3. Prepositions commonly convey the
following relationships:
agency (by); comparison (like, as . . . as);
direction (to, toward, through); place (at,
by, on); possession (of); purpose (for);
source (from, out of); and time (at, before,
on).
4. At- used for precise time
In- used for months, years, centuries and long
periods
On- used for days and dates
At In On
at 3o’clock in summer on Sunday
At noon in 2013 on Christmas
5. In
At- used for a point
In- used for an enclosed space
On- used for surface
At In On
at the corner in the park on the wall
at the bus stop in a building on a page
6. At- stationary position while In shows motion
She is at home. The train is in motion.
At for small place while In for big place
He lives at Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
At for point of time while In for period of time
I will see you at 6 am in the morning.
7.
8. TO
Direction -Turn to the right.
Destination- I am going to Delhi.
Duration- From Monday to Friday
Compared with- I prefer tea to coffee.
In order to- We went to visit him.
TOWARDS
Indicates movement in a particular direction
9. Into- to show movement
We stepped into the room.
Change of condition
The boy changed into a man.
Onto- used when there is movement
involving a change of level
The headmaster climbed onto the loft.
People climbed onto their roofs.
10. Accompanying- came with her, my pen is
with me
Having, containing- book with maps
By means of, using- The snake was killed
with stick
Manner- He solved the sum with difficulty
Agreement- I agree with you.
Because of- He paralyzed with fear.
11. Since- point of time
Since January, since 2013
For- period of time
For two hours, for a year
From- used with to, till and until
Most people work from 8 to 6.
-Used for place
He is from Mumbai.
Where do you come from?
12. During-Used with known periods of time
During the summer
During his childhood
For- to denote purpose & known periods
I went there for the summer.
I waited for him.
Other uses
He asked me for a favour
I paid good price for it.
13. Below & under- both mean lower than(in
level)
But under usually denotes physical contact
and below denotes space between the
things
He put the books under the pillow.
They live below us.
Beneath- something under the other thing
He sat beneath the tree to escape sun.
14. In- maximum time limit
Submit your report in one week.
Within- before the length of time
He returned within first half of the movie
15. Ago- used for past events
He came three hours ago.
Before- Used in reference to two events
The train had left before he reached the
station.
16. Between- used for two things/persons
No one can come between us.
Among- used for more than two
things/persons
He was happy to be among his friends
again.
Amongst- used if followed by a word
beginning with a vowel
He distributed the chocolates amongst us.
17. Of-
Location-the middle of the road
Possession- a friend of mine
Part of a group- a member of the team
Measurement- a cup of milk
Off-
Not on/ away from- Please keep off the grass.
At some distance from- There are islands off
the coast.
18. Above & Over- higher than
The helicopter hovered above/over us.
Over also means covering/ on the other side
of/across
There is a bridge over the railway line.
I put a shroud over the dead body.
Note, Above cannot be used here.
Over also used with meals/food/drink
We had a chat over the lunch.
Above- previous or earlier
He lives at the above address.
19. Across- movement from one side to another
How are we going to get across the stream?
When something is positioned on the opposite
side of a place in relation to the speaker
His house is across the street.
Along-show movement following a line
We walked along the river.
20. Through- Movement from one side to another
He walked through the house.
He cut through the wire.
