Prepositions PDF

# 16.3 Kinds of Prepositions 1. **Simple Prepositions:** * above * about * across * against * after * around * along * among * at * behind * before * below * beside * beneath * besides * but * between * beyond * by *...

# 16.3 Kinds of Prepositions 1. **Simple Prepositions:** * above * about * across * against * after * around * along * among * at * behind * before * below * beside * beneath * besides * but * between * beyond * by * down * except * for * from * in * inside * into * off * on * opposite * round * since * through * throughout * till/until * to * upon * via * up * with * within * without 2. **Phrase Prepositions:** * in spite of * in order to * instead of * in the course of * but for * on account of * in view of * along with * in front of * owing to * for the sake of * with regard to * because of * in comparison with * thanks to * together with * by means of * due to * on behalf of * in regard to * except for * in accordance with * apart from * according to # 16.4 Use of Some Prepositions ## (A) The Expression of Time The following are the important prepositions used for the expression of time: * at * on * in * within * for * since * until * till * during * by * from ### At is used for exact time: * The train reached Madras *at 7.15 p.m.* * We set out *at dawn* and reached there *at night*. * (Similarly *at noon, at dusk, at midnight, at the week-end, at bed time, at the beginning of the class, at the end of the session*) ### On is used for days and dates: * The accident took place *on Friday.* * We celebrate Independence Day *on 15 August.* * Hitler committed suicide *on April 30, 1945.* *Note:* *On* is not used if an adjective precedes 'day': * I met him *last Friday.* * I see him *every day.* In modern usage, *on* is often omitted even when there is no adjective preceding the noun. * We will meet *Monday evening.* * Our exam begins *fifteenth March.* ### In is used for: **(i) months and years:** * I was born *in September.* * India became a Republic *in 1950.* **(ii) a period of time:** * in the morning * in the afternoon * in the evening * in the summer **(iii) showing the total length of time taken for the completion of some activity or operation:** * An express train will take you from Trivandrum to Ernakulum *in four hours.* * (Similarly *in a month, in a year.*) ### Within is used to show that an activity was/will be over before the end of a period: * Finish the work *within an hour.* (in less than an hour) * I want your reply *within a week.* ### For is used to indicate the duration of an activity: * It rained heavily *for five hours.* * I will be very busy *for the next three hours.* * World War II lasted *for more than five years.* ### Since indicates a specified point of time in the past: * He came to this town *in 1975* and has lived here *ever since.* * What have you been doing *since I last saw you?* * (Similarly: *since Sunday, since last year, since Independence; since I left school*) ### During means throughout the curation of, at a point in the course of: * The sun gives us light *during the day.* * She swims everyday *during (the) summer.* * He called *during my absence.* * I was offered a job *during a visit to the capital.* ### By indicates the latest time by which something was or is to be done: * Can you finish your work *by noon* ? * The applications should reach the secretary *by 30 June.* * By is also used in the sense of 'during the course of': * Some drivers prefer to drive *by night.* * I'd rather travel *by day.* * Do you like swimming *by moonlight.* ### From is used for a point of time to show a beginning. It is used in tenses other than Perfect and Perfect Continuous: * It rained *from morning till evening yesterday.* * You can meet the officer *from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.* * We listened to the speech *from the beginning.* * He was on leave *from Monday till/to Saturday*. ### Since as a preposition must be linked to a perfect tense form or a perfect continuous form. This preposition will then imply an action which began in the past, went on till now, and is still not complete. Compare the following sentences: 1. They work every day *from 7 a.m*. 2. They have worked here *since October*. 3. They have been working here *since October*. # 16.5 More About Prepositions ### At is used to denote: 1. **Some state or condition:** * The Serbs and the Bosnians are *at war*. * The Arabs and the Jews are *at* peace now. * (Similarly *at rest, at liberty*) 2. **Direction:** * A dog rushed *at the beggar.* * He threw a stone *at it*. * Look *at this picture.* * The hunter shot an arrow *at the bird.* * (Similarly *glance at, peer at, peep at, gaze at, stare at*) 3. **Amount, number, price, speed:** * She bought apples *at Rs 20 per kilogram.* * The strength of the class stood *at sixty*. * He was *driving at fifty miles an hour*. 4. **Age or position in time:** * He retired *at 58*. * Children usually begin school *at the age of five.* ### Between is used when we refer to two things, persons, etc. * Balu sits *between* Syam and Raju. * The Mediterranean Sea is *between* Europe and Africa. * The letter B comes *between* A and C. ### Among is used when we refer to more than two things, persons, etc. * Divide the money *among* the five of you. * They quarreled *among* themselves. ### Beside means by the side of: * My house is *beside* the river. * Come and sit *beside* me. ### Besides means in addition to: * *Besides* a car, he has a jeep and a motorcycle. * *Besides* hard work, luck was an important factor in his success. ### With is used for instruments: * He wrote the letter *with* a pencil. * The rival gangs fought *with* automatic weapons. ### By is used for agents or doers: * This novel is *by Dickens.* * Our houses are lighted *by* electricity. ### In is used to denote: 1. **Position:** * She is a doctor *in* a private hospital. * He is a minister *in* the Union Cabinet. 2. **Dress:** * She was always dressed *in* white. * (Similarly, *in silk, in black, in disguise*) 3. **Surroundings or condition:** * He was *in* prison for a long time. * Don't do anything *in* haste. * (Similarly, *in sorrow, in tears, in the rain, in sunlight*) ### On is used: 1. *to denote 'about' or 'concerning':* * He gave a brilliant lecture *on Shakespeare.* * I congratulated/complimented him *on his success.* 2. *to denote membership of a body:* * He is *on the Committee* for Administrative Reforms. * She is *on the staff* of the local school. 3. *to denote condition or state:* * The godown was *on fire*. * I do not drink *while on duty.* * (Similarly, *on good terms, on sale, on foot, on leave, on show.*) ### Into expresses: 1. *Motion or direction:* * He walked *into* my room unannounced. * He works far *into* the night. 2. *Change in condition:* * The toad has changed *into* a frog. * The poem was translated *from Hindi into* English.