Prepositions: A

One-word prepositions

aboard

• We went aboard the boat.
• Is there a doctor aboard the plane?

about

• What do you think about Mary?
• Let's talk about something different.
• I've just read a book about President Kennedy.
• The lion was pacing about its cage.

above

• We are flying above the clouds.
• We live in the hills, 1,000 metres above sea-level.
• It's only two degrees above freezing point. [+2ºC]
• Who came above you in the test results?

across

• We drove across the desert.
• The dog ran across the road.
• There is a bridge across the river.
• She lives in the house across the street. It's nearly opposite mine.

after (also conjunction)

• We had lunch [1pm] after the meeting [11am].
• Let's meet the day after tomorrow.

against

• Did you vote for or against the suggestion?
• He put his bicycle against the wall.

along

• We walked along the beach for two miles.
• There are trees along the road.
• The toilet is along the corridor.

alongside

• Their boat came alongside our boat.
• Team A worked alongside Team B during construction.

amid | amidst (poetic)

• I couldn't hear her amid the noise.
• We were lost amidst the trees.

among | amongst (mainly British English)

• Is there a doctor among us?
• There were secret police among the crowd.
• I was amongst strangers. I didn't know anyone.

anti

• He seems to be anti my idea.
• Some people are anti everything.

around

• We walked around the town for an hour.
• They all sat around the camp fire.
• There is a big fence around the house.
• He was born around 1570.
• Let's meet around 7pm.

as (also conjunction)

• He is working as a waiter.
• The risk is as nothing compared to the profit.
• Ram is as tall as Anthony.

astride

• She sat astride the horse.

at

• He is at school.
• We first met at a party.
• Let's start the meeting at 9 o'clock.
• He started work at 17 (years of age).
• We are aiming at sales of $1,000,000.

atop (poetic)

• The church is situated atop a hill.

Complex prepositions

according to

• According to John, Mary was late. I believe John.

ahead of

• Anthony is ahead of Rachel in the race. He'll win.
• We have a long day ahead of us. Let's get going!

à la (from French)

• It's a TV show à la CNN. Same style, similar content.

along with

• Do you want some pork along with the chicken?

apart from

• Nobody objected apart from you, so we did it.

as for

• As for Matt, he will arrive later.

aside from

• I have another car aside from this one. Both are red.

as per

• We must work strictly as per the law.

as to

• As to your behaviour, I think you were wrong.

as well as

• You should telephone as well as write, just to be sure.

away from
The cat ran away from the dog and escaped.