THE PREPOSITION:
Preposition comes before a noun or a pronoun in order to show their relationship to the other word that’s there in the sentence. This container is for biscuits. Here “FOR” is a preposition that shows the relationship between biscuits and container.
For example: The book is on the table. (Noun), she gives ice cream to her. (Pronoun)
Kinds of preposition: There are three kinds of preposition:
1. Simple preposition
Example: at, by, for, from, in, of, off, on, out, through, tell, to, up, with etc.
2. Compound preposition:
These are those prepositions which are generally formed by prefixing a preposition (generally a, be) to a noun, adjective or an adverb.
Example: about, above, across, along, amidst, among, amongst, around, before, beside, below, beneath, between, beyond, inside etc.
3. Phrase prepositions:
They are those prepositions which are group of words used with the force of a single preposition.
IN
- When something is already Eg :- The frog is in the pond.
- With the big cities, states and countries. Eg :- She lives in Mumbai.
- With year, month, seasons, morning, evening, afternoon. Eg :- Raj will come here in March.
AT
- With exact time and situation. Eg :- Our college start at 8:00 a.m.
- With villages, towns, an When something is already. Eg :- He lives at Shahdara.
- With the big cities, states and countries. Eg :- We go there at noon.
- With year, month, seasons, morning, evening, afternoon. Eg :- Shyam lives at Lawrence Road.
- With festivals, before “the beginning” or “the end”. Eg :- We enjoy a lot at Holi.
INTO
- When something comes in from outside. Eg :- Pour some water into the glass.
- To change something Eg :- Translate it into English.
TO
- For going from one place to another Eg :- He goes to school daily.
- Before infinitive Eg :- He wants to buy this.
- To show comparison Eg :- She is elder to me.
ON
- With day and date Eg :- Sid will come on Monday.
- When one thing is touching the other up- down state. Eg :- Keep the book on table.
UPON
- When something falls on other with speed. Eg :- The lion fell upon the deer.
OVER
- When something is on the other but with a gap in between Eg :- Birds fly over the mountains.
BY
- Done by somebody Eg :- Exam was taken by the students.
- With the watch Eg :- it is three by my watch.
WITH
- With somebody, something Eg :- Renu goes to market with her mother.
- To tell manner Eg :- They killed him with gun.
OF
- To show relation Eg:- she is the member of this club
- To show quality and reason Eg:- she died of cancer.
OFF
- When something falls or gets separated Eg :- He fell off the bike.
FROM
- From anyplace Eg:- I came from Delhi.
- With time in indefinite tense Eg:- Jot should do this from tomorrow.
- To tell the source Eg:- knowledge comes from the book.
SINCE
- With the exact time Eg:- He has known me since 2008.
FOR
- With the exact time Eg :- He has been studying Hindi for 12 years
- To exchange something Eg:- I bought a dress for two thousand rupees
- For some reason Eg:- I want it for my mother.
AFTER
- To tell the order Eg :- The cat ran after the rat.
- After something Eg:- She will go after 9:00
BEHIND
- At the back Eg:- He hides behind the tree.
TOWARD
- Sense of direction Eg :- Gita went towards the hospital.
ABOVE / OVER
- To show the up level Eg:- The water was above the danger mark in the dam.
BELOW/ UNDER
- To show the down level Eg:- The swimmer’s head was below water.
BETWEEN
- In the two Eg:- Distribute these toffees between Jassi and Jot.
AMONG
- In more than two Eg :- Divide the bananas among all kids.
THROUGH
- Between the parts of something Eg:- I cannot get the car through that narrow gate.
ACROSS
- To go from one side to the other (usually on surface) Eg:- We took two days to get across Lake Superior.
AGAINST
- Contrary to something Eg:- why are you against everything she tries to do?
- Not gives support Eg:- most republicans are against abortion.
BESIDES
- As well as; in addition Eg:- I’ve got three daughters, besides my son.
BESIDE
- By the side of Eg :- My friend sits beside me in the class.
There are many other prepositions
About, across, near, along, around, throughout, beyond, till, onto, like, inside, outside, out, past, beneath
Use Of Certain phrase Prepositions:
- According to He acted according to my advice.
- Because of He died because of heart attack.
- In spite of In spite of having strength, tree broke down.
- By means of The boy completed his assignment by means of internet.
- For the sake of Rajiv worked hard for the sake of his career.
- On account of On account of bad health, he left his job.
- Owing to Owing to ill health he retired from business.
- In front of My best friend lives in front my house.
- With reference to I am writing this letter with reference to yours.
- On behalf of I welcome you all on behalf of my whole class.
- Due to He lost his weight due to workout.
- In order to Reena went to post office in order to post letter.
- Instead of My mother likes tea instead of coffee.
- In case of In case of need Sam always comes to me.
List of many other Phrase Prepositions:
Abide by respect or obey. (The law, a decision, a rule)
Example: you must abide by rules laid down by the school.
Account for explain, give a reason
Example: Seema did not account for her absence from the office.
Add up make sense, seem reasonable
Example: I think this ingredient will add up to taste of this sweet dish.
Agree with have the same opinion as somebody else.
Example: Rohan agreed with his mother’s viewpoint.
Answer to a person
Example: she did not answer to my question.
Answer back reply rudely
Example: we should not answer back to our parents.
Apply for make a formal request for something
Example: I have applied for the post of HR manager.
Aware of know about
Example: Her mother is aware of her success.
Back away move backwards, in fear or dislike
Example: He has a habit to back away from his incorrect prior decisions.
Back down withdrew, concede defeat
Example: I back down in the game of badminton.
Back up 1 ) give support or encouragement 2) make a copy of (file, program, etc.)
Example: Shalim’s boss told her to keep the back up of all his important files.
Black out faint, lose consciousness
Example: she got black out while dancing.
Blush at
Example: she blushed at the mention of her fiance.
Believe in to have faith
Example: I believe in God
Blind to one’s own defeat
Example: He is blind to the fault of his children.
Break down: 1) go out of order, cease to function 2) lose control of one’s emotions
Example: Rahul had a nervous break down.
Break into enter by force
Example: He tried to break into my room.
Benefit from (noun)
Example: she always tries to derieve benefits from the experience of others.
Break up come to an end (marriage, relationship)
Example: He had a break up with his wife.
Bring up raise (a child)
Example: Rajeev has done his best to bring up his children.
Brush up on improve, refresh one’s knowledge of something
Example: I suggested him to brush up on his communication skills.
Bump into meet by accident or unexpectedly
Example: she bumped into here x-husband while she was shopping in a mall.
Cure for
Example: There is no cure for aids.
Compete with interrupt impolitely (on sthg)
Example: Preeti will compete with me for the first position in the college
Call back returns a phone call
Example: I told Mrs. Verma to call back my mother.
Call off cancel
Example: My boss called off his meeting.
Call on/ upon by formally invite or request
Example: My mother told me to call upon my in-laws for dinner.
Calm down become more relaxed, less angry or upset
Example: Once she got angry, it become very difficult to calm her down.
Carry on continue
Example: I told my sister not t carry on talking to her friend till late hours.
Carry out 1) do something as specified (a plan, an, order, a threat)
2) Perform or conduct (test, experiment)
Example: Yesterday, a kidney transplant test was carried out in fortis hospital.
Check in register at a hotel or airport
Example: The check time to the airport to board the flight is 7 am.
Check out 1) pay one’s bill and leave (a hotel) 2) investigate
Example: Rajeev & his wife checked out from the hotel at 12 noon.
Consist of (comprise)
Example: This kit consists of seven books.
Cause for reason for
Example: My father asked me the cause for coming late at home.
Close down stop operating (company, restaurant, and cinema).
Example: The restaurant that had opened last month got closed down due to lack of its publicity
Come across 1) find by chance 2) appear, seem, and make an impression
Example: I came across a beautiful handbag that I wanted to buy since January.
Come forward present oneself
Example: The president of her college told her to come forward and receive the honour.
Come up against be faced with or opposed by
Example: Mr. Anna Hazarre has come up against corruption.
Cause of result from
Example: The cause of your ill health is unhygienic food.
Count on rely or depend on (for help)
Example: I really count on my good friends.
Concern for worried
Example: she is too much concerned for her.
Cut down on reduce in number or size
Example: The lawyer asked him suspiciously that hoe Mr. Rohan is concerned with this case.
Deal with handle, take care of (problem, situation)
Example: He knows very well how to deal with the situation.
Do without manage without
Example: My brother told me to do without a bike for few days.
Die off a disease
Example: Mrs. Bhatia died of cancer.
Drew up write (contract, agreement, and document)
Example: He has drawn up the agreement
Dress up 1) wear elegant clothes 2) disguise oneself
Example: she dresses up like a queen.
Drop in visit, usually on the way somewhere
Example: Shallu told me to drop in this parcel at her friend’s house.
Drop out leave school without finishing
Example: This year, there were 21 drop out from our school.
Ease off reduce, become less severe or slow down (pain, traffic, work)
Example: she is now feeling better as the pain has eased off.
Even out 1) eliminate differences of opinion 2) become level or regular
Example: I told my parents to even out their difference so that we can live happily.
Figure out understand, find the answer
Example: she is not able to figure out the reason for her rude behaviour.
Fill out complete (a form/ an application)
Example: Rajeev field out the application from the submitted it to the principal.
Find out discover or obtain information
Example My teacher told me to find out the reason for getting less marks in mathematic.
Focus on concentrate on something
Example she has her focus on clearing the IAS exam.
Get into enter
Example: My father told me to get into the car.
Get off 1) leave (bus, train, and plane) 2) remove
Example: I immediately got off the bus.
Get on board (bus, train, and plane)
Example: Monika & her family will get on the airplane for the first time.
Get on (well) with (somebody) has a good relationship with
Example: she gets on well with me.
Get out leave
Example: she has got over her illness.
Get rid of eliminate
Example: Sohan has got ride of all his troubles.
Get together meet each other
Example: she had arranged a got together at her home for all her old friends.
Get up Rise, leave bed
Example: My mother gets up 5o’ clock every morning.
Give up stop doing something
Example: He has given up smoking.
Go through Experience
Example: I wish that he should never go through bad times.
Grow up spend one’s childhood; develop; become an adult
Example I have grown up learning the Indian culture & traditions.
Hang out spend time in a particular place, or with a ground of friends.
Example: she requested her father to let her go to hang out with her friends.
Hang up end a phone conversation.
Example: I hang up his call.
Hit up Aim a blow at
Example: He is a great shooter so he always hit at the correct target.
Hit back retaliate; reply to an attack
Example: He hit back at his enemy.
Hold on wait, grip, tightly
Example: I told her to hold on the call for sometime
Hurry up Be quick, act speedily
Example: Her mother said her to hurry up as she was getting late to go to her school.
Join in participate
Example: I took her permission before I joined in at her birthday party.
Join up 1) engage in, become a member of 2) meet and untie with
Example: I told her to join up for a dinner.
Jot down take quick notes.
Example: Reena had hurriedly jotted down some sentences which her teacher spoke in the class.
Keep on continue doing something
Example: she kept on wedding for the entire day.
Keep up with stay at the same level as someone or something
Example: I tried to keep up with her parents’ expectation.
Kick off begin, start
Example: The meeting did not kick off at the right time.
Leave out omit, not mention
Example: He did not leave out his name.
Let down disappoint
Example: she made her parents feel down by scoring less marks in 10th standard.
Look after Take care of
Example: she looked after her children very well.
Look ahead think of the future
Example: my mother always motivates me to look ahead while taking any decision.
Look down on consider as inferior
Example: we should never look down on any people who belong to lower cast.
Look for try to find something
Example: He was looking for his spectacles in my cupboard.
Look forward to await or anticipate with pleasure
Example: she is looking forward to go abroad.
Look up to admire
Example: Sonika looks up to her father.
Make fun of laugh at/ make jokes about
Example: Her mother explained her not to make fun of anyone.
Make up invent (excuse, story)
Example: He has habit to makeup cock & bull story.
Move in arrive in a new home or office
Example: Recently, they have moved win this apartment.
Note down write something
Example: she has noted down all the details.
Pass away die
Example: my grandmother passed away in 2007.
Pay back reimburse
Example: she paid back the entire money to her father.
Put off postpone, arrange a later date
Example: My boss told me to put off all his meetings.
Put on turn on, switch on
Example: my father told my mother to put on some soft music.
Put up accommodate, give somebody a bed
Example: Yesterday, she had put up in my home.
Pick up collect somebody
Example: Rohan’s father came to pick me up.
Point out indicate/ direct attention to something
Example: Rohan pointed out toward her mother’s earnings.
Rely on count on, depend on, and trust
Example: she relies on the support of her father.
Rule out eliminate
Example: vikas was ruled out from the competition.
Run away escape from a place or suddenly leave
Example: He ran away as he found that the situation is not in his favour
Set off start a journey;
Example: Rajeev set off to go Kerela from Chandigarh.
Set up start a business
Example: They had tried to set up their business in London.
Shop around compare prices
Example: she shopped around Chandigarh to take her wedding dress.
Show off be silent, stop talking
Example: The teacher told the students to shut up and listen to her.
Take care of look after
Example: she takes care of her family very well.
Take off leave the ground
Example: The airplane will take off at 10 a.m.
Think over consider
Example: she is going to think over this matter.
Tyr on wear something to see if it suits or fits.
Example: I told my sister to try on something new.
Turn down refuse
Example: she turned down my request.
Use up finish a product (so that there’s none left)
Example: Her sister has used up the entire foundation
Watch out be carefully
Example: watch out! There’s a truck coming.
Workout 1) do physical exercise 2) find a solution or calculate something
Example: The heroine has really worked out a lot to look sensational.
Wipe off clean (board, table)
Example: My servant did not wipe of the nation of financial crises.
Wish for a thing
Example: she doesn’t wish for anything in life.
Yearn for acute desire, long for
Example: I yearned for her return to her own home.
Shot at somebody
Example: The robbers shot at him and escaped.
Live in region, area, country
Example: He is living at Nakoder.
Live on food
Example: she lives completely on juice these days.
EXERCISE – 1
Fill the correct prepositions:
- ___________ my opinion, he is an excellent pianist.
- I’m afraid I took your coat ___________ mistake.
- Where should we go _____________ a drink?
- She found the $100 _________ accident.
- She bought a painting ______________ Jackson for her son.
- We went _________ a short business trip to Rome.
- Would you like to come _______________ a walk with me?
- We fell ______________ love on a hot summer night.
EXERCISE – 2
Fill the correct prepositions: in / at / to / nothing
- He lives _______ ______________ New York.
- She went _______ __________ __________ home.
- I work _______________________ Seattle.
- He went ____________________ his friend’s house.
- She arrived ____________ London for the celebrations.
- I’m going to stay __________home this weekend.
- Why don’t we go _____________the movies tonight?
- I’m going to see John __________ Florida this summer.
- I arrived __________ work early this morning.
- He works ____________ the hospital.
EXERCISE – 3
Fill the correct preposition:
- He gave her a cheque ___________________ lot of money.
- The reason ____________ this meeting is to discuss the policies.
- The increase _____________ profits is due to good sale.
- There is a real demand ________________ skilled professional.
- We have seen a fall ___________________price recently.
- The cause _______________ his problem is his children.
- Did you do any harm ________________________ the car?
- I think you attitude ________________your work is very bad indeed.
- The difference ________________ the two is very slight.
- She took a photograph _________________ his boyfriend.
- Do he has a good relationship _________________his father?
- I was surprised ____________ his reaction to the problem.