Preposition

Preposition

A Preposition is a word placed before a noun, pronoun, noun phrase, or gerund (-ing form) to show its relationship with another word in a sentence.

A preposition may express relationships of:

• Time → at 5 p.m., on Monday, in June
• Place → at school, in the room, on the table
• Direction → towards the station, to Delhi
• Movement → into the room, across the road
• Position → under the table, between two houses
• Cause/Reason → because of illness
• Means/Instrument → by bus, with a knife
• Possession/Association → a man with a beard
• Purpose → medicine for fever

Examples:

• The book is on the table.
• She arrived at 6 p.m.
• He walked towards the station.
• They travelled by train.
• Rahul is good at Mathematics.

The noun or pronoun following a preposition is called its object.

Example:

The book is on the table.

• on → Preposition
• the table → Object of the Preposition

A pronoun used after a preposition normally takes the objective form.

Correct:

• between you and me
• for him
• with her
• to them

Incorrect:

between you and I ✘

Correct:

between you and me ✔

Prepositions are particularly important in competitive examinations because many combinations must be learned through usage rather than direct translation.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time indicate when an action occurs, how long it continues, or its relationship with another point in time.

The three most important are:

• At
• On
• In

At — Exact or Specific Time

Use at for a precise point of time.

Examples:

• at 5 p.m.
• at 7:30
• at noon
• at midnight
• at sunrise
• at sunset
• at night

Sentences:

• The meeting begins at 10 a.m.
• We reached home at midnight.
• He usually studies at night.

On — Days and Dates

Use on with:

• days
• dates
• specific days
• day + part of day

Examples:

• on Monday
• on Sunday
• on 15 August
• on 2 September
• on Monday morning
• on Friday evening
• on my birthday

Sentences:

• The examination is on Monday.
• India became independent on 15 August 1947.
• We will meet on Tuesday evening.

In — Longer Periods

Use in with:

• months
• years
• seasons
• centuries
• decades
• longer periods
• parts of the day

Examples:

• in January
• in 2026
• in winter
• in the 21st century
• in the 1990s
• in the morning
• in the afternoon
• in the evening

Sentences:

• She was born in 2000.
• The course begins in September.
• It is usually cold in winter.

Remember:

• at 6 p.m.
• on Monday
• in September

This is one of the most important preposition patterns.

In the Morning but at Night

Correct:

• in the morning
• in the afternoon
• in the evening
• at night

But when a particular day is mentioned:

• on Monday morning
• on Friday afternoon
• on Sunday evening

Since

Since indicates the starting point of an action or situation.

Examples:

• since Monday
• since 2020
• since morning
• since childhood
• since 5 p.m.

Example:

She has lived here since 2020.

For

For indicates a period or duration of time.

Examples:

• for two hours
• for three days
• for five years
• for a long time

Example:

She has lived here for five years.

Remember:

• Since → Point of Time
• For → Period of Time

Incorrect:

I have been waiting since two hours. ✘

Correct:

I have been waiting for two hours. ✔

From

From indicates the starting point of a period.

Examples:

• from Monday
• from 9 a.m.
• from January

It is frequently paired with to/till/until.

Examples:

• from Monday to Friday
• from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• from morning till evening

Till and Until

Till and until indicate continuation up to a particular time.

Examples:

• Wait until Monday.
• I worked till midnight.
• The shop remains open until 9 p.m.

By

By indicates a deadline — not later than a particular time.

Example:

Submit the form by Friday.

This means:

Submit it on or before Friday.

Compare:

I will stay here until Friday.

→ The staying continues up to Friday.

I will complete the work by Friday.

→ The work will be completed no later than Friday.

Therefore:

• until/till → continuation
• by → deadline

Before

Before means earlier than a particular time or event.

Examples:

• before 10 a.m.
• before dinner
• before Monday

Example:

Finish the work before lunch.

After

After means later than a particular time or event.

Examples:

• after lunch
• after 5 p.m.
• after the examination

Example:

We met after the class.

During

During means at some point in, or throughout, a particular event or period.

It is normally followed by a noun or noun phrase.

Examples:

• during the meeting
• during the holidays
• during the night
• during the war

Example:

Nobody spoke during the meeting.

During vs For

Compare:

I stayed there for three hours.

→ tells us the duration

I slept during the meeting.

→ tells us the event/period within which something happened

Therefore:

• for + duration
• during + event/period

Within

Within means before the end of a specified period.

Example:

Complete the work within three days.

Meaning:

Complete it before three days have passed.

In + Period of Time

In can mean after a particular amount of time from now.

Example:

I will return in two hours.

Meaning:

Two hours from now.

Compare:

I worked for two hours.

→ duration

I will return in two hours.

→ after two hours

Ago

Ago is not a preposition, but it is commonly tested with time expressions.

It means before the present time.

Example:

I met him two years ago.

Use the Simple Past with ago.

Correct:

She left ten minutes ago.

Incorrect:

She has left ten minutes ago. ✘

Place

Prepositions of place indicate the location or position of a person or thing.

The three most important are:

• At
• In
• On

At — A Point or Specific Location

Use at when a place is considered as a point or specific location.

Examples:

• at the bus stop
• at the station
• at the airport
• at the door
• at school
• at home
• at work

Sentences:

• She is waiting at the bus stop.
• Rahul is at home.
• We met at the station.

In — Inside an Area or Enclosed Space

Use in when someone or something is inside a space, area, city, country, container or enclosed place.

Examples:

• in the room
• in the box
• in the garden
• in Guwahati
• in Assam
• in India

Sentences:

• The children are in the room.
• She lives in Guwahati.
• There is some milk in the bottle.

On — Surface

Use on when something is positioned on or attached to a surface.

Examples:

• on the table
• on the wall
• on the floor
• on the roof
• on the page

Sentences:

• The book is on the table.
• There is a picture on the wall.
• Your name is on the list.

At vs In

Compare:

He is at the hospital.

→ focuses on the location generally.

He is in the hospital.

→ focuses on being inside the building; in some varieties of English it may also imply being there as a patient.

Similarly:

She is at school.

→ school as an institution/location.

She is in the school building.

→ physically inside the building.

On Public Transport

We commonly use on with many forms of public or larger transport:

• on a bus
• on a train
• on a plane
• on a ship

Examples:

I met him on the train.

But generally:

• in a car
• in a taxi

Example:

She is waiting in the car.

Also:

• on a bicycle
• on a motorcycle
• on a horse

Above and Over

Both can mean higher than.

Above usually indicates a higher position without necessarily being directly vertically higher.

Example:

The picture hangs above the sofa.

Over can mean directly above or covering.

Examples:

The lamp hangs over the table.

She put a blanket over the child.

Over can also mean more than.

Example:

Over 500 students attended.

Below and Under

Both indicate a lower position.

Below generally means at a lower level.

Example:

The temperature fell below zero.

Under often means directly beneath or covered by something.

Example:

The cat is under the table.

Between

Between is used when referring to two distinct persons or things, and it can also be used for several clearly separate individuals or items when the relationships are considered individually.

Examples:

• between Rahul and Mohan
• between the two houses
• negotiations between India, Japan and Australia

Traditional school grammar often teaches:

Between → two

But this rule is too narrow. Between can correctly be used with more than two when the participants are considered individually and distinctly.

Among

Among is used when someone or something is within or surrounded by a group.

Examples:

• among the students
• among friends
• among the trees

Example:

She distributed sweets among the children.

A useful distinction is:

• between → distinct individual relationships
• among → within a group collectively

Beside

Beside means next to / by the side of.

Example:

Rahul sat beside me.

Besides

Besides means in addition to / apart from.

Example:

Besides English, she knows Hindi.

Do not confuse:

• beside → next to
• besides → in addition to

Near

Near means close to.

Examples:

• near the station
• near my house
• near the river

Example:

Our school is near the market.

Normally, near does not require to.

Correct:

The house is near the station.

Also possible:

The house is close to the station.

Opposite

Opposite means facing or across from something.

Example:

The bank is opposite the hospital.

Behind

Behind means at the back of something.

Example:

The car is parked behind the house.

In Front of

In front of means ahead of or before something spatially.

Example:

A taxi is waiting in front of the hotel.

Inside and Outside

Examples:

• inside the room
• outside the building

Sentences:

The children are inside the classroom.

Someone is waiting outside the gate.

Among vs Amid

Among commonly refers to being surrounded by countable persons or things.

Example:

He was sitting among his friends.

Amid/Amidst often means in the middle of or surrounded by circumstances, events or masses.

Examples:

• amid confusion
• amid protests
• amid heavy rain

Direction

Prepositions of direction indicate the direction towards which someone or something moves, faces or is oriented.

To

To indicates movement towards a destination.

Examples:

• go to school
• travel to Delhi
• walk to the station

Example:

She went to the market.

Towards

Towards indicates movement in the direction of something, without necessarily reaching it.

Example:

He walked towards the station.

Compare:

He walked to the station.

→ He reached the station.

He walked towards the station.

→ He moved in that direction; reaching it is not stated.

From

From indicates the point where movement begins.

Examples:

• from Delhi
• from school
• from the office

Example:

She travelled from Guwahati to Delhi.

For

For can be used after certain verbs to indicate a destination, particularly the beginning of a journey.

Example:

The train left for Delhi.

Compare:

• He went to Delhi.
• He left for Delhi.

Up

Up indicates movement towards a higher position.

Example:

They climbed up the hill.

Down

Down indicates movement towards a lower position.

Example:

The children ran down the stairs.

North, South, East and West

Direction can be expressed with structures such as:

• north of
• south of
• east of
• west of

Example:

Nepal lies north of India.

Movement:

They travelled eastwards.

Movement

Prepositions of movement show how a person or thing moves from one position to another.

Into

Into indicates movement from outside to inside.

Example:

She walked into the room.

Compare:

She is in the room.

• in → position
• into → movement

Onto

Onto indicates movement to a position on a surface.

Example:

The cat jumped onto the table.

Compare:

The cat is on the table.

• on → position
• onto → movement

Out of

Out of indicates movement from inside to outside.

Example:

He walked out of the room.

Off

Off indicates movement away from a surface.

Example:

The cup fell off the table.

Across

Across means from one side to the other side of a surface or area.

Examples:

• across the road
• across the river
• across the field

Example:

She walked across the road.

Through

Through means movement from one side to another within an enclosed space, mass or medium.

Examples:

• through the tunnel
• through the forest
• through the crowd

Example:

The train passed through the tunnel.

Across vs Through

Compare:

We walked across the field.

→ over the surface from one side to another

We walked through the forest.

→ movement within/surrounded by the forest

Along

Along indicates movement following the length of something.

Examples:

• along the road
• along the river
• along the coast

Example:

We walked along the river.

Past

Past indicates movement beyond a person or place.

Example:

She walked past the school.

Around

Around may indicate movement surrounding or circling something.

Example:

The earth moves around the sun.

Over

Over can indicate movement across and above something.

Example:

The bird flew over the river.

Under

Under can indicate movement below something.

Example:

The dog crawled under the fence.

Up and Down

Examples:

He ran up the stairs.

She walked down the hill.

Away From

Indicates movement increasing the distance from something.

Example:

The child ran away from the dog.

Towards vs Into

Compare:

He walked towards the room.

→ direction only

He walked into the room.

→ he entered it

Appropriate Prepositions

Many English words are conventionally followed by particular prepositions. These combinations are often called appropriate prepositions and are extremely important in competitive examinations.

They should generally be learned as word combinations, rather than by translating individual prepositions.

Adjective + Preposition

Verb + Preposition

Noun + Preposition

“To” as a Preposition

A particularly important examination rule is that to is not always an infinitive marker.

Sometimes to functions as a preposition.

When to is a preposition and a verb follows it, use the -ing form.

Examples:

I am accustomed to working hard.

She is used to waking up early.

I look forward to meeting you.

He objected to paying the fee.

They are committed to improving the system.

Incorrect:

I look forward to meet you. ✘

Correct:

I look forward to meeting you. ✔

Important expressions include:

• accustomed to doing
• addicted to doing
• committed to doing
• devoted to doing
• opposed to doing
• object to doing
• look forward to doing
• used to doing

Do not confuse this with:

used to + V1

Example:

I used to play cricket.

Here, used to expresses a past habit.

Compare:

• I used to wake early. → past habit
• I am used to waking early. → accustomed to it

Fixed Prepositional Expressions

English contains many fixed expressions in which a particular preposition is conventionally used. These are frequently tested in fill-in-the-blanks and error-detection questions.

Expressions with At

• at present
• at first
• at last
• at least
• at once
• at home
• at work
• at school
• at night
• at risk
• at peace
• at war
• at fault
• at random
• at a loss
• at the age of
• at the beginning of
• at the end of

Examples:

He is at work at present.

At last, the train arrived.

Expressions with In

• in advance
• in brief
• in case
• in charge of
• in common
• in danger
• in debt
• in detail
• in fact
• in favour of
• in front of
• in general
• in particular
• in place of
• in search of
• in spite of
• in time
• in trouble
• in vain
• in writing
• in accordance with
• in addition to
• in comparison with
• in connection with

Examples:

Please inform me in advance.

She is in charge of the department.

He succeeded in spite of many difficulties.

Expressions with On

• on average
• on behalf of
• on business
• on duty
• on fire
• on foot
• on holiday
• on purpose
• on sale
• on strike
• on time
• on the contrary
• on the way
• on account of
• on the basis of

Examples:

The officer is on duty.

He broke the glass on purpose.

Expressions with By

• by accident
• by chance
• by hand
• by mistake
• by birth
• by nature
• by bus
• by train
• by air
• by sea
• by means of
• by virtue of

Examples:

I met him by chance.

The letter was written by hand.

Expressions with For

• for example
• for instance
• for sale
• for certain
• for good
• for a while
• for the time being
• for fear of
• for the sake of

Example:

The house is for sale.

Expressions with Under

• under control
• under construction
• under consideration
• under discussion
• under pressure
• under repair
• under investigation
• under treatment
• under the impression

Examples:

The bridge is under construction.

The matter is under investigation.

Expressions with Out of

• out of control
• out of danger
• out of date
• out of order
• out of reach
• out of stock
• out of work
• out of sight
• out of curiosity
• out of respect

Example:

The machine is out of order.

In Time vs On Time

These expressions have different meanings.

On time

→ at the scheduled or expected time

Example:

The train arrived on time.

In time

→ sufficiently early; before it is too late

Example:

We reached the station in time to catch the train.

At the End vs In the End

At the end

→ at the final part of something

Example:

There is an exercise at the end of the chapter.

In the end

→ finally/eventually

Example:

In the end, they accepted our proposal.

By Accident vs On Purpose

By accident

→ unintentionally

On purpose

→ intentionally

Examples:

I broke the glass by accident.

He broke it on purpose.

By Car but On Foot

Use:

• by bus
• by train
• by car
• by air
• by sea

But:

on foot

Example:

I travelled by bus, but Rahul came on foot.

When a determiner is used, another structure is needed:

I came on the bus.

She came in her car.

Common Errors

Preposition errors are common because the correct preposition often depends on established English usage rather than literal meaning.

At, On and In for Time

Incorrect:

The meeting starts in 5 p.m. ✘

Correct:

The meeting starts at 5 p.m. ✔

Incorrect:

The examination is at Monday. ✘

Correct:

The examination is on Monday. ✔

Incorrect:

She was born on 2001. ✘

Correct:

She was born in 2001. ✔

Remember:

• at → exact time
• on → day/date
• in → month/year/longer period

At, On and In for Place

Incorrect:

He lives at India. ✘

Correct:

He lives in India. ✔

Incorrect:

The book is in the table. ✘ when it rests on its surface

Correct:

The book is on the table. ✔

Since vs For

Incorrect:

I have lived here since five years. ✘

Correct:

I have lived here for five years. ✔

Correct:

I have lived here since 2021. ✔

By vs Until

Incorrect:

I will wait by 5 p.m. ✘ if the meaning is continued waiting

Correct:

I will wait until 5 p.m. ✔

For a deadline:

Complete the work by 5 p.m. ✔

Between vs Among

Traditional examination rule:

• between → two
• among → more than two

However, this rule is not absolute.

Correct:

An agreement was reached between the five countries.

Here, the five countries are viewed as distinct parties.

Use among when referring to members within a group collectively:

The teacher distributed the books among the students.

Beside vs Besides

Incorrect:

Beside English, she speaks Hindi. ✘

Correct:

Besides English, she speaks Hindi. ✔

Remember:

• beside → next to
• besides → in addition to

Into vs In

Incorrect:

He went in the room. ✘ in formal exam usage when movement from outside to inside is intended

Correct:

He went into the room. ✔

But:

He is in the room. ✔

Remember:

• in → position
• into → movement inside

On vs Onto

Compare:

The cat is on the table.

→ position

The cat jumped onto the table.

→ movement to the surface

Across vs Through

Incorrect:

The train passed across the tunnel. ✘

Correct:

The train passed through the tunnel. ✔

Across:

We walked across the road.

Senior/Junior/Superior/Inferior

These words traditionally take to, not than.

Incorrect:

He is senior than me. ✘

Correct:

He is senior to me. ✔

Similarly:

• junior to
• superior to
• inferior to
• prior to

Prefer

Use:

prefer X to Y

Incorrect:

I prefer tea than coffee. ✘

Correct:

I prefer tea to coffee. ✔

Another correct construction is:

I would rather drink tea than coffee.

Do not mix the two structures.

Married

Incorrect:

She is married with a doctor. ✘

Correct:

She is married to a doctor. ✔

Discuss

Discuss normally takes a direct object without about.

Incorrect:

We discussed about the problem. ✘

Correct:

We discussed the problem. ✔

But:

We had a discussion about the problem. ✔

Enter

Enter normally takes a direct object when meaning go into.

Incorrect:

He entered into the room. ✘

Correct:

He entered the room. ✔

However, enter into is correct in other meanings:

• enter into an agreement
• enter into negotiations
• enter into a discussion

Reach

Reach normally takes a direct object.

Incorrect:

We reached at the station. ✘

Correct:

We reached the station. ✔

But:

We arrived at the station. ✔

Arrive

Use:

• arrive at → smaller/specific place
• arrive in → city/country/large area

Examples:

We arrived at the station.

We arrived in Delhi.

Do not normally use:

arrive to ✘

Order/Request/Ask

Some verbs do not take unnecessary prepositions before their objects.

Correct:

He asked me a question.

Correct:

She requested him to wait.

Avoid inserting a preposition simply because one appears in another language or similar expression.

Listen

Incorrect:

Listen me carefully. ✘

Correct:

Listen to me carefully. ✔

But:

Hear me carefully is structurally possible, though listen to me carefully is usually more natural when attention is intended.

Emphasise

Emphasise normally takes a direct object.

Incorrect:

The teacher emphasised on the importance of revision. ✘ in standard formal usage

Correct:

The teacher emphasised the importance of revision. ✔

But:

The teacher placed emphasis on revision. ✔

Mention

Mention normally takes a direct object.

Incorrect:

He mentioned about the problem. ✘

Correct:

He mentioned the problem. ✔

But:

He spoke about the problem. ✔

Despite vs In Spite of

Both mean essentially the same thing.

Correct:

Despite the rain, we continued.

Correct:

In spite of the rain, we continued.

Incorrect:

Despite of the rain… ✘

Remember:

• despite + noun
• in spite of + noun

Because vs Because of

Because is a conjunction followed by a clause.

Example:

We stayed home because it was raining.

Because of is a prepositional expression followed by a noun/noun phrase.

Example:

We stayed home because of the rain.

Incorrect:

Because of it was raining… ✘

Correct:

Because it was raining… ✔

Although vs In Spite of

Although is followed by a clause.

Although he was tired, he continued working.

In spite of is followed by a noun, pronoun or gerund.

In spite of his tiredness, he continued working.

In spite of being tired, he continued working.

Object Pronoun after Preposition

Incorrect:

Between you and I, this plan will fail. ✘

Correct:

Between you and me, this plan will fail. ✔

After a preposition, use the objective form:

• me
• him
• her
• us
• them

Unnecessary Preposition after Certain Verbs

Several verbs normally take their object directly.

Different From

For formal examination purposes, different from is the safest standard form.

Example:

Your answer is different from mine.

Different to occurs particularly in British English, while different than occurs especially in American English and in some clause constructions. Competitive exams may nevertheless prefer different from.

Prevent + From + Gerund

Structure:

prevent + object + from + V4

Example:

The police prevented him from entering the building.

Incorrect:

The police prevented him to enter the building. ✘

Insist + On + Gerund

Correct:

He insisted on paying the bill.

Incorrect:

He insisted to pay the bill. ✘ in this construction

Object + To + Gerund

Remember that when to is a preposition:

Correct:

He objected to paying the fee.

Incorrect:

He objected to pay the fee. ✘

Similarly:

• look forward to meeting
• accustomed to working
• committed to improving
• opposed to changing

Revision Table

Important Appropriate Prepositions at a Glance

Most Important Rules to Remember

• A preposition shows the relationship of a noun, pronoun or noun phrase with another element in the sentence.
• For time, remember:
  • at 5 p.m.
  • on Monday
  • in September
  • in 2026
• Remember:
  • since → point of time
  • for → period of time
• Remember:
  • by → deadline
  • until/till → continuation
• For place:
  • at → point/location
  • in → inside an area or space
  • on → surface
• Remember:
  • in → position inside
  • into → movement inside
  • on → position on a surface
  • onto → movement to a surface
• Across generally means from one side to another over an area or surface.
• Through generally means movement within an enclosed space, mass or medium.
• Do not confuse:
  • beside → next to
  • besides → in addition to
• Traditional competitive-exam combinations include:
  • senior to
  • junior to
  • superior to
  • inferior to
  • prefer X to Y
  • married to
• Use:
  • good at
  • interested in
  • proud of
  • famous for
  • depend on
  • belong to
  • listen to
  • suffer from
  • insist on
• Remember that to can function as a preposition:
  • look forward to meeting
  • accustomed to working
  • object to paying
• Avoid unnecessary prepositions:
  • discuss the issue ✔
  • enter the room ✔
  • reach the station ✔
  • mention the problem ✔
  • emphasise the point ✔
• Use:
  • despite the rain
  • in spite of the rain
• Use:
  • because + clause
  • because of + noun/noun phrase
• After a preposition, use an objective pronoun:
  • between you and me
  • with him
  • for her
• Important fixed distinctions:
  • on time → at the scheduled time
  • in time → before it is too late
  • at the end → at the final part
  • in the end → finally
  • by accident → unintentionally
  • on purpose → intentionally
  • by bus/train/car
  • on foot

A strong command of prepositions depends not only on learning individual meanings but also on mastering fixed combinations and contextual usage. For competitive examinations, special attention should be given to appropriate prepositions, unnecessary prepositions, fixed expressions, and commonly confused pairs.