Types of preposition
On-type preposition
In-type preposition
At-type preposition
The place is seen as a point, without being thought of in terms of length, width or length. (to, at, (away) from, away from)
I went to Stratford.
We stayed at an inn
We came from the theatre.
We stayed away from house.
On-type preposition: line
The place is seen as line, with thought of in terms of length but not breath or height.
(on (to), on, off, off, across, over, along)
The wagon rolled back on to (onto) the road.
The company headquarters
was at a town on the Mississippi River.
We turned off Greenville Avenue onto Cherry Hill Road.
They were a hundred miles off the coast of Sri Lanka.
The poser was off in houses along Smith Street.
On-type preposition: surface
The place is seen as surface, with thought of in terms of length and width but not height. (on(to), on, off, off, across, over, through)
fall on the floor
the label on the bottle
take the picture off the wall
a place off the map
a walk across the field
looking through the window
In-type preposition
The place is seen as an area (ground, territory, enclosed by boundaries). (in(to), in, out off, through)
Crowds pour into the city from the neighbouring villages.
They had found suitable lodging for her in the town.
The manuscript was smuggled out of the country.
He stayed out of the district.
We went for a walk through the park.
In-type preposition: volume
The place is seen as volume with thought of in terms of length, width, height (or depth).
(in (to), in, out of, out of, through)
The girl stepped into the hall.
The food in the cupboard.
He climbed out of the water.
He was out of the room.
The wind blew through the trees.
<BrE> out of
<AmE> out
Overlap between types of preposition
My car is at the cottage. - (point)
They are putting a new room on the cottage. - (surface)
There are only two beds in the cottage. - (volume)
Overlap between at-type and in-type prepositions
For town and village at or in is used depending point of view.
At Stratford (simply a place on the map)
In Stratford (place as town covering an area)
In New York (an area)
At New York (in the context of worldwide travel)
For continent, countries, states and other large area in is used.
In Asia, In China, in
Virginia.
At/in the post office
For buildings or groups of building eight at or in can be used.
At is used when thinking of the building as an institution.
Noun with at take no definite article.
You can buy stamp at post office.
I left my purse in the post office.
Overlap between on-type and
in-type preposition
We sat on the grass. -(surface: the grass is short)
We sat in the grass. -(volume: the grass is long)
Position: Over, under, in front of, behind
The injured girl had bad cut over the left eye.
The children evaded capture by hiding under(neath) a pile of rugs.
Uncle Harry chose a big chair by (near) the fireplace.
Prepositional adverbs of
place
overhead (over) above (above)
underneath (under) below (below)
in front (in front of) behind (behind)
on top (on top of) beneath (beneath)
The sky overhead was a mass of stars.
Huge waves are crushing on the rocks below.
Some other positions: between, among, opposite, etc.
Manila lies on the shore of Manila Bay, between the sea, the mountains and large lake called Laguna de bay.
The house stands amid trees. (amid = in the midst of)
Amid the wreckage of plane they found a child doll.
His house is opposite (facing) mine.
Motion from one place to another
The train sped towards/into the tunnel.
Direction: up, down, along, across/over
I crept silently along the passage.
He ran across the lawn to the gate.
She flung open the French window and ran over the sodden grass.
They were rolling down the hill without brakes.
The royal couple went up the steps together.
She walked very quickly up/down the street.
He walked up and down the room. (in one direction and then in another repeatedly)
The oars splashed in and out of the water.
They danced round and round the room.
Viewpoint
I could see the town beyond
the lake. (on the other side of the lake)
The people over the road
an office along the corridor
a cafe round the corner
the garage past the supermarket
the hotel down the road
a man up a ladder
Fill the gap with suitable preposition
He is liable for his son's debt.
We are all subject to the law of the land.
He was acquitted of the murder charges.
She was punished for her crime
He was witness to the accident.
The suspect will be detained in custody.
The criminal was liable to imprisonment.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder.
The jury acquitted him of murder.
He was accused of lying.
He was charged with murder.
The criminal was liable to jail sentence.
He has no doubt about her honesty.
He was accused of murder.
He is good at English.
John was charged with theft.
He confessed to the crime.
