ENGLISH GRAMMAR
PREPOSITIONS
Rule / Usage Preposition(s) Examples
1. Time – Point / At → exact time We reached school at 7 a.m.
Period
On → days/dates She was born on Monday.
In → months/years/periods He was born in 2009.
2. Time – Since → point of time He has lived here since 2010.
Duration
For → period of time He has lived here for 10 years.
By → not later than Finish this by tomorrow.
During → within a period We travelled during summer.
Till/Until → up to a point Wait here till 6 p.m.
Within → before the end He will return within an hour.
3. Place / Position At → point/place He is at the door.
On → surface The book is on the table.
In → inside The toys are in the box.
Above/Over → higher Birds fly above the trees.
Under/Below → lower The ball rolled under the bed.
Between → two Share this between two boys.
Among → more than two Share this among friends.
Near/Beside/By → close The shop is beside the bank.
Opposite / In front of → The school is opposite the park.
facing
4. Direction / To → destination He is going to school.
Movement Into → movement inside She jumped into the pool.
Onto/Upon → movement The cat leapt onto the roof.
on
He walked towards the bus stop.
Towards → direction
She swam across the river.
Across → one side to
another He walked along the road.
Along → parallel The train went through the tunnel.
Through → passage He climbed up the tree.
Up/Down → direction She ran out of the room.
Out of → exit
5. Cause / Reason / Because of / Due to / The match was cancelled because of
Purpose Owing to → cause rain.
For → purpose He failed due to his carelessness.
From → cause/origin This gift is for you.
He suffers from fever.
6. Means / Agent / By → doer/means of The poem was written by Tagore.
Instrument transport
We travelled by car.
With → instrument/tool
She cut the apple with a knife.
7. Comparison / Like / As → similarity He runs like a deer.
Contrast /
Concession In spite of / Despite → She sings as an angel does.
contrast
In spite of his illness, he came.
Contrary to → opposition
He succeeded despite difficulties.
His actions were contrary to his
words.
8. Measure / Rate / By → measurement Milk is sold by the litre.
Value
At → rate Apples are sold at ₹100 a kilo.
For → value This pen is for ₹20.
9. Possession / Of → belonging The legs of the chair.
Belonging
With → having A girl with blue eyes.
To → belonging to The key to this lock.
Assignment - Prepositions
A. Fill in the blanks with correct prepositions.
1. He was born ___ July 2009.
2. The book is lying ___ the shelf.
3. She has been living here ___ 2010.
4. The cat jumped ___ the wall.
5. We walked ___ the park yesterday.
6. The train arrived ___ 8 a.m.
7. The teacher distributed sweets ___ the students.
8. This is the house ___ my uncle.
9. He is angry ___ his mistake.
10.They travelled ___ bus to Delhi.
B. Choose the correct preposition.
11. He is junior ___ me. (to / than / from)
12.The boy hid ___ the table. (under / over / into)
13.She is good ___ dancing. (in / at / with)
14.Divide the money ___ the two brothers. (between / among / beside)
15.He reached the airport ___ time. (on / in / at)
C. Correct the errors.
16.He prefers tea than coffee.
17. She is married with a doctor.
18.The teacher discussed about the chapter.
19.He is senior than me.
20.She is angry on her friend.
21.The student complained on the food.
22.He is suffering with fever.
23.The boy was sitting in the bench.
D. Use the following phrase prepositions in sentences.
24.In front of
25.In addition to
26.Instead of
27.Because of
28.On account of
29.With reference to
30.In spite of
E. Complete the passage using suitable prepositions.
Once there was a boy who lived ___ (31) a small village. He loved playing ___ (32) the river
and often swam ___ (33) the other side. One day, he went ___ (34) the forest ___ (35) his
friends. Suddenly, it started raining. The children hid ___ (36) a big tree. They waited ___
(37) the rain stopped. After the rain, they returned ___ (38) home safely. Their parents
scolded them ___ (39) going to the forest ___ (40) permission.
