Prepositions
✅ Definition: A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun to show its relation with another word
in the sentence.
It usually tells us about place, time, direction, manner, cause, possession, etc.
📌 The word “preposition” itself means “placed before.”
✏ Examples (with meaning):
The book is on the table. (कहाँ? — table के ऊपर)
He came from Delhi. (कहाँ से?)
She went to school. (कहाँ?)
The cat is under the chair. (कहाँ?)
I will come after lunch. (कब?)
Usage of Prepositions — Full Notes (with Examples & Rules)
1. Prepositions of PLACE / POSITION (Where?)
These prepositions tell us the location / position of something.
Preposition Usage / Rule Examples
in inside, large area, enclosed space in the room, in the box, in Delhi, in the garden
on surface / line on the table, on the road, on a wall
at exact point / small place / event at the door, at the station, at the party
under directly below, covered by under the bed, under the bridge
over directly above; also movement or a plane flew over the city, put a cloth over the
cover table
above higher, not touching above the clouds, prices above ₹500
behind at the back of behind the curtain, behind the house
between in the middle of two between two trees, between John and David
among in the middle of many among friends, among the crowd
near / beside / next to / by close to sit beside me, school near the park
📌 Tip:
– Use in for countries, cities, rooms → in India, in the kitchen
– Use on for surfaces → on the desk
– Use at for points/addresses → at home, at 23 MG Road
22️⃣
2 Prepositions of TIME (When?)
Show when an action happens.
Preposition Usage / Rule Examples
at exact time / short point at 7 o’clock, at noon, at night, at Diwali
on days / dates on Monday, on 15th August, on my birthday
in months, years, seasons, long in 2025, in March, in winter, in the morning
periods
before / after earlier / later before dinner, after school
since from point in past until now since 2010, since morning
for duration for two hours, for ten days
during throughout a period during the movie, during summer
by not later than Finish by Friday
from…to / till / until start & end from 5 pm to 7 pm, wait till evening
📌 Tip:
– at night, but in the morning / afternoon / evening
– since → fixed past time; for → length of time
3️⃣Prepositions of DIRECTION / MOVEMENT (Kahan? Kahan se?)
Show movement to / from / inside / across something.
Prepositio Usage / Rule Examples
n
to towards go to school, travel to Delhi
into movement inside walk into the room, dive into the pool
out of movement outside come out of the house
towards in direction of walk towards the gate
from starting point come from office
through inside & out the other side go through the tunnel, read through the file
across from one side to the other swim across the river, walk across the road
along following the edge / line walk along the beach, drive along the highway
up / down movement higher / lower walk up the hill, run down the stairs
📌 Tip:
– Use into when there’s movement inside
– in → position; into → motion
4️⃣Prepositions of MANNER (Kaise?)
Tell how something is done.
Prepositio Usage / Rule Examples
n
by means/method travel by bus, pay by cheque
with tool/instrument cut with a knife, write with a pen
like similar to swim like a fish
in manner / feeling say in anger, act in haste
📌 Tip:
– Use by for transport & method
– with for instrument
5️⃣Prepositions of CAUSE / REASON (Kyon?)
Show why something happened.
Preposition Usage Examples
because of direct reason late because of
traffic
due to / owing formal cause cancelled due to rain
to
for purpose / reason went out for a walk
6️⃣Prepositions of POSSESSION (Kiska?)
Show belonging.
Prepositio Usage Examples
n
of relation colour of the sky, leg of the table
with having man with blue eyes
without lacking child without parents
7️⃣Prepositions of AGENT / INSTRUMENT
Mostly in passive voice.
Prepositio Usage Examples
n
by doer song sung by Lata Mangeshkar
with instrument / means door opened with a key
8️⃣Advanced / Phrase Prepositions (2–3 words)
Preposition Usage Examples
according as per according to the news
to
in front of position car parked in front of the gate
because of reason stayed home because of fever
in spite of concession played in spite of injury
instead of replacement tea instead of coffee
owing to formal reason flight delayed owing to fog
✅ Real & Advanced Examples (mix of daily & advanced):
– The sculpture stands among ancient ruins.
– He completed the work within two hours.
– The company expanded beyond expectations.
– The poet spoke of love and loss.
– He came by way of Mumbai. (formal, advanced)
– They sailed across the Pacific.
– Please reply by return of post. (formal letter phrase)
📊 Summary Table:
Type Examples Answer
Place in, on, at, under, over, between Where?
Time at, on, in, before, after, since When?
Direction / to, from, into, across, through Where to / from?
Movement
Manner by, with, in, like How?
Reason / Cause because of, due to, for Why?
Possession of, with, without Whose?
Agent / Instrument by, with By whom? How?
Phrase prepositions in front of, instead of, owing to —
4️⃣Important Rules & Regulations:
1. Preposition always comes before its object (noun/pronoun).
2. Don’t use unnecessary prepositions:
– Incorrect: Where are you going to?
– Correct: Where are you going?
3. Certain verbs take fixed prepositions:
– depend on, belong to, listen to, agree with, laugh at, wait for.
4. Avoid using ‘with, by, to’ wrongly:
– Incorrect: She married with him.
– Correct: She married him.
5. “In, on, at” have special rules:
| Use | in | on | at |
|----|--|--|--|
| Place | large area/city/country | surface/road | point/place/event |
| Time | months/years/seasons | days/dates | exact time |
