Role of Prepositio

Prepositions are important when constructing sentences.

Prepositions are usually short words, and they are normally placed
directly in front of nouns
Example
1. It is a container for butter
(The preposition ‘for’ shows the relationship between butter and
container)
2. The eagle soared above the clouds.
(The preposition ‘above’ shows the relationship between clouds and
soared)
Types of Preposition
There are four types of prepositions. These are as follows
(i) Simple Prepositions:
They include ‘at’, ‘by’, ‘for’, ‘in’, ‘of’, ‘off’, ‘on’, ‘out’, ‘through’, ‘till’,
‘to’, ‘up’, ‘with’ etc
(ii) Compound Prepositions:
These are usually formed by pre xing a preposition (‘a’ or ‘be’) to a
noun, an adjective or an adverb
These include

(iii) Phrasal/Group Prepositions:

These are formed by joining two or more words. These include
‘according to’, ‘in front of’, ‘by means of’, ‘on account of’, ‘in place of’
etc
(iv) Participle Prepositions:
When Present participles are used without any noun or pronoun
attached to them, these are called Participle prepositions. These
include ‘concerning’, ‘passing’, ‘considering’, ‘during’,
‘notwithstanding’, ‘pending’, ‘regarding’ etc
Classi cation of Preposition
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 To make a distinction, simple prepositions can also be divided into

three classes
(i) Prepositions of Time and Date
These include ‘at’, ‘on’, ‘in’, ‘by’, ‘to’, ‘till’, ‘until’, ‘during’, ‘for’, ‘since’,
‘from’, ‘within’, ‘before’, ‘after’, ‘afterwards’, ‘then’ etc
(ii) Prepositions of Place
These include ‘at’, ‘in’, ‘on’, ‘to’, ‘behind’, ‘instead of, ‘in’, ‘into’, ‘at’,
‘out
‘out of ’, ‘off etc
(iii) Prepositions of Travel and Movement:
These include from, to, by, on, m, into, at, out, ‘out of’, ‘off’ etc
How the Prepositions Should be Place
Prepositions normally precede nouns or pronouns. However, in
certain cases, it is possible to move the preposition to the end of the
sentence
(i) When object of the preposition is an interrogative pronoun like
what, who, whom, which, where etc, the preposition can take end or
front position
Example
(a) What are you thinking of
(b) To whom were you talking
(ii) When object of the preposition is relative pronoun ‘that’, the
preposition takes end position
Example
(a) This is the dish that she is fond of
(iii) When object of the preposition is in nitive (to + verb), the
preposition is placed after in nitive
Example
(a) It is a beautiful house to live in

(iv) In some sentences, where the relative pronoun is hidden, the

preposition takes end position
Example
(a) This is the girl (that) I told you of
(v) In some miscellaneous sentences, preposition is attached with
the verb
Example
(a) I hate being laughed at
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 The Use of Preposition

Prepositions are used with reference to time and reference to
space. With reference to time, they may denote ‘a point of time’ or
‘a period of time’. A point of time will tell you a particular time as 8
o’clock, 8 pm etc, whereas a period of time as 8 years, 8 months
etc

With Reference to Time

1. At, In, O
(i) At Used for a point of time
Example
(a) Meet me at 1 pm
(b) Also, at noon, at the age of ninety
(ii) In Used for a period of time in which something happens
Example
(a) I met him in the morning
(b) His birthday falls in the month of January
(iii) On Used with particular dates and days
Example
(a) Her dog died on Friday
(b) I will go to Mumbai on 22nd of this month
2. In, Within, Before , Afte
(i) In Also denotes the end of a period of time.
Example
(a) Justin will return in a week
(b) Shalini will leave in a minute
(ii) Within Denotes anytime before the expiry of a period
Example
(a) They have ordered him to come back within a week

(iii) Before Used when we refer to a point of time

Example
(a)I will come back before 8:00 am
(iv) After Denotes the end of a period of time
Example
(a) I will go there after a month
(b) She gave the book back after I reminded him
3. By, Til
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 (i) By Denotes not later than

Example
(a) We will have vacated this space by 6 o’clock
(b) She will have done it by this evening
(ii) Till Means up to certain period
Example
(a) I will be staying in London till 15th of December
(b) Wait here till I come back
4. Since, For, Fro
(i) Since Used for a point of time
Example
(a) He has not been in touch since last Monday
(b) He has been absenting himself since last week

(ii) For Used to de ne a period of time

Example
(a) Nirmala has been ill for two weeks
(b) I have been struggling in the industry for 3 years
(iii) From Used for a point of time but can be preceded by a verb in
any tense
Example
(a) I will be busy from tomorrow onwards
(b) The guest lecture is from 8 to 10 am
With Reference to Space
1. At, I
(i) At Used with the names of places
Example
(a) He was waiting at the metro station
(b) Her friend lives at Nehru Nagar
(ii) In Used with the names of big cities, states and country
Example
(a) He lives at Kalyan in Mumbai
(b) The Prime Minister lives in Delhi
2. In, Int
(i) In Denotes rest or position inside something
Example
(a) They are waiting in the room
(b) The guests gathered in the auditorium
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 (ii) Into Denotes motion towards the inside of something

Example
(a) He came into the room
(b) The sherman jumped into the river
3. On, Upo
(i) On Used when we point to something at res
Example
(a) She was made to sit on the oor
(b) The girl sat on the carpet
(ii) Upon Generally denotes motion
Example
(a) The cat jumped upon the table
(b) The tiger sprang upon the deer
4. Behind
(i) Refers to the position or place signalling at the back of
something
Example
(a) He hid behind the wall
(b) Who stood behind Abhinav
5. Between, Amon
(i) Between Used for two persons or things
Example
(a) Share this biscuit between the two girls
(b) Shankar and Ravi fought between themselves
(ii) Among Used with more than two persons or things
Example
(a) They shared the fruits among themselves
(b) There is said to be honour even among thieves
6. Beside, Beside
(i) Beside Means ‘by the side of’ or ‘outside of’
Example
(a) She sat beside him
(b) His speaking ill about her, is beside the point

(ii) Besides Means ‘in addition to’

Example
(a) Besides Mira, all of you are invited
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(b) Besides being rich, she is famous too

7. Above, Below, Acros
(i) Above Means ‘in a higher position’
Example
(a) A sword is hanging above my head
(b) I was surprised to see my name above his
(ii) Below Means ‘a lower level than the other’
Example
(a) He is much below me in rank
(b) I live in the at below his
(iii) Across Means ‘from one side to the opposite’
Example
(a) He waited across the road
(b) I live across the river
8. Towards
(i) Denotes ‘in the direction of’
Example
(a) They moved towards the setting sun
(b) She ran towards the police station for help
9. Through
(i) Indicates a piercing action and also the medium or passage
Example
(a) The sword ran through him
(b) I was able to pull through the deal
10. Around
(i) Refers to a surrounding position
Example
(a) She looked around the place
(b) The path around the statue was concrete

11. Over, Unde

(i) Over Indicates the position exactly above something or
somebody
Example
(a) I leaned over my son to explain the sentence
(b) A new bridge is being constructed over this river
(ii) Under Indicates a position exactly below ’ somebody or
something
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 Example
(a) I put my suitcase under the table
(b) There is something under your chair
12. Against
(i) Indicates opposition of some kind
Example
(a) She went against him for Rachna
(b) He married against his parents’ wish
13. Along
(i) Through any part of the length of or from one end to the other
end
Example
(a) I took a walk along the broken path
(b) They scanned for the gold ring along the edges of the river

Exercise : -

1. He felt nothing but hatred _____________ the person who attacked him.
2. There are many advantages _____________ speaking foreign languages.
3. I have a lot _____________ respect for the teachers I had _____________ school.
4. I’d like to do a course _____________ computer programming.
5. He was _____________ trial _____________ having murdered his wife.
6. We went to see an exhibition _____________ Egyptian history.
7. I had an argument _____________ my boss yesterday.
8. He took away my bag _____________ force.
9. Her fear _____________ ying made travelling very di cult _____________ her.
10. My dad had di culty _____________ making himself understood.
11. I’ve got a meeting _____________ John this afternoon.
12. _____________ the time I arrived, the train had already left.
13. If you’re _____________ doubt, please call the ambulance.
14. We had access _____________ the internet in all the hotels we stayed _____________.
15. We took part _____________ the activities that the school o ered.
16. Suits will never be _____________ of fashion.
17. She’s _____________ leave until the end of the month.
18. The two countries were _____________ peace with each other.
19. You have absolutely no reason to talk _____________ me like that.
20. We’d like to have a room _____________ a view of the sea.
21. The re was now _____________ of control.
22. She was able to describe the accident _____________ detail.
23. The trousers are _____________ sale at the moment.
24. It sounds great _____________ theory, but will your plan work?
25. I learned to drive _____________ the age of 18.

1. When we met ____________ university it was love ____________ rst sight.

2. I went home ____________ midnight because I was so tired.
3. They didn’t give her any alcohol because she was ____________ age.
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4. I was so distracted that I put salt into my co ee ____________ accident.

5. There is no solution ____________ this problem.
6. John has a reputation ____________ being late all the time.
7. She hasn’t got any money left. ____________ other words, she’s broke.
8. Could you call tomorrow? I’m not ____________ such a good mood today.
9. She took me ____________ the hand, and we walked along the beach.
10. I washed his car ____________ exchange ____________ some pocket money.
11. This is my rst visit ____________ Singapore.
12. I had a lot of fun ____________ the summer camp and improved my English ____________ the
same time.
13. I studied history and geography ____________ university.
14. The bridge was closed ____________ the weekend because it was ____________ repair.
15. I always buy eggs ____________ the dozen.
16. His talent ____________ singing was impressive.
17. We had to learn all the poems ____________ heart.
18. The decision that the o cials made is still ____________ review.
19. I left him ____________ charge ____________ all the network servers.
20. I’m sorry but the book is ____________ of print at the moment.
21. We have to tidy up the house. It’s ____________ such a mess.
22. ____________ general, I think that Americans are very friendly.
23. I couldn’t hide my love ____________ her any longer
24. I try to buy fruit and vegetables that are ____________ season.
25. The question took him ____________ surprise.
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