This article is part of our Complete English Grammar Practice Guide. Also see English Prepositions: A Complete Guide for a full breakdown of individual prepositions.
A prepositional phrase is a fixed group of words that begins with a preposition and functions as a unit of meaning. Unlike a single preposition (in, on, at), a prepositional phrase is a multi-word expression whose meaning is often impossible to guess from its parts alone. Phrases such as in terms of, on behalf of, and in spite of appear constantly in written and spoken English — in academic essays, business emails, news articles, and everyday conversation. Learners who know these phrases can express complex ideas with greater precision and sound far more natural to native speakers.
- Prepositional phrases are fixed multi-word expressions that function as a single grammatical unit, typically a preposition + noun (+ preposition).
- Many prepositional phrases are complex prepositions (e.g., in spite of, due to, as a result of) that connect clauses the way a single preposition would.
- Register matters: phrases like in accordance with suit formal writing, while in the end is neutral and out of the blue is idiomatic.
- Collocations are key — certain verbs, nouns, and adjectives attract specific prepositional phrases (in charge of, responsible for, aware of).
- Learning prepositional phrases in context — not in isolation — is the fastest route to confident, natural use.
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What Are Prepositional Phrases?
In grammar, a prepositional phrase is a group of words beginning with a preposition. In everyday usage, the term often refers specifically to complex prepositions — two- or three-word units that function exactly like a single preposition but carry more precise or formal meaning. They typically follow the patterns:
- preposition + noun + preposition: in terms of, by means of, on top of
- preposition + noun: at risk, in time, on purpose
- preposition + adjective/participle: in short, in brief
Because the meaning is fixed, these phrases must be learned as units. You cannot substitute in for on in on behalf of and retain the same meaning. Visit our Vocabulary section for more fixed expressions and collocations, or explore Grammar for related topics on prepositions, linking words, and sentence structure.
Concession & Contrast
These phrases introduce an idea that seems to contradict what follows — they signal that something is surprising, unexpected, or contrary to expectation. They are extremely common in academic and argumentative writing.
In spite of / Despite
Both phrases mean the same thing and are followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund — not a clause. To introduce a clause, use although or even though.
In spite of the rain, we enjoyed the picnic.
She passed the exam despite studying for only two days.
In contrast to / As opposed to
In contrast to last year's results, sales have increased dramatically.
As opposed to printed books, e-readers are lighter to carry.
In the face of
She remained calm in the face of extreme pressure.
Cause & Result
These phrases explain why something happened or what followed from it. They are essential in academic writing and formal reports, where showing logical connections between ideas is critical.
As a result of
As a result of the storm, several flights were cancelled.
Her confidence grew as a result of regular practice.
Due to / Owing to
Both are widely used, but owing to is slightly more formal. In strict usage, due to modifies a noun, while owing to modifies a verb phrase — though in practice this distinction is rarely observed.
The delay was due to heavy traffic on the motorway.
Owing to unforeseen circumstances, the event has been postponed.
On account of
The match was abandoned on account of poor visibility.
Reference & Relation
These phrases introduce a topic or indicate what something is about. They are among the most frequently used prepositional phrases in both writing and speaking.
In terms of
One of the most versatile academic phrases. It introduces the angle or dimension from which you are evaluating something.
In terms of cost, the second option is far more affordable.
The two candidates are very similar in terms of experience.
With regard to / With respect to / In regard to
With regard to your application, we will be in touch shortly.
The data are inconclusive with respect to long-term outcomes.
In relation to / In connection with
Three arrests were made in connection with the incident.
Wages have fallen in relation to inflation over the past decade.
On behalf of
On behalf of the entire team, I would like to thank you.
The lawyer acted on behalf of her client.
Time & Sequence
These phrases indicate when something happens or the order in which events occur. They are valuable for structuring narratives, arguments, and instructions. For a deeper look at how tenses interact with time expressions, see our English Grammar Tenses guide.
In advance (of) / Ahead of
Please book your seat in advance to avoid disappointment.
The team arrived ahead of schedule.
In the meantime / In the interim
The new system won't be ready until March. In the meantime, use the old one.
An interim manager was appointed in the interim period.
In the long run / In the short term
In the long run, investing in quality pays off.
Costs will rise in the short term but stabilise later.
At the same time / At once
She was excited and nervous at the same time.
Do not try to do everything at once — focus on one task.
Condition & Exception
These phrases introduce qualifications, limitations, or exceptions to a statement. They are indispensable for precise, nuanced writing.
In the event of / In case of
In the event of a fire, please use the emergency exit.
Keep a spare key in case of emergency.
With the exception of / Apart from
With the exception of Tom, everyone passed the test.
Apart from the price, I have no complaints.
Subject to
The offer is subject to contract and board approval.
All prices are subject to change without notice.
Quantity & Degree
These phrases describe amounts, degrees, or extent. Many are used as adverbials to intensify or qualify a statement.
To a large extent / To some extent
The project succeeded to a large extent thanks to good planning.
To some extent, I agree with your argument.
In excess of / In the region of
The repair bill came to in excess of £2,000.
The salary is in the region of £40,000 per year.
At all costs / At any cost
We must protect the environment at all costs.
Manner & Means
These phrases describe how something is done or the method used. They are common in both formal and informal registers.
By means of
The information was transmitted by means of encrypted radio signals.
He escaped by means of a rope ladder.
In accordance with
The goods were delivered in accordance with the terms of the contract.
All procedures must be carried out in accordance with health and safety guidelines.
On the basis of / On the grounds of
The decision was made on the basis of available evidence.
She was dismissed on the grounds of misconduct.
Out of the blue / Out of nowhere
He called me out of the blue after years of silence.
Master Reference Table: All 40 Phrases
The table below provides a quick-reference summary of all 40 prepositional phrases covered in this guide, together with register and core meaning. Use it as a revision checklist.
| # | Phrase | Register | Core Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | in spite of | Neutral | although (+ noun/gerund) |
| 2 | despite | Neutral | although (+ noun/gerund) |
| 3 | in contrast to | Formal | highlighting a difference |
| 4 | as opposed to | Formal | rather than; instead of |
| 5 | in the face of | Neutral | when confronted with difficulty |
| 6 | as a result of | Neutral | because of; consequently |
| 7 | due to | Formal | caused by |
| 8 | owing to | Formal | because of (slightly more formal) |
| 9 | on account of | Formal | for the reason of |
| 10 | in terms of | Neutral | with regard to; considering |
| 11 | with regard to | Formal | concerning; on the subject of |
| 12 | with respect to | Formal | concerning (academic) |
| 13 | in relation to | Formal | concerning; compared with |
| 14 | in connection with | Formal | relating to; about |
| 15 | on behalf of | Neutral | as a representative of |
| 16 | in advance of | Neutral | before a particular time |
| 17 | ahead of | Neutral | before; in front of |
| 18 | in the meantime | Neutral | during the period between two events |
| 19 | in the interim | Formal | in the period between two events |
| 20 | in the long run | Neutral | eventually; over a long period |
| 21 | in the short term | Neutral | soon; over a brief period |
| 22 | at the same time | Neutral | simultaneously; however |
| 23 | at once | Neutral | immediately; simultaneously |
| 24 | in the event of | Formal | if something happens |
| 25 | in case of | Neutral | as a precaution against |
| 26 | with the exception of | Neutral | excluding; other than |
| 27 | apart from | Neutral | other than; besides |
| 28 | subject to | Formal | conditional upon; dependent on |
| 29 | to a large extent | Neutral | mostly; in large part |
| 30 | to some extent | Neutral | partly; in some ways |
| 31 | in excess of | Formal | more than |
| 32 | in the region of | Formal | approximately |
| 33 | at all costs | Spoken | whatever effort is needed |
| 34 | by means of | Formal | using; through the use of |
| 35 | in accordance with | Formal | following rules or instructions |
| 36 | on the basis of | Formal | using as a reason or justification |
| 37 | on the grounds of | Formal | for the stated reason |
| 38 | out of the blue | Idiomatic | unexpectedly; without warning |
| 39 | in addition to | Neutral | as well as; also |
| 40 | in place of | Neutral | instead of; as a substitute for |
Tips for Learning Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases are difficult to memorise in lists alone because they only become meaningful in context. Here are the most effective strategies:
- Learn in chunks, not words. Treat in terms of as a single unit, just as you would learn the word however. Write it on a flash card with a full sentence.
- Notice register. A phrase that is fine in a formal report (in accordance with) will sound stiff in everyday conversation. Use our Vocabulary exercises to practise phrases in appropriate contexts.
- Practise substitution. Take a sentence and see how different prepositional phrases change the meaning or register: Because of / As a result of / Due to / Owing to the delay, the meeting was rescheduled.
- Read widely. Newspapers, academic articles, and business reports are packed with the formal phrases in this list. Highlight them as you read and record the surrounding context.
- Use spaced repetition. Revisit each phrase after 1 day, then 3 days, then 1 week, then 1 month. Our Flash Card exercise is designed for exactly this purpose.
Practise Prepositions
The best way to cement prepositional phrases is through regular, varied practice:
- Flash Cards — review prepositional phrases, meanings, and example sentences with spaced repetition.
- Cloze Dropdown — choose the correct phrase to complete a sentence in context.
- Complete the Sentence — produce the correct prepositional phrase from context clues.
- Grammar Quiz — multiple-choice questions on preposition usage and meaning.
- Word Search — reinforce recognition of key vocabulary in a puzzle format.
Practise prepositional phrases interactively
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Try Flash Cards →Frequently Asked Questions
What is a prepositional phrase in English?
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and functions as a single grammatical unit. In broad usage, the term often refers to complex prepositions — two- or three-word expressions such as in spite of, on behalf of, and as a result of. These phrases introduce a noun or noun phrase and modify a verb, adjective, or another noun in the sentence.
What is the difference between a preposition and a prepositional phrase?
A single preposition is a one-word connector: in, on, at, by, with, for. A prepositional phrase is a multi-word unit that functions the same way but expresses a more specific or complex meaning. For example, because of (two words) expresses cause more explicitly than the single preposition by could. Prepositional phrases are sometimes called complex prepositions or compound prepositions.
What is the most common prepositional phrase in English?
Among multi-word prepositional phrases, in terms of is one of the most frequently used, particularly in formal and academic English. As a result of, due to, and in addition to also rank very highly in corpora of written English. In everyday speech, phrases like in front of, because of, and instead of are extremely common. Frequency varies by register — formal writing favours with regard to and in accordance with far more than casual conversation does.
Can a prepositional phrase come at the beginning of a sentence?
Yes, and it is very common to do so. When a prepositional phrase opens a sentence, it typically sets the context or frames the main clause: "In spite of the difficulties, the team succeeded." A comma after the introductory prepositional phrase is standard in formal writing, especially when the phrase is long (four words or more). Short phrases (In 2020 the company expanded) may omit the comma, depending on style guidelines.
What is the difference between "in spite of" and "despite"?
In spite of and despite are synonymous and interchangeable in virtually all contexts. Both introduce a noun, pronoun, or gerund — not a finite clause. To introduce a clause with a subject and verb, you must use although, even though, or though: "Despite being tired..." (gerund, correct) vs. "Despite he was tired..." (clause, incorrect — use although he was tired). In formal writing, both are equally acceptable.
What is the difference between "due to" and "owing to"?
Both due to and owing to mean "because of." The traditional grammar rule says due to should modify a noun (the delay due to traffic) while owing to should modify a verb phrase or clause (Owing to heavy traffic, the train was late). In modern usage, this distinction is widely ignored and both are used interchangeably. Owing to is considered slightly more formal in British English. In everyday speech, both are often replaced by the simpler because of.
Are prepositional phrases important for IELTS and other English exams?
Yes, very much so. In IELTS Writing, prepositional phrases such as in terms of, with regard to, as a result of, and to a large extent demonstrate sophisticated language use and contribute to your Lexical Resource band score. Examiners reward precise, varied vocabulary including multi-word expressions. In IELTS Speaking, using phrases like on the other hand, in my opinion, and to some extent signals discourse management skills.
How do I know which preposition to use in a fixed phrase?
Unfortunately there is no universal rule — prepositions in fixed expressions must largely be memorised. The key strategies are: (1) learn phrases as whole units rather than memorising the preposition alone; (2) use a good learner's dictionary or collocation dictionary (such as the Oxford Collocations Dictionary) to check which preposition attaches to a particular noun or adjective; (3) read extensively so you encounter phrases repeatedly in authentic contexts; (4) use our Flash Card exercises to practise high-frequency preposition combinations.
What are some common mistakes with prepositional phrases?
Frequent errors include: (1) using despite with a clause instead of a noun/gerund ("despite that he was late" → "despite being late"); (2) confusing in spite of / despite with although / even though; (3) mixing up in terms of and in case of; (4) omitting the final preposition in three-part phrases ("in accordance" instead of "in accordance with"); (5) using overly formal phrases in spoken English, which can sound unnatural. Always consider register when choosing a phrase.
Where can I practise prepositional phrases online for free?
LexFizz offers several free exercises perfect for practising prepositional phrases: Flash Cards for memorising phrases and meanings, Cloze Dropdown for completing sentences by choosing the correct phrase, Complete the Sentence for producing phrases from context clues, and Grammar Quiz for multiple-choice testing. All exercises require no sign-up and are designed for B1–C1 learners.