Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences of Time, Place, Reason

A prepositional phrase is a preposition followed by a noun phrase, a pronoun, or a gerund, as in on the desk, with a smile, and after lunch. These 414 prepositional phrase example sentences are written for time, place, direction, manner, means, reason, adjectival and adverbial uses, positions in a sentence, and everyday contexts from home to sports. You get model sentences for speaking, writing, and exam practice, together with related practice on adverb phrases, adjective phrases, and gerund phrases.

Quick Answer: Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences

• Time: The concert begins at seven.
• Place: The umbrella is behind the door.
• Direction: The boys walked across the field.
• Manner: She answered with a friendly smile.
• Means: We travelled to the coast by ferry.
• Reason: The flight was delayed because of fog.
• After a noun: The woman in the green scarf is my teacher.
• After a verb: The children listened to the story.

Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences for Everyday Use

A preposition and a noun phrase together form the phrase, as in “on the warm windowsill”, “after the match”, and “about her trip”.

1. The cat slept on the warm windowsill all afternoon.
2. We met at the station just before six.
3. Leila walked across the bridge slowly, with her little brother.
4. A letter from my grandmother arrived on Tuesday.
5. The children played in the garden until it got dark.
6. Mr Okafor drank his tea without sugar.
7. After the match, both teams shook hands.
8. The girl with the red umbrella is my cousin.
9. Kenji travelled to Osaka last year by train.
10. Please put the keys under the blue cushion.
11. They waited for the bus patiently in the rain.
12. Our flat near the river has a small balcony.
13. The shop opens at nine and closes at five.
14. Rosa spoke about her trip happily for an hour.
15. At dusk, a bird flew over the old barn.
16. The teacher stood beside the window.
17. Tariq cut the bread with a sharp knife.
18. Since 2015, Amina has lived in Nairobi.
19. During the storm, the lights went out.
20. Daniel hid behind the door and waited.

Function Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

Either a noun or an action is described by the phrase.

Adjectival Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences

After a noun, the phrase describes it, as in “on the table”, “from Brazil”, and “from the bank”.

1. The book on the table belongs to Priya.
2. The painting in the hallway is very old.
3. The man with the grey beard repairs radios.
4. A bottle of olive oil stood beside the stove.
5. The road to the village was closed after the flood.
6. The dress in the window cost forty euros.
7. The students from Brazil won the quiz.
8. A house by the sea was her dream.
9. The story about a lost dog made the class laugh.
10. Do you know the woman across the street?
11. The key to the cellar is missing.
12. Her sister in Lagos runs a bakery.
13. The cake with strawberries was gone in minutes.
14. A letter from the bank came this morning.
15. The boy on the left is my brother.
16. The tallest tree in the park is an oak.
17. Their town of ten thousand people has one cinema.
18. The lamp above the piano flickered.
19. The woman in the blue coat dropped her ticket.
20. In class, we read a poem by Rumi.

Adverbial Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences

Describing an action, the phrase is adverbial, as in “on the table”, “with a wrench”, and “with fresh basil”.

1. Hana sat on the table while she waited.
2. The team trained in the rain all week.
3. The dog jumped over the fence.
4. We ate dinner very late, at eight.
5. She answered the question with a smile.
6. The kids ran down the hill.
7. Pedro fixed the bike with a wrench.
8. He left the party without saying goodbye.
9. The concert starts in an hour.
10. Mira sang during the whole trip.
11. The wedding guests arrived by taxi.
12. Rain fell on the tin roof all night.
13. After lunch, the workers rested in the shade.
14. The soup tastes better with fresh basil.
15. Lena studied chemistry for three hours.
16. A tiny boat drifted toward the rocks.
17. The baby slept through the thunder.
18. The vase fell from the shelf and broke.
19. He spoke in a low voice.
20. The singer waved to the crowd.

Time and Place Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

Three questions are answered: when an action happens, where something is, and where something moves.

Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences of Time

Time phrases state when an action happens, as in “at noon”, “until midnight”, and “throughout the night”.

1. Our violin lesson begins at noon.
2. The new market opens on Monday.
3. Sweet cherries ripen in June every year.
4. During the storm, the lights flickered twice.
5. Please finish the report by Friday.
6. She has lived here since 2010.
7. The library stays open until midnight.
8. Yuki studied for two weeks right before the test.
9. The doctor will see you within an hour.
10. Bright fireflies glow softly around sunset.
11. We visit my aunt at the weekend.
12. Many families travel over the summer.
13. Heavy rain fell steadily throughout the night.
14. Before dinner, Tomas set the table.
15. The bakery smells wonderful in the morning.
16. Her late flight lands after midnight.
17. The shop is closed on public holidays.
18. Dev waits until the last minute to pack.

Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences of Place

Place phrases state where something is or happens, as in “in the kitchen”, “near the market”, and “among the trees”.

1. The kettle is in the kitchen.
2. Pia left her bag on the shelf.
3. Two boys fished under the bridge.
4. The playground lies behind the school.
5. Our tired group camped quietly beside the lake.
6. A narrow lane runs between the two houses.
7. Ahmed bought bread near the market.
8. The bank is next to the library.
9. A small clock hangs above the door.
10. Silver fish swam slowly below the surface.
11. The ring was inside the box.
12. The taxi waited outside the gate.
13. Deer moved quietly among the trees.
14. The cafe stands opposite the park.
15. Turn left at the corner and keep walking.
16. The family gathered around the table.
17. A statue stands in front of the museum.
18. The market is just across the road.

Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences of Direction

Direction phrases state where something moves, as in “to the airport”, “through the tunnel”, and “past the bakery”.

1. Nina drove her uncle to the airport.
2. The herd moved slowly toward the river.
3. A stray dog ran into the room.
4. Everyone climbed out of the car.
5. The train passes through the tunnel.
6. We strolled slowly along the beach together.
7. At dawn, cattle walked across the field.
8. Mei raced up the stairs to answer the phone.
9. The sled slid down the hill.
10. The bus rolled past the bakery.
11. A cyclist turned around the corner.
12. The singer stepped onto the stage.
13. The delegates arrived from the west.
14. The children backed away from the fire.

Manner and Reason Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

How an action is done, which method is used, and why it happens are each stated by the phrase.

Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences of Manner

To describe how someone behaves, the phrase states the manner, as in “with great care”, “like a professional”, and “with great speed”.

1. Lucia carried the vase with great care.
2. Pedro left the office in a hurry.
3. The whole audience listened in silence.
4. She crept up the stairs quietly, without a sound.
5. The sprinter ran like a professional.
6. Grandpa told the story in a calm voice.
7. Pupils stood in an orderly line.
8. He greeted us with a wide grin.
9. The little toddler stood there in tears.
10. Aisha packed the boxes with great speed.
11. The old man spoke with a trembling voice.
12. The couple danced in perfect time together.
13. The carpenter built the table with patience.
14. Wei replied with polite firmness and thanked them.

Prepositional Phrase Examples of Means and Instrument

Method and instrument phrases name the method or the tool used for an action, as in “by bus”, “through hard work”, and “with a small knife”.

1. Santiago goes to work every morning by bus.
2. Please send the form by email.
3. Mina sketched the plan with a pencil.
4. I will reach you by phone soon after lunch.
5. She earned her place through hard work.
6. The delegates flew home via Frankfurt.
7. The toddler ate her porridge with a spoon.
8. The pilgrims travelled the whole route on foot.
9. In summer, Harun rides by bicycle.
10. Dina opened the tin with a small knife.
11. He solved the puzzle with the help of a neighbour.
12. We booked the tickets through an agent.
13. The farmer waters the field by hose.
14. Ola fixed the shelf with two screws.

Prepositional Phrase Examples of Reason and Purpose

For a cause or a purpose, the phrase explains an action or a state, as in “because of the rain”, “thanks to her coach”, and “in honour of the winner”.

1. The match was cancelled because of the rain.
2. The train arrived late due to a signal fault.
3. Joon drinks green tea for his health.
4. She helped the stranger out of kindness.
5. Rita won thanks to her coach.
6. Old Mr Hale fainted suddenly from exhaustion.
7. The project stopped for lack of money.
8. Emil missed school on account of illness.
9. Beatriz studied all night for the exam.
10. The crowd stood in honour of the winner.
11. Hana stayed completely silent through fear.
12. The children jumped up and down with excitement.
13. Keep a torch handy in case of fire.
14. The tourists stopped for a swim.

Word Partner Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

Verbs, adjectives, and nouns each join a preposition and its object.

Prepositional Phrase Examples After Verbs

Listen, depend, rely, and believe take a preposition, as in “to the radio”, “in hard work”, and “to my cousin”.

1. Hye-jin listened to the radio while cooking.
2. Her success depends on her sister’s advice.
3. The class laughed at his joke.
4. Please wait for me patiently, outside the shop.
5. Farid believes in hard work and patience.
6. The driver apologised to the passengers.
7. Please look at this map carefully.
8. I agree with your plan completely.
9. Young players rely on their coach.
10. The bike belongs to my cousin.
11. Marta worried about her brother all evening.
12. Hotel guests complained about the noise from the road.
13. Grandma insisted on paying the bill.
14. The old sailor suffers from back pain.

Prepositional Phrase Examples After Adjectives

Afraid, good, interested, and proud take a preposition, as in “of spiders”, “with her brother”, and “for the crew”.

1. Little Mia is afraid of spiders and moths.
2. Tomas is surprisingly good at chess.
3. Are you really interested in jazz?
4. Parents were proud of the young choir.
5. She was angry with her brother.
6. The valley is famous for its cherries.
7. We are ready for the trip.
8. Noor felt worried about the results.
9. This design is similar to the old one.
10. The captain is responsible for the crew.
11. Ravi grew tired of the noise.
12. My uncle is fond of old maps.
13. Young babies are curious about everything they touch.
14. Are you familiar with this software?

Prepositional Phrase Examples After Nouns

Reason, interest, answer, and solution take a preposition, as in “for the delay”, “to the leak”, and “of water”.

1. She gave no reason for the delay.
2. His interest in astronomy began at twelve.
3. Nobody knew the answer to the riddle.
4. Students show respect for their teachers.
5. The engineers found a solution to the leak.
6. Officials reported an increase in prices.
7. There is great demand for fresh bread.
8. We had trouble with the old printer.
9. His fear of water kept him ashore.
10. The cause of the fire is unknown.
11. Explain the difference between the two words.
12. The invitation to the wedding came by post.

Prepositional Phrase Examples with Of

Of follows a noun, as in “of the house”, “of the film”, and “of the mountain”.

1. The roof of the house needs repair.
2. She is a friend of mine.
3. Chinua is the author of the novel.
4. The mayor of Linden opened the fair.
5. I fell asleep before the end of the film.
6. Dad ordered a cup of tea.
7. Hassan is the son of a fisherman.
8. Nobody remembered the name of the street.
9. A member of the choir lost her voice.
10. By noon, we reached the top of the mountain.
11. The smell of fresh bread filled the lane.
12. The sound of rain helped him sleep.
13. The cost of the repairs surprised the owners.
14. She is a colleague of Omar’s.

Position Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrases come at the start of a sentence, after the subject, at the end of a sentence, or in a row of two or three.

Prepositional Phrase Examples at the Start of a Sentence

The phrase begins the sentence.

1. In May we moved to Quito.
2. At noon the bells rang across the valley.
3. Before sunrise Hana was already awake.
4. In the middle of the night, the phone rang.
5. After a long journey from Cairo, Salma slept for ten hours.
6. At the end of the performance, the audience stood and applauded.
7. In 2022, three hundred volunteers joined the clean-up.
8. For the third year in a row, the school won the cup.
9. During the long winter months, the family stayed indoors.
10. Under the old oak tree, two children shared a sandwich.
11. Beyond the hills, a river wound toward the sea.
12. On the morning of the race, Jonas ate a light breakfast.
13. Across the crowded square, a street band began to play.
14. With a loud cheer, the fans welcomed the team.

Prepositional Phrase Examples After the Subject

Between the subject and the verb, the phrase comes directly after the subject noun, as in “in the back row”, “with the heavy suitcase”, and “despite her tiredness”.

1. The children in the back row whispered.
2. The mayor, in a quiet voice, thanked the volunteers.
3. The woman with the heavy suitcase missed her train.
4. Our coach, after a long pause, announced the team.
5. The soup on the stove smelled of garlic.
6. Fatima, despite her tiredness, finished the marathon.
7. The tickets for tonight’s show sold out.
8. The students from the north arrived first.

Prepositional Phrase Examples at the End of a Sentence

Closing the sentence, the phrase comes last, as in “behind the bakery”, “for the signal”, and “on the hook”.

1. Ravi parked the car behind the bakery.
2. The guests gathered in the courtyard.
3. Sofia placed the vase on the windowsill.
4. Everyone waited patiently for the signal.
5. The children walked to the lake.
6. My brother works at a hospital.
7. Tara hung the coat on the hook.
8. The ferry leaves from the south pier.
9. The friends talked quietly until dawn.
10. Nobody noticed the mistake in the report.

Consecutive Prepositional Phrase Examples

Two or three phrases appear in a row.

1. The woman at the desk by the window is my aunt.
2. Kofi found a note inside the book on the top shelf.
3. She stayed in a small hotel near the harbour.
4. The cover of the book on the table is torn.
5. A photograph of my grandfather in his army uniform hangs in the hall.
6. We left at dawn on Saturday from the old station.
7. The key to the door of the cellar hangs on a hook.
8. Maria lives in an apartment above a bakery on Elm Street.
9. The letter from the clerk in the tax office was polite.
10. A group of boys from the village school won the relay.
11. The map of the island in the northern sea was drawn by hand.
12. Kim waited for her friend at the gate until noon.
13. The lid of the box under the bed was dusty.
14. They danced in the square in front of the church.

Object Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

A pronoun, a gerund, or a clause follows the preposition, as in “beside her”, “between you and me”, and “for singing in the rain”.

1. She gave the book to him quietly after class.
2. The big birthday surprise is for us.
3. Nobody else wanted to sit beside her.
4. Please come with me to the market today.
5. Between you and me, the plan will work.
6. Sara cleaned the kitchen after finishing her homework.
7. Pablo improved his English by reading daily.
8. They won the match by playing as a team.
9. Without waiting for an answer, she left.
10. He is famous for singing in the rain.
11. The bag behind them belongs to Ivan.
12. Lena apologised again for being late.
13. He worried about what the doctor would say.
14. The coach was curious about who had called.

Passive Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

Following a passive verb, by names the doer of the action, as in “by a stray football”, “by my brother”, and “by volunteers”.

1. The window was broken by a stray football.
2. The song was written by a teenager from Accra.
3. The bridge was designed by two engineers.
4. Dinner was cooked by my brother.
5. The village was founded by fishermen.
6. The letter was signed by the director.
7. Many trees were planted by volunteers.
8. The painting was taken by an unknown thief.
9. Our team was coached by a retired sprinter.
10. The match was watched by millions of fans.

Negative Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

No, not, never, nobody, nothing, and n’t appear with the prepositional phrase.

1. There is no milk in the fridge.
2. She did not sleep during the flight.
3. Nobody sat at the back table.
4. We never travel far by bus.
5. The shop is not open on Sundays.
6. He did not speak to the manager.
7. Nothing grows in this dry soil.
8. They didn’t leave the camp before sunrise.
9. I haven’t seen her since March.
10. You must not park in front of the gate.
11. The report was not finished on time.
12. No one answered at the office.

Question Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

Questions contain a prepositional phrase, as in “to the garage”, “from platform nine”, and “at what time”.

1. Where is the key to the garage?
2. Did you go to the market?
3. Who lives in the yellow house?
4. In which room did you leave the keys?
5. For whom did the committee vote?
6. When does the train leave from platform nine?
7. Are you worried about the exam?
8. Is the girl with the guitar your cousin?
9. How did you travel to the island?
10. At what time does the museum close?
11. Did they win by a large margin?
12. Will you stay with your aunt?
13. Which road leads to the lake?
14. What is the name of your teacher?

Reported Speech Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

In reported speech, a statement or a question from another speaker contains the prepositional phrase, as in “at ten”, “by train”, and “from Mumbai”.

1. Tara said that the meeting would start at ten.
2. He told us that the keys were in his coat.
3. The guide explained that the castle stood on a hill.
4. She asked whether I had come by train.
5. Omar said he had waited for an hour.
6. The manager announced that the shop would close for repairs.
7. They said that the parcel had arrived from Mumbai.
8. Maya replied that she was afraid of heights.
9. The teacher reminded us that the test was on Friday.
10. Luis asked where the bus to the airport stopped.

Context Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

The settings range from homes and classrooms to offices, journeys, newsrooms, stories, sports, and clinics.

Prepositional Phrase Examples for Home Life

At home, the prepositional phrases describe keys, pets, meals, and chores, as in “in a blue jar”, “at the counter”, and “after dinner”.

1. Grandma keeps the spare keys in a blue jar.
2. Our dog sleeps under the kitchen table.
3. Rahul hung his wet towel over the chair.
4. The twins ate breakfast at the counter.
5. A calendar from the bakery hangs on the fridge door.
6. Mum cooks rice with a pinch of salt.
7. We watch films after dinner every Friday.
8. Baby clothes dried quickly on the line.
9. Zainab paints the fence in the afternoon.

Prepositional Phrase Examples for School Life

In the classroom, the prepositional phrases describe pupils, boards, maps, essays, and tests, as in “in neat rows”, “before lunch”, and “from year six”.

1. The pupils sat in neat rows.
2. Mr Obi wrote the date on the board.
3. A map of the world hangs on the wall.
4. The bell rings twice before lunch.
5. Ayaan handed his essay to the teacher.
6. The science fair takes place in the gymnasium.
7. Girls from year six practised during the break.
8. Nobody talked loudly in the library.
9. She finished the maths test within forty minutes.

Prepositional Phrase Examples for Work

At the office, the prepositional phrases describe meetings, reports, contracts, and schedules, as in “at nine”, “from home”, and “in 2019”.

1. Our team meets at nine every Monday.
2. Leona emailed the report to the director.
3. The contract is in the top drawer.
4. Ben works from home every Thursday.
5. The manager spoke about the new schedule.
6. Customers queued outside the shop long before opening.
7. Ines joined the company in 2019.
8. The staff celebrated with a small cake.
9. Please sign the form at the bottom.

Prepositional Phrase Examples for Travel

During journeys, the prepositional phrases describe tickets, hotels, buses, ferries, and passports, as in “for the night train”, “at sunrise”, and “across the strait”.

1. The ticket for the night train costs twenty euros.
2. Our hotel is near the harbour.
3. A bus to the border leaves every hour.
4. At sunrise, we flew over the mountains.
5. Gabriel waited at the gate patiently for two hours.
6. Tourists queued patiently outside the cathedral.
7. The ferry sails across the strait twice a day.
8. Keep your passport in an inside pocket.
9. In a year, Mei-Ling travelled through six countries.

Prepositional Phrase Examples for News Reports

News reports use prepositional phrases for rescues, votes, prices, floods, and councils, as in “from the ninth floor”, “outside the school”, and “after a long debate”.

1. Firefighters rescued three people from the ninth floor.
2. Leaders met in the capital last Tuesday.
3. The old bridge closed again for repairs.
4. Voters lined up outside the school long before dawn.
5. Prices rose by two percent last month.
6. Floods swept through the northern valley.
7. The council approved the plan after a long debate.
8. Officials announced the result at noon.
9. A new clinic will open in the old market.

Prepositional Phrase Examples for Stories

Stories use prepositional phrases for knights, dragons, princesses, and kings, as in “beyond the dark forest”, “without a word”, and “by night”.

1. The knight rode beyond the dark forest.
2. A dragon slept in the cave beneath the hill.
3. A letter from the queen reached the village.
4. The princess climbed to the top of the tower.
5. Without a word, the stranger vanished.
6. Three ravens circled above the castle.
7. The brothers crossed the river by night.
8. The old woman lived at the edge of the wood.
9. A wise king ruled over a quiet land.

Prepositional Phrase Examples for Sports

On the pitch, the prepositional phrases describe goals, passes, runners, goalkeepers, and fans, as in “in the last minute”, “to her left”, and “from the stands”.

1. Ali scored in the last minute.
2. The midfielder passed the ball to the winger.
3. The runners sprinted twice around the track.
4. The goalkeeper dived to her left.
5. Our team trained hard before sunrise.
6. The referee waved play on with a smile.
7. Fans cheered loudly from the stands.
8. The swimmer finished ahead of the others.
9. A shot flew over the crossbar.

Prepositional Phrase Examples for Health

At the clinic, the prepositional phrases describe pain, doctors, nurses, patients, and tablets, as in “in his chest”, “after a week of rest”, and “through the night”.

1. Elias felt a sharp pain in his chest.
2. Maya visited the doctor on Wednesday.
3. The nurse checked his temperature at midnight.
4. She recovered after a week of rest.
5. A rash spread across his arm.
6. Drink some water with every meal.
7. The patient slept through the night.
8. Patients wait in the corridor until called.
9. He takes the tablet with food.

Kids and Student Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

The range runs from short sentences for beginners to formal sentences for exam answers.

Prepositional Phrase Example Sentences for Kids

For kids, the prepositional phrases describe animals, play, and everyday objects, as in “under the bed”, “behind the big tree”, and “after lunch”.

1. The ball rolled under the bed.
2. A frog sat on a green leaf.
3. Our dog rides in the car.
4. Sam hid behind the big tree.
5. Birds fly over the school.
6. I draw with a red pencil.
7. We play after lunch every day.
8. Mum made a cake for my birthday.
9. The fish swims in the bowl.
10. My bag is by the door.

Short Prepositional Phrase Sentences for Beginners

Beginners start with short statements or commands that contain a phrase of two or three words, as in “on the mat”, “under the bed”, and “over the log”.

1. Sit on the mat.
2. Look at me.
3. Run to school.
4. Hide under the bed.
5. Come with me.
6. The cat is on the roof.
7. Jump over the log.
8. Birds sing in trees.
9. Wait for me.
10. We swim in July.

Prepositional Phrase Examples for Exams

Exam answers use formal wording, as in “according to the report”, “by a fifth”, and “despite his fear of heights”.

1. In spite of the heavy rain, the match continued.
2. The proposal for a bridge across the estuary divided the council.
3. With the exception of two students, the class passed the test.
4. The research team succeeded by combining satellite data with local records.
5. According to the report, rainfall fell by a fifth.
6. On behalf of the committee, I thank you.
7. Despite his fear of heights, Tomas climbed the tower.
8. In the absence of clear evidence, the court dismissed the claim.
9. The decline in the number of bees worries farmers.
10. As a result of the new law, factories reduced emissions.

FAQs

Related:

• Noun Phrase Examples
• Verb Phrase Examples
• Infinitive Phrase Examples
• Participial Phrase Examples
• Appositive Example Sentences
• Absolute Phrase Examples