Uses of Some Prepositions - Prepositions | English Class 8 PDF Download

Uses of Some Prepositions

1. At, In: At is used for exact time. It is used to denote villages or smaller towns.
 In is used to show the total length of time for the completion of some activity or action. It is used to denote bigger towns, states, countries.
For example: 
 (i) The train arrived at midnight.
 (ii) The guests took lunch at 3 o’clock.
 (iii) I reached there in few minutes.
 (iv) Mr Sinha lives at Boring Road in Patna. 

2. For, Since: For is used for a period of time while Since is used to denote the point of time from which an action has been continuing.
For example: 
 (i) He has been learning this lesson for two hours.
 (ii) It has been raining since morning. 

3. From, Since: From is used for the starting point of action and is generally combined with to/ till/ until. Since is used to denote the point of time.
For example:
 (i) We lived in Mumbai from 1995 to 2010.
 (ii) He waited from 9 till 12:30.
 (iii) We have been friends since 2010.
 (iv) He has been studying since 5 O’ clock in the morning. 

4. On: On is used for day and date.
For example: 
 (i) The Gandhi Jayanti falls on 2nd October.
 (ii) My uncle will arrive here on Sunday.

5. Between, Among: Between is used with two persons or things, Among is used with more than two persons or things.
For example: 
 (i) The purse is lying between two pillars.
 (ii) Sweets were distributed among children. 

6. Beside, Besides: Beside means ‘near’ or ‘at the side of’; Besides means ‘as well as’ or ‘in addition to’.
For example: 
 (i) There is huge banyan tree beside the temple.
 (ii) Besides being intelligent, he is gentle also. 

7. On, Upon: On is used with things at rest; Upon is used with things in motion.
For example: 
 (i) Put your bag on the table.
 (ii) The hungry lion fell upon the deer. 

8. Above/Over: Above, Over means ‘higher than’.
For example:               
 Many    birds    flew    over/above the tower. 

9. Though...yet: 
 (i) Though he is poor, yet he is happy.
 (ii) Though Mr Kalra is a good man, yet he is not respected. 

10. So...that: 
 (i) He is so hungry that he needs food immediately.
 (ii) I am so happy that I can give anything to anyone. 

11. Below/under: Below/Under means ‘lower than’.
For example: 
 (i) Standing on the top of the hill we saw a valley below us.
 (ii) I saw a little boy standing alone under a tree. 

12. In, Into: In denotes position or rest and into denotes motion inward.
For example: 
 (i) Grandfather is taking rest in his room.
 (ii) The naughty boy threw a ten rupee coin into the well. 

13. By, With: By is placed before an agent or doer and with relates to the instrument with which the action is done.
For example: 
 (i) The man was shot at by some unknown persons.
 (ii) Raman lives with his uncle. 

14. Of, Off: Of relates to somebody. Off shows separation.
For example: 
 (i) He comes of a good family.
 (ii) He fell off the tree.