Prepositions

What do prepositions do?
Tell Location: under, above, on, behind
Tell Direction: to, toward, around
Introduce a Time: in, on, at
Tell Purpose: for, about, with
Almost always followed by a noun or a pronoun:
This present is for you.
The book is about George Washington.
Their house is around the corner.

Some common prepositions:
About, above, across (from), against, along, among, around, at
Behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by
Down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into
Near, of, off, on, onto, outside, over, past
Through, to, toward, under, up, with, without

In, On, At … Three Little Words…
Three Big Headaches
In, on, at + location
In (inside)
On (on the surface, touching)
At (physically present, but not necessarily inside)

What is correct? In, on, or at?
________ room 104
________ the first floor
________ MiraCosta College
________ Mission Avenue
________ 1831 Mission Avenue
________ Oceanside
________ California
________ the United States
________ North America
________ planet Earth
________ the world
________ work
________ church
________ school
________ home

General rules
for In, On, At + location
In +
A room
A city
A state
A country
A continent
On +
Floor
Street
At +
Buildings
Events
Address
Familiar places (home, school, work)

In, On, At + Time
What is correct? In, on, or at?
__________ 6 p.m
__________ Friday
__________ January
__________ Friday, Jan. 13
__________ the morning
__________ night
__________ the evening
__________ midnight
__________ noon
__________ 2006
__________ a few minutes
__________ two days
__________ the 21st Century
__________ the summer
__________ the weekend

General rules
for In, On, At + location
In + length of time
Month
Year
Season
Century
On + a more specific time
At + most specific point in time
Clock time
Day
Date

Tricky ones…
What is the correct preposition?
I had a funny dream (with, about) you last night.
The book was written (for, by) a famous author.
I like to talk (in, on) the phone.
I am (in bed, on the bed).
He is mad (at, about) his girlfriend.
She is (in, at) the hopital.
I am (in, at) school.
Please throw that book (at, to) me.