Key Notes: Prepositions | English Grammar Basic - Class 10 PDF Download

Prepositions are words that typically precede nouns or pronouns, indicating relationships such as time, place, direction, or other connections. They play a crucial role in sentence structure and can alter the meaning if used incorrectly. Examples include "on," "in," "before," and "after."

Types of Prepositions

1. Preposition of Time: Describing time relationships, examples are "since," "before," and "by."
Example: The tradition has been followed since time immemorial.

2. Preposition of Place: Describing spatial relationships, examples are "outside," "far," and "between."
Example: A hangout cafe is just outside the building.

3. Preposition of Direction: Indicating movement or orientation, examples are "across," "over," and "towards."
Example: We need to move across the city to reach there.

4. Prepositions for Time: Expressing time relationships, using words like "at," "on," and "by."
Example: We are leaving for Delhi on the morning of the tenth of July.

Remember:
(i) Prepositions can also govern other parts of speech used as Nouns.
From here, before now, for good, in short, about to go, etc.  
(ii) Prepositions can also govern Phrases and Clauses.
I shall go to where you have come from
It depends on how you do your duty
I am ignorant of how to do it.
(iii) Phrase Prepositions or Prepositional Phrases are phrases used as prepositions, like - on account of, instead of, in spite of, by means of, owing to, by dint of, in accordance with, etc.  

Various Functions of Prepositions

• Prepositions for Time: Prepositions indicating the temporal relationship between nouns in a sentence.
  We are leaving for Delhi on the morning of the tenth of July.
  I’ll complete the work by 2 p.m.
• Prepositions for Place: Prepositions describing the spatial orientation of one thing or person relative to another.
  The hotel is on your right.
  The river flows under the bridge.
  He lives among the hills.
• Use of Prepositions after Adjectives: Placing prepositions immediately following adjectives.
  He is qualified for the post.
  She is fond of cooking.
  He is not interested in the job.
   He is angry with me.
• Use of Prepositions for Tools, Agency, Description, etc: Prepositions of agency or description explaining the cause or origin of another object in a phrase.
  I have no money with me.
  Cut the apple into two with a knife.
  Call the boy in blue.
• Use of Prepositions after Verbs: Prepositions connecting certain verbs to their objects.
  She climbed up the stairs.
  His eyes blazed with anger.
  The dog is walking down the stairs.
  He objected to my proposal.
• Use of Prepositions after Nouns: Utilizing prepositions with nouns to specify location or method.
  Have you got the details about the game?
  He is an honour to the profession.
  He covered his face with a mask.
  Everyone admires her strength of character.