Overview
A prepositional phrase is a group of words starting with a preposition and ending with a noun or pronoun: in the morning, on the table, after the meeting, with my colleagues. Prepositional phrases function as adjectives (modifying nouns) or adverbs (modifying verbs and adjectives).
Common preposition patterns
- ininterested in / good at / succeeded in
- onfocused on / based on / concentrated on
- forresponsible for / known for / talent for
- ofafraid of / proud of / aware of
Place & time prepositions
- at a point: arrived at the airport / at 5pm
- in a place: born in 1990 / lives in London
- on a surface / date: on Monday / on 5 March
- by a deadline: submit by Friday
Common Mistakes
- ❌ She is interested on history. → ✅ interested in history.
- ❌ He is good in maths. → ✅ good at maths.
- ❌ They arrived to the airport late. → ✅ arrived at the airport.
When to use
Academic writing
The study is based on recent findings.
Work profiles
She is responsible for the project.
Dates
He was born on the 5th of March.
Skills
She is known for her attention to detail.