Preposition Usage

* Place (in, on, under, over, near, beside, etc.)

“Your book is on the table.”

* Direction (to, toward, into, through, etc.)

“The football player ran through the stadium to the other end.”

* Time (in, on, at, etc.)

“We can meet at five o’clock.”

* Agent (by)

“This book was written by a famous author.”

* Instrument (by, with)

“I heard the news by television. (Communication)

“She came by bus.” (Transportation)

“He opened the door with a key.” (Instrument or tool)

TIP:

We use by + no article for communication and transportation.

Examples: by phone, by radio, and by bus, by car

* Accompaniment (with)

“I like spaghetti with white sauce.”

“Mrs. Vajiona went to Thassos Island with her husband Georgios.”

* Purpose (for)

“He went to the store for milk and bread.

TIP:

Never, Never use for + verb + ing to express the purpose of the verb.

Example: “He went to the store for buying milk and bread.” This is wrong usage and a common mistake!

* Partition / Possession (of)

“They painted the front of the building white and green.”

“He broke the top of the table with his fist.”

* Measure (by, of)

“We buy our olive oil by the 16 kilo container.”

“Please buy a quart of milk from the market.”

* Similarity (like)

“Mary walks like her mother.”

* Capacity (as)

“Bill worked as a fireman until a year ago.”