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The following list contains the most important prepositions; they are essential, and should be known to all students of English.

about after along among at before

behind between by down for from

in in front of into like near next to

of off                  on out of over past

round since through under up with without

Furthermore, many verbs are strongly associated with certain prepositions:

they can be conveniently grouped into two classes:

a : with a meaning that is clear from that of the verb itself.

b : with an idiomatic meaning.

Examples for (a):

Take it off the chair and put it on the table.

He is sitting at the window that looks on to the garden.

He spoke about his work.

Examples for (b)

Gordon takes after his father. (resembles)

Catherine looks after him. (cares for)

The ship was making for the harbour. (going towards)

We’re looking forward to your visit. (awaiting with pleasure)

Insert a preposition into each gap.

1. Catherine stays ………… home when Gordon delivers books.

2. The train arrived ……… the station ……. 5 p.m.

3. Meet me ……. noon ………. Thursday.

4. I haven’t seen you ……….. a week.

5. I haven’t seen you ……….. last Tuesday.

6. Hamlet was written ……… Shakespeare.

7. I was born …….. Chester, but now I live …… a small village ……… Switzerland.

8. Cats like to sit ………. the roof.

9. Write ……… pencil.

10. They went home ……….. foot.

11. I like to go …….. the mountains ……. car.

12. Get …… the bus …… Peseux.

13. There are many bridges ……… the Rhone.

14. I bought this hat ………. $10.—

15. The train left here ……. Lausanne ten minutes ago.

16. This is a secret ………… you and me.

17. What are you talking ……………?

18. A man …….. a red beard went …….. my house.

19. Wait ……… me ! Don’t go ………. me.

20. The teacher sit …… a desk ……………… the classroom.

21. He walked ….. the door, but fell ……. a chair ……..

the way ……… the room.

23. Charlie sat ……….. Tom and Seb.

24. We walked ……. the hill …… the wood …… the top.

25. Go ………. this street, turn right ……. the post office and take

the second turning …….. your left.

26. Count ….. one ……. ten …… your fingers.

27. It is best to draw lines ……….. a ruler.

28. Can you push it ……… the keyhole or ………. the door.

29. I would give it …… you …… pleasure if it were mine.

30. Is it far ………… here ……. the station ?

31. The house is …… fire ! Call …….. help !

32. Will you come …….. me for a swim ………. the new swimming pool ………. lunch ?

33. What are you laughing ………. ?

34. She fell …… the stairs and knocked her glasses …… her nose.

35. I am looking …… an e-mail I got ………. Denis this morning.

36. Will you be ……. home …….. six and seven this evening ?

37. He is going …… a trip …….. the world …….. July.

38. She fell ….. the ladder when she was trying to pin …… a map.

39. The children often throw their ball ……. the wall …… mistake.

40. He lives …… his parents not far ……… here.

41. Who does that watch belong …… ?

42. What were you talking …….. him ……… ?

In chapter three of 'I hume you' part one there are 100 gaps to fill in: all of which are prepositions.