Prepositions show relationships like place, time, direction, cause, and method. “Tricky” prepositions are difficult because small word changes can strongly change meaning, or because English uses fixed patterns that do not translate word-for-word. In this module, you will learn the specific meanings and common patterns that make certain prepositions hard, so you can choose the natural one in context.

These three prepositions often overlap, but English uses them based on how we imagine the space. Use in for an enclosed space or a general area, on for a surface or a line, and at for a point or a specific spot. For time, in tends to be larger spans, on is for days and dates, and at is for exact times and specific moments.

Rule	Example
Use in for enclosed spaces and larger areas	She is in the room.
Use on for surfaces and lines	The keys are on the table.
Use at for points and specific locations	Meet me at the entrance.
Use in for months, years, long periods	In July, we travel.
Use on for days and dates	On Monday, I work.
Use at for clock times and precise moments	At 6:30, we eat.

To focuses on movement or direction toward a destination, while at focuses on location or presence at a point. English often uses to with go, come, travel, and send, and at with be, meet, and arrive when the focus is the point itself. This difference matters even when both refer to the same place.

Rule	Example
Use to for movement toward a destination	She went to the office.
Use at for location or presence at a point	She is at the office.
Use at with meet to emphasize the meeting point	Let’s meet at the station.
Use to with send for destination	Send it to my email.

Into emphasizes a change of position, usually movement from outside to inside. In describes where something is, without highlighting the motion. English uses into when the action itself is entering, and in when the result or location matters more than the movement.

Rule	Example
Use into for movement from outside to inside	He walked into the house.
Use in for location or state inside	He is in the house.
Use into when the action is entering or placing inside	Put the files into the folder.
Use in when describing where something is kept	The files are in the folder.

On describes position on a surface, while onto emphasizes movement to a surface. Many speakers use on in both roles, but onto is clearer when you want to highlight the action of moving from not on the surface to on the surface. Use onto when the motion is important or could be misunderstood.

Rule	Example
Use on for position on a surface	The phone is on the desk.
Use onto for movement to a surface	The cat jumped onto the desk.
Use onto for clarity when motion matters	Pour the sauce onto the pasta.

For gives the length or duration of an activity, while since gives the starting point in time. Since usually pairs with a perfect tense when the time period continues to the present. Choose for when you answer “how long,” and since when you answer “from when.”

Rule	Example
Use for + duration	I studied for two hours.
Use since + starting point	I have lived here since 2020.
Use since when the situation continues to now	She has worked here since March.
Use for with completed time spans too	We waited for ten minutes.

By sets a deadline meaning at or before a time, while until marks the end point of a continuing action. By focuses on completion before the time arrives, and until focuses on continuation up to that time. These are easy to confuse because both relate to an end time, but they describe different time logic.

Rule	Example
Use by for deadlines and latest possible time	Finish by Friday.
Use until for continuing actions that stop at an end time	I’ll stay until Friday.
Use by when completion can happen earlier	Please reply by 5 p.m.
Use until with states and ongoing activities	The store is open until 9.

During is a preposition used before a noun phrase, and it describes something happening within a period of time. While is a conjunction used before a clause with a subject and verb. They can express similar timing, but the grammar is different, so you must choose based on what comes next in the sentence.

Rule	Example
Use during + noun phrase	During the meeting, I took notes.
Use while + clause	While we were meeting, I took notes.
Use during for events or time periods	During the summer, it rains a lot.
Use while to show two actions at the same time	I cooked while he cleaned.

Between is used for two items and also for clear, separate relationships within a group, such as choices, comparisons, or connections. Among is used for being part of a group where individuals are not treated as separate pairs. Many learners overuse among, but English uses between more widely than just “two.”

Rule	Example
Use between for two distinct items	Choose between tea and coffee.
Use between for clear separate relationships in a group	Negotiations between the three companies continued.
Use among for being inside a group	She felt comfortable among friends.
Use among for distribution within a group	Share the snacks among the kids.

By often marks the method, agent, or means, especially in passive sentences, while with often marks the tool, instrument, or accompanying feature. By answers “how” in terms of process or agency, and with answers “using what” or “together with what.” Choosing the correct one makes sentences sound natural and precise.

Rule	Example
Use by to show the agent in passive voice	The book was written by her.
Use by to show method or means	I pay by card.
Use with to show a tool or instrument	Cut it with a knife.
Use with to show accompaniment or added feature	Tea with lemon is great.

Some “tricky” prepositions are not chosen by general meaning, but by fixed verb and adjective patterns. English often pairs certain verbs with certain prepositions, and changing the preposition changes the meaning or makes the sentence incorrect. Learn the idea that these are patterns, and choose the preposition that matches the specific verb meaning.

Rule	Example
Use listen to for the target of listening	I listen to podcasts.
Use depend on for reliance	It depends on the weather.
Use belong to for ownership or membership	This bag belongs to me.
Use interested in for the topic	I’m interested in art.
Use good at for ability	She is good at math.