Preposition is a significant chapter of English grammar which we have to apply in various times. With proper usage of different prepositions sentences become complete with meaning. Students learn preposition in their early level of secondary education as part of learning pats of speech. In higher classes they learn preposition and its usage at advance level like all other important chapters. They depend on their respective grammar textbooks for learning preposition from the basic level. But they require some extra study resources for providing knowledge of advance learning with complete analysis about each rule of using preposition. So, we have given here details of al rules for using preposition with examples to guide children throughout their learning.
Preposition:
Preposition is the word placed before noun or pronoun to show place, time, position, method for connecting it with the whole sentence.
Ex. I kept the book on the table.
The man is sitting under the tree.
Prepositions are used after verb too as appropriate preposition.
Ex. what are you talking about?
He does not have a house to live in.
Classification of Prepositions:
1.) Simple prepositions:
This means single word prepositions. Ex. at, after, by, on, beside, under, of, to, over, in, out etc.
2.) Complex prepositions:
Two or more words always use together as preposition which is used ending with a single preposition.
Ex. because of, according to, due to, owing to, in front of, with a view to etc.
3.) Compound prepositions:
Some prepositions are used as the form of prefixing prepositions before any noun or pronoun.
Ex. along, across, around, before, between, into, inside etc.
4.) Double prepositions:
Sometimes two prepositions are used side by side at same time with the same object.
Ex. from within, out of, from under, from behind etc.
She shouted from within the rest room.
He brought out the letter from under the bed.
5.) Detached prepositions:
Some prepositions are used in sentences by detaching itself from the object.
Ex. where are you coming from?
With whom did you speak to?
6.) Disguised prepositions:
On is used in place of a and of is used in place of o. ex. ahead, asleep, ahunting etc.
7.) Participle prepositions:
Some particles are preceded by noun, pronoun and auxiliary verb can be used as prepositions.
Ex. concerning, considering, pending, during, regarding, respecting etc.
Positions of using Prepositions:
1.) Prepositions are followed by verbs and before any noun or pronoun.
Ex. the police went into the store house.
I picked him up from the airport.
2.) If the verb of sentence takes the direct object then the prepositions follows the indirect object whereas precedes the noun.
Ex. the servant begged his master for money.
She asked him for meeting.
3.) Prepositions are also used at the end of a sentence in some cases.
i) In case of when the object is relative pronoun like that, whom, which etc.
Ex. this is the person I have told about.
Here is the book that you ask for.
ii) When the object is a relative pronouns are not mentioned but understood.
Ex. this is the girl I gave my pen to.
Here is your gift I have told of.
iii) When a sentence is started with interrogative pronoun or adjective detached pronoun will be used.
Ex. what are you talking about?
Which part of India do you come from?
iv) Adverbial participles are placed adverbs at the end of a sentence.
Ex. yesterday she called me up.
Prepositions as adverbs:
Some prepositions are used as adverbs after verbs at the end of a sentence.
Ex. on, down, in, off, before etc.
I could not come before.
He went on with his story.
Relations by Prepositions:
Some relations are also expressed by prepositions.
1.) Prepositions of positions which is meant for places.
Ex. about, above, on, at, before, under, near, upon, with, within, inside etc.
In Kolkata, near the window, behind the house, on the road, between the sisters, among the boys etc.
2.) Prepositions for direction.
Ex. at, from, away, down, over, out of, for, round to, towards etc.
Turn to the right, go to school, into the river, go away from home etc.
3.) Preposition of time.
Ex. at, by, after, before, during, in, on, from, till, until, throughout, within etc.
On Monday, at 9 a.m., within two days, during summer, till tomorrow, in evening etc.
4.) Preposition of reason or purpose.
Ex. from, for, of, with, through etc.
Died for our country, died from anaemia, died by poison, suffering from cold etc.
5.) Prepositions of manner and instrument.
Ex. from, by, of, with, through etc.
With a weapon, caused by earthquake, with token of love, through a medium etc.
Using Some Prepositions:
1.) At
i) To point a place- he lives at bharatpur.
He is working at science city.
ii) To show the state- my mind is still in peace.
You are at liberty to live alone.
iii) To define a point of time- the train will arrive at 10 O’ clock.
It may rain at afternoon.
iv) To present aim or direction- he threw arrow at the bird.
The police aimed his gun at the criminal.
v) To give price or value of anything- I bought this branded watch at Rs. 1500.
He bought sugar at Rs. 40 per kg.
vi) For showing age and occupation- he died at the age of fifty.
She must be busy at her work.
vii) To express degree of manner- I can walk at 50 kilometers per hour.
2.) By
i) To mention time- he will reach there by afternoon.
We love to travel by night.
ii) To show agency or means- please send my letter to him by post.
He earns his living by giving tuitions.
iii) For nearness or beside- our organisation stands by the garden.
He used to sit by my side.
iv) To denote order- enter the room one by one.
v) For time bound- the project will be done by next month.
I will be reached home by next week.
vi) To mean according to- I went there by your opinion.
vii) To show manner- I shook him by his shoulder.
He pulled me near him by hands.
viii) To measure length, weight and number- he sells fruits by kilos.
ix) To show in the name of- by god, he has become successful.
He swore by heaven.
3.) For
i) To denote direction and destination- he left for office.
She started her journey for the awaited trip.
ii) For showing cause, purpose- he was punished for his misbehaviour.
It is unhealthy for human body.
iii) For presenting with regard- he has great admiration for her.
She was anxious for my well-being.
iv) To use as the meaning of linker as- he took my help for his examination.
v) To show on behalf of- he spoke for helping his friend.
Let me give this for him.
vi) For mentioning the period of time- he has been in this job post for five years.
I have not been there for a long time.
vii) As the meaning in spite of- for all his wealth he is not happy at all.
viii) To express the meaning of exchange- he sold his ancestral house for a big amount.
I have paid one hundred rupees for this book.
4.) From
i) To denote since- I have been doing homework from morning.
ii) For source- he took quotes from the poems of Rabindranath.
We get energy from healthy food.
iii) For showing start, movement- we went from home to the station.
The train will come from Howrah.
iv) To denote specific reason- she is suffering from fever.
v) To mention the distance- our house is about five kilometres away from railway station.
the school is in 500 meters from the station.
vi) For denoting protection- the child was saved from being drowned into the river.
He saved her life from danger.
vii) To mention separation- he took the book from his friend.
5.) In
i) For time- she will come to office in morning.
He was born in 2005.
ii) For big places- he lives in Mumbai.
The sun rises in the sky
iii) For dress- the little girl was dressed in silk.
iv) For occupation- his brother is in the army.
They are now in start-up business.
v) For presenting any state, circumstances- he was in a hurry.
she is in great danger.
vi) To present specific subject or matter- please write the letter in English.
vii) For mentioning at rest- she is in bed now.
6.) Into
i) To show movement in motion- he fell into the river.
He jumped into the pond.
ii) To show divide- the book is divided into three parts.
The massive building is clustered into six floors.
iii) For showing the changing of condition- translate the entire paragraph into English.
After hearing the news she burst into tears.
7.) Of
i) For denoting possession of anything- this is the house of my grandfather’s.
The poems of words worth’s always attract me to rea.
ii) To mention the substance of any material- the table is made of wood.
He sent me a bouquet of flowers.
iii) To mention any relation- he is one of my close friends.
I have selected one saree from all old sarees of my mother.
iv) For the authorship or origin- I have rea most of works of durjay dutta.
He came of an affluent family.
v) To denote about- what do you think of your new teacher?
It is a story of love separation.
vi) Freeing from- the good news released him of his long term stress.
He got rid of his bad habits.
vii) For presenting various causes- the man died of high fever.
8.) On
i) For mentioning place specifically the upper surface- please keep the book on the table.
The cat was lying on the table.
ii) For specific date- I have office leave only on Sundays.
Our office will be reopened on 22nd august.
iii) For membership- he is on the committee of the club.
iv) To denote direction- they showed an evil eye on our family.
Good luck smiled on him.
v) For the meaning of about- he wrote an entire book on his tragic life.
The story book is on different kind of thriller.
vi) To denote the meaning of attached to- the picture is hung on the wall.
There are lilies on the tree.
vii) To show by means of- they live on selling books.
I heard the news on radio.
9.) To
i) To show definite purpose- I came long way just to meet you.
I rea different kinds of books to enhance knowledge.
ii) For showing the direction of places- she walked to the main road alone.
She almost reached to the borderline of the race.
iii) For proportion- the team won by four goals to two.
iv) For mentioning time limit- the army fought to their last breath.
We shall pay to the last penny.
v) For time of before- it is ten to five.
vi) For showing comparison- she is junior to me.
I prefer walking to cycling.
vii) For until in time- I have worked from early morning to late night.
viii) Using before indirect object- send the letter to him.
ix) To denote facing- they sit face to face in the restaurant.
x) For attaching with something- stick the sticker to the cover of your book.
10.) With
i) For mentioning possession (having)- I saw a boy with brown eyes.
I have no clothes with me to wear.
ii) For showing contents- fill the pot with water.
Cover the hollow with mud in it.
iii) To denote relationship- I live here with my family.
Mix some salt with the vegetables.
iv) For any means- she hit the snake with a stick.
I want to write with fountain pen.
v) To mention against of anything- he is angry with me since that day.
He is disappointed with my behaviour.
vi) As the meaning of for- I am with you in what you decide.
They are happy with my selection in the job.
Difference of Using Prepositions:
1.) At- at is always used to denote small time and space.
It is also used for referring rest.
When something denotes as target at is used for that.
Ex. he will come in the meeting at 8 O’ clock.
She is at rest now.
He aimed the gun at the bird.
2.) In- in is always used for mentioning large time limit and place.
It also mentions the place of being within.
Ex. he lives in London now.
She sits in the garden in evening.
3.) Into- into denotes motion of anything when it moves towards.
Ex. the man jumped into the river.
The cat fell into the well.
4.) In/on/to: in denotes within and inside.
On denotes the borderline.
To denotes the outer side of anything.
Ex. Delhi is in the northern part of India.
The Himalayas lies on the north part of the country.
Tamil Nadu is to the south of India.
5.) Beside/ besides- besides present nearness.
Besides present in addition to other things.
Ex. she sat beside her sister.
She works as teacher besides writer.
6.) By/with- by used for the doer who does the action.
With is used for any action done by specific instruments.
Ex. the sum was solved by the teacher.
The snake was killed with a stick.
7.) Between/ among- between is used for sharing anything for two persons or things.
Among is used for sharing anything for more than two persons or things.
Ex. father divided the property between two sisters.
He distributed the chocolates among children.
8.) On/upon- on refers contact with a thing at rest.
Upon mentions about a thing in motion.
Ex. the picture is on the wall.
The rat sprang upon the chair.
9.) Over/ above- over refers to a generally higher point.
Above directly refers to a higher point.
Ex. he help the umbrella over her head.
The fan is moving above our heads.
10.) Ago/ before: ago refers to before now.
Before refers to before then.
Ex. he joined new office two months ago.
He joined the workplace before his brother’s death.
Find out the errors:
1.) Sumi fell in a)/ the well and nobody b)/ tried to save him c)/ no error d).
2.) There appears a)/ to be very little b)/ mutual understanding among the two brothers c)/ no error d).
3.) Our teacher a)/ cannot b)/ control on all the students of our institution c)/ no error d).
4.) The earth’s atmosphere a)/ comprises of b)/ three layers within it c)/ no error d)
5.) He should refrain a)/ to associate himself with any political party b)/ because people have faith in his integrity c)/ no error d).
6.) He is good a)/ in physics b)/ but his brother isn’t c)/ no error d).
7.) I will avail a)/ myself with b)/ this golden opportunity to pursue my career c)/ no error d).
8.) The poet a)/ described in this poem about b)/ the spring season c)/ no error d).
9.) He wanted to go a)/ to home after long time b)/ as he was sick c)/ no error d).
10.) She can a)/ cope up with any difficult situation b)/ as she is a braveheart person with positivity c)/ no error d).
Solutions:
1.) a) fell into will be used.
2.) c) between will be placed in place of among.
3.) c) on is not used with the verb control.
4.) b) in active voice of is used with verb comprise.
5.) b) after verb refrain preposition from will be used.
6.) b) at will be used with good.
7.) b) preposition of will be used with verb avail.
8.) b) about will not be used with verb describe.
9.) b) to will not be used after go.
10.) b) cope with will be used.
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