1. A preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to show in what relation the person or thing denoted by it stands in regard to something else
(The word Preposition means ‘that which is placed before.’)
Examples:
The bird is in the cage.
He will meet me on Sunday in the evening.
His house is within municipal limits.
The cat jumped off the window.

2. A preposition is usually placed before its object, but sometimes it follows it; as:
Here is the book you asked for.
What are you looking at?
What are you thinking of?

3. Preposition may be divided into the following categories:

(a) Simple Prepositions:
e.g. at, by, for, from, in, of, off, on, out, through, till, to, up, with.
(b) Compound Prepositions:
e.g. about, above, across, along, amidst, among, around, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, inside, outside, underneath within, without.
(c) Phrasal Prepositions:
These are groups of words used with the force of single preposition: e.g. according to; along with; away from; because of; by means of; by way of; for the sake of; with regard to; in accordance with; in addition to; on behalf of; in favour of; in order to; in place of; in spite of; instead of; on account of; owing to; with reference to etc.
So, prepositions are usually put before the words they control; they show relations of different kinds, the commonest being of space (position, direction etc.), time, and various mental attitudes.

Correct Uses of Some Prepositions

1. The preposition to and from indicate direction; as:
   Mohan took Anil to his home.
   Mohit has copied the words from the blackboard.
2. Preposition in is used with names of countries and large towns; at is more often used when speaking of small towns and villages; as:
   They live in Mumbai.
   He lives at Paschim Vihar in Delhi.
   I met him at Haridwar in Uttar Pradesh.
   He is in London these days.
3. In and at are also used in speaking of things at rest; to and into are used in speaking of things in motion; as:
   He is in his room.
   Mohan jumped into the river.
   He ran to school.
   He is at the top of the class.
4. With reference to time at is used for a point of time; in is used for a period of time in which something happens; as
   I will start my work at 10 o’clock in the morning.
   My brother was born in 2005.
5. On is used often in speaking of things at rest and upon of things in motion; as; He sat on a stool.
   The cat jumped upon the table.
6. Till is used of time and to is used of place; as:
   I slept till seven o’clock.
   He walked to the end of the park.
7. With often denotes the instrument and by the agent; as;
   He killed two birds with one stone.
   He was stopped by a lunatic with a dagger.
8. Since is used before a noun or phrase denoting some point of time; in the past, for is used to denote a period of time in the present, past or future as:
   I have been waiting for Ramesh since four o’clock.
   I have eaten nothing since morning.
   He has been sleeping for two hours.
9. Between is used with two persons or things; among with more than two; as:
   There is a lot of difference between good and bad.
   There are many good sportsmen among our class students.
10. Beside means by the side of, while besides means in addition to;
    Besides scolding him, she hit him.
    Beside his house there is a beautiful park.

Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with at / on / in:

1. …………………. 12 September.
2. …………………. the evening.
3. …………………. half past four.
4. …………………. Wednesday.
5. …………………. 2006.
6. …………………. September.
7. …………………. 25 August.
8. …………………. Friday.
9. …………………. 12.35.
10. …………………. Christmas Day.
11. …………………. Diwali.
12. …………………. the morning.
13. …………………. Wednesday morning.
14. …………………. Saturday night.
15. …………………. night.
16. …………………. the end of the day.
17. …………………. the weekend.
18. …………………. summer.

Аnswers:

1. on.
2. in.
3. at.
4. on.
5. in.
6. in.
7. on.
8. on.
9. at.
10. on
11. at.
12. in.
13. on
14. on.
15. at.
16. at.
17. at.
18. in.

Exercise 2

Fill in the following with at / on / in:

1. Where were you …………………. 16 January?
2. I got up …………………. 7.30 this morning.
3. I like getting up early …………………. the morning.
4. My uncle got married …………………. October.
5. Mohan and me first met …………………. 2005.
6. Did you go out …………………. Friday evening?
7. Did you meet me …………………. Saturday evening?
8. Do you often play games …………………. the evening?
9. Let us meet …………………. 5.30 tomorrow morning.
10. I often go away …………………. the weekend.
11. I am starting my new job …………………. 15 April.
12. We often go to the beach …………………. summer.
13. Vishal is not here …………………. the moment.
14. Shreya’s birthday is …………………. March?
15. Do you work …………………. Saturday?

Аnswers:

1. on.
2. at.
3. in.
4. in.
5. in.
6. on.
7. on.
8. in.
9. at.
10. at.
11. on.
12. in.
13. at.
14. in.
15. on.

Exercise 3

Fill in the blanks with until / since / for:

1. Mr. and Mrs. Khanna have been married …………………. 1995.
2. I was tired this morning. I stayed in bed …………………. 9 o’clock.
3. We waited for Sarika …………………. half an hour but she did not come.
4. Have you just arrived?’ ‘No, I have been here …………………. half past six’.
5. ‘How long did you stay at the party last night?’ …………………. midnight’.
6. Mohan and I are good friends. We have known each other …………………. five years.
7. I’m tired. I’m going to lie down …………………. a few minutes.
8. Don’t open the door of the train …………………. the train stops.
9. This is my house. I’ve lived here …………………. I was seven years old.
10. Vikas has gone away. He’ll be away …………………. Friday.
11. Next week I’m going to Chennai …………………. three days.
12. I usually finish my homework at 4.30 p.m. but sometimes I do homework …………………. six.
13. How long have you known Amita?’ …………………. we were at school together’.
14. ‘Where have you been?’ I have been waiting for you …………………. twenty minutes.

Аnswers:

1. since.
2. until.
3. for.
4. since.
5. Until.
6. for.
7. for.
8. until.
9. since.
10. until.
11. for.
12. until.
13. Since.
14. for.

Exercise 4

Complete the following with in / at/ on:

1. Don’t sit …………………. the grass. It’s wet.
2. What have you got …………………. your bag?
3. Look! There’s a man …………………. the roof. What’s he doing?
4. There are a lot of fish …………………. this river.
5. Our house is number 205—the number is …………………. the door.
6. Is the cinema near here?’ ‘Yes, turn left …………………. the traffic lights’.
7. I usually do my shopping …………………. the Shastri Market.
8. My aunt lives …………………. Mumbai.
9. There’s a small parkv …………………. the top of the hill.
10. I think I heard the doorbell. There’s somebody …………………. the door.

Аnswers:

1. on.
2. in.
3. on.
4. in.
5. on.
6. at.
7. in.
8. in.
9. at.
10. at.

Exercise 5

Complete the sentences using opposite, beside, by, under, above, below, on, in front of and behind:

1. The cat is …………………. the table.
2. There is a big tree …………………. the house.
3. The plane is flying …………………. the clouds.
4. She is standing …………………. the piano.
5. The cinema is …………………. the right.
6. She is sitting …………………. the phone.
7. The switch is …………………. the window.    .
8. The cupboard is …………………. the sink.
9. There are some shoes …………………. the bed.
10. The plant is …………………. the piano.
11. Pal is sitting …………………. Urvashi.
12. In Britain they drive …………………. the left.

Аnswers:

1. under.
2. behind.
3. above.
4. in front of.
5. on.
6. by/beside.
7. below/under.
8. above.
9. under.
10. by/beside.
11. opposite.
12. on.

Exercise 6

Complete the sentences using on, at, by, with, about:

1. In tennis, you hit the ball …………………. a racket.
2. She cuts vegetables …………………. a sharp knife.
3. Do you know anything …………………. computers?
4. My grandmother died …………………. the age of 94.
5. I did not go to the football match, but I watched it …………………. television.
6. My house is the one …………………. the red door on the right.
7. These trains are very fast. They can travel …………………. very high speed.
8. I don’t use my car very often. I prefer to go …………………. bike.
9. Can you give me some information …………………. hotels in this town.
10. He was arrested …………………. two policemen and taken to the police station.
11. The buses here are very good. They are nearly always …………………. time.
12. What would you like to drink …………………. your mead?

Аnswers:

1. with.
2. with
3. about.
4. at.
5. on.
6. with.
7. at.
8. by
9. about.
10. by.
11. on.
12. with/at.

Exercise 7

Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions:

1. I am sorry …………………. what I have done.
2. O God! Keep me …………………. sin.
3. I bought i …………………. fifteen rupees.
4. He broke the jug …………………. a hundred pieces.
5. It has been raining …………………. yesterday.
6. I have been working hard …………………. arithmetic.
7. We suffered …………………. your neglect.
8. The exercise was written …………………. me …………………. a ball pen.
9. “Will you walk …………………. my parlour?” said the spider …………………. the fly.
10. It is ten o’clock …………………. my watch.
11. There is nothing new …………………. the sun.
12. Do not cry …………………. pilt milk.
13. You, boys, must settle it …………………. yourselves.
14. The public are contending …………………. pickpockets.
15. They drove …………………. Mumbai …………………. Pune.

Аnswers:

1. for.
2. from / off.
3. for.
4. into.
5. since.
6. at.
7. from.
8. by, with.
9. into, to.
10. by.
11. under.
12. over.
13. among.
14. against.
15. from, to.