Prepositions

Prepositions
A preposition may be defined as a word or group of words (e.g. at, in, out of, etc.) used before a noun,
pronoun, gerund, etc. to show its relation with another word in a sentence.
Examples:
• The coconut was high above our heads, so nobody could reach it. (Position)
• We walked across the street. (Direction)
• Class begins at 7 AM. (Time)

Prepositions can be of one, two, or even

more words. Prepositions with two or more
words are called phrasal prepositions.
Example: because of, in case of, instead of,
by way of, on behalf of, on account of, in
care of, in spite of, on the side of, etc.
Vocabulary for prepositions:
Simple preposition, Double preposition, Compound preposition, Participle preposition, and
Phrase preposition.

1) Simple Prepositions: These are the short words used to show the relationship between
nouns, pronouns, or to join parts of a clause or sentence.
Prepositions: to, up, in, at etc.
Examples:
• The dog jumped out while the car was moving. (Car is the object of the preposition out.)
• She came home without her homework. (Homework is the object and the preposition is
without.)

2) Double Prepositions: Double prepositions are made by joining two simple prepositions.
Examples:
• The cat jumped out of the moving car.
• The dog hid inside of the cabinet.
3) Compound Preposition: Double prepositions and compound prepositions are very similar. Both are two-word phrases.
The double preposition is formed through the conjunction of two simple prepositions. Whereas the compound
preposition is formed through the conjunction of a non-prepositional word and a simple preposition.
Compound prepositon: Prefix + noun/adjective/adverb
Prepositions: across, along, beneath, beside, between, beyond etc.
Examples:
• The cat is jumping around the seat.
• Our dog stayed outside our home in his kennel.

4) Participle Preposition: Verbs that act as a preposition. Usually, end in -ing and -ed.
Examples:
• Everyone, please keep quiet during the class.
• Our teacher sometimes gets frustrated with us.

5) Phrase Prepositions: A Phrase preposition includes a preposition, an object and the object’s modifier.
Phrase prepositions are – preposition + object + modifier
Examples:
• The show got canceled because of the sudden rain.
• In course of time, the wounds on my cat’s paws healed.
 Relations denoted by Prepositions:
Most of the prepositions have many uses. There are some prepositions which are common in every type of preposition
as they function in a versatile way. They relate to time, place, direction, position, travel and movement etc.

1) Preposition of time: Prepositions of time show the relationship of time between the nouns to the other parts of a
sentence. On, at, in, from, to, for, since, ago, before, till/until, by, etc. are the most common preposition of time.
At: At is used to indicate when something happens. We use at with clock times, e.g. periods of the year, and periods of
the day, festivals, etc. But we don’t use at with ‘morning’, ‘evening’, ‘afternoon’, etc.
Examples:
• The bus left at 9 o’ clock.
• He came here at the weekend.
• I called on my friend at night.
• We rested at noon/dawn/dusk.

In: In is used to indicate the period of time in which something happens. We use ‘in’ with centuries, years, seasons,
months, periods of the day.
Examples:
• She was born in 1980.
• They visited this place in winters.
• He called on me in the evening.
• The theft took place in the day-time.
On: On is used with days, dates, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
Examples:
• We went to see a movie on Wednesday.
• He was born on September 3, 1984.
• We congratulated him on his birthday.
• We gave them a gift on their 30th marriage anniversary.
Note: We use ‘on’ with ‘morning’, ‘afternoon’, ‘evening’, etc. when they are modified:
Examples:
• They reached here on a hot afternoon.
• People did not come out of their houses on a night like this.
• We went for fishing on a pleasant morning.
During: During may be used instead of ‘in’ with periods of the day, months, seasons, years, decades and
centuries to express the idea that something continues throughout the whole of a specified period.
Examples:
• During the war many people were killed.
• We work during the day and sleep during the night.
• We try to contact people during October.
• During the nineties many taxes were imposed.
By: By is used to indicate the latest time at which an action will be finished:
Examples:
• He will finish this work by 5 o’clock.
• By that time, the moon was up.
• You must come to me by 8 a.m.
• Applications must be received by 10th May.

By can be used instead of during with almost the same.

Examples:
• We took rest by day and travelled by night.
• By mid afternoon about 8,000 people had visited the exhibition.

For: For is used with periods of time to indicate how long an action lasts. It is generally used with the Perfect
Tense but is also used with other tenses.
Examples:
• They have lived here for six years.
• It rained continuously for fourteen hours.
• We stayed there for eighteen days.
• They have been working for six hours.
Since: Since is used with a point of time in the past from which some action began and it continues till the
time of speaking. It is generally used with the Perfect Tense:
Examples:
• He has lived here since 1980.
• Everything has changed since the last summer.
• It has not rained since the end of June.
• He had been writing novels since he was thirty years old.

From: From indicates the starting point of an action in the past or future. It is always used with ‘ to’ or ‘ till ’:
Examples:
• They lived here from 1980 till/until 1990.
• We worked from morning to/till evening.
• She lived with them from the age of twenty.
• He lives in his office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Till/Until:

Till and Until are used to show something happening or done up to a particular point in time and then
stopping:
Examples:
• He is expected to be here until/till the end of the week.
• I was employed by the company until 1980.
• You will have to wait until my return.

Before and After: The preposition before and after are used to relate events to a particular time. Before
means earlier than and after means later than something.
Examples:
• I get up before six.
• She returned before Monday.
• They came here after 8 o’clock.
• We went to Paris four years after our marriage.
2) Prepositions of Place:
Prepositions of place show the relationship of place between the nouns to the other parts of a sentence.

At: At is used to show the. exact point, e.g. houses, stations, small villages and towns:
Examples:
• He was born at his village, Alfriston.
• The Prime Minister lives at 10 Downing Street.
• She works at the Town Hall.
• The plane landed at London airport.

In: In is generally used when the reference is not to any specific place or to the names of large cities,
countries, continents, etc.
Examples:
• Many people in Africa live in villages.
• They used to live in Christchurch.
• They lived in Europe for ten years.
On: On is used to indicate a particular area of land or place where something is.

Examples:
• He spent a few days on an island.
• He worked on a farm for some time.
• They built their house on a beautiful piece of land.
• There is a school on the outskirts of the city.
3) Prepositions of Direction:
Prepositions of direction give a sense of place or location such as how far or close the object is.

From: From is used with the starting point or point of departure from a place or the point of origin:
Examples:
• They came from China.
• The train from Franz Joseph has arrived.
• She comes from office at 6 p.m.
• He fell from the fifth floor of the hotel.

Off: Off means from the surface of and also down from.
Examples:
• He took the hat off the table.
• Keep off the grass.
• The ball rolled off the floor.
• Take this packet off the shelf.
Out of: Out of means from the interior of something:

Examples:
• He went out of the room.
• The bird flew out of the cage.
• I saw him coming out of the library.
• She jumped out of the shelf.

For: For is used to show direction only when the verb indicates the beginning of a movement.

Examples:
• She left for japan early in the morning.
• We set off for New York.
• They left for home late at light.
Against: Against means to have contact or pressure.

Examples:
• The crowd pressed against the door.
• He put the ladder against the wall.
• She stood, with her back against the wall.
• He hit his head against the branch.

To: To is used for destination or the end-point:

Examples:
• She came to India as a tourist.
• The train started from Kolkata and came to Delhi.
• He was on his way to the station.
• We went from London to New York.
Towards: Towards is used to indicate the direction of something:

Examples:
• The train was coming towards the station.
• I saw him hurrying towards me.
• He stood with his back towards me.
• He ran towards the door.
4) Prepositions of Position:
Words which tell us the actual location of objects are known as preposition of position.

Under: Under is used to indicate a position that is below or beneath something. It means vertically
below.
Examples:
• The dog was under the table.
• He looked under the bed.
• They took shelter under the trees.
• The water flows under the bridge.

Underneath: Underneath has the same meaning as under. It means a position below something.
Underneath generally implies covered by something so that the object covered is not seen.
Examples:
• She found a lot of dust underneath the carpet.
• The coin rolled underneath the table.
• He hid the gun underneath the bed.
• He left the key underneath the mat.
Below and Beneath:
Below means in a position lower than something. Beneath also means a lower position than
something. Beneath has the sense of directly under something.
Examples:
• They could see the village below them.
• The lake is 500 feet below the sea level.
• They found the body beneath a pile of grass.
• The boat sank beneath the waves.

Over: Over is used to indicate a position vertically above something or somebody or partly or
completely covering the surface of something.
Examples:
• She hung the calendar over the fireplace.
• There were books all over the table.
• They held a large umbrella over her.
• There was a lamp (hanging) over the table.
Above:
Above is used to indicate a position higher than something. Above has the sense of something
being directly over something else.

Examples:
• The water came above our knees.
• The pilot was flying above the clouds.
• The birds were flying high above the trees.
• We lived in the room above the shop.
5) Prepositions of Travel and Movement:
Prepositions of travel and movement are used to show movement from one place to another. These
prepositions are most often used with verbs of motion and are found after the verb.

Across: Across is used to indicate movement from one side of a space, area, line to the other side:
Examples:
• I walked across the road.
• The cat ran across the lawn.
• They flew across the Pacific.
He walked across the street.

Along: Along is used to indicate movement from one end to or towards the other end of something. The
place is seen as a line:
Examples:
We walked along the street.
She went along the corridor.
He hurried along the path towards me.
Into:
Into is used to indicate movement inside a place seen as a volume. The opposite of into is out
of. It is used for entering a place, building, vehicle, etc:
Examples:
• The boys came into die hall.
• She ran into the house.
• He got into a bus/a train/a plane/a car.
• The athletes marched into the stadium

Onto: Onto is used to indicate movement into a position on an object or surface:

Examples:
• He climbed onto the roof.
• The cat jumped onto the table.
• A tree fell onto a car.
• He stepped out of the train onto the platform.
Through:

Through is used to indicate movement from one end of an opening, or a passage to the other.
The place is seen as a volume.
Examples:
• The train passed through a tunnel.
• The water flows through this pipe.
• They were riding through a forest.
• The ball went flying through the window.

Up and Down: Up is used to indicate movement to a higher position and down to a lower
position.
Examples:
• We climbed up the hill.
• The girl ran up the stairs.
• She was walking down the street.
• She fell down the stairs.
On/In/By (Travel):
We may use on, in or by while using a public or private vehicle. On is used when the vehicle is
seen as a surface, in is used when it is seen as a volume. By is used to indicate the means of
travel.

Examples:
• We travelled on the horseback/foot/a cycle/a bus/a plane.
• They travelled by bus/car/train/cycle/sea/plane/air.
• We travelled in a bus/a car/a train/a ship/a plane.
6) Between and Among:
Between is used with two persons or things. Among is used with more than two people or things.

Examples:
• Between you and me, she is very stupid.
• C comes between B and D.
• He lives in a house among the trees.
• She divided the money among her four sons.
But if each individual person is mentioned, between is used even if there are more than two.

Example:
• The money was divided up between Mohan, Sohan and Rohan.

If the people are mentioned as a single group, among is used.

Example:
• I shared out the food among the family.
• The girl quickly disappeared among the crowd.
7) By and Beside:
By means close to someone or something. Beside means by the side of someone or
something. Both imply nearness.

Examples:
• She was sitting by the door.
• The telephone is by the window.
• She was sitting beside her mother.
• He always kept a dictionary beside him.
Summary

Time Place Direction Position Travel and Agents or Others

Movement Things
At At From Under Across Of Between
In In Off Underneath Along For Among
On On Out of Below and Beneath Into By By
During For Over Onto With Beside
By Against Above Through About Besides
For To Up and Down
Since Towards On/In/By
From
Till/Until
Before and
After
Exercise
Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions using the given alternatives.
1. The lion was killed………………… the hunter…………………… a sword, (in, on, by, with)
2. Father divided his property………………………. four sons, (between, among, of, in)
3. He has been living in this house……………………… 1985. (for, since, in, on)
4. I shall return…………………… a month, (in, of, on, for)
5. The Ramayana is lying…………………. the table, (in, of, on, for)
6. We shall finish this work……………… 5 p.m. today, (in, by, on, at)
7. Send me letters…………………… this address, (by, in, to, on)
8. You should listen………………………. what your parents say. (among, in, to, between)
9. Sita writes………………….. (with, on, in, at)
10. He did not listen………………… my advice, (at, to, in, on) ‘
Answers

1. by, with
2. among
3. since
4. in
5. on
6. by
7. on
8. to
9. in
10.to
Rules for using correct prepositions
1) Prepositions must always be followed by noun or pronoun. That noun is called the
object of the preposition. A preposition always has an object. An adverb never has an
object.

Examples:
• There was a doorway before me. (preposition before has object me)
• I had never seen it before. (adverb before has no object; it qualifies seen)
• I will call after gym. (preposition after has object work)
• He called soon after. (adverb after has no object; it qualifies called)
2) A preposition is followed by a "noun". It is never followed by a verb. If we want to follow
a preposition by a verb, we must use the "-ing" form which is really a gerund or verb in noun
form.

Examples:
• He prevented me from drinking cold water. (drinking is not acting as a verb but as gerund)
• He insist on trying again. (trying is not acting as a verb but a gerund)
3) When 'object' of the preposition is infinitive (to + verb), the preposition is placed after
infinitive.
Examples:

• This is a good hotel to stay at. (object of the preposition is infinitive “to stay”, hence the
preposition “at” is placed after it.)

• I need a pencil to write with.(object of the preposition is infinitive “to write”, hence the
preposition “with” is placed after it.)

• I like to swim. ( “to swim” is not acting as a verb, it is a part of the infinitive that occurs when a
verb is used as a noun, adverb or an adjective. Here, to swim is a thing that the person likes
doing, not an action that is being performed.)

• These goggles are for swimming. (Swimming is a gerund which is a noun though it is formed
out of a verb. Here, swimming is a thing to which goggles are related. No one in this sentence is
performing the act of swimming.)
4) When 'object' of the preposition is an Interrogative Pronoun What, Who, Whom, Which,
Where etc., the preposition usually takes end or front position.

Examples:
• What are you thinking of?
• Who were you talking to?

5) Never Substitute "Have" for “Of”.

Examples:
• I should of come over. (Incorrect)
• I should have come over. (Correct)
"Have" is an important helping verb. The preposition "of" does nothing here to link or join
ideas together, as every preposition should.
6) When you want to express motion toward something, use "into" rather than "in." Reserve "in" for
moments when you want to indicate a location.

Examples:
• I swam in the lake. (Indicating location)
• I walked into the pub. (Expressing motion)
• Look in the cupboard. (Indicating location)
• She drove into the city. (Expressing motion)

7) Don't interchange "Than" and “From".

Examples:
• You look different than your mother. (Incorrect)
• You look different from your mother. (Correct)
8) Avoid ‘like’ when a verb is involved. The preposition ‘like’ that means “similar to” should be followed
by a noun, pronoun, noun phrase as an object of the preposition. A subject or a verb should not follow
the preposition ‘like’.

Examples:
• She looks like her mother does. ( Incorrect, because we have used “like” with noun + verb)
• She looks like her mother. ( Correct, because noun ‘mother’ is the object of the preposition ‘like’)

9) When there is a comparison between a subject or verb, instead of like, use as, as if, as though, or ‘the
way’.

Examples:
• Do like he asks. (Incorrect)
• Do as he asks. (Correct)
• She looks like she is angry. (Incorrect)
• She looks as if she is angry. (Correct)
10) Unless there is a verb involved, do not use ‘as’. ‘As’ means “in the same manner” so
avoid using preposition ‘as’ if the verb is not involved.

Examples:
• Incorrect: I, as most people, try to use good words in English. (Incorrect)
• Correct: I, as most people do, try to use good words in English. (Correct)
Omission of preposition
1) There is no use of proposition before the object of transitive verb.

Examples:
• I shall meet with him yesterday. (Incorrect)
• I shall meet him yesterday. (Correct)
• They caught to him there. (Incorrect)
• They caught him there. (Correct)

2) Before the expression of time or place we don’t use preposition like (for, from, in on).

Examples:
• My father came here in last week. (Incorrect)
• My father came here last week. (Correct)
• I am going to abroad. (Incorrect)
• I am going abroad. (Correct)
3) There are some verbs that we never use any preposition with them, the list of these words
are: attack, accompany, assist, request, await, Investigation, inform, obey, order, rich,
comprise, reach, resemble, resist, violate.

Examples:

• China attacked on Iraq ( Incorrect)

• China attacked Iraq. (Correct)
• I shall inform to him. (Incorrect)
• I shall inform him. (Correct)
• She will resist to you. (Incorrect)
• She will resist you. (Correct)
4) Don’t use preposition if there is any qualifying words like this, that, next, every, last, all
before the time expressions word like - day, night, morning, evening year, month.
Examples:
• She went in this morning. (Incorrect)
• She went this morning. (Correct)
• He is not coming again on next Sunday. (Incorrect)
• He is not coming again next Sunday. (Correct)

5) But we can use preposition with time expression words if they come without qualifying
words.
Examples:
• She went in the morning.
• He is not coming again on Sunday.
6) Don’t use preposition before words like yesterday, today, tomorrow.

Examples:
• He will come in tomorrow. (Incorrect)
• He will come tomorrow. (Correct)
• He is not coming for today. (Incorrect)
• He is not coming today. (Correct)

7) No preposition before home.

Examples:
• I am going to home. (Incorrect)
• I am going home. (Correct)
• I go for home every weekend. (Incorrect)
• I go home every weekend. (Correct)
8) If there are two verbs in sentence, then use preposition according to their verbs.

Examples:
• He has been thinking about and waiting for you since the evening. (two verbs thinking
and waiting)
• Police has been looking for and inquiringly after the thief for a long time.
Exercise
Direction (1-5) Read the paragraph given below and choose the correct option for the blanks from the
options given for each question.
Renewable energy resources prevail ——-(1) wide geographical areas, in contrast to other energy sources,
which are concentrated in a limited number of countries. Rapid deployment ——–(2) renewable energy and
energy efficiency is resulting in significant energy security, climate change mitigation and economic benefits.
The results of a recent review of the literature deduced that as greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters begin to be
held liable for damages resulting ——–

1) a. In b. Over c. Across

2) a. At b. On c. Of
Exercise

(3) GHG emissions in climate change, a high value for liability mitigation would provide powerful incentives
for deployment of renewable energy technologies. In international public opinion surveys, there is strong
support for promoting renewable sources such as solar power and wind power. At the national level, at least
30 nations ——–(4) the world already has renewable energy contributing more than 20 per cent of energy
supply. National renewable energy markets are projected to continue to grow strongly in the coming decade
and ——–(5).

3) a. From b. By c. After

4) a. In b. Around c. Across

5) a. After b.More c.Beyond

Thank you