The Ultimate Visual Guide to English Prepositions. Master tricky English prepositions with our two-part poster series focused on place, direction, and time. Free Classroom Poster
The Ultimate Visual Guide to English Prepositions
The Ultimate Visual Guide to English Prepositions
Understanding prepositions is one of the biggest challenges for ESL, EAL, and EFL learners. These small but powerful words often defy direct translation and carry subtle meanings that confuse even advanced students. This two-part free ESL classroom poster provides a clear, visual guide to English prepositions, helping learners grasp essential spatial and temporal relationships with ease.
Why Use These Posters in Your ESL Classroom:
- Offers a visual, easy-to-follow guide to commonly used prepositions
- Breaks down abstract grammar into tangible, real-life concepts
- Helps students avoid common prepositional errors
- Boosts confidence and accuracy in speaking and writing
Part 1: Prepositions of Place and Direction
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What’s Covered:
- Prepositions showing location (in, on, under, above, next to, between, behind, in front of, over, below, etc.)
- Prepositions showing movement and direction (into, onto, out of, across, through, along, past, toward, away from, etc.)
Visual Examples:
- Illustrated scenes with characters and objects clearly demonstrating each preposition
- Comparisons between easily confused pairs like “in vs. into” or “on vs. onto”
Classroom Activities:
- Label the Room: Have students walk around and describe objects using prepositions from the poster (e.g., “The clock is above the board”).
- Drawing Challenge: Ask students to draw a room or street scene using a set number of prepositions from the guide.
- Preposition Charades: Students act out phrases using prepositions of direction (e.g., “Walk toward the door”).
Part 2: Prepositions of Time
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What’s Included:
- Prepositions indicating specific time (at, on, in)
- Prepositions showing duration and limits (for, since, until, during, by)
- Common error alerts (e.g., “at night” not “in night”)
Visual Clarifications:
- Illustrated timelines and calendars
- Examples contrasting use of prepositions for parts of the day, days of the week, months, years, and general time periods
Quick Rules:
- Use “at” for precise times and holidays (at 3:00, at Christmas)
- Use “on” for specific days and dates (on Monday, on July 4th)
- Use “in” for longer periods (in December, in 2025, in the afternoon)
Suggested Activities:
- Time Talk: Give students event prompts, and they must describe when it happens using the correct preposition (e.g., “The party is _ on _ Friday.”)
- Timeline Sort: Give students time expressions to place under the right preposition.
- Grammar Bingo: Use prepositions of time in context to reinforce accuracy.
Teaching Tips:
- Emphasize visual patterns—these posters are designed to build intuitive understanding.
- Encourage students to compare and contrast prepositions in pairs.
- Reinforce learning through frequent contextual usage in both speaking and writing.
Whether your learners are just starting or refining their prepositional accuracy, these posters will bridge the gap between grammar theory and practical usage.
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