Basic Grammar

Prepositions
Conducted by:
Ms Dulanjali Jayasekara
BA( Hons) In Teaching English as a Second Language
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
DELF ( France)
 WHAT ARE PREPOSITIONS?

 A preposition is a short word, usually placed before a noun or pronoun to

show place or position or time or means.
 Some of the most commonly used prepositions are listed below,

At, on, by, in, from, since, for, during, to, till/until, after, before, into, off, above/over,
out of, under/ below, beside, behind, in front of, opposite, between,
among/between, besides, with, of, across, along, through, beyond, near, up/down,
against.
At
a) At a time
Ex: at noon, at six o’clock

b) At an age
Ex: at the age of forty

c) At a place
Ex: at home, at the office, at a hotel, at school, at the university, at the bus-stop

d) Use of price or amount

Ex: It was bought at a high price

e) Used as a preposition of travel and movement

Ex: arrive at a hotel/ shop
On
a) On a day / date
Ex: on Wednesday, on April 15th

b) To indicate mode of transport

Ex: on a bicycle, on horseback, on board a ship

c) To indicate position
Ex: on the ground, on the table

d) On time
This means exactly at the time arranged, not before or after
Ex: The meeting, which was to start at five o’clock, began on time
By
By a time/ date/ period (not later than that)
Ex: be at the station by five o’clock, finish the work by Wednesday

To indicate method of transport

Ex: travel by car/bus/train/plane, by sea /air

Used with passive verbs, followed by the agent

Ex: cheered by the crowd, helped by his aunt

Meaning “near” or “by” the side of

Ex: he stood by me
 In
a) In a country, a town, a street, a room, (to indicate place where)
Note the difference between in and at
In is used with a place or area which is enclosed or has boundaries
In a building means inside and not outside
At a building could mean inside or very near it

b) In time (not late)

Ex: We arrived in time for dinner

c) With expressions of time meaning “within”

Ex: in a few minutes, in six months

d) To describe a state or condition

Ex: he is in good health
From
a) Used in expressions of time with to/till
Ex: from five o’clock to/ till eight o’clock

b) Used in expressions of travel and movement, with to

Ex: He flew from London to Paris

c) To indicate source or separation

Ex: He took water from the well ,
I got the money from him
 Since

Used for time, meaning “from a certain time till the time
of speaking or writing

Ex: He has been ill since last Sunday

I have not been to the temple since grade 9
 For
a) Used with a period of time
Ex: For five years, for six months, for two years, for the Vesak holidays

b) For a purpose
Ex: He went for a walk

c) In exchange for (used with money)

Ex: It was sold for 1000 rupees

d) In defense of or to help
Ex: We must fight for our rights , I bought these books for my daughter

e) To describe extent or duration

Ex: I walked for two miles , The war will go on for many years
During
a) Used with periods of time
Ex: During Christmas,

Till/ Until
Use of time , meaning “up to”
Ex: She worked till dark
He worked till midnight
Wait till Monday
After
Used with a noun pronoun or gerund to talk about something happening “later”
Ex: After dinner, after you, after playing pronoun or gerund, to talk about
something happening “later”
Ex: After dinner, after you, after playing
After
Used with a noun, pronoun or gerund, to talk about something happening “later”

Ex: After dinner, after you, after playing

To
Used with from, meaning “as far as”
Ex: from May to October
He travelled from Anuradhapura to Colombo

Used with people and places

Ex: Send letters to friends
I am going to France

Used with the meaning “ in the direction of “

Ex: He went to the train station
She ran to the gate
Before
Used in the same way as “after”
Ex: Before lunch, before her, before paying him the money

IntoInUIntosed to travel or movement or entrance

Ex: The mouse crept into a hole
We can’t get into our house
It is difficult to get into a good school
They climbed into the car
Pour the milk into the jug

Off
The meaning is “away from”
Ex: He got off the bus
He fell off the ladder
Above
The meaning is “in a higher position”
Ex: Their house is above our house
Over
This expresses movement from one side to other
Ex: These boys are jumping over the fence.
Out of
Used with the meaning “away from”, “from within” or “among”
Ex: We must get out of this house
He is taking his pen out of his pocket
She is the best student out of the group
Under
The meaning is “in a lower position than”, or “less than”. Under can also mean “covered” or
“hidden by”
Ex: He is working under the manager
She is under the age eighteen
I hid the key under the pillow
Below
This meaning is “in a lower position”
Ex: The flat is below ours
Beside, behind, in front of, opposite, between
These prepositions describe positions. Their use can be illustrated with the help of this
diagram

Teacher

Row 1 Mary Jane Daisy

Row 2 Tom Henry John

Mary is beside Jane

Tom is behind Mary
Jane is in front of Henry
The teacher is standing opposite Jane
Jane is between Mary and Daisy
Among
Among describes position when there are more than two
Ex: There was a quarrel among the prison
Between
Between describes position when there are only two
Ex: There was a discussion between the manager and his assistant
Besides
This means “in addition to”
Ex: Besides helping in the kitchen she also sweeps the kitchen.
(Note the difference between beside and besides)

Besides
This means “in addition to”
Ex: Besides helping in the kitchen
(Note the difference between beside and besides)
With
Used with the meaning “ in the company of” or “by the means of /using)
Ex: He came with some of his friends
She cut the bread with a knife
Of
Used with the meaning “concerning” or “about” or “made from” or “containing” or “born
from” or “separated from”
Ex: He told us of his travels
It is made of brick
The labourer was carrying a bag of rice
He is a man of high birth
The doctors cured him of cancer
 Across
Used with the meaning of “to the other side of”
Ex: They swam across the river
Along
Used with the meaning of “through a part of” or “the whole length of”
Ex: We drove along High Street
Through
Used with the meaning of “from end to end” , “by means of”
Ex: The train ran through the tunnel
He lost his money through carelessness
He succeeded in his efforts through perseverance
Beyond
Used with the meaning of “to the further side of” or outside the range of”
Ex: The church is beyond the bridge
Near
Used as an adjective, adverb and also as a preposition
Ex: Our house is near a park
Up
Used with the meaning of “from a lower to a higher position
Ex: He went up a ladder to repair the roof
Down
Used with the meaning of from a higher to a lower
Ex: He came down the ladder after repairing the roof
Against
Used with the meaning of: “opposite” or “in contact with”
Ex: They are playing against us tomorrow
Put the ladder against the wall
Activity 2

Read the text given below and underline the prepositions.

On a very hot and sunny day, a thirsty crow was flying in search of water. Due to the hot
weather, most of the ponds had dried up. Suddenly, he saw a vessel on the ground. When
he flew towards it, he saw there was very little water at the bottom of the vessel. While
thinking about how he could drink that water, he saw little pebbles lying around. He
started dropping them one by one into the vessel. After some time, the water level rose.
The thirsty crow quenched its thirst and flew away happily.
Answer Key
On a very hot and sunny day, a thirsty crow was flying in search of
water. Due to the hot weather, most of the ponds had dried up.
Suddenly, he saw a vessel on the ground. When he flew towards it,
he saw there was very little water at the bottom of the vessel.
While thinking about how he could drink that water, he saw little
pebbles lying around. He started dropping them one by
one into the vessel. After some time, the water level rose. The
thirsty crow quenched its thirst and flew away happily.
 Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions
1. This shop doesn’t have the toys I was looking __. (up/for)
2. The teacher divided the sweets ___ all the children. (between/among)
3. Bruce did not fare well __ his examination. (in/at)
4. The dog is grateful __ its owner. (to/for)
5. My brother’s anniversary is __ 5th November. (on/in)
6. The boy __ the store is quite young. (at/on)
7. Mahatma Gandhi was born __ 2nd October. (on/in)
8. Rupert is fond __ muffins. (of/off)
9. The dog jumped __ the sofa. (on/in)
10. Humpty Dumpty sat __ a wall. (on/at)
11. The police officer is __ the station. (at/on)
12. The Sun will not rise __ 6 o’clock. (before/since)
13. I know Jack ___ he was a little boy. (for/since)
14. Priya’s house is ___ mine. (next to/after)
15. The opponents sat ____ to each other. (opposite/behind)
16. The scientist looked ____ the microscope. (through/in)
17. I met Suhani when I was __ college. (in/on)
18. I will have completed my task __ Friday. (till/by)
19. There’s a rift ___ these two kids. (between/among)
20. The soldiers are ___ war. (in/at)
 For
 Among
 In
 To
 On
 At
 On
 Of
 On
 On
 At
 Before
 Since
 Next to
 Opposite
 Through
 In
 By
 Between
 At