What are prepositional phrases in English? Prepositional phrases including In, On, Of,…

Prepositional phrase

Example

Preposition + Noun

• She is in the house. 
• The book is on the table. 
• I met him at the park. 

Preposition + Adjective + Noun

• The cat is under the big tree. 
• We had dinner in a fancy restaurant.
• They live in a beautiful house. 

Preposition + Phrase

• They went on vacation with the whole family.
• She succeeded with the help of her mentor.

Preposition

Common prepositional phrase

Meaning

Example

In

in danger

Have the possibility of harm or death

The hiker found himself in danger when he got lost in the wilderness.

in general

usually, or in most situations

In general, people prefer to relax on weekends.

in love

to have a strong affection for someone

Sarah was deeply in love with her partner, and couldn’t imagine her life without him.

in fact

actually

The weather forecast predicted rain, but in fact, it turned out to be a sunny day.

in need

to have to have something

After losing his job, John found himself in need of financial assistance to pay his bills.

in trouble

To be in problems or difficulties

The children got into trouble when they accidentally broke a valuable vase in their neighbor’s house.

in the end

finally, after something has been thought about or discussed a lot

Despite facing numerous challenges, Mary persevered and, in the end, achieved her goal of graduating with honors.

in debt

grateful for something someone did for you

Tom borrowed a large sum of money from the bank and found himself in debt that he struggled to repay.

in time

early enough

Luckily, Jane arrived at the train station just in time to catch her train.

in short

used before describing something or someone in as few words and as directly as possible

The movie was boring, poorly acted, and had a confusing plot. In short, it was a waste of time.

in other words

to explain it more clearly

The company’s profits were declining rapidly; in other words, they were losing money consistently.

in brief

If something is said in brief, it is said in a very short form, with very few details

The presentation provided a comprehensive overview of the topic, but to sum it up in brief, the speaker highlighted the main points.

in particular

especially

The restaurant was known for its delicious desserts, and in particular, their signature chocolate cake was a favorite among customers.

in turn

one after the other in an agreed order

Sarah helped John with his homework, and in turn, John assisted Sarah with her math problems.

On

on second thought

used when you want to change a decision you have made

Emily had initially agreed to go on the trip, but on second thought, she decided it was best to stay home and study for her exams. 

on average

usually

The class had students of varying abilities, but on average, they all performed reasonably well in their assignments.

on one’s own

By one’self

After years of living with roommates, Sarah finally decided to get her own apartment and live on her own.

on the contrary

used to show that you think or feel the opposite of what has just been stated

Many people believe that snakes are dangerous, but on the contrary, they can be beneficial to the environment by controlling rodent populations.

on purpose

If you do something on purpose, you do it intentionally, not by accident

Emily spilled her drink on purpose to get attention from her friends. 

on foot

walking

The parking lot was full, so Mark had to park his car far away and walk to the event on foot.

on time

used to describe something that arrives, happens, or is done when it should and is not late

The train arrived at the station exactly on time, allowing passengers to board without any delays.

on the whole

generally

The movie received mixed reviews, but on the whole, most critics agreed that it was a well-made and entertaining film.

on fire

If something is on fire, it is burning when it should not be

The firefighters arrived quickly and extinguished the flames before the entire building was on fire.

on and off

happening or existing only some of the time

The Wi-Fi connection in the area was unreliable, going on and off throughout the day, causing frustration for the residents.

on the spot

at the place where an event is happening or has recently happened

The witness was able to provide an accurate description of the suspect, helping the police identify and apprehend him on the spot.

on sale

discount

The clothing store was on clearance sale, with many items marked down at discounted prices.

on duty

To have something to do

The security guard remained vigilant while on duty, ensuring the safety of the premises throughout the night. 

At

at times

sometimes

Sarah enjoyed spending time outdoors, but at times, she preferred to stay indoors and relax.

at hand

near in time or position

The project deadline was approaching, and the team had to work diligently to complete the tasks at hand.

at heart

used to say what someone is really like

Despite his tough exterior, John was a kind and caring person at heart.

at once

immediately

When the fire alarm sounded, everyone evacuated the building at once.

at length

for a long time

The professor explained the complex theory at length, ensuring that all the students understood the concept.

at a profit

Having profit

Despite the economic downturn, the company managed to sell its products at a profit.

at present

now

The construction of the new building is ongoing, and at present, it is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

at all cost

If something must be done or avoided at all costs or at any cost, it must be done or avoided whatever happens, even if it is very difficult or causes a lot of problems:

The soldiers were instructed to protect their positions at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing their lives.

at war

The war is happening at the moment of mention

The neighboring countries were at war, resulting in significant casualties and destruction.

at a pinch

used to say that something could be done or used in a particular situation if it is really necessary

Jane forgot her lunch, but luckily, she had some snacks in her bag that would suffice at a pinch.

at ease

lack of difficulty

After a long day of work, Mary finally arrived home and felt at ease, knowing she could relax and unwind.

at rest

not moving

The dog lay comfortably on the grass, completely at rest after a long walk.

at least

not less than

The flight was delayed, but at least the passengers were provided with complimentary refreshments.

at most

not more than

The doctor informed the patient that the recovery process would take a few weeks, at most.

By

by sight

to recognize somebody without knowing them well

Jane recognized her childhood friend by sight, even though they hadn’t seen each other in years.

by chance

accidentally

While walking through the park, John stumbled upon a rare species of bird by chance.

by mistake

by accident; without intending to

Sarah grabbed her colleague’s notebook by mistake, thinking it was her own.

by heart

to learn something in such a way that you can say it from memory

The young girl had memorized her favorite poem by heart and recited it flawlessly.

by oneself

On one’s own

Tim decided to tackle the home renovation project by oneself, wanting to prove his independence and skills.

by all means

used to give permission

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask by all means.

by degrees

gradually

The temperature dropped by degrees as winter approached, gradually becoming colder.

by land

On road

The adventurous couple decided to travel from one country to another by land, embarking on an exciting road trip.

by no means

not at all

The company’s decision to downsize the workforce was by no means an easy one, but it was necessary for its survival.

Out of

out of work

without a paid job

After being laid off, Sarah found herself out of work and started looking for new job opportunities.

out of date

old-fashioned or without the most recent information and therefore no longer useful

The fashion trends from the 90s are now out of date and considered old-fashioned.

out of reach

Cannot be reached

The cat sat on top of the bookshelf, just out of reach of the children trying to catch it.

out of money

No money left

After splurging on a shopping spree, John realized he was out of money and needed to budget more carefully.

out of danger

No longer in danger

The hiker slipped and fell, but luckily, he managed to grab onto a tree branch and pull himself out of danger.

out of use

expire

The old typewriter had been sitting in the attic for years, completely out of use in the digital age.

out of the question

not possible or not allowed

When John asked if he could have a pet elephant, his parents quickly replied that it was out of the question.

out of order

If something someone says or does is out of order, it is unpleasant or not suitable and it is likely to upset or offend people

The elevator was out of order, so the employees had to use the stairs to reach their offices.

Other prepositions

under control

being dealt with or limited successfully

The firefighters worked tirelessly to bring the raging fire under control and prevent it from spreading further.

within reach

Can be reached

The book on the top shelf was just within reach, so Sarah stretched her arm and grabbed it easily.

from time to time

sometimes, but not often

Sarah enjoys going on road trips and exploring new places, so she takes spontaneous trips from time to time.

Prepositional phrase

Meaning

Example

In addition

as well (as)

In addition to the health benefits, regular exercise also helps improve mental well-being.

On the one hand

This Side (The First Object Mentioned When Comparing Two Objects)

On the one hand, if the body doesn’t have enough cholesterol, we would not be able to survive. On the other hand, if the body has too much cholesterol, the excess begins to line the arteries.

On the other hand

used to introduce different points of view, ideas, etc., especially when they are opposites

Some people argue that technology has made our lives easier. On the other hand, it has also led to increased sedentary behavior.

In conclusion

finally

In conclusion, the government should implement stricter regulations to reduce air pollution.

Due to

because of

The cancellation of the flight was due to adverse weather conditions.

In contrast

having a thin edge or point that can cut something or make a hole in something

In contrast to traditional teaching methods, online education provides flexibility and convenience.

On the contrary

used to show that you think or feel the opposite of what has just been stated

Many people believe that money brings happiness, but, on the contrary, true happiness comes from meaningful relationships and personal fulfillment.

In terms of

used to describe which particular area of a subject you are discussing

In terms of economic growth, developing countries face unique challenges.

As a result

because of something

The company’s unethical practices led to a loss of public trust and, as a result, a decline in sales.

With regard to

relating to somebody/something

With regard to climate change, governments should prioritize renewable energy sources.

In order to

allowed according to the rules of a meeting, etc.

Investments in infrastructure are necessary in order to stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities.