Prepositions | English for IELTS

Basic English for IELTS: Prepositions

Prepositions are small words, but they carry a big load in English. They show location, time, direction, movement, cause, manner, and connection. For IELTS learners, prepositions matter because even a single mistake can change the meaning of a sentence or make your writing and speaking sound less natural.

This lesson explains prepositions in a simple but complete way. You will learn what prepositions are, how to use them correctly, the most common types, common mistakes, useful examples, and a practice section with answers. If you are building your grammar step by step, this page works well alongside Five Basics of Grammar for IELTS and Grammar Lesson for IELTS: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.

What is a preposition?

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase and another word in a sentence.

Common examples include:

• in
• on
• at
• under
• over
• between
• beside
• by
• for
• with
• from
• to
• about
• of

Prepositions usually come before a noun or pronoun:

• in the room
• on the table
• at school
• with my friend
• from Turkey
• to the station

You can think of prepositions as “relationship words.” They connect ideas and help the reader or listener understand where, when, how, and why something happens.

Why prepositions matter for IELTS

Prepositions appear in all parts of IELTS, especially Writing and Speaking. They are also common in Reading and Listening because the test often checks whether you can understand exact details.

Good preposition use can help you:

• describe places clearly
• write accurate dates and times
• explain movement and changes
• make your speaking sound more natural
• avoid grammar errors that affect your band score

For example, compare these two sentences:

• The meeting is on Monday at 10 a.m.
• The meeting is in Monday at 10 a.m.

Only the first sentence is correct.

Main types of prepositions

Prepositions can be grouped by meaning. Learning them in groups is easier than trying to memorize them one by one.

1) Prepositions of place

These prepositions show where something is.

Common prepositions of place:

• in
• on
• at
• under
• above
• below
• between
• next to
• beside
• behind
• in front of
• opposite
• near
• inside
• outside

Examples:

• The keys are in the drawer.
• The book is on the desk.
• She is waiting at the bus stop.
• The cat is under the table.
• The painting is above the sofa.
• The station is between the bank and the library.

For a simple explanation of location words, you can also study Prepositions of place: in, on, at.

2) Prepositions of time

These prepositions show when something happens.

Common prepositions of time:

• in
• on
• at
• during
• for
• since
• by
• until
• before
• after

Examples:

• in March
• in 2026
• in the morning
• on Sunday
• on 11 April
• at 7 o’clock
• at night
• during the lesson
• for two hours
• since 2024
• by Friday
• until midnight

Useful rule:

• Use in for longer periods: in 2026, in July, in the evening.
• Use on for days and dates: on Monday, on 11 April.
• Use at for exact times: at 6:30, at midnight.

This is one of the most common IELTS grammar topics, and it is worth revising carefully together with Introduction to 12 English Tenses with Examples and Explanation.

3) Prepositions of direction and movement

These prepositions show movement from one place to another.

Common examples:

• to
• into
• onto
• out of
• from
• towards
• through
• across
• along
• up
• down
• off

Examples:

• She walked to the station.
• The child ran into the room.
• The cat jumped onto the sofa.
• He came out of the building.
• We moved from Ankara to Istanbul.
• They walked through the park.
• The car drove across the bridge.

4) Prepositions of manner or means

These prepositions show how something is done or what is used.

Common examples:

• by
• with
• like
• as

Examples:

• We travelled by train.
• She wrote the answer with a pen.
• He speaks like a native speaker.
• Use this box as a table.

5) Prepositions of reason, purpose, and connection

These prepositions help explain why something happens or what something is related to.

Common examples:

• for
• because of
• due to
• about
• of
• with
• from

Examples:

• This gift is for you.
• The flight was delayed because of the weather.
• The match was cancelled due to heavy rain.
• We talked about the exam.
• She is proud of her progress.
• I’m worried about my essay.

6) Prepositions in common phrases

Some prepositions are fixed in common expressions. These often do not follow a clear rule, so they should be learned as chunks.

Examples:

• good at
• interested in
• afraid of
• famous for
• responsible for
• different from
• similar to
• reason for
• rely on
• depend on

Examples in sentences:

• She is good at writing.
• I am interested in technology.
• He is afraid of spiders.
• The city is famous for its food.
• Students often depend on clear examples.

For more support with these patterns, see Adjectives and prepositions and Verbs and prepositions.

Prepositions with place: in, on, and at

These three prepositions are especially important, and many learners confuse them.

In

Use in for:

• a large area or enclosed space: in a room, in a city, in a country
• months, years, seasons, and parts of the day: in May, in 2027, in summer, in the afternoon

Examples:

• She lives in Mersin.
• The documents are in the bag.
• We will travel in July.

On

Use on for:

• surfaces: on the wall, on the floor, on the table
• days and dates: on Monday, on 15 June
• public transport and some devices: on the bus, on the phone, on the internet

Examples:

• Your phone is on the desk.
• The class is on Wednesday.
• I saw the announcement on the website.

At

Use at for:

• specific points or exact places: at the door, at the bus stop, at school
• exact times: at 8 o’clock, at noon
• many fixed expressions: at home, at work, at night

Examples:

• I am at home.
• Meet me at the entrance.
• The train leaves at 9:15.

Prepositions with time: common patterns

These are the most useful time patterns for IELTS learners.

in + month / year / season / part of day

• in January
• in 2026
• in spring
• in the morning

on + day / date

• on Friday
• on 1 May
• on my birthday

at + exact time / special point in time

• at 5 o’clock
• at midnight
• at lunchtime

for + duration

• for ten minutes
• for two years
• for a long time

since + starting point

• since 2020
• since Monday
• since last summer

during + period/event

• during the lesson
• during the summer
• during the exam

by + deadline

• by Friday
• by 8 p.m.
• by the end of the week

Examples:

• I have lived here since 2019.
• She studied for three hours.
• The teacher arrived during the class.
• Please submit the essay by Friday.

Prepositions with verbs, adjectives, and nouns

Many prepositions are used after specific verbs, adjectives, and nouns. These combinations often need memorisation.

Verb + preposition

• listen to
• wait for
• depend on
• belong to
• agree with
• apologize for
• think about
• believe in

Examples:

• I listen to podcasts every day.
• We are waiting for the results.
• This idea depends on the budget.
• She apologized for being late.

Adjective + preposition

• interested in
• afraid of
• proud of
• good at
• responsible for
• satisfied with
• similar to
• different from

Examples:

• He is interested in science.
• They are proud of their work.
• She is satisfied with the service.

Noun + preposition

• reason for
• influence on
• connection between
• advantage of
• increase in
• damage to
• solution to

Examples:

• There is a reason for the delay.
• Technology has a strong influence on learning.
• The connection between grammar and fluency is clear.

A strong way to build these patterns into your study plan is to review them after Grammar for IELTS: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them and alongside English Grammar: Present Continuous Tense.

Common mistakes with prepositions

These are some errors that IELTS learners often make.

1) Using the wrong preposition with time

Incorrect: I will call you in Monday.

Correct: I will call you on Monday.

Incorrect: She arrived on 5 o’clock.

Correct: She arrived at 5 o’clock.

2) Adding a preposition where none is needed

Incorrect: He returned back home.

Correct: He returned home.

Incorrect: She entered into the room.

Correct: She entered the room.

3) Using the wrong preposition after a verb

Incorrect: I depend of my parents.

Correct: I depend on my parents.

Incorrect: She apologized about being late.

Correct: She apologized for being late.

4) Confusing in and at for places

Incorrect: I live at Mersin.

Correct: I live in Mersin.

Incorrect: He is in the bus stop.

Correct: He is at the bus stop.

5) Translating directly from your first language

Some prepositions do not match word for word across languages. It is better to learn common English patterns instead of translating each phrase directly.

For a stronger grammar foundation, it helps to study this lesson together with Complex Sentences and Conjunctions for IELTS and IELTS Speaking: Grammatical Range and Accuracy Tips.

Easy rules to remember

These are a few simple memory rules:

• in = larger place or longer time
• on = surface, day, date
• at = exact place or exact time
• to = movement toward a place
• for = duration or purpose
• since = starting point
• by = deadline
• with = using something or being together with someone

These rules are helpful, but remember that English has many fixed expressions. When in doubt, check the full phrase, not only one word.

Prepositions in IELTS Writing

In Writing Task 1 and Task 2, prepositions help you describe trends, compare ideas, and explain causes.

Examples:

• There was a rise in prices.
• The number of students increased from 100 to 150.
• In comparison with the previous year, sales improved.
• The data were collected over a period of six months.
• The city is famous for its public transport.

Good prepositions make your writing clearer and more academic. They also help you avoid unnecessary mistakes that can reduce accuracy.

Prepositions in IELTS Speaking

In Speaking, prepositions make your answer sound natural and fluent.

Examples:

• I am interested in learning new things.
• I usually study at home in the evening.
• I travel by bus because it is affordable.
• My friends and I met at the university.

If you want to sound more natural, practise prepositions in short speaking answers and long answers.

Prepositions and collocations

A collocation is a natural word combination. Many prepositions belong to collocations, so learning them together is very useful.

Examples:

• apply for a job
• interested in music
• responsible for safety
• belong to a group
• good at sports
• crowded with people
• different from the original
• similar to the old version
• solution to a problem
• reason for the delay

Try to learn complete expressions instead of isolated words.

Practice: choose the correct preposition

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.

1. The class starts ___ 9 a.m.
2. She lives ___ Istanbul.
3. We met ___ Monday.
4. The keys are ___ the table.
5. I have studied English ___ two years.
6. He is good ___ football.
7. They walked ___ the park.
8. The report is due ___ Friday.
9. She apologized ___ the mistake.
10. The picture is hanging ___ the wall.

Answers

1. at
2. in
3. on
4. on
5. for
6. at
7. through
8. by
9. for
10. on

Mini quiz for self-check

Choose the correct option.

1. We will meet (in / on / at) 3 o’clock.
2. My brother was born (in / on / at) 2010.
3. The students are (in / on / at) the classroom.
4. I am interested (in / on / at) technology.
5. She arrived (in / on / at) the airport early.

Answers:

1. at
2. in
3. in
4. in
5. at

Top Study Tips for Learning Prepositions

• Learn prepositions in phrases, not as single words.
• Read short example sentences every day.
• Notice prepositions in IELTS reading passages.
• Write your own sentences and check them carefully.
• Review common verb, adjective, and noun combinations.
• Practise listening for prepositions, especially in dates, times, and directions.

A good next step is to move from this lesson to Tips for IELTS and then continue with the rest of your grammar lessons in the English for IELTS section.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the easiest way to learn prepositions in English?

The easiest way is to learn them in groups and phrases. Study time prepositions, place prepositions, and common verb-adjective-noun combinations together, then practise them in short sentences.

2. Why are prepositions so difficult for IELTS learners?

They are difficult because many of them do not follow a simple rule, and some expressions must be memorised. Also, prepositions often differ from one language to another, so direct translation can cause mistakes.

3. Is it correct to say “good in” or “good at”?

The correct phrase is “good at” when you are talking about a skill or ability.

• She is good at speaking.

4. Do prepositions change the IELTS band score?

Yes, they can. Frequent preposition errors affect grammatical accuracy in Writing and Speaking, which may reduce your score.

5. What is the difference between in, on, and at?

In is usually used for larger places and longer periods, on for surfaces, days, and dates, and at for specific points, exact times, and fixed expressions.

6. Should I memorize every preposition rule?

No. Start with the most common patterns, then learn collocations and fixed phrases through reading, writing, and speaking practice.

7. Can I use a preposition at the end of a sentence?

Yes, in modern English this is often natural and correct, especially in speaking and informal writing.

• That is the person I was talking about.
• This is the house I live in.

8. How can I avoid preposition mistakes in IELTS Writing?

Read your sentence aloud, check time expressions carefully, and revise common combinations such as interested in, good at, and depend on. Practising with sample sentences also helps.

Prepositions in English for IELTS

Prepositions may look small, but they play a major role in clear and accurate English. If you learn them in patterns, practise them in context, and review common mistakes regularly, you will improve both your IELTS accuracy and your everyday English. Keep moving through the lessons in your English for IELTS path, and use each new topic to strengthen the one before it.