Study Notes on Preposition, Types, Rules, Usage and Examples

Prepositions are small words in English that show the relationship between different parts of a sentence. They help connect nouns, pronouns, and other parts of speech to create meaningful sentences. Learning the rules and proper usage of prepositions is important, as they play a crucial role in making your English clear and correct. For example, you need to know when to use “in” vs “on” or “at” in a sentence. Prepositions may seem like a small part of the language, but they are essential building blocks of English Grammar. By understanding the different types and rules of prepositions, you can significantly improve your overall English proficiency and perform better in competitive exams like SSC, Railways and Banking.

What is a Preposition?

A preposition is part of speech in English grammar that is a word or set of words that indicate the location or some other relationship between a noun or pronoun and also other parts of a sentence. A preposition shows the relationship between a word in the sentence and the word that is the object of the preposition. Preposition is known as “the biggest little words” in English because of its important functions.

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions are words that show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence. Some common types of prepositions include:

1. Time prepositions: These show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and time. Examples include “at,” “on,” “in,” “before,” “after,” “during,” and “since.”

2. Place prepositions: These show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and location. Examples include “in,” “on,” “at,” “under,” “over,” “beside,” “behind,” and “between.”

3. Directional prepositions: These show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and direction. Examples include “to,” “from,” “toward,” “into,” “onto,” and “out of.”

4. Manner prepositions: These show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and manner or method. Examples include “with,” “by,” “like,” “as,” and “through.”

5. Agentive prepositions: These show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and an agent or cause. Examples include “by,” “through,” and “because of.”

6. Instrumental prepositions: These show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and instruments or tools. Examples include “with,” “by,” and “using.”

7. Possessive prepositions: These show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and possession. Examples include “of,” “for,” and “belonging to.”

Rules of Preposition

Rule 1 A preposition cannot be followed by a verb. Verb placed immediately after preposition must be in gerund form.

Examples (a) He prevented me from drinking hot water.
(b) He insists on trying once again.

Rule 2 When ‘object’ of the preposition is an Interrogative Pronoun What, Who, Whom, Which, Where etc., the preposition usually takes end or front position.

Examples (a)  May I know who were you talking to?
(b) What are you thinking of?
It used to be thought as ungrammatical, to end a sentence with a preposition, but it is now well accepted.

Rule 3 When ‘object’ of the preposition is a relative Pronoun ‘that’, the preposition takes end position.

Examples (a) Here is the magazine that you asked for.
(b) This is the dish that she is fond of.

Rule 4 When the ‘object’ of the preposition is infinitive (to + verb), preposition is placed after infinitive.

Examples (a) This is a good hotel to stay at.
(b) I need a pencil to write with.

Rule 5. In some sentences, preposition is attached with the verb.

Examples (a) I hate being laughed at.
(b) This I insist on.

Rule 6. In interrogative sentences preposition comes in the beginning.

Examples (a) By which train did you come?
(b) For whom was instructions given?

Use and examples of Some Important Prepositions

At/In/On

In reference of ‘Time’

1. At is used for a precise time.
2. In is used for months, years, centuries and long periods.
3. On is used for days and dates.

In reference of ‘Place’

1. At is used for a point.
2. In is used for an enclosed space.
3. On is used for a surface.

(A) At shows stationary position or existing state while In shows movement.
Examples i. She is at home.
ii. The train is in motion.

(B) At for small place, town etc. while In for big place, town, city, country etc.
Examples i. He lives at Alwar in Rajasthan.
ii. A temple is situated at Madurai in Chennai.

(C) At is used for Point of time, and In is used for Period of time.
Examples i. The train will arrive at six in the morning.
ii. He will meet you in the morning.

(D) In/Into In shows the existing state of things, while Into shows movement.
Examples i. He jumped into the river.
ii. There are three students in the class.

To/Into/To

1. In the direction of Turn to the right.
2. Destination I am going to Jaipur.
3. Until From Monday to Friday; five minutes to ten
4. Compared with They prefer hockey to soccer.
5. With indirect object Please give it to me.
6. As part of infinitive I like to ski; he wants to help.
7. In order to We went to the store to buy soap.
8. To the inside of We stepped into the room.
9. Change of condition The boy changed into a man.

On/Onto

On can be used for both existing position and movement.
Example (a) He was sitting on his bag.
(b) Snow fell on the hills.

On can also be used as an adverb
Examples (a) Go on.
(b) Come on.

Onto is used when there is movement involving a change of level.
Examples (a) People climbed onto their roofs.
(b) He lifted her onto the table.

With/By With is used for instruments, and By is used for agents.
Examples (a) The snake was killed by him with a stick.
(b) The letter was written by Suresh with a pencil.

Since/For/From Since is often used with Present Perfect or Past Perfect Tense
Examples (a) It has been raining since two O’ Clock.
(b) He had been ill since Monday.

Since can also be used as an adverb
Examples (a) He left school in 1983. I haven’t seen him since.
(b) It is two years since I last saw Tom.