What does it mean?
Compound prepositions are preposition words made from joined parts. Many are now written as one word, and they show place, time, direction, position, or absence.
walk across the bridge
stand behind the door
go into the room
leave without a bag
Useful compound prepositions to know.
Placeabove, across, behind, below, beside, between, inside, outside, underneathwhere?
Timebefore, after, until, uponwhen?
Direction / relationinto, onto, throughout, towards, within, withoutwhere to, or what relation?
Across crosses a surface. Through goes inside and out.
We walked across the bridge.We moved from one side to the other.across + surface or line
The train went through the tunnel.It went inside and came out.through + enclosed space
The ball rolled across the floor.It moved over the surface.side-to-side movement
Before is earlier. After is later.
Eat breakfast before school.Breakfast happens earlier.before + time/event
We played after class.Class finished first.after + time/event
Look before you cross.Look first, cross second.order of actions
These words show position near other things.
The bag is behind the chair.The chair is in front of it.at the back
Sara sat beside Maha.Sara sat next to her.at the side
The shop is between the bank and the cafe.It is in the middle of two places.middle of two
These words show higher or lower position.
The clock is above the board.It is higher than the board.higher position
The shoes are below the shelf.They are lower than the shelf.lower position
The toy is underneath the blanket.It is under and covered.underneath = under
Inside means in. Outside means not in.
The cat is inside the box.The cat is in the box.within a space
The children are outside the house.They are not in the house.not inside
Keep the food inside the fridge.The fridge is the container.inside + container
Into enters a space. Onto lands on a surface.
She walked into the classroom.She moved from outside to inside.into = movement in
The bird flew onto the roof.It moved to the top surface.onto = movement to on
Put the books into the bag.The books enter the bag.entering a container
Some compound prepositions show limits, direction, or absence.
withinFinish within ten minutes.inside a limit
withoutHe left without his lunch.not having
towardsWalk towards the gate.in the direction of
throughoutIt rained throughout the night.from beginning to end
uponOnce upon a time, there was a king.formal or story style
untilWait until noon.up to a time
Choose the crossing word.
The children walked ___ the bridge.
Choose the back-position word.
The ball is ___ the door.
Choose the absence word.
Maha went to class ___ her notebook.
Which sentence shows entering?
Choose the best sentence.
Which sentence shows a lower covered position?
Choose the best sentence.
Fill five blanks.
Choose the compound preposition that best completes each sentence.
Wash your hands dinner.
The sweets are the jar.
The school is the park and the library.
The cat jumped the chair.
The lights stayed on the night.
Mixed question types of 5
Answer all five. Then tap Finish test to see your result sheet.
1. Sentence completion
We played football ___ school.
2. MCQ
Which sentence shows a higher position?
3. Type the answer
Please finish ___ five minutes.
4. Type the answer
The dog ran ___ the gate.
5. MCQ
Which sentence shows movement to a surface?
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