Beyond Prepositions for ESL Learners: Mastering English Prepositions for Fluency

Section 1: Using Prepositions correctly in context

Learn to use English prepositions correctly when talking about time, places, transportation, giving directions, and expressing how things get done.

This first section helps the student to understand the use of English prepositions in real-life situations. In this section, the student will find explanations and examples relating to preposition usage in everyday English usage.

Chapter 1 - Using Prepositions to Talk About Time

Using the prepositions ahead, behind, at, on, in, by, within, under, during, over, since, from, for and after when talking about time in English

D irections: Read the brief explanations and then the examples below. (Note: students are encouraged to use this text in groups, when possible. The student can then practice by listening and speaking, as well as reading, which should make learning easier, faster and more fun.)

Ahead: Use ahead to talk about being earlier than expected

Examples:

 The train is ahead of schedule. It was supposed to arrive at 9 a.m. but the time is now 8:55 a.m. and it is here!

 This is my first day of work, so I arrived at the office ahead of time.

( Meaning: earlier than I was supposed to be there.)

Behind : Use behind to talk about being later than expected

Examples:

 The train is behind schedule. It was supposed to arrive at 9 a.m. but the time is now 9:05 a.m. and it’s not here yet!.

 My watch says 12:30 p.m., but the time on the bank clock says 12:40 p.m. My watch must be behind.

In this case, meaning: the time on my watch lags the real time. English speakers also say: my watch is slow, or my watch is running slow.

On: Use on for day names, like Monday or Tuesday

Examples:

 My friends come to visit me on Wednesday.

 We have an important exam on Friday.

On: Use on in expressions like on time; on time means at the correct time or agreed upon time.

Example:

 My boss does not want me to come to work late. He wants me to come to work on time.

At : Use at to talk about exact clock time.

Examples:

 The exam will start at 3 p.m..

 The movie starts at 7:15 p.m..

At : Use at to talk about midnight, noon, night, daybreak, sunset, sunrise, etc.

Examples:

 We had lunch at noon.

 We woke up at dawn (when the sun comes up).

 We went to bed at dusk (when the sun goes down).

At : Use at in expressions referring to time: at the moment, at the present time, etc.

Examples:

 At the moment, doctors are not sure what causes cancer.

 At the present time, we are not hiring any more employees.

In : Use in to talk about seasons of the year:

Examples:

 We will start school in the fall.

 Our vacation begins in the summer

In : Use in to talk about centuries, years, and months:

Examples:

 Cars were invented in the nineteenth