Preposition in English Grammar with Examples [With PDF]

This is a complete guide on Preposition in English Grammar.

Definition of Preposition:

A preposition is a Part of Speech which is placed before a noun or a pronoun to indicate a direction, method, place, source, etc. In other words, to show the relation of that noun or pronoun with any other word of the sentence.

For example:

• It may join noun to a verb, e.g.: She slipped off the stairs.
• Similarly join one noun to another, e.g.: Joyee was in the kitchen.
• Or join noun to an adjective, e.g.: We are proud of our country.

Types of Prepositions:

In general, preposition are five types, and those are:

1. Simple– in, on, out, for, from.
2. Double– into, within, without, onto, upon.
3. Disguised– For example, it is 2 o’ clock now.
4. Special – We know ‘but’ is used as a conjunction, when ‘but’ means ‘except’ then it is called a special type. For example, he is poor but honest. Or None but a brave man can do this.
5. Appropriate– Sourav was accompanied by Ram. If any sentence is in active voice then do not add any preposition. For example, Ram accompanied by Sourav (omit ‘by’ here).

However prepositions are also categorized in the following ways:

1. Preposition of Time (At, in, on, by, off, from, away, since, for, towards).
2. Preposition of Place (At, from, within, without, inside, outside, in front of, on top of, beyond, between).
3. Preposition of Possession (By, of, with).
4. Prepositions of direction motion (To, at, from, round, across, against).
5. Prepositions of cause, reason, and purpose (Of, for, with).
6. Preposition of Agent, Manner or Method (In, on, for, by with, though).

Some Important Points to Remember about Preposition:

1. When verbs are placed after a preposition, they should be in gerund [External Link] form except they are used in an infinitive form, for example, she insisted on going to London.
2. A clause also an object to a preposition. For example, pay attention to what your teacher said.
3. Adverb of place and time can also be the object of a preposition. For example, pay attention to what your teachers say.
4. The usages of a noun or pronoun in a preposition in the accusative case [You can Learn more about Accusative case here (External Links)] For example, the phone in on the table. Here ‘table’ use in the accusative case.
5. It sometimes may have one or more than one object, for example, I gave money to Sam and her sister.
6. It may govern other parts of speech used as a noun, for example, from here, for good, in short, about to go, before now.
7. And also it may govern clauses and phrases as well, like- I shall go to where you have come from.

Examples of Prepositions:

OF

1. Crying out of fear.
2. A house for sale.
3. To take for granted.
4. For god’s sake, help me.
5. For all his wealth he is unhappy.
6. To sell a thing at three for a rupee.
7. Good for health.
8. Many men working for the company.
9. Time for going out.
10. Respect for the elders.
11. He cares for nothing.
12. A prize for Physics.
13. Silent for shame.
14. To flee for life.
15. Wish for (considering that he is) a boy.
16. I speak for (on behalf of) my class.
17. He left for home.
18. Ready for(against) emergencies.
19. Train for Bangalore.
20. Bought a car for Rs 3 lakh.
21. Change it for another.
22. Look for something.
23. Send for a doctor.
24. They are all for helping the needy.
25. Big for his age.
26. For five weeks.
27. Passengers for Jhargram.
28. Get ready for school.
29. Go for a walk.
30. Read for pleasure.
31. Hope for the best.
32. Ask for money.
33. A taste for music.
34. Have a liking for her.
35. Unfit for the post.
36. Ruined for life.
37. A cheque for (not, of) Rs 5000.00.
38. Hope for the best.
39. I ask for the money.
40. He left for home.

AT

1. I did not expect such treatment at your home.
2. John studied at this university.
3. The countries are at war or at peace.
4. The examination is at hand.
5. At 8 o’clock.
6. At dawn.
7. At bed-time.
8. At first.
9. At last.
10. At first sight, at noon.
11. At night (but not at day), at home
12. At school.
13. At the door.
14. At play.
15. At work.
16. At dinner.
17. At Ease.
18. At sea.
19. He studied at this university.
20. At a distance.
21. At short notice.
22. At liberty.
23. I did not expect such treatment at your hand.
24. Shouted at the boys.
25. Look at me.
26. Very good at cricket.
27. At full speed.
28. You will hear and the latest by Saturday.
29. At all places.
30. To sit at (not under).
31. The feet.
32. At present (I am busy at present).
33. At any moment.
34. To sale a thing at three for a rupee.
35. At war.
36. At any time.
37. At peace.
38. At the office.
39. At the age of 60.
40. I shall see you at Diwali at his house.
41. At hand.
42. One at a time.
43. At things.
44. At the same time.
45. At school.
46. At the beginning.
47. At the meeting.
48. Good at mathematics.
49. At the third attempt.
50. At regular intervals.
51. At 25.

BY

1. To travel by boat or rail or car.
2. By day (but in the day).
3. By or at night (but in the night).
4. A machine is driven by steam or petrol or electricity.
5. To be destroyed by fire or earthquake.
6. To know one by name or sight (I know him by name, I know him by sight).
7. To teach by example.
8. To life by coaching, teaching, etc.
9. Made by machinery.
10. By next Sunday.
11. By heart.
12. By chance.
13. To send a letter by post or hand.
14. To inform a personal letter or telegram or messenger.
15. To sell things by the kilogram are the meter or the dozen (fish is sold here by the kilogram.)
16. Cloth is sold by the meter.
17. Eggs are sold by the dozen
18. To pay by cheque (but in cash or notes).
19. Die by poison or accident.
20. Done by hand.
21. By word of mouth.
22. Older by five months.
23. It is 10.30 by (not in) my watch.
24. By this time.
25. Die by thousands.
26. Struck by lightning.
27. Room ten feet by fifteen.
28. Live by the river.
29. Sit by me.
30. I did this work all by myself.
31. It is 10.30 by my watch.
32. I did this work all by myself.
33. I know him by his name.

IN

1. In India.
2. In 1986.
3. In February.
4. To be in a place.
5. In Ruins.
6. To be in the dark.
7. In the sun.
8. To be in danger.
9. In haste.
10. In a difficulty.
11. In arms.
12. To be in power.
13. In office.
14. In truth.
15. To be in trouble.
16. Ten or twelve in number.
17. In a whisper.
18. A slope of one in ten.
19. In a loud voice.
20. In great numbers.
21. Rich in minerals.
22. Lying in bed.
23. Train running in time.
24. A lecturer/ reader in (not, on or off) chemistry.
25. He is a lecturer in mathematics
26. The train is running in time.
27. Take the work in hand.

OF

1. Speak of him.
2. Do not lose sight of the fact.
3. Beg a thing of him.
4. Made of wood.
5. A packet of cigarettes.
6. He comes of a good family.
7. Born of rich parents.
8. Diet of cholera.
9. The whole of India.
10. The city of Kolkata.
11. It was good of you to help me.
12. Pressure of English.
13. Do not lose sight of the fact.
14. He comes of (not from) a good family.
15. Professor of English.

ON

1. I met him on the road.
2. He is on the way to the office.
3. I will be at home on Christmas Day.
4. I saw the news on T.V.
5. On Sunday.
6. On 1 set may.
7. On Christmas day.
8. On new year.
9. To lie on one’s bed.
10. To be on the way.
11. A speech on the subject.
12. Come on holiday.
13. A picture on the wall.
14. Write on this paper.
15. A house on fire.
16. To play on a musical instrument.
17. Live on rice.
18. On a small income.
19. Live on capital invested.
20. He is on (not in) that committee
21. Kolkata is on the Hooghly.
22. A house on the main road.
23. A picture on the wall.
24. A ring on his finger.
25. Shops on both side.

UNDER

1. Underwater or a tree.
2. To be under another.
3. Under trial.
4. Under sentence.
5. A post under government.
6. Under repair.
7. To be under arms.
8. Under consideration.
9. Under 100.
10. About ten percent of the people there under arms.
11. Your application is under Consideration.

TO

1. Get to bed.
2. I go to bed at 10 p.m.
3. Add this to that
4. Sweet to taste.
5. They fought to the last man.
6. He did it to his cost.
7. Sing to the heart.
8. Go to room.
9. He did it to his cost.
10. Six minutes to five.
11. Go to room.
12. He did it to his cost.
13. Six minutes to five.

A Must Watch Video on Preposition:

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References [External Links]:

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• Six Preposition Rules | Grammar | EnglishClub
• Mastering Grammar Prepositions – Academic English Online