Lecture No 6 Preposition

A preposition is a word used to connect nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other

words within a sentence
Types of Preposition
Time prepositions: are refers to words such as before, after, during, and until;
Place prepositions: are refers to words indicating position, such
as around, between, and against
Direction prepositions : refers to indicative of direction, such as across,
up, and down.
Prepositions of Time
Time prepositions include: at, on, in, before and after. They are
basically used to help indicate when something happened, happens or
will happen. Prepositions of time examples in the following sentences
are in bold for easy identification.
For example:
1. She was born on July 4th, 1993.
2. She was born in 1982.
3. She was born at exactly 2am.
4. She was born two minutes before my twin brother.
5. She was born after the Great War ended.
➢ To indicate years, months, seasons, centuries and times
of day, use the preposition in:
1. I first met Uzma in 1987.
2. It’s always cold in January
3. Easter falls in spring each year.
4. The Second World War occurred in the 20th century.
5. We eat breakfast in the morning.
➢ To indicate days, dates and specific holiday days, use the
preposition on.
1. We go to school on Mondays, but not on Sunday
2. Eid is on August 24th.
3. Buy me a present on my birthday.
➢ To indicate times, indicators of exception and festivals,
use the preposition at:
1. I work faster at night.
2. Her shift finished at 7pm.
➢ Words Before and after should be much easier to understand than the
other examples of prepositions of time. Both are used to explain when
something happened, happens or will happen, but specifically in relation
to another thing.
1. Before I discovered this shop, I used to go straight
home after work.
2 We will not leave before 4pm.
3 Ahmad comes before Uzma in the line, but after Louise.
➢ Other prepositions of time could include words like: During, about,
around, until and throughout.
1. The concert will be staged throughout the month of June.
2. I learned how to drive a car during the holidays.
3. She usually arrives around 3pm.
4. It was about six in the morning when she made it to bed.
5. The shop is open until midnight.
Prepositions of place
1. The toy is on the table.
2. The puppies are in the cage.
3. We can meet at the crossroads.
➢ On is used when we are referring to something with a surface:
1. The painting hangs on the wall.
2. The picture are on the page.
You can order what is on the menu, which is on the table.
➢ In is used when we are referring to something that is inside or within
confined boundaries. This could be anything, even a country:
1. Noman is in France, visiting his aunt in the hospital.
2. The wine is in the jar in the fridge.
3. The boys play in the garden.
➢ At is used when are referring to something at a specific point:
1. The girls are at the entrance at the movie theater.
2. She stood at the bus stop at the corner of Water and High streets.
3. We will meet at the airport.
➢ There are many other prepositions of place, such as under, over, inside,
outside, above and below are used in English. They refer to rigid
positions rather than abstract ones.
1. The dog is under the table.
2. Put the bottle over there.
3. The phone is locked inside the car.
4. We stepped outside the house.
5. Major is ranked above captain.
Prepositions of Movement
Essentially, they describe how something or someone moves from one place
to another. The most commonly used preposition of movement is to, which
basically serves to highlight that there is movement towards a specific
destination.
Prepositions of movement examples:
1. She has gone on vacation to France.
2. He went to the bowling alley every Friday last summer.
3. She will go to bed when I am tired.
4. We will go to the zoo if they finish their errands.
➢ Other prepositions of movement include: through, across, off,
down and into. While they look similar, they have individual meanings
that add context to the movement. Across basically refers to moving
from one side to another.
1. Amna traveled across America on his motorcycle.
2. Sania and Uzma are swimming across the lake.
➢ Through indicates to moving directly inside something and out the other
end.
1. The bullet which Zahid shot went through the window.
2. The train passes through the tunnel
➢ Up, over, down, past and around refers to directions of movement:
1. John went up the hill.
2. The dogs run around the track all morning.
3. A train zoomed past a truck on the highway
Prepositions with Nouns
There are lots of nouns that carry specific prepositions. Moreover, there are
many possible combinations. Essentially, it’s case of familiarizing yourself
with the different possibilities of nouns and their usage Examples:
She displayed cruelty towards her dog.
He had knowledge of physics.
Prepositions with Verbs
Prepositional verbs are the phrasal combinations of verbs and prepositions
– are important parts of speech
➢ Verb + to:
1. She admitted to the charge.
2. He goes to Lahore on vacation twice a year.
➢ Verb + for:
1. She must apologize for her actions.
2. He searched for ages before we found the perfect apartment.
➢ Verb + with:
1. She is not agreed with your claim.
2. The lawyer said she would meet with your representatives.
3. They began with a quick warm-up session.
➢ Verb + of:
1. He dream of a better life.
2. Has she heard of Shakespeare?
3. The bread consists of dough, raisins and a little bit honey.
➢ Verb + in:
1. Does Rocky believe in miracles?
2. Farz lives in New York.
3. The car accident resulted in my being late to work.
➢ Verb + at
1. She arrived at her destination.
2. She excels at singing.
3. Will the baby smile at her father?
➢ Verb + on:
1. He should really concentrate on his studies now.
2. Hami insisted on Hamid’s company.
3. Maryam experimented on some canvas.
➢ Verb + from:
1. Since turning 80, he suffers from lapses in concentration.
2. Mom retired from the navy in the 1970s.
3. Junaid, please refrain from doing that.
Prepositions with Adjectives
➢ Prepositions which can form phrases with adjectives to give
further context to the action, emotion or thing the adjective is
describing. Like verbs and nouns, adjective which can be followed
by: to, about, In, for, with, at and by.
1. She is amazed by his performance .
2. Asma is crazy about this movie.
3. Adnan is responsible for the mess.
PRACTICE
1. September
2. 12 o'clock
3. winter
4. Easter
5. 4th July, 1776
6. Christmas
7. Tuesday
8. the weekend
9. my birthday
10. the end of the week
Exercise
1. My friend is good -- playing volleyball.
2. She complains -- bullying.
3. They are afraid --- losing the match.
4. She doesn't feel ---- working on the computer.
5. We are looking forward--- going out at the weekend.
6. Adan dreams--- living on a small island.
7. Waqar apologized----- being late.
8. I don't agree---- hunting.
9. The girls insisted---- going out with Ahmad.
10. Amna often thinks ---- climbing trees.

Haroon Salim
NOA, Islamabad
Exercise
1. Lets hang----- with friends
2. Please listen ----- me
3. I am talking -----the phone
4. Lets go ------the swimming pool
5. He arrived ---the airport
6. Ahmad looks----- the window
7. She did not sleep ---- the night
8. The boy is lying------ the beach
9. He is waiting ---- the stadium
10. She is hiding ---- the tree
Exercise
1. I'm tired ---- waiting for you.
2. He hasn't smoked -------ages.
3. Nina is good------running.
4. I'm looking -------my keys. Has anyone found them?
5. They dream -------moving to South Africa.
6. This song was written ----- Madonna.
7. You can look the word------ in a dictionary.
8. I can't come to the party. Don't wait ----- me.
9. She had problems ------reading the instructions.
10. The police car chased the robbers------the streets.
Exercise
1. My mum studied------ a university.
2. There is a spider ------ the corner of my room.
3. Death Valley is 56 metres ----- sea level.
4. The train to London stopped ------ the station.
5. Ali sits ---- Imran and Adnan.
6. There was an accident------the crossroads.
7. Congratulations -------- your new job!
8. Would you buy a coffee ------ credit card?
9. What is behind the rise--------Wall Street?
10. This flight goes to Washington DC ----- Charlotte.

Haroon Salim
NOA,Islamabad