English Vocabulary A2

A2 Prepositions in English

At A2 level, learners continue using basic prepositions and start learning more everyday combinations. These include prepositions for transport, places, time expressions, daily routines, and common phrases.

What changes at A2?

At A1, learners use simple prepositions like in, on, at, to, and from. At A2, learners begin to use prepositions in more natural everyday sentences: by bus, on foot, at home, in the evening, and with my family.

A1Basic place, time, and movement
A2Everyday phrases and simple combinations
B1Common verb and adjective patterns
B2Dependent prepositions and complex phrases
C1Academic and formal prepositions
C2Idiomatic, literary, and rare uses

📍 A2 Prepositions of Place

These prepositions help describe locations in more detail.

place

near

Close to something.

The park is near my house.
place

opposite

On the other side, facing something.

The bank is opposite the school.
place

above

Higher than something.

The picture is above the sofa.
place

below

Lower than something.

The kitchen is below our flat.
place

inside

In the inner part of something.

The phone is inside the drawer.
place

outside

Not inside a place.

The children are outside the classroom.
place

around

In many parts of a place.

There are trees around the house.
place

along

Following the line of something.

We walked along the river.

⏰ A2 Prepositions of Time

A2 learners use more time phrases for routines, plans, and everyday life.

time

before

Earlier than something.

I brush my teeth before breakfast.
time

after

Later than something.

We play football after school.
time

during

At some time in a period.

I read during the lesson.
time

until

Up to a time.

The shop is open until 8 p.m.
time

for

A length of time.

I stayed there for two days.
time

from…to

The start and end time.

I work from 9 to 5.

🚍 Prepositions for Transport

These are very common in everyday English. They help learners speak about travel and movement.

transport

by

Used with most transport words.

I go to school by bus.
transport

on foot

Walking.

She goes to work on foot.
transport

in

Used with cars and taxis.

We came in a taxi.
transport

on

Used with buses, trains, planes, and bikes.

He is on the train.
transport

off

Leaving public transport.

We got off the bus.
transport

into

Entering a vehicle or place.

She got into the car.
Simple transport rule:

Use by when you talk about the method of travel: by bus, by train, by car, by plane. Use on foot when you walk.

🧺 Everyday A2 Preposition Phrases

Many prepositions appear in fixed everyday phrases. These are very useful for speaking and writing.

at home

In your house or flat.

I am at home today.

at work

In the place where you work.

My father is at work.

at school

In the place where you study.

The children are at school.

in bed

Lying or sleeping in bed.

He is in bed because he is tired.

in the morning

A part of the day.

I drink tea in the morning.

in the afternoon

A part of the day after lunch.

We study in the afternoon.

in the evening

A part of the day after afternoon.

They watch TV in the evening.

at night

The night period.

The city is quiet at night.

👥 Prepositions with People and Things

These prepositions help learners talk about people, objects, and simple relationships.

people

with

Together with another person or thing.

I live with my family.
people

without

Not having something or someone.

She went out without her phone.
thing

about

Connected with a topic.

This book is about animals.
thing

for

Purpose or receiver.

This present is for you.
thing

of

Belonging or connection.

This is a photo of my family.
thing

like

Similar to something.

It looks like a small house.

A2 Prepositions Quick Table

Preposition Main Use Example
near Close to something The library is near the park.
opposite Facing something from the other side The café is opposite the cinema.
above Higher than something The lamp is above the table.
below Lower than something The garage is below the flat.
before Earlier than something I wash my hands before dinner.
after Later than something We go home after school.
during Inside a period of time Please be quiet during the film.
until Up to a time I waited until 6 o’clock.
by Method of travel They travel by train.
with Together with someone or something I play with my brother.
without Not having something He left without his bag.
about Topic We talked about music.
for Purpose, receiver, or time length This cake is for my sister.
of Connection or belonging This is the name of the street.

Easy A2 Memory Tips

by + transport

Use by for the way you travel: by bus, by train, by car, by plane.

before / after

Use these to order daily actions: before lunch, after school, before bed.

with / without

Use with when something is present, and without when it is missing.

Useful A2 rule:

A2 prepositions are not only single words. Many of them live inside common phrases: at home, at school, in the morning, by bus, on foot, and with my family.