Readers,
A
preposition is a word which shows the relationship between two objects
indicating their position.
Wealready
know that for error correction, cloze test etc., prepositions knowledge is very
important. Here given tips and tricks to know prepositions use better. Let’s
have a look please.
Some
of the important prepositions are listed below
PREPOSITIONS SHOWING TIME
1. At, in
At in used with a definite point of
time in mind.
I go to my Department at 7:30 a.m. everyday.
He will come at Holi.
In is generally used to denote a
specific time, period month, year.
I play chess in the evening.
Exception: At is used with noon.
He comes at noon for lunch.
2. On, by
On is used with days and dates.
He was born on the 9th of July.
I teach Wordsworth on every Monday.
By
refers to the latest time by which an action will be over.
The meeting will break by 4 p.m.
3. For, Since
For denotes a period of time and is used with the
perfect continuous tense.
I have been working in
KR Mangalam University for the last
10 years.
Since shows the point of time. It also indicates
continuity.
India has been
independent since 1947.
4. From
From refers to the starting point of an action.
He is joining the new
firm from the 1st of May.
PREPOSITIONS SHOWING POSITION
1. At, in
At refers to an exact point.
He lives at Nehru Place.
In refers to a big area.
He lives in Punjab.
2. Between, Among
Between is
used to distinguish two persons and things.
The property was
divided between Ram and Shyam.
Among is
used for more than two persons or things.
The food was
distributed among the ten boys in
the family.
3.Amongst
Amongst is also used with more than two persons or things
but is always used before a vowel.
Divide the oranges amongst us.
4. Above, under
Aboveis
used for higher than.
The aeroplane was
flying high in the sky, in fact, above
the clouds.
Belowis used for
lower than.
His output is below ours.
5. Under, over
Under is used for vertically below.
We sit under the tree when we have no class.
Over indicates something vertically above.
There is a separate room
over the garage.
6. Beneath
Beneath shows a lower position.
The ground was soiled beneath her.
PREPOSITIONS SHOWING DIRECTION
1. To is used to
indicate movement from one place to another.
The children go to the school every morning.
2. Towards points out a
particular direction.
The lion ran towards the hunter.
3. Into indicates a
movement inside something.
The thief entered into the room.
4. At indicates aim.
The hunter aimed at the bird.
5. For denotes
direction.
I shall start for Patna today.
6. Off refers to
separation.
He
was thrown off from the car during
the accident.
7. From refers to a
point of departure.
We
feel unhappy when we depart from our
parents
8. Against shows pressure.
I
rested my arms against the wall.
9. Along shows the
same line.
I
walked along the road.
10. Across means from
one side.
I
ran across the road
11. Before denotes
face-to-face.
I
was standing before my wife.
12. Behind means at the
back of someone or something.
My
daughter stood behind me.
13. Beside means by the
side of.
The
security guard sits beside the
officer.
14. After refers to a
sequence.
The
child came running after the mother.
WORDS TAKING
MORE THAN ONE PREPOSITION
A
large number of words are always followed by a fixed preposition.
Example:
Insist on; prevent from; fond of.
But certain words take several prepositions according to the changing meanings
of the word. Here is a select list of such words.
1.
Accompany
A.
By(for
living being)
The
Prime Minister was accompanied by
the members of his cabinet.
B.
With(Subtle
things)
His
lecture was accompanied with subtle
analysis of concepts.
2.
Accountable
A.
To(an
authority or a person)
All
of us are accountable to God.
B.
For(action)
We
are accountable to God for our deeds
and misdeeds.
3.
Angry
A.
At(a
thing).
Ram is angry at Shyam’s bad conduct.
B.
With (a
person).Ram
is angry with Shyam.
4.
Annoyed
A.
With(a person). He is annoyed with his younger brother.
B.
At(something).
He is annoyed with his friend at his
laziness.
5.
Answerable
A.
To(a
person).
The servant is answerable to the
master.
B.
For(something).
We are answerable to our parents for
our conduct.
6.
Appeal
A.
To(person).
He
appealed to the judge for his release from jail.
B.
For (thing).
He
appealed for his release from the prison.
7.
Arrive
A.
At(small
place).
He arrived at the railway colony.
B.
In(big
place).
He arrived in India.
8.
Attend
A.
To(duties,
lessons, work). I attend to
my duties sincerely.
B.
On(service).
Children attend on parents.
9.
Authority
A.
On(subject).
Mr.
Suresh is an authority on Modern
physics.
B.
Over(rights).
The
District Magistrate has authority over
the Committee.
10.
Blind
A.
Of(Physical).
He
is blind of one eye.
B.
To(mental).
Many parents are blind to the faults
of their children.
11.
Communicate
A.
With(to
make correspondence). He communicated with us on that matter.
B.
To(to
convey).
He communicated his opinion to me.
12.
Compare
A.
With(Similar
things).
Shakespeare is compared with Kalidasa.
B.
To(dissimilar
things). Life is compared to a battle.
13.
Compete
A.
With(Person).
I
cannot compete with the young man.
B.
For(a
thing). They
compete for a prize.
14.
Complain
A.
To(person).
He
complained to the Magistrate against
Shyam.
B.
Against(a
person). He complained to the Magistrate against Shyam.
C.
About(a
thing). He
complained to the Magistrate against Shyam about
his misconduct.
15.
Confer
A.
On(to
give). The
president conferred the title of Bharat Ratna on him.
B.
With(a
person).
I shall confer with him about
important topics.
16.
Die
A.
Of(a disease). He died of cholera.
B.
From(a
cause).
He died from overwork.
17.
Differ
A.
With(person).
I
differ with you.
B.
From(things).
India
differs from Japan.
18.
Disqualified
A.
From(action).
He
was disqualified from running the
race.
B.
For(post
or thing). He was disqualified for the post of Police Inspector.
19.
Entrust
A.
With(in
case of a person). I cannot entrust him with my money.
B.
To(in
case of thing). I cannot entrust my money to him.
20.
Familiar
A.
With(person).
I
am familiar with the Chief Minister.
B.
To(subject).
I
am familiar to French Language.
21.
Fight
A.
With(person).
We
fought with the English.
B.
For(thing).
We fought with the English for
freedom.
22.
Grateful
A.
To(person).
I
am grateful to Ram.
B.
For(thing).
I
am grateful to Ram for his help.
23.
Heir
A.
Of(descendant).
A
son is usually the heir of the
father.
B.
For(thing).
He
was a heir for a big fortune.
24.
Indebted
A.
To(a
person). I am indebted to
my friend.
B.
For(thing).
I
am indebted to my friend for his
help.
25.
Indignant
A.
With(person).
He
was indignant with his friends.
B.
At(thing).
The
teacher was indignant at his
carelessness.
26.
Live
A.
On(to
exist). A
man lives on food.
B.
By(to
depend on, to believe in). A terrorist lives by the gun.
27.
Part
A.
From(persons).
He
parted from his friends.
B.
With(things).
He
cannot part with his money.
28.
Responsible
A.
To(person).
He
was responsible to the boss.
B.
For(thing).
We
are responsible to God for our
actions.
29.
Taste
A.
Of(experience).
Now
you will have a taste of New York.
B.
For(interest).
I
have no taste for painting.
30.
Tired
A.
Of(mental).
I
am tired of poverty.
B.
With(physical).
I
am tired with working for five hours
continuously.
For
any query, kindly comment.
