Preposition - 3 - English Grammar Basic - Class 10

Some Important Prepositions

Since and For
Since is used before a point of time, while for is used before a period of time.
As,
Monica has been here since last Monday.
I did not see you for a long time.

Since and From

Both Since and from are used before a point of time but since is preceded by a verb in the perfect tense, while from can be used with any tense.
As,
John has started rowing from (or since) last Monday.
John started rowing from yesterday (Not since).
John starts rowing from today  (Not since).
John will start rowing from tomorrow. (Not since)

Before, By and Within

Before, and by are used with a point of time, while within is used with a period of time.
As,
You must reach here before (or by) 8 o'clock. (Not within)
Henry came back within an hour. (Not before).

Note : There is a distinction in use between before and by :

By means not after the specified limit or time while before means any time within specified limit of time.
As,
You must come back by 5 pm. (not after 5 pm.)
You must come back before 5 pm.
(any time before the clock strikes five)

In and Within
In means at the end of, while within means before the end of.
As,
The game will end within an hour (before the hour is passed).
The game will end in an hour (at the end of, and not exceeding an hour).

In and Into
In refers to a position already inside anything and into refers to a movement towards the inside of anything.
As,
John was in the garden.
Mary went into the garden.

In and At
In refers to a much wider space or time than at.
As, Come at 8 o' clock in the morning.
The Taj is at Agra in India.

In and After
In is used about the future time, while after is used about the past.
As,
Fred will come in a few minutes (not after).
Arthur left after an hour (not in).

On and At
On is used before a particular date or day and at before a particular hour.
As,
I shall come on Friday at 5 o' clock.

Between and Among
Between is used about two persons or things, while among is used for referring to more than two persons or things.
As,
Divide the mango between Ram and Sham.
Distribute all the chocolates among the pupils.
The money was divided not between his two sons only but among all his dependants.

Beside and Besides
Beside means by the side of while, besides means in addition to.
As,

Besides my son, my cousin also sat beside me.

By and With
By is used with the doer or agent, while with is used before the instrument with which a person does a thing.
As,
The tiger was not shot by me.
The tiger was shot with a rifle.

Except and Excepting
The use of the participle excepting formed from the verb of except (= to exclude) is often confused with that of the preposition except (= without).
As,
All the boys except John went there
(Preposition = without).
All the boys not excepting John went there (Participial preposition = not excluding).
All the boys went there, John not being excepted (verb).
There are also a few special prepositions like :

(a) Than
Than is usually a conjunction, but is sometimes used as a preposition.
As,
I cannot accept less than fifty rupees for this article.
I speak of Keats, than whom there is none greater as a poet.

(b) But
As a rule but is a conjunction. When used as a preposition, but means except, with the exception of.
As,
What can he do but die?
All our ambitions death defeats, but one.
None but the brave deserves the award.
She returned all her gifts but one.
All is lost but honour.

(c) A is sometimes used as weakened form of the preposition on.
As,
The house is a building.
I meet her once a week.
Rice is twenty rupees a kg.
His wages are thirty rupees a day.

Nouns Followed by Preposition OF

Adjectives Followed by Preposition OF
 

Verbs Followed by Preposition OF
 

Nouns Followed by Preposition FOR
 

Verbs Followed by Preposition FOR

Verbs Followed by Preposition ON
 

Nouns Followed by Preposition TO
 

Adjectives Followed by Preposition TO

Verbs Followed by Preposition To

Adjectives Followed by Preposition in
 

Verbs Followed by Preposition IN
 

Nouns Followed by Preposition WITH

Adjectives Followed by Preposition WITH

Verbs Followed by Preposition with

Verbs Followed by Preposition From

Nouns Followed by Preposition from