Comprehensive list of prepositions

There are numerous prepositions in the English language. The exact number of prepositions in English can vary depending on how one defines a preposition and which lists one consults. Here is a comprehensive list of common prepositions in English, along with examples for each:

Single word prepositions:

1. About – He talked about his new job.
2. Above – The stars are above the clouds.
3. Across – She walked across the bridge.
4. After – We’ll meet after dinner.
5. Against – He leaned against the wall.
6. Along – They walked along the beach.
7. Among – She felt at home among friends.
8. Around – He looked around the room.
9. At – I’ll see you at noon.
10. Before – Please come before 5 PM.
11. Behind – The cat is hiding behind the couch.
12. Below – The temperature is below zero.
13. Beneath – The treasure lies beneath the sand.
14. Beside – He sat beside his sister. (See also Beside vs. Besides)
15. Besides – Besides being a teacher, I’m also a lifelong learner.
16. Between – The secret is between you and me.
17. Beyond – The path continues beyond the forest.
18. By – She stood by the door.
19. Despite – He succeeded despite the challenges.
20. Down – She walked down the stairs.
21. During – It rained during the night.
22. Except – Everyone was there except him.
23. For – This gift is for you.
24. From – I received a letter from my friend.
25. In – She’s in the kitchen.
26. Inside – The keys are inside the drawer.
27. Into – He jumped into the pool.
28. Like – She looks like her mother.
29. Near – There’s a park near my house.
30. Of – He’s a friend of mine.
31. Off – He fell off the ladder.
32. On – The book is on the table.
33. Onto – She climbed onto the roof.
34. Out – He went out for a walk.
35. Outside – The children are playing outside.
36. Over – The plane flew over the city.
37. Past – He walked past the shop.
38. Since – I’ve known her since childhood.
39. Through – They walked through the woods.
40. Throughout – She was happy throughout the day.
41. Till – Wait till I come back.
42. To – She gave the book to me.
43. Toward(s) – He moved towards the exit.
44. Under – The dog is under the table.
45. Underneath – The wallet was underneath the bed.
46. Until – We waited until the rain stopped.
47. Up – He climbed up the mountain.
48. Upon – Once upon a time…
49. With – He came with his brother.
50. Within – The answer lies within you.
51. Without – He left without saying goodbye.

Compound prepositions:

1. According to – According to the weather forecast, it’ll rain.
2. Because of – The game was canceled because of the rain.
3. Close to – He lives close to the station.
4. Due to – The delay was due to heavy traffic.
5. Except for – Everything was perfect, except for the weather.
6. In front of – There’s a car in front of the house.
7. In spite of – In spite of the cold, she went out.
8. Instead of – She went jogging instead of watching TV.
9. Next to – The library is next to the school.
10. On account of – The event was postponed on account of the storm.
11. Out of – He made a sculpture out of clay.

Please note that this list isn’t exhaustive, as prepositions can evolve with language use, and new ones can be formed through combinations or changes in usage. However, this covers a significant portion of the commonly used prepositions in English.

For further study:

◦Prepositions An overview
◦Prepositions for giving directions
◦Prepositions of position (in, on, etc)
◦Prepositions of time

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