preposition
gb/pɹˌɛpəzˈɪʃən/ us/pɹˌɛpəzˈɪʃən/
B1
English
elöljárószó
NOUN
B1
TECHNICAL
1
elöljárószó
B2
Usage pattern:
a preposition + [noun/pronoun]
She sat on the floor.
A földön ült.
We’ll talk after lunch.
Ebéd után beszélünk.
This message is for you.
Learner examples
The keys are in my bag.
A kulcsok a táskámban vannak.
I go to school by bus.
Busszal járok iskolába.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse prepositions with conjunctions (because, although) or use the wrong preposition (e.g., *married with* instead of married to, depending on dialect).
Meaning
word showing a relationship
Collocations
common prepositions
|use a preposition
|choose the right preposition
|a preposition of time
|a preposition of place
|followed by a noun
|preposition + noun
|preposition + -ing
|preposition stranding
|prepositional phrase
Synonyms
prep (Informal abbreviation, common in grammar notes.)
Antonyms
postposition (In some languages, this comes after its object instead of before.)
Themes
grammar
|writing
|language_learning
Definition
A word like in or on that shows where, when, or how something happens.
A word such as in, on, at, or by that typically comes before a noun or pronoun and shows its relationship to another word in the sentence (often forming a prepositional phrase).
Grammar
Dictionary form
preposition
IPA
GB/pɹˌɛpəzˈɪʃən/
US/pɹˌɛpəzˈɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
pre - pos - i - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (i)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: preposition
- Plural: prepositions
Word family
Forms
prepositions
noun
Core family
prepositional
adjective
Advanced or less common
prepositionally
adverb
postposition
noun
Expressions
end a sentence with a preposition
1/ˈɛnd ə sˈɛntəns wˈɪθ ə pɹˌɛpəzˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
put a preposition at the end
To finish with a preposition like for or to.
Examples
- It’s common to end a sentence with a preposition in everyday English.
- ‘Which team are you playing against?’ ends with a preposition.
- Some people rewrite to avoid it in very formal writing.
Learner examples
- What is this for?
- Which bus are you on?
preposition of place
1/pɹˌɛpəzˈɪʃən əv plˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
technical
preposition used for location
A preposition that tells where.
Examples
- In is a preposition of place in ‘in the kitchen’.
- On is used for surfaces, as in ‘on the table’.
- At often points to a place as a point, as in ‘at the bus stop’.
Learner examples
- The milk is in the fridge.
- He is at home.
preposition of time
1/pɹˌɛpəzˈɪʃən əv tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
technical
preposition used for time
A preposition that tells when.
Examples
- At is a preposition of time in ‘at 5 p.m.’.
- On is used for days, as in ‘on Friday’.
- In is often used for months and years, as in ‘in 2026’.
Learner examples
- I work on Monday.
- We meet at 6.
prepositional phrase
1/pɹˈipəsˈɪʃənəl fɹˈeɪz/
fixed phrase
technical
phrase beginning with a preposition
A phrase like in the box or after school.
Examples
- In the morning is a prepositional phrase.
- The cat slept under the couch.
- She walked to the station.
Learner examples
- After class is a prepositional phrase.
- The phone is on the desk.
stranded preposition
1/stɹˈændɪd pɹˌɛpəzˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
preposition left at the end
A preposition that comes later, often at the end.
Examples
- In ‘What are you looking at?’, at is a stranded preposition.
- Many style guides accept stranded prepositions in everyday writing.
- ‘The person I spoke to’ ends with a stranded preposition.
Learner examples
- Who are you talking to?
- That’s the chair I sat on.