1. The document discusses the proper usage of several English prepositions including: since and for to indicate time, beside and besides to differentiate location and addition, between and among for comparisons of two or more items, by and with to denote the doer or instrument of an action, on, in and at for times and dates, in and into to show position or motion, and on and at to specify location versus specific time. 2. Common preposition mistakes are identified such as using since to refer to a duration of time rather than a point in time. 3. Guidelines are provided for choosing the correct preposition in examples such as: by the side of versus in addition to, two items versus more than

1. Prepositions

2. 1. Since and For
Since means ‘from a point of time in the past’. It should be used with the present
perfect tense.
He has been ill since last week.
(He fell ill two weeks ago and has been ill ever since. He is still ill.)
It has been raining continuously since yesterday morning.
(It is still raining.)
Don’t use the simple present or present continuous tense with since. It is wrong to say
‘He is ill since last week’ or ‘It is raining since yesterday morning’.
For is used to refer to a period of time. It shows duration.
He has been ill for two weeks.
It has been raining for two days.
She has been sleeping for 10 hours.
Many students make the mistake of using since when referring to a period of time.
He has been working for two hours. OR He has been working since 11 am.
(NOT He has been working since two hours.)
We have been living here for ten years. OR we have been living here since 1999.
(NOT We have been living here since ten years.)

3. 2.Beside and Besides
Students often get confused about the meaning and use of these two words.
Note that beside means ‘by the side of’ and besides means ‘in addition to’.
She sat beside him.
(She sat by his side.)
Besides being a good writer, he is an excellent orator.
(In addition to being a good writer, he is an excellent orator.)

4. 3.Between and Among
Between is used when the reference is to two people or things.
She stood between Alice and Peter.
You have to choose between these two options.
Among is used when the reference is to more than
two people or things.
The British were able to conquer India because
Indian princes quarreled among themselves.
She sat among the children.

5. 4.By and With
Use by when you want to refer to the doer of an action. Use with when you
want to refer to the instrument with which the action was performed.
The spider was killed by John.
(John is the doer. He killed the spider.)
The spider was killed with a stone.
(Stone is the instrument with which the spider was killed.)
The spider was killed by John with a stone.

6. 5.On, In and At
Use At with clock times.
I will meet you at 4 pm.
We had a party at 11 am.
Use on with days of the week and dates.
We met on a Monday.
The meeting is on the 21st of this month.
Use in with morning, evening, afternoon, years, months and seasons.
She was born in October.
The postman brought this letter in the morning.
We visited Kashmir in the summer.
We bought this house in 2002.
Note that we use at with night.

7. 6. In and Into
BASIS FOR
COMPARISON
IN INTO
Meaning 'In' is used when something is
within, one thing contains
another.
When someone or something
comes from outside to the inside,
we use the word 'into'.
Talks about Position Destination
Used When someone or something
is in rest.
When someone or something is
in motion.
Example I am living in Dubai. Milk is converted into curd.
In 1947, India got
independence.
The child fell into the pothole.
He works in Microsoft. Nine into nine goes eighty one.

8. 7. On and At
On vs At
on is used to talk about days and dates. at is used to talk about specific times.
Location
Refers to a position on any surface, or a
position along a road or river or by the
sea or by a lake.
Her walletis on the table.
Refers to a position or location which is
seen as a point, locations at companies,
workplaces, and refer to an address.
He was sitting at my desk.
Specificity
On indicates a more specific location
and time in comparison to the
preposition in.
At indicates a more specific time and
location than on.

10. The girl is afraid of the dog. The girl is afraid from the dog.
She is benefited by the change. She is benefited from the change.
Many people complain of the heat. Many people complain for the heat.
I congratulate you on your success. I congratulate you for your success.
The man was cured of his illness. The man was cured from his illness.
Many people have died of COVID-19. Many people have died from COVID-19.
I was disappointed in his work. I was disappointed at his work.
Misused Forms

11. My brother is good at mathematics. My brother is good in mathematics.
He was found guilty of murder. He was found guilty from murder.
They are leaving for England soon. They are leaving to England soon.
The teacher often sits at the desk. The teacher often sits on the desk.
I spent a lot of time on my stamps. I spent a lot of time for my stamps.
He took his brother by the hand. He took his brother from the hand.
They were warned of the danger. They were warned about the danger.