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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use in for enclosed spaces and larger areas	🧩 在封闭空间和较大区域中使用 in	She is in the room.	🧩 她在房间里。
Use on for surfaces and lines	🧩 在表面和直线处使用 on	The keys are on the table.	🧩 钥匙在桌子上。
Use at for points and specific locations	🧩 使用 at 表示点和特定位点	Meet me at the entrance.	🧩 请在入口处与我会面。
Use in for months, years, long periods	🧩 在月份、年份、较长时间段中使用 in	In July, we travel.	🧩 在七月，我们旅行。
Use on for days and dates	🧩 在日子和日期上使用 on	On Monday, I work.	🧩 星期一，我工作。
Use at for clock times and precise moments	🧩 在时钟时间和精确时刻使用 at	At 6:30, we eat.	🧩 在6:30，我们吃饭。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use to for movement toward a destination	🧩 使用 to 指向一个目的地的移动	She went to the office.	🧩 她去办公室。
Use at for location or presence at a point	🧩 在一个点的位置或在场使用 at	She is at the office.	🧩 她在办公室。
Use at with meet to emphasize the meeting point	🧩 使用 at 来强调会面的地点	Let’s meet at the station.	🧩 我们在车站见面。
Use to with send for destination	🧩 使用 to 搭配 send 表示目的地	Send it to my email.	🧩 把它发送到我的邮箱。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use into for movement from outside to inside	🧩 使用 into 表示从外到内的移动	He walked into the house.	🧩 他走进了房子里。
Use in for location or state inside	🧩 使用 in 表示在屋内的位置或状态	He is in the house.	🧩 他在房子里。
Use into when the action is entering or placing inside	🧩 当动作是进入或放置到内部时使用 into	Put the files into the folder.	🧩 将文件放进文件夹里。
Use in when describing where something is kept	🧩 当描述某物被存放在哪里时使用 in	The files are in the folder.	🧩 文件在文件夹里。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use on for position on a surface	🧩 在表面上的定位使用 on	The phone is on the desk.	🧩 手机在桌子上。
Use onto for movement to a surface	🧩 使用 onto 表示向表面的移动	The cat jumped onto the desk.	🧩 那只猫跳到了桌子上。
Use onto for clarity when motion matters	🧩 当动作重要时使用 onto 以提高清晰度	Pour the sauce onto the pasta.	🧩 把酱汁浇在意大利面上。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use for + duration	🧩 使用 for 表示持续时间	I studied for two hours.	🧩 我学习了两个小时。
Use since + starting point	🧩 使用 since 表示起始点	I have lived here since 2020.	🧩 我自2020年以来一直住在这里。
Use since when the situation continues to now	🧩 当情况持续到现在时使用 since	She has worked here since March.	🧩 她自三月起一直在这里工作。
Use for with completed time spans too	🧩 即使时间段已完成也可用 for	We waited for ten minutes.	🧩 我们等了十分钟。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use by for deadlines and latest possible time	🧩 使用 by 表示截止日期和最晚时间	Finish by Friday.	🧩 最晚在周五前完成。
Use until for continuing actions that stop at an end time	🧩 使用 until 表示持续到结束时间而停止的行动	I’ll stay until Friday.	🧩 我将待到周五。
Use by when completion can happen earlier	🧩 当完成可能更早时使用 by	Please reply by 5 p.m.	🧩 请在下午5点前回复。
Use until with states and ongoing activities	🧩 与状态和正在进行的活动一起使用 until	The store is open until 9.	🧩 商店营业到9点。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use during + noun phrase	🧩 使用 during + 名词短语	During the meeting, I took notes.	🧩 会议期间，我做了笔记。
Use while + clause	🧩 使用 while + 从句	While we were meeting, I took notes.	🧩 当我们开会时，我在记笔记。
Use during for events or time periods	🧩 使用 during 表示事件或时间段	During the summer, it rains a lot.	🧩 夏天的时候，雨多。
Use while to show two actions at the same time	🧩 使用 while 表示两件事同时发生	I cooked while he cleaned.	🧩 我做饭时他在打扫。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use between for two distinct items	🧩 使用 between 表示两个不同的项目	Choose between tea and coffee.	🧩 在茶和咖啡之间进行选择。
Use between for clear separate relationships in a group	🧩 在一个组内表示清晰的分离关系	Negotiations between the three companies continued.	🧩 三家公司之间的谈判继续进行。
Use among for being inside a group	🧩 使用 among 表示属于群体	She felt comfortable among friends.	🧩 她在朋友之间感到自在。
Use among for distribution within a group	🧩 使用 among 表示组内分配	Share the snacks among the kids.	🧩 在孩子们之间分享零食。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use by to show the agent in passive voice	🧩 使用 by 表示被动语态中的施动者	The book was written by her.	🧩 这本书是她写的。
Use by to show method or means	🧩 使用 by 表示方法或手段	I pay by card.	🧩 我用卡支付。
Use with to show a tool or instrument	🧩 使用 with 表示工具或仪器	Cut it with a knife.	🧩 用刀子把它切开。
Use with to show accompaniment or added feature	🧩 使用 with 表示陪伴或附加特征	Tea with lemon is great.	🧩 加柠檬的茶很好喝。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use listen to for the target of listening	🧩 使用 listen to 指听的对象	I listen to podcasts.	🧩 我听播客。
Use depend on for reliance	🧩 使用 depend on 表示依赖	It depends on the weather.	🧩 天气取决于天气。
Use belong to for ownership or membership	🧩 使用 belong to 表示所有权或成员资格	This bag belongs to me.	🧩 这个包属于我。
Use interested in for the topic	🧩 使用 interested in 表示主题	I’m interested in art.	🧩 我对艺术感兴趣。
Use good at for ability	🧩 使用 good at 表示能力	She is good at math.	🧩 她数学很好。