Prepositions

Words you add to other words to express a relationship.

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Ais forAbove

Something is above something else if it is higher up.

In the picture, the dog is looking down from the balcony above.

Ais forAround

Around is in a circular way. The dog in the picture has a scarf around his neck.

Bis forBehind

Something is behind you if you cannot see it - your back is facing it rather than your front. The horse in the picture is viewed from behind.

Bis forBelow

Something is below something else if it is lower down than it, with the other thing above. This photo was taken from below a cat.

Bis forBeside

Two things are beside each other if they are next to each other, facing the same direction. The two women on the bench are sitting beside each other, or side by side.

Bis forBetween

Something is between if it is in the space in the middle of two other things.

The small traffic cone in the picture is between two larger traffic bollards.

Bis forBy

By might mean near, as in "she was sitting by the lake".

It might also be used to indicate who did something, for example "this book was written by my brother".
Down is a direction. You go down when you go lower. The cat in the picture has just jumped down into a hole. The opposite of down is up.

Fis forFor

For means with a purpose of, or intended to belong to. Some examples are:
"I am collecting shells for my sandcastle"
"That cupboard is for the towels"
"Is that for me?"
Not to be confused with four.

Iis forIn

Something is in something else if it is contained in it somehow. The person in the picture is in a bath.
The opposite of in is out.

Lis forLike

You like something if you find it enjoyable. Most people like chocolate, they like their pets and they like their friends. The boy in the picture likes icecream. When you really really like someone or something, you can say you love them.
Like is also another word for similar or alike.

Ois forOf

Of is a word that can indicate distance, source or reason. Some examples are:
"I live south of the intersection"
"a slice of cake"
"that dress is made of polyester".

Ois forOff

Something is off if it is not powered up and available to be used. The computer in the picture is switched off.
Off also can be used to indicate something no longer attached to something else: "the branch broke off the tree", or for reducing something: "take ten percent off the price".
The opposite of off is on.

Ois forOn

Something is on if it is powered up and able to be used. The computer in the picture is turned on. On is also used to indicate positioning, as in "the cup is on the table".
The opposite of on is off.

Ois forOut

You go out when you go away from something, or out from inside something. For example, you might go out to a restaurant. If you rearrange some items, they become out of order.
The cat in the picture is getting out of a box.
The opposite of out is in.

Ois forOutside

The little girl in the picture is outside playing. The opposite of outside is inside.

Ois forOver

Over is when you move above something. The soldiers in the photo are climbing over a wall.

Ris forRound

Something is round if it has the same shape as a circle or a sphere. The hole in the piece of wood in the picture is round.
Round is also a short form of around.

Tis forThrough

You go through something when you go in one side and out the other.
The little girl in the picture is going through a hole in a playground.

Tis forTo

You use the word to when you are talking about going toward something, for example "I am going to the shops", "apply paint to the wall" or "the time is ten to six".