This topic contains the Prepositions and their use.

1. Mudasir Sir’s English Planet
A lesson on English Grammar
Topic: Use of Prepositions
Presented By
Mr. Mudasir Amin
M.A (English), B.Ed., M.Ed.,
ITI(COPA), Pursuing Ph.D

2. Use of Prepositions
What is a preposition?
Preposition:- Preposition is a word or group
of words, such as in, on, from, to, out of, on
behalf of, used before a noun or a pronoun
to show place, position, time or method.
For Example:- at night, at breakfast, on the
table, in Delhi, on Monday, in his bag,
before me, among them.

3. Significance/Use of Prepositions
• At, In, On
1. ‘At’ is used with the names of small towns and
villages, while ‘In’ is used with the names of big cities
and countries; as,
He lives at shivpora in Mumbai.
The PM lives in Delhi in India.
2. ‘At’ is used for a point of time, while ‘In’ is used for
a period of time; as,
We shall leave at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.
They came at sunset.
She was born at Haridwar in 1983.
3. ‘On’ is used with particular dates and days; as,
She died on Monday, Tuesday, etc.
She died on March 18,2010.

4. continue
• In, Into
‘In’ denotes rest within, while ‘into’ denotes
motion inwards. Such as,
Brother is in the room.
We went into the room.
• On, Upon
‘On’ is used for a thing at rest, while ‘upon’
generally denotes motion; such as,
He was sitting on a chair. (denotes rest)
The crow sprang upon the table. (denotes
motion)

5. continue
• Between, Among
‘Between’ is used with two persons or things,
while ‘Among’ is used with more than two; as,
The two sisters quarreled between themselves.
Divide the sweets between the two children.
The five brother’s quarreled among themselves.
• Beside / Besides
‘Beside’ means ‘by the side’, while ‘Besides’
means ‘in addition’; as,
She came and sat beside her mother.
Besides money he wants furniture.

6. continue
• By, With
‘By’ is used after verbs in the passive voice to express the
agent or doer, while ‘with’ denotes the instrument with
which the action is done; as,
Deer was killed by king with an arrow.
• Since, for, From
‘Since’ is used for a point of time, while ‘for’ is used for a
period of time.
Both ‘since’ and ‘for’ are preceded by a verb in the perfect
tense; as
She has not seen me since last week. (Point of time)
She has been ill for two weeks. (period of time)
‘From’ is used for a point of time, but can be preceded by a
verb in any tense; as We have to work from morning till
evening to earn our living. (present tense)
We stayed at Delhi from 10th Feb. to 20th Feb. (Past tense)
I will work regularly from tomorrow. (Future tense)

7. continue
• In Within, Before (When used for time)
‘In’ denotes at the end of a period of time;
e.g. I will return in a month. (at the expiry of a month)
‘Within’ denotes before the expiry of a period of time;
e.g., I will see you again within a month. (before the
expiry of a month)
‘Before’ is used for a point of time; as,
I will do it before the end of this month.(before a fixed
time)
• By, Till
‘By’ means ‘not later than’, while ‘till’ means ‘upto’;
e.g., The exam will be over by 2 o’clock.
We shall stay at our campus till Sunday next.

8. continue
• After, In (When they refer to time)
‘After’ denotes at the end of a period of time in
the past. e. g., He returned after a week past.
(when the week was over)
‘In’ denotes at the end of a period of time in the
future; as, He will return in a week. (future=
when the week is over)
• After, Behind
‘After’ generally refers to ‘time’. While ‘Behind’
refers to place; as,
The boy came after 10 o’clock and stood behind
school.
Note: They ran after the thief. (refers to position
or place)

9. Check Yourself
• Use Prepositions among the following blanks;
1. The boy was absent ______ school.
2. His company is progressing ________ leaps &
bounds.
3. You don’t know how to deal _______ others.
4. Is she preparing _______ the test.
5. We put our books ______ our bags.
6. We can’t rely _________ him.
7. He is working _____ Durpora ____ Srinagar.
8. My friend lives _____ Hamirpur _____ Goa.
9. Joe Biden lives _____ New York _____ USA.
10.The deer was killed _____ Hunter ______ Knife.