Prepostional Phrases

How do I know which prepositions to use?

Prepositional phrases can be challenging, but you’ll become more comfortable using them with practice. Here are some common prepositional phrases with explanations and examples:

• In the Morning / At Night:
  • We use “in” with parts of the day, like morning, afternoon, and evening.
    • Example: I usually have coffee in the morning.
  • We use “at” with night.
    • Example: I like to stargaze at night.
• On the Weekend / On Weekdays:
  • Use “on” with days of the week.
    • Example: I go hiking on the weekends.
    • Example: I work on weekdays.
• At the Park / In the Park:
  • Use “at” when you’re talking about a specific location within the park.
    • Example: Let’s meet at the park entrance.
  • Use “in” when you’re talking about a more general sense of being inside the park.
    • Example: We had a picnic in the park.
• On the Bus / In the Car:
  • Use “on” for larger public transportation.
    • Example: I met a friend on the bus.
  • Use “in” for private vehicles.
    • Example: I left my keys in the car.
• At the Beach / On the Beach:
  • Use “at” when referring to a specific point or location.
    • Example: We’ll meet you at the beach entrance.
  • Use “on” when talking about being on the sandy area.
    • Example: We spent the whole day on the beach.

Tips:

• Learn by Practice: As you read, listen, and speak in English, pay attention to how prepositions are used in different contexts. Ask your teacher questions about prepositions and their usage.
• Memorize Common Combinations: Certain prepositions naturally go with specific words or phrases. For instance, we say “in the morning” and “at night” because that’s what sounds natural to native speakers.

No Strict Rules:

While there are some general guidelines, prepositions in English often don’t follow strict rules, and their usage can be quite idiomatic. Therefore, getting a feel for them through exposure and practice is crucial. As you become more familiar with the language, these prepositional phrases will start to feel more natural.