Prepositions Chapter Notes | English Olympiad Class 4 PDF Download

Prepositions

A preposition is a word which precedes a noun or pronoun in a sentence and tells something about it relation with another word in the sentence.

For Example:

1. For
Usages: to denote duration of time, distance or purpose
Examples:

• Time duration: He studied for an hour. 
• Distance: We walked for a mile to find the shelter. 
• Purpose: He came here for the drawing competition. 

2. Since
Usages: to denote something happening from the past and still happening. Since is used when we mention the exact point in time when it started.
Example: They are selling umbrellas since 1980.

Note: For and since are confusing to use in reference with time. Keep in mind "for" is used when you are using a countable unit of time and since is used when you are telling the exact point of time when it started. Try substituting "how many" or "when", if "how many" fits then use for and if "when" seems appropriate use "since".
Example:

Incorrect: She has been studying since four hours.

Correct: She has been studying for four hours.

3. From
Usages: to denote cause of something, source of something or originating place of someone.
Examples:

• Rohan is suffering from cricket
• got this message from Ravi.
• I am from Dehradun.

4. Between
Usages: for referring to two persons or things, also used for referring a position with respect to two locations.
Examples:

• A cricket match was played between India and Australia.
• My mother divided the chocolates between me and my brother.
• There is a big market between my school and my home.

5. Among
Usages: for referring more than two persons or things.
Examples:

• We shared chocolates among ourselves.
• Wrong: The chocolates were shared between the class.
  Correct: The chocolates were shared among the class.

6. Behind 
Usages: for denoting something is at the back of something.
Example:

• There is a park behind the school.

7. Over
Usages: for denoting movement, a position at a higher level than something, for completely covering or engulfing something,  to denote an extended period of time, or to denote something is more than a specific number.
Examples:

• Birds were flying over the trees.
• He came over to me and asked for my pen.
• I put the blanket over my face. 
• The king rules over the kingdom for over a decade.
• There were over 100 guests at the party.

8. Above

Usages: Above is used for denoting "higher than". It is not used when something touches or covers something.
Examples:

• Incorrect: The plane was flying 500 meters over the ground.
  Correct: The plane was flying 500 meters above the ground. (500 meters higher than the ground)
•  Incorrect: Ram put the blanket above the shivering beggar.
  Correct: Ram put the blanket over the shivering beggar.

9. Under

Usages: Under and below are almost same. Although, there are some slight differences. Under is used to denote that something is another something. It gives an impression of layers.

Example:

• He hid under the table.

10. Below
Usages: To denote something is at a lower position or level.
Example:

• They saw a tiger in the valley below the mountain.

11. Along
Usages: To denote movement beside a path on a line.
Examples:

• The car moved along the river.
• The dog walked on the footpath along the road.

12. Across
Usages: To denote a position or movement from one side to another side of something.
Examples:

• He swam across the river.
• We live across the street.

13. Through
Usages: Moving or passing the whole length
Example:

• We walked through the park.

14. Until
Usages: Until means upto. Till is same as until but informal.
Example:

• He slept until morning.

15. By
Usages: At the side of, beside, not later than, using
Examples:

• There is a market by the park.
• Please return library books by Monday.
• We will go to Delhi by bus.

16. Beside
Usages: At the side of.
Example:

• Riya was standing beside me.

17. On
Usages: something positioned on the surface of, touching
Example:

• The book is kept on the table.

18. Onto
Usages: Onto has similar meaning as on but it gives a feeling of movement
Example:

• The boy fell onto the floor.

19. In
Usages: Denotes position or movement within something.
Examples:

• The teacher is sitting in the class.
• Incorrect: He is swimming into the swimming pool.
  Correct: He is swimming in the swimming pool.

20. Into
Usages: Denotes a movement from outside of something into something.
Example:

• Incorrect: He jumped in the swimming pool.
  Correct: He jumped into the swimming pool.

21. Inside
Usages: Inside has a similar meaning as "in" but is used when the emphasis is on location. It also used to give a feeling of enclosed within or something which is contained within something but cannot be seen from outside.
Examples:

• It was very cold inside the room.
• What is inside that box?

22. At
Usages: To denote a specific time, a specific place, a specific location.
Examples:

• We reached school at 9 O'clock.
• We stay at E 100, Green apartments.