PREPOSITIONS

HERE ARE SOME EASY WAYS TO LEARN PREPOSITIONS 

A preposition is a word that links a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to some other part of the sentence. Prepositions must be followed by nouns.

There is no definite rule or formula for choosing a preposition. You have to familiarize yourself with it when reading in English or listening.

Prepositions may be used to show time, location, direction or to introduce an object.

SOME COMMON PREPOSITIONS

Prepositions of time:

After, around, at, before, between, during, from, on, until, in, from ,since, for, during, within


Here are a few sentences where prepositions are used:

• The two kittens were playing, one on the table,the other under it .
• The child remained inside the house during the rains.
• The red ball is in the box.
• The goat was tied outside the shed.
• We have a small garden in front of our home.
• The little boy hid behind his mother.
• The student was told to go out of the class for misbehaving.
• In class I sit between Priya and Smita.
• I walked all along the street looking for the library.
• We walked across the narrow bridge over the stream to the other side.

Prepositions of place:

Above, across, against, along, among, around, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, down, inside, into, near, off, on, opposite, out, over, past, through, toward, underneath

He lives in England, on Oxford Street. You can find him at The Store. (At is used to talk about very specific places). 

• The poet was born in 1800. 
• We got married in 1972.  
• Her exams will be held in July in two weeks time. ( use in for bigger dimensions of time)

• On Friday, on the 7th of May, the exams will begin. 
• Please be at my home on the dot at 7am. 
• The office closes for a break at 12 O'clock. I leave at 5 pm sharp.

The illustration below depicts various prepositions of place .... 

Let's assume the shaded blue spherical area is a city.

The following sentences perhaps will give a clearer meaning of the prepositions :

• I am on my way to the city. I plan to leave from there by 4 O'clock.
• Feroze passed through the city on his way to the airport.
• The university is away from the city. It is on the outskirts.
• The traffic scene is so bad that getting into and out of the city is a nightmare !
• The harbour is just beside the city, maybe a kilometer away from it.
• People from various districts came onto the city to participate in the event.

To be contd .........