PARTS OF SPEECH : PREPOSITIONS

Common Prepositions & Their Usage

1. ON (surfaces, dates, days)

1. The keys are on the kitchen counter.
2. My birthday is on the 7th of April.
3. We have a meeting on Monday.
4. The painting hangs on the wall.
5. Independence Day is celebrated on August 15th.
6. There is a sticker on my laptop.
7. The cat is sleeping on the sofa.
8. He is currently on the phone.
9. The school is opening on June 13th.
10. There is a lot of traffic on the highway today.

2. AT (specific times and places)

1. He is waiting for you at the main gate.
2. They reached home at 2 PM.
3. We cut the cake at midnight.
4. She is currently at work.
5. Let's meet at the bus stop.
6. He is at the top of his class.
7. I will see you at noon.
8. There was a security guard at the door.
9. She is studying at the university.
10. The car stopped at the signal.

3. IN (enclosed spaces, months, years, seasons)

1. She will go to the club in the evening.
2. It rains heavily in August.
3. The students are in the classroom.
4. We are living in the 21st century.
5. There was a massive flood in 2010.
6. My keys are in my pocket.
7. He was born in 1995.
8. I enjoy hiking in the autumn.
9. There are many beautiful flowers in the garden.
10. He has a lot of confidence in his abilities.

4. FOR (purpose, duration, recipient)

1. This gift is for Sapna.
2. We watched the movie for only an hour.
3. The watch is for my sister.
4. She has been studying hard for the exams.
5. I have baked a cake for you.
6. This tool is used for cutting wood.
7. He is famous for his generosity.
8. Are you ready for the test?
9. She has been waiting for a long time.
10. What did you do that for?

5. FROM (origin, starting point)

1. The students will attend the class from Monday.
2. The train will leave from Bandra.
3. I am from Delhi.
4. The wind is blowing from the north.
5. Please get me the book from the library.
6. This email is from my boss.
7. He works from 9 AM to 5 PM.
8. She copied the recipe from a cookbook.
9. He suffers from a rare illness.
10. The noise is coming from the apartment upstairs.

6. AROUND (near, approximately, surrounding)

1. We came around 5 pm.
2. She lives just around the corner.
3. The students gathered around the teacher.
4. Diwali is around the corner.
5. It costs around 50 dollars.
6. They sat around the campfire.
7. He put his arm around her shoulder.
8. Let's walk around the park.
9. There is a fence around the house.
10. He traveled around the world.

7. WITH (accompanied by, using an instrument)

1. She went to the party with her father.
2. I have a meeting with the clients.
3. He cut the apple with a knife.
4. The new chair matches with the room interiors.
5. Children are allowed to attend the show with their parents.
6. I agree with your decision.
7. She filled the bottle with water.
8. He spoke with great confidence.
9. Are you coming with us?
10. He decorated the room with balloons.

8. AWAY (as part of a phrase like 'away from')

1. The tourists were sent away from the site.
2. He didn't want to go away from home.
3. The boy ran away from the dog.
4. Stay away from the fire.
5. She moved away from the city.
6. Keep sharp objects away from children.
7. He is away from his desk right now.
8. The island is far away from the mainland.
9. She shyly looked away from him.
10. The hotel is just a short walk away from the beach.

9. BETWEEN (involving two people or things)

1. The match was between India and Pakistan.
2. Sunday comes between Saturday and Monday.
3. Please call between 12 and 2 pm.
4. There was an argument between Ashish and Manish.
5. This secret should be kept between us.
6. She sat between her two best friends.
7. He couldn't decide between the blue shirt and the red one.
8. The treaty was signed between the two countries.
9. There is a narrow path between the two houses.
10. Divide the cake equally between the two of you.

10. AMONG / AMONGST (involving more than two)

1. Blankets were distributed among the poor.
2. There is a lot of unity amongst Indians.
3. Gifts were distributed amongst the employees.
4. She felt safe among her friends.
5. A traitor was hiding among them.
6. He is the most popular student among his classmates.
7. Divide the work among the three of you.
8. The decision was popular among the staff.
9. She found her lost ring among the old books.
10. A discussion arose amongst the committee members.

11. TO (direction, recipient)

1. Tell a story to the children.
2. Give this money to the cashier.
3. I like listening to music.
4. We are going to Gujarat next month.
5. Send it back to me after you have finished.
6. She went to the store.
7. Please pass the salt to your father.
8. I look forward to meeting you.
9. He is dedicated to his work.
10. Welcome to our home.

12. BESIDE (at the side of, next to)

1. The baby was sleeping beside the mother.
2. The students are sitting beside the players.
3. They sit beside each other for lunch.
4. The river beside my house has overflowed.
5. I place my phone beside my bed before sleeping.
6. He stood beside me throughout the ceremony.
7. There is a small table beside the armchair.
8. She parked her car beside mine.
9. Come and sit beside me.
10. The lamppost is beside the mailbox.

13. BESIDES (in addition to, apart from)

1. There was no one at the party besides Ashish and Manish.
2. She can speak two languages besides English.
3. Besides teaching Hindi, she writes novels.
4. Besides being an actress, she was a good painter.
5. The store sells many things besides furniture.
6. I have other hobbies besides reading.
7. Who else was there besides you?
8. He has no family besides his elderly mother.
9. What other sports do you play besides cricket?
10. I don't want to go anywhere; besides, I am very tired.

14. WITHIN (inside a period of time or range)

1. The ambulance arrived within minutes of being called.
2. You should apply within a week.
3. Is it within walking distance?
4. Patriotism comes from within the heart of every soldier.
5. Within seconds, the fire spread.
6. Please complete the task within the given deadline.
7. The solution lies within the problem itself.
8. He lives within a mile of the school.
9. Success is within your reach.
10. All expenses must be kept within the budget.

15. UNDERNEATH (directly under, often covered)

1. He hid the gift underneath his coat.
2. She slipped a note underneath the door.
3. The ball rolled underneath the car.
4. His name was printed underneath the title.
5. The underneath of the car was badly damaged. (Used as a noun here)
6. There is a layer of dust underneath the carpet.
7. They found a hidden passage underneath the castle.
8. The treasure was buried underneath the old oak tree.
9. He wore a sweater underneath his jacket.
10. The roots of the tree spread far underneath the ground.

16. BENEATH (under, often more formal or lower status)

1. We had a picnic beneath a large tree.
2. He thinks working for them is beneath him.
3. My cat always hides beneath the sofa.
4. The ground beneath is covered with flowers.
5. Ashish is sitting beneath the tree.
6. The sun sank beneath the horizon.
7. The divers explored the world beneath the waves.
8. She wore a simple dress beneath her coat.
9. It would be beneath his dignity to argue.
10. The village lay in the valley beneath the mountains.

17. BEYOND (further than, past a point)

1. This train does not go beyond Surat.
2. The parking area is just beyond the trees.
3. The party won't go on beyond midnight.
4. The book was beyond my reach.
5. His courage is beyond doubt.
6. The beauty of the landscape was beyond description.
7. Do not stay out beyond 10 PM.
8. What he is asking is beyond my capabilities.
9. The mountains lie beyond the river.
10. His knowledge extends far beyond the textbook.

18. TILL / UNTIL (up to a point in time)

1. I waited for her till midnight.
2. I will wait until I hear from you.
3. We won't be seeing each other till Christmas.
4. I will study in the library until it closes.
5. Go down the street till you reach the church.
6. The store is open from 9 AM until 9 PM.
7. He did not stop working until the project was finished.
8. Wait here till I come back.
9. You cannot leave until you complete the test.
10. She read the book from beginning to end until dawn.

19. OF (possession, belonging to, relating to)

1. This is a picture of my family.
2. I drank three cups of milk.
3. The painting is of a queen.
4. The first page of the book describes the author's life.
5. He is the captain of the team.
6. She is a woman of great courage.
7. I am afraid of spiders.
8. The color of the car is red.
9. He died of a heart attack.
10. This is the end of the movie.

20. THROUGH (from one end to the other)

1. They walked slowly through the forest.
2. The train passed through the tunnel.
3. He got the job through an agency.
4. Pass the thread through the hole.
5. She looked at him through the window.
6. The sunlight streamed through the clouds.
7. We drove through the city without stopping.
8. He succeeded through hard work and dedication.
9. I read the book from beginning to end through the night.
10. The river flows through the valley.

21. BY (agent, near, method, deadline)

1. We went to Surat by train. (Method)
2. Letters were delivered by the postman. (Agent)
3. The lecture will get over by 5 pm. (Deadline)
4. He was standing by the gate. (Near)
5. The branch was closed down by the head office. (Agent)
6. I will send the report to you by email. (Method)
7. She lives in a house by the river. (Near)
8. You must submit the assignment by Friday. (Deadline)
9. The book was written by a famous author. (Agent)
10. He learned English by watching movies. (Method)

22. ACROSS (from one side to the other)

1. The cinema is across my house.
2. There is a forest across the river.
3. We need to walk across the bridge to reach the temple.
4. She swam across the lake.
5. He drew a line across the page.
6. The message spread across the country.
7. A smile spread across her face.
8. He lives just across the street from me.
9. They traveled across the desert.
10. There is a scar across his forehead.

23. OPPOSITE (facing on the other side)

1. Hotel Sahara is just opposite the academy.
2. The brothers are opposite to each other in nature.
3. Neha is standing opposite Aditi in the school elections.
4. India is playing opposite Pakistan in the finals.
5. The bank is opposite the post office.
6. She sat opposite him at the dinner table.
7. His views are completely opposite to mine.
8. "Hot" is the opposite of "cold".
9. My house is opposite the park.
10. He took the opposite direction.

24. AGAINST (in opposition to, in contact with)

1. They are against dowry.
2. We should fight against reservations.
3. The box was kept against the door.
4. The ladder was leaning against the wall.
5. He voted against the proposal.
6. It is against the law to park here.
7. The waves crashed against the rocks.
8. She leaned her head against his shoulder.
9. This is a medicine against cough.
10. The team is playing against the champions.

25. ALONG (following a line, together with)

1. The teacher went along with the students for the science fair.
2. She will go along with her father to Surat.
3. She picked up the folder along with the books.
4. We walked along the beach at sunset.
5. There are trees planted along the road.
6. He was driving along the highway.
7. Bring your friends along to the party.
8. I was just singing along to the radio.
9. Everything is going along as planned.
10. She found a seashell as she walked along the shore.

26. TOWARDS (in the direction of)

1. The thieves got scared when they saw the policemen coming towards them.
2. She was going towards the college.
3. They are walking towards the beach.
4. Look towards the camera.
5. He took a step towards the door.
6. Her attitude towards her work is very positive.
7. The team is working towards a common goal.
8. The cat ran towards the kitchen.
9. This is the first step towards achieving your dream.
10. He felt a sense of anger towards his boss.

27. ABOUT (on the subject of, approximately)

1. I was not informed about the test.
2. This book is about Nehru.
3. I love thinking about the future.
4. He does not know anything about his family.
5. What are you talking about?
6. The movie is about to start.
7. It costs about 100 rupees.
8. She is worried about her exams.
9. He arrived at about 6 PM.
10. There is something special about her.

28. IN FRONT OF (directly before something)

1. The fountain is in front of the building.
2. He sat in front of the computer the whole day.
3. A dog jumped in front of the car.
4. Please do not stand in front of the TV.
5. We should speak carefully in front of children.
6. The teacher stood in front of the class.
7. He parked his car in front of my house.
8. She delivered a speech in front of a large audience.
9. There is a beautiful garden in front of our school.
10. Don't make excuses in front of me.

29. OVER (above, across, more than)

1. She wore a jacket over the sweater.
2. The amount is over our budget.
3. Kids ten and over can watch the movie.
4. The plane flew over the mountains.
5. He jumped over the wall.
6. There is a bridge over the river.
7. She has no control over her children.
8. Let's discuss this over a cup of coffee.
9. He has traveled all over the world.
10. The game is over.

30. UNDER (directly below)

1. The kid is hiding under the bed.
2. Please keep your shoes under the chair.
3. The cat is sleeping under the table.
4. He is working under a lot of pressure.
5. The village was buried under snow.
6. Children under five are not admitted.
7. The temperature dropped to under zero.
8. He is a manager with fifty people working under him.
9. The tunnel goes under the river.
10. She found the key under the mat.

31. ABOVE (at a higher level, more than)

1. Please follow the instructions mentioned above.
2. Water is leaking from the apartment above.
3. We live above a restaurant.
4. His score is above average.
5. The sun rose above the horizon.
6. Temperatures are above freezing.
7. He values honor above life.
8. The helicopter hovered above the building.
9. Her name is listed above mine.
10. A captain is above a sergeant in rank.

32. BELOW (at a lower level, less than)

1. He has a scar below his right eye.
2. Please refer to the details mentioned below.
3. Lots of people still live below the poverty line.
4. The temperature is expected to drop below zero tonight.
5. His performance was below expectations.
6. The miners were trapped deep below the ground.
7. She signed her name below his.
8. The valley lies below the mountains.
9. This task is below my skill level.
10. His apartment is directly below mine.

33. INTO (entering a closed space)

1. Pour some water into the glass.
2. He threw the letter into the fire.
3. Come into the house.
4. The car crashed into a tree.
5. She dived into the swimming pool.
6. He translated the book from English into Spanish.
7. The caterpillar turned into a butterfly.
8. Let's go into the garden.
9. She put the keys into her purse.
10. He burst into laughter.

34. UP (towards a higher place/level)

1. The balloons rose up in the air.
2. The cat climbed up the tree.
3. I go up on the terrace every morning.
4. She walked up the stairs.
5. He looked up at the sky.
6. Prices are going up.
7. Fill the glass up with water.
8. They live up the hill.
9. He is moving _up_ the corporate ladder.
10. Please speak up, I can't hear you.

35. DOWN (towards a lower place/level)

1. We watched the sun go down.
2. They went down in the lift.
3. Children went down in the park to play.
4. The ball rolled down the hill.
5. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
6. He is coming down the stairs.
7. The company's profits went down last year.
8. Please sit down.
9. The computer system is down.
10. She lives just down the street.

How to Identify Prepositions: 10 Techniques

1. Meaning-Based Technique (Relation Test)

Easy Explanation: A preposition is a "relationship word." It shows the relationship between a noun/pronoun and another word, often related to location, time, or direction.

1. The book is on the table. (Location)
2. The meeting will start at 10 AM. (Time)
3. She walked toward the park. (Direction)
4. This letter is for you. (Purpose)
5. He is the president of the company. (Possession)
6. They live near the school. (Location)
7. We will meet after the class. (Time)
8. He jumped over the fence. (Direction)
9. She succeeded with her team's help. (Manner)
10. The gift came from my aunt. (Source)

2. Fixed Position Test (Pre-position)

Easy Explanation: A preposition almost always comes directly **before** a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase (its object).

1. The cat is hiding under the bed.
2. She gave the gift to him.
3. He lives in a big city.
4. We cannot live without water.
5. Let's meet after the class.
6. He sat beside the window.
7. The car is parked behind the building.
8. They walked along the river.
9. She put the keys inside her bag.
10. He is the captain of the team.

3. Object Test

Easy Explanation: A word is only a preposition if it has an object (a noun or pronoun that follows it). If there's no object, it's likely an adverb.

1. He is waiting in the car. (Object: the car)
2. She put the keys on the counter. (Object: the counter)
3. The dog ran across the field. (Object: the field)
4. I received a message from my boss. (Object: my boss)
5. He is hiding behind the curtain. (Object: the curtain)
6. She is talking about her vacation. (Object: her vacation)
7. They are sitting near the fireplace. (Object: the fireplace)
8. He argued against the proposal. (Object: the proposal)
9. We walked towards the exit. (Object: the exit)
10. The book is written by a famous author. (Object: a famous author)

4. Deletion Test

Easy Explanation: If you remove a preposition from a sentence, the sentence will usually become grammatically incorrect or lose its meaning.

1. Correct: The keys are **in** my pocket. → Incorrect: The keys are my pocket.
2. Correct: He depends **on** his friends. → Incorrect: He depends his friends.
3. Correct: She is talking **about** her vacation. → Incorrect: She is talking her vacation.
4. Correct: Let's go **for** a walk. → Incorrect: Let's go a walk.
5. Correct: The store is **near** the post office. → Incorrect: The store is the post office.
6. Correct: The book was written **by** him. → Incorrect: The book was written him.
7. Correct: He is waiting **at** the bus stop. → Incorrect: He is waiting the bus stop.
8. Correct: The cat jumped **onto** the roof. → Incorrect: The cat jumped the roof.
9. Correct: She is responsible **for** this project. → Incorrect: She is responsible this project.
10. Correct: He is listening **to** music. → Incorrect: He is listening music.

5. Question Test (Where? When? How?)

Easy Explanation: A prepositional phrase (the preposition + its object) often answers key questions like *Where?, When?,* or *How?*

1. They live **in London**. (Where do they live?)
2. The game starts **at noon**. (When does the game start?)
3. He traveled **by train**. (How did he travel?)
4. She went to the store **for milk**. (Why did she go?)
5. The man **with the hat** is my uncle. (Which man?)
6. He put the book **on the shelf**. (Where did he put it?)
7. We will leave **after breakfast**. (When will we leave?)
8. She spoke **with confidence**. (How did she speak?)
9. The letter **from my sister** arrived. (Which letter?)
10. He is hiding **behind the door**. (Where is he hiding?)

6. Common Prepositions List Test

Easy Explanation: One of the easiest methods is to recognize the word from a list of common prepositions (e.g., *in, on, at, by, with, for, of, about, under, over, from, to*).

1. He sat on the chair.
2. She is the captain of the team.
3. I'll go with you.
4. This package came from my aunt.
5. He put the letter in the envelope.
6. We arrived at the airport.
7. This book is about history.
8. He traveled by bus.
9. This gift is for my mother.
10. The bridge goes over the river.

7. Prepositional Phrase Test

Easy Explanation: A preposition is always the head of a "prepositional phrase" (preposition + object). This entire phrase acts as a single unit, like an adjective or an adverb.

1. The man **in the blue shirt** is my brother. (Acts like an adjective, describing 'man')
2. She ran **with great speed**. (Acts like an adverb, describing 'ran')
3. The house **on the corner** is for sale. (Acts like an adjective, describing 'house')
4. He spoke **with confidence**. (Acts like an adverb, describing 'spoke')
5. The book **about pirates** was exciting. (Acts like an adjective, describing 'book')
6. They arrived **at midnight**. (Acts like an adverb, describing 'arrived')
7. The keys **to the car** are missing. (Acts like an adjective, describing 'keys')
8. He works **at a large company**. (Acts like an adverb, describing 'works')
9. The girl **with the red hair** is my cousin. (Acts like an adjective, describing 'girl')
10. She painted the picture **with skill**. (Acts like an adverb, describing 'painted')

8. No Inflection Test

Easy Explanation: Prepositions do not change their form. You cannot add endings like *-s, -ed,* or *-ing* to them. The word *on* is always *on*.

1. He is **on** the roof. (Cannot be 'ons' or 'oned')
2. She walked **through** the park. (Cannot be 'throughs' or 'throughed')
3. The gift is **from** me. (Always 'from')
4. He is hiding **under** the table. (Always 'under')
5. The story is **about** a dragon. (Always 'about')
6. They live **near** the station.
7. The cat is **behind** the sofa.
8. We will go **to** the market.
9. He sat **beside** his friend.
10. She argued **against** the idea.

9. Particle Test (Distinction from Adverbs)

Easy Explanation: Some words (like *up, down, in, out*) can be prepositions or adverbs. It's a **preposition** if it has a noun/pronoun object after it. It's an **adverb** if it doesn't.

1. Preposition: He looked **up** the chimney. | Adverb: Please look **up**.
2. Preposition: She ran **down** the hill. | Adverb: The computer shut **down**.
3. Preposition: Come **inside** the house. | Adverb: Come **inside**.
4. Preposition: He walked **past** the shop. | Adverb: A car just drove **past**.
5. Preposition: She is **in** the room. | Adverb: Please come **in**.
6. Preposition: He climbed **over** the wall. | Adverb: The game is **over**.
7. Preposition: I left my keys **behind** the counter. | Adverb: He fell **behind**.
8. Preposition: They walked **around** the lake. | Adverb: Don't just stand **around**.
9. Preposition: He is **off** the team. | Adverb: Please turn the lights **off**.
10. Preposition: She jumped **off** the diving board. | Adverb: The plane took **off**.

10. Extra Technique: The "Link" Question Test

Easy Explanation: Ask a "where," "when," or "with what" question. The answer will be the object. The preposition is the single word that **introduces** that answer and links it to the sentence.

1. Sentence: The cat is sleeping **on** the mat. (Where is it sleeping? -> the mat. Link word: **on**)
2. Sentence: He went to the gym **after** work. (When did he go? -> work. Link word: **after**)
3. Sentence: She opened the box **with** a knife. (With what? -> a knife. Link word: **with**)
4. Sentence: The letter is **for** my sister. (For whom? -> my sister. Link word: **for**)
5. Sentence: They are talking **about** the movie. (About what? -> the movie. Link word: **about**)
6. Sentence: He is waiting **at** the corner. (Where is he waiting? -> the corner. Link word: **at**)
7. Sentence: The gift is **from** John. (From whom? -> John. Link word: **from**)
8. Sentence: We traveled **to** Paris. (To where? -> Paris. Link word: **to**)
9. Sentence: The book was written **by** her. (By whom? -> her. Link word: **by**)
10. Sentence: He hid the key **under** the stone. (Where? -> the stone. Link word: **under**)