Preposition of position

Words which tell us the actual location of objects are known as preposition of position.

Preposition of position

between among on upon above
over below under across through
beside near opposite to by in front of
behind at in

Now let us take each given preposition of position from above and understand where they should be correctly used.

Between and among

Between

Between is a position which separates two things.

  • Used in the middle of two object/location (There is a small creek between two big rocks. My office is between my college and home)

Among

Among denotes to the belonging of a thing or a person to a group.

  • Used when comparing with more than two (she is tallest among the three siblings)

On and upon

On

On refers to the things touching and are above something.

  • For example: The cat is on the table.

Upon

Upon refers to that denotation in which one is at motion while other is at rest.

  • For example: The leopard jumped upon the door.

Above and Over

Above

Above means to denote the sense of an object being vertically higher than other thing in which both are not in contact.

  • For example:
    The moon is shining on the dark night.
    The parachute is flying above the sky.

Over

Over denotes something covering higher.

  • For Example:
    There is a bridge over the river.
    She covered the shawl over her baby.

Below and under

Below

Below denotes something lower than other things and are not in contact with each other.

  • For Example:
    Glossary is given below the text.
    There is deep well below my house.

Under

Under denotes object being exactly below or vertically down and are not in contact.

  • For Example:
    There is a cat under the table.
    My brother is sitting under a tree.

Across and through

Across

Across refers to the opposite side of.

  • For example:
    There is a mango tree across the river.
    There is saint across the valley.

Through

Through refer in the sense of crossing.

  • For Example:
    He went out through window.
    The road goes through the valley.

Beside and near

Beside

Beside refers in the sense of next to.

  • For Example: She is sitting beside the teacher.

Near

Near refers to denote the sense of nearby.

  • For Example: His office is near to his apartment.

Opposite to and by

Opposite to

Opposite to gives the sense of other side.

  • For Example: My office is opposite to the Standard Chartered Bank.

By

By refers to the sense of next to.

  • For Example: There is a small jug by the bed.

In front of and behind

In front

In front of gives the sense of facing something.

  • For Example: There is cupboard in front of my fridge.

Behind

Behind gives the sense of something at the back.

  • For Example: The teacher is standing behind me.

At and in

At

At is used with expression on place at the exact point.

  • For Example: At the beginning of the year, children are informed about the rules and regulations of the school.

In

In is used with the larger area.

  • For Example: I live in Germany.