Preposition Rules, Prepositional Phrases and Exercise

Preposition Rules, Prepositional Phrases and Exercise

Prepositions are words that express different kinds of relationships:

-          Relationship of place (position and direction)

The dog was sleeping under the tree.

The dog is running towards the girl.

-          Relationship of time

He came here at 10 o’clock.

Her birthday is on14 July.

-          Other relationships

He went out with his father. (togetherness)

She bought a camera for her brother. (who receives something)

He has written two books on oil. (about a subject)

Anu looks beautiful in a red dress. (wearing)

Kunal is always after money. (in pursuit of)

1.    At

At a position in a space

at the airport, at the post office, at the station, at the doctor’s, at the hairdresser’s

Exact or fixed point of time

at 6 o’clock, at lunch time, at New Year, etc.

Age / Speed / Temperature

He died at eighty.

Water boils at 100 degree Celsius.

You can oranges at Rs 50 a kilo. Buy it at Rs 25.

With these expressions of place

at beginning, at the end, at the entrance, at her side, at the top, at the bottom

Directing your attention or voice to someone

Look at me! Do not shout at the dog.

Some Expressions

At sight, at first sight, at once, at any rate, at all costs, at home, at school, at work, at sunrise, at midnight, at night, at noon, at the weekend, at first, at last, at leisure, at present, at dawn, at his / her best

2.    In

Longer period like months, years, seasons, centuries

in August, in 1960, in spring, in the 21^st century

Parts of the day

in the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon

Places like bigger towns, villages, countries

in London, in Nepal

Position of something inside an area or space

He is sitting in his room.

Dresses worn on the body

He looks smart in a coat.

In a line/ row/queue/ street

He is sitting in a queue.

Period of time before something happens in future

In a few weeks, I will have bought a house.

Period of time to finish any action (simple past)

He finished writing in three days.

Some Expressions

in the train, in the sun, in the shed, in cash, in love, in my opinion, in brief, in bed, in hospital, in a photograph, in a hurry, in debt, in other words, in doubt, in danger, in trouble, in tears, in good condition, in time, in good health, in addition to, in short

3.    On

In contact with a surface or touching

There is cat on the table.

There are a lot of flies on the ceiling.

Days and dates

On Sunday, on 16 April

About or on the subject of

He wrote a book on oil.

She gave us a talk on poetry.

To talk about dependence or survival

These insects live on potatoes.

As soon as something happens

On reaching at the airport, I rang you up.

On returning he checked his bag.

To talk about films and plays

What’s on TV tonight?

What’s on at the Kumari (film hall)?

Through the medium of

I heard on the radio.  

Some Expressions

On the platform, on TV, on the page, on the radio, on the left, on the back, on strike, on fire, on phone, on the while, on the first floor, on a farm, on foot, on the contrary, on sale, on holiday, on the other hand, on duty, on purpose, on a diet, on track, on the way

4.    With

Togetherness or accompanying

I staying with my uncle.

Something which is carried

Who is the lady with a black cat?

I saw a boy with an umbrella.

Physical features and diseases

The girl with brown hair is my fiend.

By means of

He fought with a sword.

The opposite of against

If he is with me, I can easily solve this problem.

To talk about giving assistance

Can you help me with the washing up?

To talk about doing things competitively

They always argue with me.

She is fighting with her elder brother.

Some Expressions

with pleasure, with sympathy, with care, with practice, with difficulty, with reference to with regard to, with a view to

5.    For

Period of time to show how long an action lasts (perfect tenses)

I have played football for three hours.

Direction if the verb indicates the starting of a movement

He left for school.

They set off for Australia.

Purpose or reason of doing something

She went to the restaurant for a drink.

6.    Of

Permanent qualities of character and age

 a woman a fifty- four, a boy of violent temper

Possession

The owner of this flat

Something contained in

a bag of mangoes, a box of books

Quantity

Three kilos of rice

7.    By

Latest time at which an action will be finished (future tense)

She will have finished working by 2 o’clock.

Ways of doing something

He sent a letter by post.

Vehicles

He went to Pokhara by bus.

Agent of an action

The letter is written by John.

Some Expressions

By mistake, by heart, by all means, by rights, by the way, by oneself, by chance, by luck, by fortune

8.    From

Starting of any actions

He loved music from his childhood.

He lived in Pokhara from 1980 to 1990.

Point of departure

They rant from the bus park.

Source or origin

He knew about it from his friend.

9.    Since

Point of time to show how long something started in the past goes up

She has been living here since March.

10. Above/ Below/ Under / Over

Above – higher than

The blackboard is above the bench.

Below- lower than

The bench is below the blackboard.

Over- vertically above

There is a bulb over the table.

Under- vertically below

There is a ball under the table.

11. Into/Through/Across/Along

Into- position of something with a movement

He came into my room.

Through- a movement from one side of a three- dimensional space to another side

He walked through the forest.

Across- a movement to other side of a flat area

He went across the river.

Along- a movement from one end towards the other or the same side in a straight way

He was running along the road. 

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