Important Prepositions list

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Preposition

A preposition is a word that comes before a noun or a pronoun and shows its relation with other parts (words) of the sentence.

Examples:

• The book is on the table.
• The pen is in the Pen-box.
• The cat is under the table.
• The book is between the inkpot and the computer.

Types of Prepositions

There are three types of Prepositions.

1. Simple Prepositions

These are simple words used as prepositions. For example, [at, by, for, in, from, of, off, on, out, over, through, though, till, to under, up, with]

2. Compound Prepositions

Compound Prepositions are those prepositions that are formed by prefixing the preposition to a noun, an adjective or an adverb.

Compound Preposition = Prefix + Noun/adjective/adverb

For example:

About, Above, Across, along, amidst, among, around, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, inside, outside, underneath, within, without

3. Phrase Prepositions

When a group of words is used as a single preposition then it is called a Phrase Preposition. Examples are: In spite of, despite of, etc

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Correct use of Prepositions

Use of AT

Rules	Examples
Name of Smaller Places	I live at South Dhadka. She was living at Ramsaray Muhallah.
For Indication/AimWith few words	Shout at, grumble at, shoot at, laugh at, mock at, bite at, look at, kick at, aim at, smile at, growl at etc.
Case of Time Reference	He will reach at 5 am. He came at 6 O’clock. He can go at night. (at noon, at dawn, at dusk, at midnight, at afternoon, at twilight, at daybreak etc) At this moment, at bedtime, at this hour, at Christmas
In case of Price/Rate/Speed	Milk sells at Rs 22 per litre. He got that book at Rs 50. The motorcycle is running at eighty Kilometres an hour.
For Temporary action	He is at work (means he is working now). She is at play.
to express age/stages of Life	My grandfather died at the age of sixty. I left college at twenty-five.

Use of “In”

Rules	Examples
Name of Bigger Places (world, Country, City, Continent, State, Metropolitan city, etc)	we live in India. India is in Asia. She lived in Uttar Pradesh. Mr Thakur lives in Patna.
Case of Time Reference	In the night. in the morning. In the evening. In the afternoon.
For Permanent action	His brother is in the Army. I am in education. He is in politics.
to express the period of time	In a week in this week in this month in this season In spring in autumn in January in Summer

Use of “into”

Rules	Examples
It is used for [motion inside anything]	The frog fell into the well. He jumped into the river. The robbers broke into my house.
for a change – One medium to another medium One state to another state	Translate into English Milk turns into curd Water turns into ice

Use of “On”

Rules	Examples
Surfaces are in touch	there are two books on the table. He was carrying a suitcase on his head. Students were standing on benches.
Time expression	On Monday on the same night On Monday evening
“On” will come before foot, a horse, horse’s back, a camel, a camel’s back, an elephant, elephant’s back, a buffalo, buffalo’s back if they are used for motion/movement	He walks on foot. He was riding on a horse.

Use of “Between”

Rules	Examples
for two persons or things	She was sitting between her husband and her father. Divide this mango between you and your brother.
Use for bilateral relations, cooperation or reciprocal relations for more than two things	there is a cooperation between these three families. There is an alliance between these six countries.

Use of “Above”

Rules	Examples
in case of “Higher than”/Over	the kites rose above the clouds. The aeroplane is flying above the cloud.
Use in case of more than in number or quantity	There are above fifty students in the class. Her expenses are above her means.
In the case of “Superior to”	Sudhir jee is a publisher above suspicion.

Use of “Over”

Rules	Examples
something which is near above (with/without touching the surface)	please spread the cloth over the table. the clouds are over our heads The Plane is flying over the town.
it is also used as More than/in excess	Mr Ganguly is over forty. His income is not over his expenses. he overworks in the factory. My father overtook me. Overeating, overwise, overcrowd
in sense of “across”	the bridge is over the river.

Use of “by”

Rules	Examples
in case of Near or Near-by (समीप या किनारे)	The child came and sat by her. Her village is by the river.
It is used to mean “before” or “by” a specified time. इसका प्रयोग निर्दिष्ट समय से “पहले” या “तक” के अर्थ में होता है	The Rajadhani Express will arrive here by 11 O’clock. By the end of this month, she will have returned from Mumbai. He will have informed the police of the accident by tomorrow morning.
in the case of transport,	By cycle, by aeroplane, by boat, by taxi,, by scooter, by motorcycle, by plane, by car, by train etc.
for the duration or during	He travelled by night. the sun shines by day.

Use of “of”

Rules	Examples
use as “cause” (कारणवश)	She died of fever. his wife is tired of work. he died of grief.
use as possession of non-livings	the wood of the table. leg of chair
use as “origin”	He comes of a royal family.
show Relation	the problems of Delhi

Confusing Pair of Prepositions

• between and among
• Beside and Besides
• For and Since
• Across and Through
• in and into
• on and upon

Important Fixed prepositions with different words

Invite	To
Invest	In
Dispense	With
Admittance	To
Insist	On + V-ing
Plagued	By
Keen	On + V-ing To + V1st
Thirst	For
Congratulate/ Compliment	On
Remonstrated	With
Blow	To
Reconciled	With
View	On
Anger/ Indignant	At
Pleased	With
Victim	To
Reconciled	With
Leap	At
Annoy	With
Attempt	At

Avail	Of
View	On
Heard	Of
Look forward	To + gerund
Suspicious	Of
Liable	For
Guilty	Of
Object	To
Aim	At
Disposed	Of
Accession	To
Decide	On/upon
Afford	To
Compared	To
Pay attention	To
Marry/married	To
Deprived	Of
Difficulty	In
Aimed	At
Adjust	To

Correspond	To
Enquire	For
Concluded	By
Assure	Of
Acquit	of
Approve/ disapprove	Of
Atone	For
Died	Of
Intend	To
Reconcile	With
Indignant	At
Parted	From
Subscribe	To
Satisfied	With
Confide	To
Worthy	Of
Absolve	Of
Accompanied	By
Relive	Of
Wait	for