Competition English Notes
English Introduction
Prepositions: Detailed Explanation
Introduction to Prepositions
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. Prepositions often indicate direction, location, time, or introduce an object.
Types of Prepositions with Examples
1. Prepositions of Time
These prepositions indicate specific times or time periods.
- At: Specific times (e.g., "at 5 PM")
- Example: "We will meet at 5 PM."
- On: Days and dates (e.g., "on Monday", "on January 1st")
- Example: "The meeting is on Monday."
- In: Months, years, centuries, long periods (e.g., "in July", "in 2020", "in the 21st century")
- Example: "He was born in July."
- During: Duration of time (e.g., "during the night")
- Example: "She reads during the afternoon."
- By: Not later than a specific time (e.g., "by 5 PM")
- Example: "Please finish the report by Friday."
- For: Duration of time (e.g., "for two hours")
- Example: "He has lived here for five years."
- Since: From a specific time in the past until now (e.g., "since 1999")
- Example: "They have been friends since childhood."
2. Prepositions of Place
These prepositions indicate the location or position of something.
- In: Inside a space (e.g., "in the room")
- Example: "She is in the room."
- On: Surface of something (e.g., "on the table")
- Example: "The book is on the table."
- At: Specific point or location (e.g., "at the door")
- Example: "He is at the door."
- Under: Beneath something (e.g., "under the table")
- Example: "The cat is under the table."
- Between: In the space separating two points, objects, or locations (e.g., "between the buildings")
- Example: "The ball is between the shoes."
- Next to: Beside or adjacent to something (e.g., "next to the school")
- Example: "The store is next to the school."
- Behind: At the back of something (e.g., "behind the house")
- Example: "The garden is behind the house."
3. Prepositions of Direction
These prepositions indicate movement or direction.
- To: Movement towards a specific place (e.g., "to the park")
- Example: "He is going to the market."
- Towards: In the direction of something (e.g., "towards the city")
- Example: "She walked towards the park."
- Into: Movement from outside to a point inside (e.g., "into the room")
- Example: "They went into the house."
- Out of: Movement from inside to outside (e.g., "out of the car")
- Example: "He stepped out of the car."
- Through: Movement from one side to another within something (e.g., "through the tunnel")
- Example: "The river flows through the forest."
- Along: Movement in a line, alongside something (e.g., "along the street")
- Example: "They walked along the river."
4. Prepositions of Agent or Instrument
These prepositions indicate the agent performing an action or the instrument used to perform an action.
- By: Indicates the doer of an action (e.g., "by John")
- Example: "The book was written by John."
- With: Indicates the instrument used (e.g., "with a pen")
- Example: "She cut the paper with scissors."
5. Prepositional Phrases
These are groups of words that include a preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the object.
- In front of: Positioned before something else
- Example: "The car is parked in front of the house."
- Next to: Positioned beside something
- Example: "He sat next to her."
- In addition to: As well as something else
- Example: "She likes tea in addition to coffee."
- According to: As stated by
- Example: "According to the news, it will rain tomorrow."
- Because of: Due to
- Example: "The event was canceled because of the storm."
- Instead of: In place of
- Example: "He chose coffee instead of tea."
Important Points about Prepositions
- Prepositions always have an object. They are never used alone.
- Prepositions usually precede the noun or pronoun they are linked to.
- The choice of preposition can change the meaning of the sentence.
- Some verbs are always followed by specific prepositions (e.g., "depend on", "belong to").
Common Mistakes with Prepositions
Using incorrect prepositions, omitting prepositions, and unnecessary repetition of prepositions are common mistakes.
- Incorrect: "He is good in playing guitar." Correct: "He is good at playing guitar."
- Incorrect: "She is waiting the bus." Correct: "She is waiting for the bus."
- Incorrect: "Where are you at?" Correct: "Where are you?"
Frequently Asked Questions about Prepositions
What is a prepositional phrase?
A prepositional phrase is a group of words
Why is Maths so important?
Mathematics provides structure to our life and reduces ambiguity. Learning Mathematics improves our reasoning power, creativity, abstract or spatial thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and even effective communication skills.
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