It covers most of the prepositions that are used in the English language with examples and solutions given.

1. Prepositions

2. Definition
Words or group of words which establish
relation with other part of the
sentence(noun/object).
eg. I am in the class.

3. Types
1. Place
2. Time
3. Direction

4. “On”
1. To show surface
– The book is on the table
– The paper is placed on my desk
2. To show dates and days
– He will come on Wednesday
– I was born on 10th April 2001
3. To show device or machine
– He is on the phone
– The show will be telecasted on T.V.
– She is solving the sum on calculator.

5. “On”
4. When something comes in contact with body part
– The ice-cream fell on my leg.
– My mother kissed me on forehead.
– She wears her engagement ring on her finger.
5. To show a state
– Virat was on fire last night.
– Mango Juice is on demand.
– He has been on bed rest for past 2 days.

6. “Onto”
1. Something comes on surface with movement
– Move the books onto the shelf.
– She climbed onto the roof.
– He stepped down from the train onto the platform.
Informal Use: (fully aware)
eg. He cancelled the surprise party when he came to know
that we were onto his surprise.

7. “Upon”
1. Immediately after doing something or something happens.
– Sangeeta got married immediately upon passing out the college.
– Upon declaration of her result, she rushed towards her mother.
2. Any event/program is going to happen soon.
– Diwali is almost upon us.
– His payment is going to be due upon us.
– Our exams will soon be upon us.
3. Used in place of “on” (more formal manner)
– My whole future depended upon your decision.
– They congratulated him upon his success.

8. “Upon”
4. B/w 2 nouns in which one has more preference.
– He has worked hard year upon year.
– We crossed further mile upon mile.
5. When something comes in movement.
– He fell upon the ground.
– We were put upon this earth for a purpose.

9. “In” v/s “At”
In- when we are sitting in place which is covered in all 4
direction.
eg. I am in the class.
At- to point exact locations.
eg. I am eating bhelpuri at Marine Drive.

10. Examples:
1. I am .... canteen .... the school.
2. The guard is standing .... the main gate.
3. She is sitting .... the car.
4. The buses are coming .... the Bus stop.
5. We met .... the coffee shop.
6. He is having his food .... his office.
7. They are celebrating his birthday .... the India Gate.

11. Time
Trick:
Clock- use “at”
Calendar
• Years and Months- use “in”
• Days and Dates- use “on”

12. Examples:
1. The class will be held ...... Monday.
2. The first Olympic Games held ...... 1924.
3. My teacher said, “I will see you ...... 3’o clock”.
4. I started to prepare for my exams ...... August.
5. The school will remain close ...... Friday.

13. Examples:
1. The class will be held on Monday.
2. The first Olympic Games held in 1924.
3. My teacher said, “I will see you at 3’o clock”.
4. I started to prepare for my exams in August.
5. The school will remain close on Friday.

14. “With”
1. Sensation and feelings
– My father is very happy with me.
– I am in love with her.
Exceptions:
• Rude - use “to”
• Polite- use “to”
• Kind- use “to”

15. “With”
2. Tools
– I wrote a letter with a pen.
– He killed him with a knife.
3. Possession
– I want a home with a garden.
– We want a life with happiness.
– I want to pass with good marks.
4. Agreement
– I agree with you.

16. “By”
1. To show method/means of doing work.
– I am talking by phone.
– Please, send this letter by post.
2. Travel
– He comes from Delhi by train.
– I go to school by bus.

17. “By”
3. Doer
– This presentation is made by me.
4. Next to/ Beside
– My school is situated by my house.
– He is standing by me.
5.Deadline
– You can submit your form by 31st Jan.
– I want this file by Monday.

18. “Until” v/s “By”
Until---> situation or event in which work is going on and on till
some fixed time.
– I will love you until my death.
– She worked until 5’o clock.
– You can sleep until morning.
– You can use my phone until 8’o clock.
By---> work is not happening at this moment but must complete before
some time.
– I want this work done by 10’o clock.
– I will return your money by Monday.

19. Summary
Preposition Use
On Surface
Device
Body Part
State
Onto With Movement
Fully aware (informal)
Upon Event just happened or going to happen
Formal “on”
B/w nouns– year upon year
With Movement
In v/s At In-closed space
At- exact location
Time Clock- “at”
mm/yyyy- “in” date/day- “on”
With Feelings
Tool
Possession
Agreement
By Method/means of doing work
Travel
Doer
Next to/beside
Until vs By Until- work going on till deadline
By- done before deadline

20. Practice Problems:
• He gave me a present ….. my birthday.
• A police patrol happened ….. a robbery in a bank
yesterday.
• You can keep my phone ….. this evening.
• Let’s plan a dinner tonight ….. my place.
• I am doing my homework ….. his laptop.
• He is very kind ….. me.

21. Practice Problems:
• He is …..my research.
• I hit the ball …..a bat.
• They are coming ….. evening flight.
• They are constantly looking ….. me.
• She is sitting ….. the library.

22. Practice Problems:
• I congratulated my colleague ….. his promotion.
• He threw the cake ….. my face.
• ….. his release, Davis went immediately to his father.
• ….. 2005, he shifted to Jaipur.
• Finish the work ….. early morning

23. Practice Problems:
• I do not agree ….. him.
• He is sitting ….. the Sofa.
• She won hearts …… her voice.
• I stepped ….. the carpet.
• She will reach Chennai ….. tomorrow.

24. Practice Problems:
• I am going to meet him ..... 5’o clock.
• Nikhil jumped ….. the bed.
• My brother is standing ….. my mom.
• My mother is angry ….. her.
• She came ….. 10th Dec’20.

25. Practice Problems:
• Barry had joined the army immediately ….. leaving
school.
• I travelled ….. Airplane.
• He fell ….. the garbage.
• Candles are kept ….. the dining table.
• I am very upset ….. my life.

26. Practice Problems:
• He gave me a present on my birthday.
• A police patrol happened upon a robbery in a bank
yesterday.
• You can keep my phone until this evening.
• Let’s plan a dinner tonight at my place.
• I am doing my homework on his laptop.
• He is very kind to me.

27. Practice Problems:
• He is onto my research.
• I hit the ball with a bat.
• They are coming by evening flight.
• They are constantly looking at me.
• She is sitting in the library.

28. Practice Problems:
• I congratulated my colleague upon his promotion.
• He threw the cake on my face.
• Upon his release, Davis went immediately to his father.
• In 2005, he shifted to Jaipur.
• Finish the work by early morning.

29. Practice Problems:
• I do not agree with him.
• He is sitting on the Sofa.
• She won hearts with her voice.
• I stepped onto the carpet.
• She will reach Chennai by tomorrow.

30. Practice Problems:
• I am going to meet him at 5’o clock.
• Nikhil jumped onto the bed.
• My brother is standing by my mom.
• My mother is angry with her.
• She came on 10th Dec’20.

31. Practice Problems:
• Barry had joined the army immediately upon leaving
school.
• I travelled by Airplane.
• He fell upon the garbage.
• Candles are kept on the dining table.
• I am very upset with my life.

32. “To”
1. Show direction of event
– Rakesh is going to London.
– She is giving money to him.
– We are heading to the entrance of the building.
2. As an “infinitive” (shows purpose)
– He wants to meet you.
– They come here to play.
– We earn to live.
3. To show limit or ending point or period
– The petrol prices rose to Rs. 80.
– We work 9 to 6, Monday to Saturday.

33. “To” v/s “Towards”
Jane is walking to the library. ---> the destination of the
journey is the library.
Sarah is walking towards the library---> means “in the
direction of the library". We are not describing the
destination. Maybe the destination is the library. But we are
not certain.

34. “From”
1. To show Origin
– Where are you from?
– The bus travels from Mumbai to Delhi.
– I am from Jaipur.
– This letter is from the principal.
2. To describe “Cause” of something
– He died from heart attack.
– I am suffering from fever.
– Even in 21st century people die from hunger.

35. Examples:
1. We are going .... the museum.
2. I’ve got the birthday surprise .... my friends.
3. We could have saved him .... heart attack.
4. They are not flying .... Singapore.
5. Please send this letter .... Aditya.

36. 1. We are going to/towards the museum.
2. I’ve got the birthday surprise from my friends.
3. We could have saved him from heart attack.
4. They are not flying to Singapore.
5. Please send this letter to Aditya.

37. “For”
1. Showing Countable duration of time.
– He has been learning English for two hours.
– I have been living in Delhi for five weeks.
– You have been talking on phone for 10 minutes.
2. Denotes who is intended to have or use something
– This is for you.
– My life is for my country.

38. “For”
3. In exchange of something.
– I will give you my phone for Rs. 10,000
4. Considered what can be expected from
somebody/something.
– That’s too much work for you.
– You are bad for a beginner.
– You are tall for your age.

39. “Since”
1. Show “definite time” or “point of time”
– He has been learning English since 2017.
– I have been living in Delhi since 2019.
2. To show reason.
– Since he was ill, he did not attend my birthday party.
– Since I was poor, I had to sacrifice my dreams.

40. Examples:
1. She has been walking .... 5 hours.
2. We have lived here .... 1985.
3. I bought this pen ….. my best friend.
4. It has been raining .... 3’o clock.
5. ….. I was busy, I was not able to attend your call.
6. I am suffering from fever .... midnight.
7. The children have been playing cricket .... 2 hours.
8. I have not met her .... last Tuesday.

41. 1. She has been walking for 5 hours.
2. We have lived here since 1985.
3. I bought this pen for my best friend.
4. It has been raining since 3’o clock.
5. Since I was busy, I was not able to attend your call.
6. I am suffering from fever since midnight.
7. The children have been playing cricket for 2 hours.
8. I have not met her since last Tuesday.

42. “Between” v/s “Among/Amongst”
Between 2 things
eg. Don’t try to come in between us.
Pillow is lying between two cushions.
Among/Amongst more than two things
eg. The pizza was shared among/amongst all.
I was among/amongst the top candidates who were selected

43. “Off ”
Leaving a surface to get separated from it.
• Rohan picked his laptop off his desk
• Maid is wiping the dust off the table
• Move the plate off the dining table
• Never get off the metro in a hurry.

44. “Beyond”
1. Very far, which is not visible
• What is beyond the sky?
• There is nothing visible beyond this point.
2. Beyond something that is abstract.
• This is something beyond science.
• The relationship with the mother is beyond all other things.
• This is beyond my imagination.

45. “During”
In a particular duration of time.
• It rained during the match.
• I was feeling hungry during my work.
• I was short of breath during the sprint.
• You should exercise during the morning
• Drink lots of water during summers.

46. “Ago” v/s “Back” v/s “Before” v/s “Earlier”
(Ago & Back) = period count back from present
• I met Rakesh 2 days ago(back).
• He called me 5 minutes ago(back).
• My brother was playing chess a long ago(back).

47. “Ago” v/s “Back” v/s “Before” v/s “Earlier”
(Before & Earlier) = period count back from past/future
• My salary was paid 10 days before (earlier than) yours.
• I had written email before (earlier than) she apologized.
• I had spoken with him just a minute before (earlier than) I went
to take a bath.

48. Example:
1. The train has left 10 minutes ….
2. The train had left 10 minutes …. you came.
3. I had come here a few years ….
4. He met me just 2 days ….
5. He had gone to school 2 months …. the exams started.
6. I have reached home just a while ….
7. He will meet me again …. 20th of next month.
8. A week …. , he had visited my house.
9. I will complete the HW …. the expected date.

49. Answer:
1. The train has left 10 minutes ago (back).
2. The train had left 10 minutes before (earlier than) you came.
3. I had come here a few years ago (back).
4. He met me just 2 days ago (back).
5. He had gone to school 2 months before (earlier than) the exams
started.
6. I have reached home just a while ago (back).
7. He will meet me again before (earlier than) 20th of next month.
8. A week ago (back) , he had visited my house.
9. I will complete the HW before (earlier than) the expected date.

50. Summary
Preposition Use
To Show direction of event (destination is fixed)
Infinitive (show purpose)
Limit OR ending point OR period
Towards Show direction ( destination not fixed)
From Origin
Cause
For Countable duration of time
Who is intended to have
Exchange
Expected from someone / something
Since “definite time” or “point of time”
Reason
Between vs Among/Amongst Between = 2 things
Among / Amongst = more than 2 things
Off Get separated from a surface
Beyond Very far (not visible)
For Abstract things
During In a particular duration of time
Ago / Back / Before / Earlier Ago & Back = from present
Before & Earlier = past / future

51. Practice Questions
• I am going ….. market.
• They arrived ….. the United States.
• He is going ….. Pramod’s house.
• You are too short ….. this job.
• I request you to grant me leave ….. I am feeling ill.
• Shreya is sitting ….. Siddharth & Mayank.

52. Practice Questions
• He is going ….. the zoo.
• He is ….. Bihar.
• Have you ever gone ….. those hills?
• He is suffering ….. a rare disease.
• I will sacrifice my life ….. my country.
• His mom was ….. a few people.

53. Practice Questions
• Nandini is coming ….. our home.
• He is playing outside ….. 2 hours.
• She was ….. the gathering.
• He jumped ….. the plane for paragliding.
• He is at my home ….. morning.

54. Practice Questions
• He is going ….. the North.
• I am coming ….. New York.
• Never get ….. the metro in a hurry.
• I am selling this pen ….. 10 rupees.
• There is nothing ….. happiness.
• We should get rid of the differences ….. us.

55. Answers:
• I am going to market.
• They arrived from the United States.
• He is going to/towards Pramod’s house.
• You are too short for this job.
• I request you to grant me leave since I am feeling ill.
• Shreya is sitting between Siddharth & Mayank.

56. Answers:
• He is going to/towards the zoo.
• He is from Bihar.
• Have you ever gone beyond those hills?
• He is suffering from a rare disease.
• I will sacrifice my life for my country.
• His mom was among/amongst a few people.

57. Answers:
• Nandini is coming to/towards our home.
• He is playing outside for 2 hours.
• She was among the gathering.
• He jumped off the plane for paragliding.
• He is at my home since morning.

58. Answers:
• He is going towards the North.
• I am coming from New York.
• Never get off the metro in a hurry.
• I am selling this pen for 10 rupees.
• There is nothing beyond happiness.
• We should get rid of the differences between/among us.

59. “Before”
Used with reference to “time” and “position”.
E.g.
You arrived in the office 30 minutes before time.
Your cousin was born before you came into this world.
Now, I am speaking before you.
Don’t get nervous before the audience.

60. “After”
Used with reference to “time” and “to chase / persuade”.
E.g.
I'll complete my homework after I come back from the park.
Don’t talk to me after this.
The dogs were after the boy when he threw stone at them.
Sarah was after her professor for getting some help regarding a project.

61. “Over”
1. Exactly higher position(no touch) OR Move from higher
position
– A beautiful bird is flying over the lake.
– With an umbrella over my head. I was able to cover myself from the Sun.
2. To cover
– I put my hands over my ears.
– He puts the blanket over his body.
3. To show number or amount.
– He won the election with over 2 million votes.
– Over 50% of the company shares are owned by the Govt.

62. “Above”
1. To show “higher level”(sense of comparison is there)
– The house is situated above the sea level.
2. Better than
– He performed above my expectation.
3. To show temperature
– The temperature of Jaipur is above 50o C in summers.
Similar for “below”

63. “Under” v/s “Beneath / Underneath”
Under  Not covered by anything completely
 A mouse is hiding under the table.
 My sister is sitting under the Banyan tree.
Beneath/Underneath  Under + Covered
 My laptop was beneath my notebook
 There is water, beneath the rocks.

64. “Out of ”
1. To go out / To leave a place
 You are getting out of your office.
 She has gone out of Mumbai.
2. Out of certain numbers
 There are only 7 students out of 40.
 How many items out of these did you like?

65. “Across”
1. From one side to other side
 There is a bridge across the river.
 I can swim across the English channel.
 We walked across the desert.
2. On the opposite side of
 There is a park across the road.
 My office is just across the road.

66. “Along” v/s “Alongside”
Along  With a person or thing
 I don’t want to go along with him.
 Take this mobile along with you.
Alongside  on same side/shore
 There is a chemist shop alongside the hospital.
 The car is parked alongside the house.

67. “Via”
1. Going through or stopping at a place on the way
 This bus will go to Lucknow via Saharanpur.
 We came to Mumbai via Nagpur.
2. Using a particular machine, system or person to send or
receive something
 You can send messages via wifi.
 You can send a letter via speed post.

68. “Than”
Used for Comparison
 She is better than me.
 I got more marks than you
 Giraffe is taller than a lion.

69. “Beside” v/s “Besides”
Beside  next to
Besides  in addition to
E.g.
The comb is beside the brush.
She doesn’t want anything besides this.

70. Frequently Misused Preposition
inside of / outside of The ‘of ’ is always unnecessary.
E.g.
Stay inside (“not” inside of) the house.
The man stayed outside (“not” outside of) the post
office.

71. Summary
Preposition Use
Before Time
Position
After Time
To chase / persuade
Over Exactly higher position (no touch)
Cover
Number / Amount
Above Show “higher level” (comparison)
Better than
Temperature
Under v/s Beneath/Underneath Under = not covered by anything completely
Beneath/Underneath = Under + covered
Out of To go out OR to leave a place
Out of certain numbers
Across One side to other side
On Opposite side of
Along v/s Alongside Along = with a person / thing
Alongside = on same side / shore
Via Going through or stopping at a place on the way
Using machine or person to send/receive
than Comparison
Beside v/s Besides Beside = next to
Besides= in addition to

72. Practice Questions
• There were ….. 50 people standing there.
• What is hidden ….. the surface of the water?
• Reports are coming ….. satellite.
• I am going to present my work ….. you.
• Knowledge is ….. all.
• Will you come ….. with us?

73. Practice Questions
• Put a hand ….. your mouth when you cough.
• I only remember 30 things ….. 90.
• Virat is better ….. him.
• There is a narrow street ….. the school.
• What options do you have ….. this?
• He has been here for ….. 2 years.

74. Practice Questions
• The police were ….. the thief.
• This book is ….. that book in looks.
• ….. planning the trip, she is also getting the tickets.
• This ball went ….. my head.
• I am not supposed to go ….. college.
• Garima was sitting ….. her mother.

75. Practice Questions
• My city is 2000 meter ….. the sea level.
• Would you come ….. your house?
• Would you like to have something to eat ….. this?
• Nothing is spicier ….. chilly.
• Put some cloth ….. this plate

76. Practice Questions
• She dare not speak this ….. me.
• We have a roof ….. our heads.
• He escaped from rain by staying ….. his umbrella.
• My father has denied me permission thrice, but I'm still …..
him.

77. Answers:
• There were over 50 people standing there.
• What is hidden beneath/underneath the surface of the water?
• Reports are coming via satellite.
• I am going to present my work before/after you.
• Knowledge is above all.
• Will you come along with us?

78. Answers:
• Put a hand over your mouth when you cough.
• I only remember 30 things out of 90.
• Virat is better than him.
• There is a narrow street beside the school.
• What options do you have besides this?
• He has been here for over 2 years.

79. Answers:
• The police were after the thief.
• This book is above that book in looks.
• Besides planning the trip, she is also getting the tickets.
• This ball went over my head.
• I am not supposed to go out of college.
• Garima was sitting beside her mother.

80. Answers:
• My city is 2000 meter above the sea level.
• Would you come out of your house?
• Would you have something to eat besides this?
• Nothing is spicier than chilly.
• Put some cloth over this plate

81. Answers:
• She dare not speak this before me.
• We have a roof over our heads.
• He escaped from rain by staying under his umbrella.
• My father has denied me permission thrice, but I'm still after
him.