50 Prepositional Phrases: Enhance Your English Skills with These Essential Expressions

Introduction to Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrases are groups of words that begin with a preposition and end with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase. They function as adjectives or adverbs in a sentence, providing additional information about time, location, direction, cause, or manner. Understanding how to use prepositional phrases will greatly enhance your English proficiency, allowing you to add detail and context to your speech and writing.

Here are 50 common prepositional phrases, along with examples to help you see how they function in sentences:

1. At home

2. She likes to relax at home during the weekends.

3. In time

4. We arrived just in time for the concert.

5. On time

6. The train always arrives on time.

7. Under the table

8. The cat is hiding under the table.

9. Over the bridge

10. Walk over the bridge to reach the park.

11. For a reason

12. Everything happened for a reason.

13. At night

14. The streets are quieter at night.

15. During the day

16. I work during the day and study in the evening.

17. Between the lines

18. Reading between the lines, I understood her true feelings.

19. Beyond the horizon

    • Dreams and goals can be found beyond the horizon.

20. By the river

    • We had a picnic by the river.

21. Next to the store

    • The new café is next to the store.

22. Behind the scenes

    • A lot of work goes on behind the scenes.

23. In front of the building

    • A statue was placed in front of the building.

24. Above the clouds

    • The airplane flew above the clouds.

25. Below the surface

    • There's a lot happening below the surface.

26. Within reach

    • The book on the shelf is within reach.

27. Without a doubt

    • She is, without a doubt, the best candidate.

28. Against the wall

    • The ladder was leaning against the wall.

29. Near the school

    • They live near the school.

30. On the corner

    • There’s a mailbox on the corner.

31. Across the street

    • He lives across the street from the park.

32. During the meeting

    • Many topics were discussed during the meeting.

33. After dinner

    • Let's go for a walk after dinner.

34. Before bedtime

    • I like to read a book before bedtime.

35. Into the wild

    • The adventurers ventured into the wild.

36. Out of breath

    • She was out of breath after running.

37. Through the window

    • I saw a bird fly through the window.

38. Up the hill

    • They climbed up the hill to get a better view.

39. Down the street

    • We walked down the street to the café.

40. Along the coast

    • We drove along the coast on our vacation.

41. Across from the library

    • There's a new coffee shop across from the library.

42. With a smile

    • He greeted everyone with a smile.

43. Under pressure

    • She performs well under pressure.

44. In the end

    • Everything worked out in the end.

45. Over time

    • His skills improved over time.

46. At the start

    • Things were different at the start of the project.

47. By chance

    • We met by chance at the market.

48. In good spirits

    • She was in good spirits after hearing the good news.

49. Out of the blue

    • The idea came to me out of the blue.

50. Beyond expectation

    • The results were beyond expectation.

51. For the sake of

    • He did it for the sake of the team.

52. Under control

    • The situation is now under control.

53. Without warning

    • The storm hit without warning.

54. On the way

    • I'm on the way to the airport.

55. By mistake

    • I sent the email by mistake.

56. In danger of

    • The building is in danger of collapsing.

57. On account of

    • The game was canceled on account of the weather.

58. In response to

    • She wrote the article in response to the criticism.

59. In accordance with

    • We are operating in accordance with the regulations.

By familiarizing yourself with these phrases and their applications, you can effectively use them in your conversations and written communications to convey more precise meanings.

Common Prepositional Phrases in Everyday English

Prepositional phrases add detail and context to our conversations and writings. Below is a list of 50 commonly used prepositional phrases that can enrich your English vocabulary. Each phrase includes the preposition and its object, offering you a way to understand their usage better.

1. At home - She prefers reading at home.
2. In the morning - I usually jog in the morning.
3. On time – He always arrives on time.
4. By car - They traveled by car.
5. For sale - This house is for sale.
6. In the end - In the end, everything was fine.
7. On the phone - She was on the phone for an hour.
8. With a smile - He greeted us with a smile.
9. At work - She's currently at work.
10. In a hurry - He left in a hurry.
11. On a diet - She’s on a diet now.
12. Under control - The situation is under control.
13. In case - Take an umbrella in case it rains.
14. Out of order - The vending machine is out of order.
15. By chance - We met by chance.
16. In charge - Who is in charge here?
17. At risk - The species is at risk of extinction.
18. On foot - They went to the park on foot.
19. With enthusiasm - She sang with enthusiasm.
20. At once - Come here at once!
21. In love - They are in love.
22. By mistake - I sent the email by mistake.
23. Out of stock - The item is out of stock.
24. For fun - She plays the piano for fun.
25. Through the window - I saw him through the window.
26. In the meantime - In the meantime, let’s have a coffee.
27. On the way - I’m on the way home.
28. Without a doubt - She is, without a doubt, talented.
29. At the moment - We are busy at the moment.
30. In the long run - It will benefit us in the long run.
31. On purpose - Did you do that on purpose?
32. With regard to - With regard to your request, we need more information.
33. As a rule - As a rule, we don’t permit pets.
34. In fact - In fact, he is a doctor.
35. On the whole - On the whole, it was a great day.
36. At least - At least, that’s what she said.
37. In the middle - He was in the middle of a call.
38. Under the weather - She feels under the weather today.
39. In advance - You need to pay in advance.
40. By the way - By the way, did you see my keys?
41. On the other hand - On the other hand, it's quite costly.
42. In touch - Let’s keep in touch.
43. Out of breath - She was out of breath after running.
44. For good - They moved to Canada for good.
45. With ease - He solved the problem with ease.
46. In common - They have much in common.
47. As usual - He was, as usual, late.
48. Under pressure - She performs well under pressure.
49. In progress - The project is in progress.
50. On the table - The book is on the table.

These prepositional phrases are tools that will help you convey precise meanings and nuances in your communications. Practice incorporating them into your daily conversations and writing to become more fluent and expressive in English.

Prepositional Phrases for Describing Time and Place

Prepositional phrases are essential in English for specifying time and location. They help provide clarity and precision in communication. Below are 50 common prepositional phrases that describe time and place:

Phrases for Time

1. At dawn - The birds start chirping at dawn.
2. In the morning - I like to exercise in the morning.
3. At noon - We will meet at noon for lunch.
4. In the afternoon - She takes a nap in the afternoon.
5. At sunset - The sky looks beautiful at sunset.
6. At night - It’s quiet in the city at night.
7. In a few minutes - The show will start in a few minutes.
8. In an hour - I will call you back in an hour.
9. On the weekend - We enjoy going hiking on the weekend.
10. In the 1990s - This song was popular in the 1990s.
11. At midnight - The fireworks will begin at midnight.
12. In January - My birthday is in January.
13. On Monday - Our classes start on Monday.
14. On the 5th of May - The festival is on the 5th of May.
15. In the 21st century - Many changes took place in the 21st century.
16. During the summer - We travel a lot during the summer.
17. By noon - Can you finish the task by noon?
18. For a week - They stayed with us for a week.
19. Since 2010 - She has been working here since 2010.
20. Until tomorrow - You can keep the book until tomorrow.
21. For two years - He lived abroad for two years.
22. On New Year’s Day - We usually celebrate on New Year’s Day.
23. During the night - It rained heavily during the night.
24. From morning till night - She was busy from morning till night.
25. In the past - Life was simpler in the past.

Phrases for Place

1. At the park - We had a picnic at the park.
2. In the city - They live in the city.
3. On the roof - The cat is sitting on the roof.
4. Under the bridge - Homeless people sometimes sleep under the bridge.
5. Next to the river - We went fishing next to the river.
6. Between the buildings - There is a small alley between the buildings.
7. In front of the house - The car is parked in front of the house.
8. Behind the curtain - He was hiding behind the curtain.
9. Across the street - The bakery is located across the street.
10. At the corner - There is a mailbox at the corner.
11. In the backyard - The kids are playing in the backyard.
12. On the road - There is a bicycle lane on the road.
13. Near the beach - We rented a house near the beach.
14. By the lake - They had a picnic by the lake.
15. Inside the building - The meeting is inside the building.
16. Outside the store - There is a bus stop outside the store.
17. On the second floor - The office is on the second floor.
18. At the top of the hill - There's a great view at the top of the hill.
19. In the middle of the street - A tow truck is parked in the middle of the street.
20. At the bottom of the stairs - Wait for me at the bottom of the stairs.
21. On the island - They spent the summer on the island.
22. Over the mountains - The plane flew over the mountains.
23. Toward the east - They are heading toward the east.
24. Along the path - Flowers are blooming along the path.
25. In the vicinity - There are many restaurants in the vicinity.

Understanding and using these prepositional phrases can greatly enhance your ability to describe time and place accurately in English. Practice incorporating them into your daily conversations and writing to become more fluent and precise.

Prepositional phrases are a fundamental part of English grammar, and using them effectively can add clarity, detail, and depth to your writing. Below, you will find a variety of prepositional phrases along with their meanings and example sentences. These phrases help describe relationships in time and place, indicate specific details, and enhance the overall expressiveness of your language.

1. At a glance
2. Meaning: With a quick look

3. Example: At a glance, the report seemed complete.

4. By chance

5. Meaning: Unexpectedly or accidentally

6. Example: We met by chance at the library.

7. In advance

8. Meaning: Before something happens

9. Example: Please let us know in advance if you will attend.

10. Under pressure

11. Meaning: Experiencing stress

12. Example: She performs well under pressure.

13. On purpose

14. Meaning: Intentionally

15. Example: He spilled the juice on purpose.

16. In the meantime

17. Meaning: During this time

18. Example: You can explore the area in the meantime.

19. For good measure

20. Meaning: In addition to what is expected

21. Example: I added extra chocolate chips for good measure.

22. Behind schedule

23. Meaning: Later than planned

24. Example: The train is running behind schedule.

25. In the long run

26. Meaning: Over a long period of time

27. Example: This decision will benefit us in the long run.

28. Out of order

    • Meaning: Not functioning
    • Example: The vending machine is out of order.

29. To some extent

    • Meaning: Partially
    • Example: To some extent, I agree with your opinion.

30. In a nutshell

    • Meaning: Briefly
    • Example: In a nutshell, the project was canceled.

31. For a change

    • Meaning: Doing something different
    • Example: Let’s try going to a new restaurant for a change.

32. On the whole

    • Meaning: Overall
    • Example: On the whole, everyone enjoyed the event.

33. By and large

    • Meaning: Generally
    • Example: By and large, the plan was successful.

34. In the vicinity of

    • Meaning: Near
    • Example: They live in the vicinity of the park.

35. With regard to

    • Meaning: Concerning
    • Example: With regard to your application, we need more information.

36. In terms of

    • Meaning: Concerning a particular aspect
    • Example: In terms of budget, we must be careful.

37. At your convenience

    • Meaning: When you are able to
    • Example: Please call me at your convenience.

38. In accordance with

    • Meaning: Following rules or instructions
    • Example: The project was completed in accordance with the guidelines.

39. In favor of

    • Meaning: Supporting
    • Example: They voted in favor of the new policy.

40. With the exception of

    • Meaning: Not including
    • Example: With the exception of John, everyone was on time.

41. For the sake of

    • Meaning: For the purpose of
    • Example: He moved to the city for the sake of his career.

42. In the event of

    • Meaning: If something happens
    • Example: In the event of rain, the picnic will be canceled.

43. On the verge of

    • Meaning: About to happen
    • Example: She is on the verge of a breakthrough.

44. By means of

    • Meaning: Using
    • Example: Data was collected by means of surveys.

45. In the midst of

    • Meaning: In the middle of
    • Example: We are in the midst of a crisis.

46. In light of

    • Meaning: Considering
    • Example: In light of recent events, we will reschedule the meeting.

47. On behalf of

    • Meaning: Representing
    • Example: I am speaking on behalf of the committee.

48. In relation to

    • Meaning: In connection with
    • Example: We must consider these changes in relation to our goals.

49. In the face of

    • Meaning: Despite
    • Example: They succeeded in the face of obstacles.

50. Out of reach

    • Meaning: Unattainable
    • Example: The book on the top shelf is out of reach.

51. In place of

    • Meaning: Instead of
    • Example: She used honey in place of sugar.

52. At random

    • Meaning: Without a method
    • Example: We selected a winner at random.

53. For the time being

    • Meaning: Temporarily
    • Example: The project is on hold for the time being.

54. On the contrary

    • Meaning: Opposite
    • Example: He isn’t lazy; on the contrary, he works very hard.

55. In retrospect

    • Meaning: Looking back
    • Example: In retrospect, it was a wise decision.

56. At the expense of

    • Meaning: Resulting in a loss
    • Example: They expanded quickly, but at the expense of quality.

57. By virtue of

    • Meaning: Because of
    • Example: She got the job by virtue of her experience.

58. In no time

    • Meaning: Very quickly
    • Example: We finished the task in no time.

59. On the edge of

    • Meaning: Very near to
    • Example: They are on the edge of joining the new venture.

60. In the wake of

    • Meaning: Following
    • Example: In the wake of the storm, many homes were damaged.

61. Off the record

    • Meaning: Unofficially
    • Example: She shared her thoughts off the record.

62. At odds with

    • Meaning: In disagreement
    • Example: He is at odds with his colleague.

63. In conjunction with

    • Meaning: Together with
    • Example: We are working on this project in conjunction with the local council.

64. In honor of

    • Meaning: As a tribute to
    • Example: We hosted a dinner in honor of the award recipient.

65. At stake

    • Meaning: At risk
    • Example: There’s a lot at stake with this decision.

66. In due course

    • Meaning: At the right time
    • Example: All will be explained in due course.

67. For the most part

    • Meaning: Generally
    • Example: For the most part, the team agrees with the plan.

68. Out of the blue

    • Meaning: Unexpectedly
    • Example: She called me out of the blue.

By incorporating these prepositional phrases into your writing, you can provide vivid descriptions and clear, concise explanations, which helps convey your message effectively.

Prepositional phrases can greatly enhance your English language skills. They provide additional detail and context to what you are trying to express. Here is a compilation of 50 common prepositional phrases that you might find useful:

1. At the moment - Example: She is busy at the moment.
2. In the meantime - Example: In the meantime, let's review the report.
3. On time - Example: He always arrives on time.
4. In advance - Example: Please notify me in advance.
5. Out of the question - Example: Skipping the meeting is out of the question.
6. By accident - Example: She broke the vase by accident.
7. Under pressure - Example: He performs well under pressure.
8. In charge of - Example: She is in charge of the project.
9. On the other hand - Example: On the other hand, it might be risky.
10. By mistake - Example: I sent the email by mistake.
11. In progress - Example: The work is currently in progress.
12. Out of order - Example: The elevator is out of order.
13. On the way - Example: The package is on the way.
14. In favor of - Example: They are in favor of the new policy.
15. At risk - Example: The species is at risk of extinction.
16. In contrast with - Example: His style is in contrast with hers.
17. In case of - Example: In case of emergency, call 911.
18. By the way - Example: By the way, do you know him?
19. In response to - Example: She is acting in response to your request.
20. In time - Example: We arrived just in time.
21. At the end - Example: At the end of the day, it's your decision.
22. In the end - Example: In the end, everything worked out.
23. On top of - Example: Put the book on top of the shelf.
24. In the beginning - Example: In the beginning, it was difficult.
25. For the time being - Example: For the time being, we'll stay here.
26. With regard to - Example: With regard to your question, I have no answer.
27. In touch with - Example: Stay in touch with me.
28. In light of - Example: In light of recent events, we must act.
29. On account of - Example: The meeting was canceled on account of the weather.
30. In terms of - Example: In terms of experience, she is very qualified.
31. Out of the blue - Example: He called me out of the blue.
32. Next to - Example: She sat next to me.
33. In the middle of - Example: We are in the middle of a crisis.
34. In agreement with - Example: I am in agreement with your decision.
35. According to - Example: According to the report, sales are up.
36. At a loss - Example: I was at a loss for words.
37. On the contrary - Example: On the contrary, I believe it's beneficial.
38. Ahead of - Example: Plan ahead of time.
39. In place of - Example: Use honey in place of sugar.
40. With regard to - Example: I have concerns with regard to your plan.
41. In the face of - Example: In the face of adversity, she remained calm.
42. In conjunction with - Example: The event was held in conjunction with the festival.
43. On the verge of - Example: The company is on the verge of success.
44. In relation to - Example: I have news in relation to your query.
45. In accordance with - Example: In accordance with the rules, we must proceed.
46. By means of - Example: He succeeded by means of perseverance.
47. In conjunction with - Example: The work was completed in conjunction with the team.
48. In the absence of - Example: In the absence of evidence, we can't proceed.
49. In view of - Example: In view of these facts, we need a change.
50. With respect to - Example: I agree with respect to your concerns.

Practice using these prepositional phrases in sentences to become more familiar with them. This will help you make your spoken and written English more nuanced and expressive.