Movement: across the room

Distribution: across groups

Relation: across from

"The policy applies across the board."

along

Manner: along calmly

Movement: along the road

Progress: along well

Direction: along the edge

"We walked along the road quietly."

around

Movement: around the block

Manner: around midnight

Approximation: around the city

Activity: around the issue

"He drove around the block twice."

Manner: at full speed

State: at ease

Condition: at risk

Reaction: at once

"She answered at once."

from

Source: from the source

Origin: from childhood

Manner: from scratch

Difference: from one another

"He learned the skill from scratch."

into

Change: into shape

Result: into action

Manner: into pieces

Movement: into the room

"The dough was shaped into a loaf."

onto

Movement: onto the table

Transfer: onto paper

Result: onto the screen

Direction: onto the path

"He placed the book onto the table."

Relation: of quality

Partitive: one of many

Manner: in the style of

Cause: of necessity

"The decision was made of necessity."

off

Manner: off duty

Movement: off the stage

State: off balance

Direction: off course

"The guard was off duty that night."

Manner: on purpose

State: on edge

Basis: on credit

Progress: on schedule

"He did it on purpose."

out

Manner: out loud

Movement: out of town

State: out of breath

Result: out of order

"She laughed out loud."

outside

Location: outside the house

Manner: outside normal hours

Condition: outside control

Scope: outside the rules

"They waited outside the house."

within

Limit: within reason

Time: within minutes

Scope: within reach

Manner: within walking distance

"The answer came within minutes."

without

Absence: without warning

Means: without delay

Manner: without hesitation

Condition: without fail

"She left without warning."

Manner: up close

Direction: up the hill

State: up to date

Completion: up and running

"He looked up close at the painting."

down

Manner: down softly

Movement: down the stairs

State: down low

Reduction: down to earth

"The music played down softly."

past

Movement: past the gate

Manner: past midnight

Time: past noon

Comparison: past belief

"We drove past the gate slowly."

near

Location: near the door

Manner: near enough

Approximation: near perfect

Relation: near to

"The chair is near the door."

against

Direction: against the wall

Manner: against the rules

Support: against all odds

Conflict: against time

"He leaned against the wall."

before

Time: before dawn

Order: before all else

Manner: before long

Priority: before anything

"She arrived before dawn."

after

Time: after sunset

Manner: after a while

Order: after dinner

Result: after much effort

"They met after sunset."

during

Time: during the day

Manner: during the lesson

Process: during testing

Event: during the storm

"He stayed quiet during the lesson."

except

Exclusion: except for you

Manner: except as noted

Condition: except in rare cases

Limit: except when needed

"Everyone came except for you."

Manner: like a pro

Comparison: like him

Pattern: like this

Similarity: like before

"She handled the task like a pro."

Manner: as usual

Role: as a guide

Degree: as needed

Comparison: as fast as

"He worked as a guide for the tour."

per

Rate: per hour

Manner: per instructions

Basis: per policy

Distribution: per person

"The fee is charged per hour."

via

Route: via Paris

Manner: via email

Means: via phone

Process: via the web

"Please send the report via email."

toward

Direction: toward the door

Attitude: toward others

Manner: toward evening

Relation: toward the goal

"She moved toward the door."

upon

Immediately after: upon arrival

Condition: upon request

Dependence: upon approval

Manner: upon reflection

"Upon arrival, he called home."

beneath

Position: beneath the table

Condition: beneath notice

Manner: beneath contempt

Relation: beneath the surface

"The key was beneath the table."

beyond

Location: beyond the fence

Degree: beyond belief

Limit: beyond repair

Scope: beyond doubt

"The damage was beyond repair."

among

Relation: among friends

Distribution: among the group

Manner: among others

Comparison: among the best

"She felt at ease among friends."

Prepositions of Place

amidst

Use for being in the middle of something: amidst the storm, amidst the crowd.

Use for being surrounded by a condition or event: amidst confusion, amidst laughter.

Use in formal or literary writing as a synonym of amid.

"She remained calm amidst the noise."

underneath

Use for something under or beneath another object.

Use when the lower position is emphasized.

Use in spoken and written English.

Use for something covered from view.

"The box is underneath the bed."

nearby

In the area close by: a nearby shop, a nearby town

Used as an adjective or adverb for close location: nearby parking, nearby houses

Indicates something is not far away: look nearby

"There is a nearby cafe on the corner."

under the

Use before a noun to show lower position: under the bed, under the chair

Often means covered or hidden below something: under the blanket

Can show a place located beneath a reference point: under the bridge

"The toy is under the sofa."

opposite

Use for a position directly across from something.

Use for facing another place or object.

Use for two things on different sides of a street or room.

Use when something is in reverse position.

"The pharmacy is opposite the hotel."

at the back of

At the rear side of something: at the back of the house

Used for position behind a main area: at the back of the room

Can indicate the rear part of a group or place: at the back of the line

"The garden is at the back of the house."

across from

Use for a position on the other side of something.

Use for places facing each other.

Use in spoken English for street locations.

Use when two places are directly across a space.

"The bank is across from the library."

in the middle of

Located at the center of something: in the middle of the room

Surrounded by people or things: in the middle of the crowd

Used for central position in an area: in the middle of the lake

"The fountain is in the middle of the square."

round

Use in British English for movement or position around something.

Use as a synonym of around in many contexts.

Use for circular movement.

Use in informal speech for going around a place.

"They sat round the fire."

inside of

Use for the inner part of an object or area.

Use to emphasize being within something.

Use in American English in place of inside.

Use for enclosed spaces or containers.

"The letter is inside of the envelope."

outside of

Use for the area on the outer side of something.

Use to mean beyond the boundary of a place.

Use in American English in place of outside.

Use for being not within an area.

"He waited outside of the building."

near to

Use for a place close to something.

Use in British English as a fuller form of near.

Use for approximate location.

Use when distance is small but not exact.

"The museum is near to the river."

Prepositions of Time

as from

Starting at a future time: as from next week, as from June

Formal phrase meaning beginning at

Used in announcements and notices

Indicates a change starting then

"As from tomorrow, the office will open earlier."

till

Informal form of until: till midnight

Up to a time limit: till Friday

With continued action: wait till morning

Used in spoken English: till then

"They worked till late at night."

pending

Time: pending approval.

Time: pending the results.

Time: pending a decision.

Time: pending further notice.

"The trip is delayed pending approval."

amid

Time: amid the war.

Time: amid the changes.

Time: amid the crisis.

Time: amid growing concerns.

"Amid the confusion, she stayed calm."

since

Starting point in time: since 2010

Starting point with an event: since Monday

With present perfect: have lived here since childhood

Duration from a point in the past: since dawn

"She has been here since January."

for the time being

Temporary period: for the time being, just for now

Used when something is temporary

Shows a present arrangement that may change

Common in conversation and writing

"For the time being, we will meet online."

every

Time: every morning.

Time: every Monday.

Time: every year.

Time: every other day.

"He checks his email every morning."

ahead of

Before a future time: ahead of schedule

Earlier than a deadline: ahead of the holiday

Before an event: ahead of the meeting

Used for planning time: ahead of winter

"We finished ahead of the deadline."

in time

Early enough: in time for dinner, in time for the bus

Not late, before a deadline or event

Different from on time, which means punctually

Often followed by for

"We arrived in time for the show."

each

Time: each day.

Time: each week.

Time: each year.

Time: each morning.

"We meet each Friday."

prior to

Formal before a time: prior to noon

Before an event: prior to departure

Earlier than a date: prior to 2020

Used in official writing for sequence: prior to the appointment

"Please sign the form prior to your visit."

on time

Punctually: on time for class, on time every day

Not late or early

Used for scheduled events and appointments

Describes exact punctuality

"The flight left on time."

at times

Occasionally: at times, at times during the year

Used to mean sometimes

Shows repeated but not constant occurrence

Common in written and spoken English

"At times, the road gets very crowded."

this

Time: this morning.

Time: this week.

Time: this year.

Time: this evening.

"I saw her this morning."

following

After a time or event: following the break

In the period after: following Monday

Used for next in sequence: following the ceremony

Formal equivalent of after in schedules

"We spoke following the presentation."

around the time of

At approximately the same time as: around the time of the storm

Near a particular event: around the time of graduation

During a general period: around the time of the election

Used to locate an event in time

"She moved away around the time of her wedding."

that

Time: that day.

Time: that week.

Time: that year.

Time: that evening.

"I was busy that day."

from time to time

Occasionally: from time to time, now and then

Used for irregular repetition

Means not often but sometimes

Common in conversation

"We still call each other from time to time."

at the end of

In the final part of a period: at the end of the week

After completion of an event: at the end of the movie

When a deadline arrives: at the end of the month

Used to mark the closing time of something

"We will decide at the end of the lesson."

Time: next week.

Time: next month.

Time: next year.

Time: next Monday.

"Our vacation starts next month."

at the beginning of

In the opening part of a period: at the beginning of the year

At the start of an event: at the beginning of the class

When something starts: at the beginning of summer

Used to mark the first stage of a time span

"The rules were explained at the beginning of the meeting."

last

Time: last night.

Time: last week.

Time: last year.

Time: last summer.

"We met last Saturday."

early

Time: early in the morning.

Time: early in the week.

Time: early in the year.

Time: early next month.

"She woke up early in the morning."

in time for

Before a deadline or event: in time for dinner

Early enough to do something: in time for the bus

Arriving before a scheduled moment: in time for class

Used when timing matters

"We got home in time for the news."

on time for

Punctually for an event: on time for work

At the scheduled moment: on time for the appointment

Not late for a class or meeting: on time for the exam

Used for arriving exactly as planned

"He was on time for the interview."

late

Time: late at night.

Time: late in the evening.

Time: late this year.

Time: late next week.

"He arrived late at night."

recently

Time: recently.

Time: recently in the year.

Time: recently after the move.

Time: recently during the break.

"I recently started a new job."

at the same time as

Simultaneous with another event: at the same time as the concert

Occurs together with: at the same time as dinner

Happens concurrently with a period: at the same time as the storm

Used to compare timing

"The alarm rang at the same time as the phone."

after a while

Following some time: after a while

After a short period: after a while the pain eased

Used to show delay before change: after a while they agreed

Informal phrase for later in time

"After a while, the room became quiet."

now

Time: now.

Time: now and then.

Time: right now.

Time: until now.

"We need to leave now."

for the first time

On an initial occasion: for the first time

During a first experience: for the first time in years

Used to mark novelty in time: for the first time this month

Applied to a one time event

"I visited Paris for the first time last summer."

today

Time: today.

Time: later today.

Time: today morning.

Time: until today.

"I finished my homework today."

tomorrow

Time: tomorrow.

Time: tomorrow morning.

Time: tomorrow night.

Time: by tomorrow.

"The doctor will call tomorrow."

for the last time

On a final occasion: for the last time

Used to emphasize finality in time: for the last time this year

During the final occurrence of an action: for the last time yesterday

Marks the end of repetition

"Please listen to me for the last time."

once

At one time or on one occasion: once a week

As soon as a time point is reached: once the rain stops

During a single occurrence: once in a lifetime

Used to mean at one past time in the past

"Once summer arrives, we go hiking."

twice

Two times in a period: twice a day

On two occasions: twice this month

Repeated action over time: twice a year

Used for frequency in time

"I check my email twice each morning."

Prepositions with Adjectives

despite

In spite of: despite the rain

Without being affected by: despite his age

Contrary to: despite advice

"Despite the noise, she kept reading."

concerning

Topic: concerning your request, concerning the report

Formal about: concerning the issue, concerning safety

Reference: concerning our meeting, concerning future plans

"I have a question concerning your application."

according

Reference: according to the report

Agreement: according to plan

Basis: according to the rules

"The work was done according to the rules."

regarding

Topic: regarding the case, regarding your order

Formal about: regarding this matter, regarding the schedule

Reference: regarding our conversation, regarding the policy

"She wrote to us regarding the delay."

for

Purpose: for practice

Duration: for two hours

Recipient: a gift for her

"This room is for study and reading."

unlike

Contrast: unlike before, unlike other people

Difference: unlike him, unlike the rest

Comparison: unlike any other, unlike anything else

"Unlike her brother, she enjoys quiet evenings."

Prepositions with Nouns

minus

Arithmetic: ten minus four

Temperature: minus five degrees

Less than: profit minus expenses

"The forecast says minus three degrees tonight."

plus

Addition: five plus two

Addition of extra amount: salary plus benefits

Informal benefit: experience plus confidence

"The price is ten dollars plus tax."

save

Except: everyone save John

Formal excepting: save for one error

Preserve: save the file

"Save one seat for me."

Prepositions with Verbs

until

Time up to a point: until tomorrow, until midnight

Continuing action: wait until, stay until

Limit or endpoint: not until, up until

"We waited until the rain stopped."