Prepositions

In English Grammar, a Preposition is one of the most important Parts of Speech. Preposition means "to place before". Prepositions are the trickiest and most difficult small words to understand. In English comprehension tests, students are asked for the correct use of prepositions in competitive examinations or advanced-level English tests. The word "preposition" is a combination of two words "pre" and "position". The prefix "pre" has come from the Latin "prae" which means before or physically in front of. Here the word "position" means place or location.

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between two nouns or pronouns. For example, in the sentence "I sat on the chair," the preposition "on" shows the relationship between "I" and "chair." A noun or pronoun that is connected to a preposition is called an object of the preposition. In this sentence, "chair" is the object of the preposition "on."

There are several different types of prepositions. Some prepositions show the time, place, or manner in which an action takes place. For example, "at," "on," and "in" are all prepositions that show the time when something happens. Other prepositions show location. Examples include "behind," "over," and "under." Still, other prepositions show the direction of action or where it is directed. Examples include "toward," "away from," and "in front of."

Prepositions are usually placed directly in front of the noun or pronoun they modify. For example, the preposition "on" is used to show location, so it would be placed directly in front of a noun that represents a location. The sentence, "I put my books on the table," uses the preposition "on" to show where I put my books.

Some Examples of Prepositions

Some of the common prepositions are at, by, with, on, in, to, for, of, off, from, though, up, till, over, under, after, before, near, around, into, between, among, behind, beneath, across, beside, above, through, beyond, about, against, along, because, below, close to, down, during, except, inside, instead of, like, on top of, onto, out of, outside, past, since, toward, until, within, without, amid, amidst, as, aside from, despite, excluding, following, minus, next to, opposite, per, regarding, throughout, towards, underneath, unlike, upon, versus, via, worth, etc.

Definition of Preposition

Different grammarians have defined prepositions in various ways but the major function of a preposition can be defined as:

Prepositions are small words that make the position of different things, especially nouns, clear in a sentence.

Let's make it more clear with the help of some examples.

Where is Mike?

He is in the room.

He is at school.

He is walking in the street.

The cat is under the bed.

The cat is on the wall.

In the above sentences, the position of the noun "Mike" and the noun "cat" is made clear with the help of prepositions but if we remove the prepositions "in" and "on", and think of the sentences, "He is the room", and "The cat is the wall", these make no sense.

He always washes his hands before the meal.

The court declared him innocent in 2005.

Leaves fall in Autumn.

He wakes up early in the morning.

Breakfast is served at seven o'clock.

What does it mean when we say that prepositions are the trickiest and most difficult words to understand? It means they are used with numerous words in numerous situations, and every time they function according to the situation. So, all the colors in the English Language are due to these colorful small word prepositions.

Usage of prepositions

The usage of prepositions is neither simple nor is there any formula for it. Prepositions are many and every preposition has its own function and meaning. Then a question arises. How can we understand the use of these tricky minor words?

The books are on/beside/under the table.

The sentence "The books are on the table", seems to be more natural than the sentences with the preposition "beside" and "under". Because the sentences, "The books are beside the table", and "The books are under the table" do not appear to be as natural as the sentence "The books are on the table" does. Thus, our common sense can help us a lot with the correct use of prepositions. 

Some prepositions are used to talk about time

We can better understand prepositions with the help of our feelings. We can feel which preposition fits naturally in certain situations. Therefore, the preposition we feel is natural should be used in the sentence. It means our feelings help us a lot in the use of prepositions.

Here we will discuss some of the most common prepositions. We will learn about their different usages. You should study all these prepositions and you will understand when and where to use them. So, let's begin.

The preposition "by" is a grammatical word that expresses a spatial relationship, and shows something or somebody is close or beside somebody or something else. The preposition "by" is used for aside, at hand, away, beyond, close, handy, in reach, over, past, or through. The preposition "by" has so many usages and we are going to cover most of them in today's blog.  

The preposition "by"

• The preposition "by" is used for the movement past somebody or something, sometimes containing a short pause. For example: She ran by her school building. The waiter walked by, pouring us some more tea.
• The preposition "by" is used for the movement along or next to something. For example, She is walking along the river.
• The preposition "by" shows a movement that is passing through something. For example, she enters the home by the back door.
• The preposition "by" is used to show something required or happening before a specific time. For example, the Booking of the marriage is required by Monday.
• The preposition "by" shows a specific time during which something happens. For example: She is teaching at the school by day.
• The preposition "by" measures time, weight, or volume. For example, Hamid sold scrapes by weight.
• The preposition "by" is used in Mathematics to show factors or division in multiplication or division. For example, 45 divided by 5.
• The preposition "by" is used for the measurement of dimensions to express area or volume. For example, 4 feet by 4.
• The preposition "by" is used for the measurement of the difference in amount to show an increase, decrease, or difference. For example, Tax rates decreased by 2 percent.
• The preposition "by" also shows direction. For example, South by Southeast.
• The preposition "by" is used to show in amounts or groups. For example: The luggage was brought by the truckload.
• The preposition "by" is also used to indicate the sequence, progression or deterioration of something. For example: They will tell the story one by one. His health improves day by day.
• The preposition "by" also indicates cause following a passive verb. For example: She was hit by a car.
• The preposition "by" is used for a creator, author, or artist. For example: Othello is written by William Shakespeare.
• The preposition "by" is used to show the mode, method, or action through which something happens or is done. For example: She travels by bus daily. She promotes her business by advertising.
• The preposition "by" is used to indicate means. For example: She attacked more tourists by providing lucrative offers.
• The preposition "by" is used for a specific manner of doing something. For example: Used by permission of the boss.
• The preposition "by" indicates a specific or unchanging attribute or function. For example: A professor by profession and a leader by nature.
• The preposition "by" also sometimes means in compliance. For example: She can sell this house by law.
• The preposition "by" is used to show something holy when someone makes a solemn oath or promise. For example: By all that is sacred, I promise to help the destitute.
• The preposition "by" is used for safekeeping something for use later. For example: While spending, we should save some money by for hard times.

Numerous articles have been written about different types of prepositions, parts of speech, common errors in the English language, and much more. Therefore, you must visit the English Grammar and English Language tags to learn a lot to make your English better and more fluent.

Prepositions are used to tell about different words like nouns, pronouns, or adjectives. They emphasize what the noun, pronoun, or adjective refers to or describes. You don't always have to use a preposition when you're writing in English. However, when you're talking about elements that relate to the "to" or "to be" construction, you do have to use a preposition. The preposition "to" is one of the most important and commonly used prepositions in the English Language. It has different usages. If we want to know where and when we can use the preposition "to", then we must study its diverse usage it. Also remember that the spelling of to, too, and two are different but they have the same pronunciation. Let's go through some of the most common usages of the preposition "to" and see what they mean.

When to use the preposition "to"

Here we are going to discuss sixteen occasions where the preposition "to" is used. Each occasion will be explained with the help of suitable examples, making it abundantly clear and simple for you to know and get it easily. Also, remember to practice and make as many sentences as you can. This will make your mind remember all the information about the preposition "to" forever. 

1. The preposition "to" is used to indicate the movement of the approach. For example, "He is coming to London".

2. The preposition "to" is used to show direction. For example, "Mike always goes to the east of the park located in the center of the city".

3. The preposition "to" is used to show the last or highest point. For example, "From first to last", and "Faithful to the end".

4. The preposition "to" is used before the base form of a verb to make an infinitive of that verb. For example, "She wishes to pass the competitive examination this year with distinction".

5. The preposition "to" is used with the base form of a verb to indicate the intention or purpose of an action. For example, "He is studying hard to pass the exam".

6. The preposition "to" is used to indicate until or the final point in the direction of time. For example, "A quarter past six in the evening today", "She will be celebrating her wedding ceremony from Sunday morning to Monday evening".

7. The preposition "to" is used with a direct object. For example, "Give to me".

8. The preposition "to" is used to indicate comparison, ratio, or reference. For example, "His content is inferior to mine", "When she is relaxed, she produces a quality work which is unmatched to non", and "Western Club won the match against the Valiants by three to one".

9. The preposition "to" may be used as a substitute for the infinitive. For example, "They didn't want to swim but we had to", and "She met her in the hotel on dinner bed but I didn't wish to".

10. The preposition "to" is used after the adjective to indicate its application. For example, "I was nice to him", and "He was cruel to her".

11. The preposition "to" is used to indicate destination. For example, "She is running to the bus stop for catching it".

12. The preposition "to" indicates position. For example, "The wall clock is hanging next to the light".

13. The preposition "to" indicates a recipient. For example, "Adela was very happy while giving the book to one of the best students, John".

14. The preposition "to" is used to indicate the direction of feelings. For example, "She wanted to be grateful to me for the gift I gave her on the eve of her birthday".

15. The preposition "to" is used to indicate the range. For example, "The experts have studied extensively to know everything from pollution to pesticides".

16. The preposition "to" is used to show simultaneity (two things are happening at the same time). For example, "She woke up to the sound of music". 

A preposition is a word that is used before a noun or pronoun to show its position or relation clearly in a sentence. There are different kinds of prepositions in English Grammar, and every preposition has its specific usage. They are very tricky and need super close attention to be used correctly. The correct use of prepositions is tested in every competitive examination. Therefore, it is very important to know about each usage of a preposition for its correct use. It confuses in most situations, and one can't decide which preposition to use. 

Some of the most difficult English Grammar problems have to do with using "from" incorrectly. There are many common errors while using "from" incorrectly in the English Language, and they make the English language system very hard to understand.

The preposition "from" is a technical term that can be used for a number of things. This article will attempt to explain the various uses of the preposition "from".

The preposition "From"

The preposition "from" has different usage according to the occasion. Here, thirteen of its important common usages will be discussed. Each occasion is made simple and clear with the help of an example using the preposition "from". Making your own sentences using the preposition "from" is also recommended because it will tremendously help you to clear all your confusion relating to its uses on different occasions. Now it is time to go through different uses of the preposition "from". So, let's start.

1. The preposition "from" is used to show the movement of departure or starting point. For example, "The kids are flying from the United States of America".

2. The preposition "from" is used to indicate the point from which something is measured. For example, "My village is located ten kilometers from the border".

3. The preposition "from" is used to show the source or provenance. For example, "These are questions from Shakespeare", This wine comes from France".

4. The preposition" from" is used to talk about origin or nationality. For example, "She is from Pakistan" and "They have come from London to witness the situation themselves".

5. The preposition "from" is used to show the sender. For example, "A Letter from the Lawyer" and "A birthday gift from my uncle".

6. The preposition "from" is used to indicate the material used in the process of manufacturing. For example, "A lot of countries in the world grow grapes because most of the wines are made from grapes".

7. The preposition "from" shows cause or reason. For example, "He fainted from blood pressure in the office today".

8. The preposition "from" indicates motive. For example, "She does hard work from the sense of duty".

9. The preposition "from" also indicates distance. For example, "We were in a hurry in the morning because we were still 150 kilometers away from the school of my daughter".

10. The preposition "from" is used to indicate elimination. For example, "His causal attitude was the main reason for his removal from the job".

11. The preposition "from" is used to show prevention. For example, "Regular treatment saved Bob from death".

12. For indicating comparison, the preposition "from" is used. For example, "She looks taller from him in the photo".

13. The preposition "from" is used to show separation, exclusion, or differentiation. For example, "An umbrella protects us from the sun".

The preposition "at" is among the most commonly used prepositions in the English Language. It has many uses. To use it correctly, one has to know all its usages, how and when we can use the preposition "at". Otherwise, it becomes extremely difficult to use it correctly according to the situation as one becomes confused about which preposition should be used. More than one preposition seems fit to be used in the sentence, but actually, only one among them is the correct one. Other mislead. So, in this blog, we will discuss some of the important usages of the preposition "at". Please don't hesitate if you find something wrong or want to add some more information about the preposition "at".

Usages of the preposition "at"

1. The preposition "at" is used in the prepositional phrases of location. It is used with the word "home", "school", "church", "college", "work", "hospital," etc, as in the following sentences:-

        a.    They are at work.

        b.    Tom is working at the hospital.

        c.    Adela Logan is a teacher at a high school.

        d.    Mike is at home or Mike is home.

        The preposition "at" is optional with the word "home".

2. The preposition "at" is used to indicate the time as in the following sentences:-

        a.    I will meet you at nine o'clock.

        b.    It is too hot at noon.

3. The preposition "at" is used to indicate activity or occupation as in the following sentence:-

        a.    He is at work.

4. The preposition "at" is used for something in or near the general vicinity of a particular place. Examples are below:-

        a.    Caesar was at Rome.

        b.    Mike was at the corner of Sixth and Seventh Street.

        c.    She is at John's home.

5. The preposition "at" is used to show direction. Look at the example:-

        a.    He threw the ball at him.

6. The preposition "at" is used to indicate cost or price. Examples are:-

        a.    4 mangoes at 2$ each.

        b.    at the price of, or at peace.

7. The preposition "at" is used to show "in a state of" confusion, dispute, or disagreement, as in the following examples:-

        a.    Afghanistan was at the mercy of the occupying forces.

        b.    She was at sixes and sevens with him.

8. The preposition "at" is used to indicate a position on a scale or in a series as in the following examples:-

        a.    Buy at 100.

        b.    Bull finished the round at the ninth.

9. The preposition "at" is used to show cause. Look at the following examples:-

        a.    She was angry at the noise.

        b.    They are laughing at a joke.

        c.    He was mad at his comments.

10. The preposition "at" is used to indicate means, method, or manner as in the following example:-

        a.    He set off at the run.

11. The preposition "at" is used to indicate frequency or rate. Look at the following examples.

        a.    He is driving at the rate of 65 miles per hour.

        b.    His business is growing at the rate of 3% a year.

12. The preposition "at" is for skills (including activities) or areas of knowledge. Examples are below:-

        a.    She is bad at chemistry.

         b.    They are good at playing cricket.

Prepositions are small words used to make meaningful sentences. A sentence without a proposition doesn't make any sense or doesn't give meaning. Therefore, these small words are essential ingredients of any sentence, even in the phrasal expression where we see mostly prepositions used.

The preposition "in" is among the most frequently used prepositions in the English Language as it is used in day-to-day conversations. It is used in prepositional phrases, especially the prepositional phrases of locations.

We are going to discuss and explain the preposition "in" in detail in today's blog. We use the preposition "in" in different situations. So, to know the correct usage of the preposition "in", we must understand how the preposition "in" is used. 

Some of the main usages of the preposition "in"

1. It is used with the Definite Article "The", like "He is in the classroom".

2. It is used for rooms or other sections of the home, school, hospital, etc., as "He is in the living room".

3. It is always used for volumes such as "in the box" and "in the jug".

4. The preposition "in" is used to indicate the position or location of something or someone as in the following examples:-

        a.    She is swimming in the river.

        b.    Tom is playing in the street despite the rain.

        c.    The highest mountain in the world is in Nepal.

        d.    The deepest ocean in the world.

5. The preposition "in" is used to show directions. Examples are given below:-

        a.    It looks like he has gone in this direction.

        b.    No, I think he has gone in that direction.

        c.    We should go in all directions.

6. The preposition "in" is often replaced by the double preposition "into" to show the change or direction of activity. Look at the following examples:-

        a.    He put his hand into Adela's pocket.

        b.    He dips his pen into the ink pot.

7. The preposition "in" is used to indicate time. Look at the following examples:-

        a.    The world has changed a lot in the twentieth century.

        b.    My friend will come to meet me in the spring.

        c.    They will build their house in the summer.

        d.    The meeting will be held at 12 O'clock.

8. The preposition "in" is used to indicate space of time. Let's understand with the help of examples:-

        a.    He will complete his work in a few days.

        b.    I will be there in a few minutes.

        c.    It took years to send a mission to Mars.

9. The preposition "in" is used to indicate inclusion as in the following examples:-

        a.    There are seven days in a week and thirty days in a month.

        b.    We have 24 hours a day.

10. The preposition "in" is also used to indicate dress, etc. Look at the examples:-

        a.    Bob looks smart in the dark wedding suit.

        b.    The soldiers are marching in uniform.

        c.    The students are coming to school in uniform.

11. The preposition "in" is used to indicate circumstances. Examples are:-

        a.    The children are playing in the rain.

        b.    Mike is walking out in the sunshine.

        c.    Thousands of families were stranded in their cars in the snowstorm in                        Murree.

12. The preposition "in" is used to indicate "state" or "condition". Look at the examples:-

        a.    The children stand in good order.

        b.    Mike lives in a comfortable house.

        c.    She is in a luxurious room.

        d.    She is in love.

        e.    He is in a hurry.

        f.    John can't work as he is in poor health.

13. The preposition "in" is used to indicate forms, shapes, and arrangements. Examples are:-

        a.    "Paradise Lost" is written in twelve volumes.

        b.    Dictionaries are written in alphabetical order.

14. The preposition "in" is used to indicate occupation or activity. Look at the examples:-

        a.    My elder son is in the Army.

        b.   Joe is a very well-known person in society.

Some phrases of the preposition "in"

1. "Day in day out" is a prepositional phrase that means "day after day"

2. "week in week out" is a prepositional phrase that means "week after week".

3. "The ins and outs" is a prepositional phrase that means "all the details of something".

"Between" and "Among" are two very well-known prepositions. They are commonly used prepositions. At the basic level, it is very easy to use them correctly, but at the advanced level, it becomes very tricky. One gets confused about which one is to use and which one is not to use. Both prepositions have many, many usages. "Among" is generally used with the Abstract Noun while "amongst" may be used with either Abstract or Concrete Noun as among amongst the ideas. The preposition "between" is used when the choice lies between two things or persons, and the preposition "among" is used when it lies between more than two but the preposition "between" is used with even more than two when there is an idea of reciprocal action in which all the parties are acting as a treaty between five powers. To use each one correctly, we have to understand their different usages. So, in this blog, we are going to learn different usages of the prepositions "between" and "among".

The preposition "between"

1. The preposition "between" is used when the choice lies between two persons or things, and the preposition "among" is used when it lies between more than two persons or things when there is an idea of reciprocal (mutual) action in which all the parties are active. Look at the following examples:-

    a.    She was standing between the two other actresses.

       b.    A treaty between ten powers of the world.

       c.    A treaty between ten powers of the world.

       d.    A river flows between its banks.

2. The preposition "between" is used to indicate the position in space or time. Look at the examples:-

        a.    There are ten stations between London and Oxford in England.

        b.    He will pay his debt between now and 2025.

        c.    He will pay his debt between now and 2025.

3. The preposition "between" is normally used to indicate only two limits, but when the boundaries are concerned, the number may be more than two. Then the preposition "between" or "among" is the correct one to use. Look at the following example:-

        a.    The beautiful and stunning Switzerland lies between Austria, Italy, France,                  and Germany.

4. The preposition "between is used to indicate the position in time. Look at the examples:-

        a.    My dear friend, please come between ten o'clock and one o'clock.

        d.    She lived in Germany between the two World Wars.

5. The preposition "between" is used to indicate limits of distance or quantity. Look at the examples:-

        a.    My village lies between five and six kilometers from the park.

        b.    This Crane can lift a weight of between a hundred and two hundred tons.

        c.    Temperature between freezing and boiling points.

6. The preposition "between" is also used to show sharing. Look at the following example:-

        a.    Share the money between you and John.

7. The preposition "between" is used to indicate a connection or relationship. Look at the example:-

        a.    The relationship between teacher and students is remarkable.

8. The preposition "between" is used to show the combination. Look at the example:-

        a.    The first five players scored 250 runs between them.

The preposition "among"

1. The preposition "among" is used to show position, meaning in the middle, surrounded by more than two. The noun or pronoun after the preposition "among" must be in the plural form. Look at the following examples:-

        a.    I always wish to live in the village among the hills.

        b.    He is among my best friends

        c.    He is among my best friends.

2. The preposition "among" is used to indicate inclusion, association, and connection. For example:-

        a.    Aleena was happy to be among friends again.

3. The preposition "among" is used to show sharing and joint activity by more than two persons. Look at the following examples:-

        a.    The workers quarreled among themselves.

        b.    The tourists had less than thirty pounds among them.

        c.    The tourists had less than thirty pounds among them.