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Simple Prepositions: Meaning, Definition, Examples, Exercise

Prepositions are an important part of the parts of speech that is used to define relationship between a subject to another parts of the sentence. Prepositions are of different types and based on the number of words that a preposition consists, it is divided into two types: Simple Prepositions and Compound Prepositions. In this article, we will dive deep into the world of the simple preposition by going through its definition, examples, and other aspects.

Simple Prepositions

Single-word prepositions, known as simple prepositions, indicate various relationships like time, place, direction, manner, or others. Prepositions of this kind are the most fundamental and frequently used. The simple preposition is the most common type of prepositions which you commonly used. These prepositions are one word, such as, to, from, in, on, under, above, etc.

What is Simple Preposition?

Short words called simple prepositions are typically placed before nouns or pronouns to show the relationship between the noun and the rest of the phrase or sentence. In addition, the English language has a vast collection of prepositions, with more than 150 in total, making them challenging to fully understand. Simple prepositions like at, in, on, by, to, for, until, since, before, after, about, from, with are the most frequently used in English grammar.

Simple Prepositions Definition

Basic prepositions are brief, one-word prepositions that connect nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence. They usually convey fundamental spatial, temporal, or logical connections. Simple prepositions are not as complicated as complex prepositions, which consist of multiple words like “in front of” or “due to.” The simple preposition are used for time, place, direction, location, spatial relations, etc.

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Examples of Simple Prepositions

Check the commonly used examples of simple preposition with sentence usage below.

  • You are not coming with us.
  • He dived into the lake.
  • Mom is in the kitchen.

Simple Preposition of Time

Check the examples of simple prepositions used for denoting time below.

  • in: a period of time (in the morning, in 2023)
  • on: a specific day (on Monday, on December 25th)
  • at: a specific time (at 7 pm, at noon)
  • before: earlier than (before dinner)
  • after: later than (after school)
  • during: throughout a period (during the summer)

Simple Preposition of Place

As stated earlier that simple prepositions can also be used with place. Check the list of such prepositions below.

  • in: inside a space (in a box, in the car)
  • above: higher than something (above the clouds)
  • below: lower than something (below the surface)
  • beside: next to something (beside the river)
  • between: in the middle of two things (between the trees)
  • on: on a surface (on the table, on the bus)
  • at: specific place or time (at the door, at 3 pm)

Simple Preposition of Location

Use the prepositions “in” (an area or volume), “at” (a point), and “on” (a surface) to refer to a location.

  • They live in the country. (an area)
  • There is a lot of dirt on the window. (a surface)
  • She will find him at the library. (a point)

Simple Prepositions of Space

The simple preposition is also used in case of space. “Out” and “over” are some common examples of simple preposition of space. Here are more examples:

  • It’s beside the variety store.
  • It’s right over there.
  • I will meet you at the grocery store.

Simple Preposition of Direction

The simple preposition used to denote direction in a sentence is provided below.

  • She follows the path into the woods.
  • She is behind the tree.
  • She goes to her grandmother’s house.

Simple Preposition for Introduction

Simple preposition are also used in case of introductory sentences. Check the examples below.

  • Under the covers, we waited for the storm to end.
  • During the storm, we did not sleep.
  • After the storm, we slept soundly.

Other Commonly Used Simple Prepositions

Other simple prepositions that are often used in day to day conversation is given below.

  • with: accompanied by (with friends)
  • from: origin or source (from home)
  • to: direction or recipient (to the store)
  • for: purpose or reason (for example)
  • of: belonging to (the book of poems)

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Simple Prepositions Table

Check the usage and example table for the Simple preposition below.

Preposition Name Use of the Preposition Sentence Examples
At
  • Weekends, any clock time (at 16:00), nights
  • Let’s meet at the weekend.
  • We saw you at 17:30 last Friday.
  • At night time, we love to party.
In
  • Any time of day, years, months and time periods (in the holidays, vacations)
  • I was born in 1990.
  • The festivals are held in July.
  • What are you going to do in the holidays/spring break?
Until
  • Marks the beginning or start of something until it ends
  • We have English lessons from 17:00 until 18:00 every day.
 To
  • Strictly for telling the time
  • I saw him from morning to night.
  • Let’s meet from 20:00 to 22:00
Ago
  • Used to reference a certain time in the past
  • Ten years ago we left Ireland to go to the United Kingdom.
Past
  • Used only as a reference to clock time.
  • At 10 past 17:00, I’ll meet you by the tower.
  • It’s 15 past 15:00
On
  • days of the week
  • We’re going to see each other on Monday.
  • I caught up with her on Tuesday.
 By
  • When someone or something is close to someone or something
  • The trees are by the river.
  • I live by my friend.
Before
  • Used to reference a time that was before another time
  • Before last Saturday I hadn’t known what my task was.
 Since
  • To reference a point in time
  • He’s been living in the United States since 2009.
For
  • Duration of time, a period of time.
  • Our daughter has been here all her life.
  • I’ve been living in London for eight years.

Best Tips for Using Simple Prepositions

Candidates should follow the advice given below while using the simple preposition in a sentence.

  • Be Specific: Select the preposition that most accurately describes the relationship you wish to describe. “In the park” as opposed to “on the park bench,” for instance.
  • Avoid Overuse: A sentence may become awkward if it contains an excessive number of prepositions. Aim for conciseness and clarity.
  • Context Is Important: Depending on the situation, a preposition can indicate multiple things. Take “in time” versus “on time,” for instance.

Simple Prepositions Exercise

After going through the complete article on the simple preposition, candidates must solve the practice questions given below to make their concept strong. Fill the following sentences by using the appropriate example of simple preposition.

  • It feels great to sit _____ the trees and read.
  • My brother climbed _____ the roof.
  • Finn stood _____ Lisa.
  • Rachel met Phoebe _____ the lake.
  • Will you be _____ Rahul or Modi?
  • She placed the plates _____ the dining table.
  • Baskar found the cat hiding _____ the bed.

Answers:

The answers to the questions asked above has been provided below in the same sequence as the questions.

  • It feels great to sit beneath the trees and read.
  • My brother climbed onto the roof.
  • Finn stood opposite Lisa.
  • Rachel met Phoebe by the lake.
  • Will you be with Rahul or Modi?
  • She placed the plates on the dining table.
  • Baskar found the cat hiding under the bed.
Related Articles
Compound Prepositions Prepositional Phrases
Verb Adverb
Conjunction Adjective

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FAQs

Give Some Examples of Simple Preposition?

Some commonly used examples of simple prepositions are: In, on, at, through, across, above, over, up, down, to, with, by, beside, beneath, etc.

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