Preposition – Definition, Types, Uses, Examples and Exercises

A Preposition is one of the eight parts of speech. It is placed before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show the relationship between people, places, things, time, direction, or position.

Prepositions help us understand where, when, how, or in what relation something happens.

In this lesson, you will learn:

• What is a Preposition?
• Types of Prepositions
• Common Uses of Prepositions
• Differences between commonly confused prepositions
• Common mistakes
• Exercises with answers

What is a Preposition?

Read the following sentences.

• The tiger is coming down the rock.
• The Yamuna meets the Ganga at Prayagraj.
• Veer Abdul Hamid fought in the 1965 war.
• Swami slept beside his grandmother.
• Kavita plays with me.

The highlighted words show the relationship between the action and the noun or pronoun.

These words are Prepositions.

Definition

A Preposition is a word placed before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show its relationship with another word in the sentence.

Prepositions express relationships such as:

• Place
• Time
• Direction
• Movement
• Cause
• Means
• Possession

Functions of Prepositions

Prepositions show:

Types of Prepositions

1. Simple Prepositions

These consist of a single word.

Examples:

• at
• by
• for
• from
• in
• on
• of
• to
• with
• over
• under

Sentences:

• The keys are on the table.
• He lives in Jaipur.
• She arrived at noon.

2. Compound Prepositions

Compound prepositions are formed from two or more words combined into a single preposition.

Examples:

• across
• around
• beside
• between
• behind
• below
• beyond
• inside
• outside
• within
• without

Sentences:

• The cat hid behind the sofa.
• We walked across the bridge.

3. Phrase Prepositions

These are groups of words that function as a single preposition.

Examples:

• according to
• because of
• instead of
• in front of
• in spite of
• in favour of
• on behalf of
• in accordance with
• owing to

Sentences:

• We cancelled the picnic because of the rain.
• She stood in front of the mirror.

Common Uses of Prepositions

1. In

In is used for:

Time

• in March
• in 2026
• in winter
• in the morning

Place

• in India
• in London
• in a room

Inside

• The apples are in the basket.

2. Into

Into shows movement from outside to inside.

Examples

• Mother walked into the kitchen.
• The child jumped into the pool.

Compare

• The children are in the classroom. (Position)
• The children went into the classroom. (Movement)

3. On

Used for:

• days
• dates
• surfaces

Examples

• on Monday
• on 15 August
• on the table
• on the wall

4. At

Used for:

Exact Time

• at 6:00 a.m.
• at midnight

Specific Place

• at the station
• at the entrance
• at home

In vs On vs At

5. To

Shows:

• direction
• destination
• relationship

Examples

• Go to school.
• Write to your friend.
• Be kind to animals.

6. From

Shows:

• starting point
• source
• separation

Examples

• She came from Delhi.
• This train runs from Mumbai.
• Different from.

7. By

Used for:

• means of transport
• agent in passive voice
• deadline

Examples

• by bus
• written by Premchand
• Finish it by Friday.

8. With

Used for:

• togetherness
• instrument
• possession

Examples

• Come with me.
• Cut it with a knife.
• A man with a beard.

9. Of

Shows:

• possession
• relationship
• composition

Examples

• the colour of the sky
• a cup of tea
• the roof of the house

10. Over

Shows movement above or higher than something.

Examples

• The bird flew over the river.
• The cat jumped over the fence.

11. Above

Shows a higher position without necessarily involving movement.

Examples

• The fan is above the table.
• The sun rose above the hills.

Over vs Above

12. Under

Shows position directly below.

Examples:

• under the table
• under the tree

13. Below

Shows a lower level but not necessarily directly underneath.

Examples:

• below sea level
• below average

Under vs Below

14. Since and For

Since

Used with a starting point.

Examples:

• since Monday
• since 2022
• since childhood

For

Used with a period of time.

Examples:

• for two hours
• for five years
• for a long time

Since vs For

15. Between and Among

Between

Used for two people or things.

Example:

• Sit between Ravi and Mohan.

Among

Used for more than two.

Example:

• Divide the sweets among the students.

16. Beside and Besides

Beside

Means next to.

Example:

• Sit beside me.

Besides

Means in addition to.

Example:

• Besides English, she knows Hindi.

17. Before and After

Examples:

• before dinner
• after school
• before sunrise
• after lunch

18. Across and Through

Across

Means from one side to the other.

• Walk across the road.

Through

Means from one end to the other inside something.

• Drive through the tunnel.

19. Towards

Shows direction.

Examples:

• Walk towards the station.
• She moved towards the door.

20. Along

Shows movement in the same direction.

Examples:

• Walk along the river.
• We drove along the highway.

Common Mistakes

✘ He is married with her.

✔ He is married to her.

✘ She discussed about the project.

✔ She discussed the project.

(Discuss does not take about.)

✘ We entered into the room.

✔ We entered the room.

(Enter is generally used without into.)

✘ He has been waiting since three hours.

✔ He has been waiting for three hours.

✘ She has lived here for 2015.

✔ She has lived here since 2015.

✘ Divide the apples between five students.

✔ Divide the apples among five students.

Quick Revision Table

Summary

• A Preposition shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and another word in a sentence.
• Prepositions express time, place, direction, movement, cause, means, possession, and association.
• The three main types are Simple, Compound, and Phrase Prepositions.
• Learn the differences between commonly confused pairs such as in/into, on/at, between/among, since/for, beside/besides, and over/above.
• Choosing the correct preposition makes communication clear and grammatically accurate.

Practice Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.

1. Birds are flying ________ the tree.
2. The next meeting will be held ________ Friday, 2nd May.
3. Priya has been studying ________ two hours.
4. Sonalika was sitting ________ her parents.
5. Divide the cake ________ the children.
6. There was a long bridge ________ the river.
7. Mr. Sharma is kind ________ the poor.
8. Surbhi walked ________ the garden.
9. Tanu was worried ________ her brother.
10. Savita came ________ about 10 o’clock.

Practice Exercise 2

Choose the correct answer.

1. Which preposition shows movement from outside to inside?
   • (a) in
   • (b) into
   • (c) on
   • (d) at
2. Which sentence is correct?
   • (a) She has lived here for 2018.
   • (b) She has lived here since 2018.
   • (c) She has lived here from 2018.
   • (d) She has lived here by 2018.
3. Which preposition is used with exact time?
   • (a) in
   • (b) on
   • (c) at
   • (d) into
4. Which sentence is correct?
   • (a) Sit besides me.
   • (b) Sit beside me.
   • (c) Sit among me.
   • (d) Sit between me.
5. Which preposition is used for more than two people?
   • (a) between
   • (b) among
   • (c) beside
   • (d) across

Answers Exercise 1

1. above / over (depending on the intended meaning)
2. on
3. for
4. between
5. among
6. across
7. to
8. through (or around, depending on the intended meaning)
9. about
10. at

Answers Exercise 2

1. (b) into
2. (b) She has lived here since 2018.
3. (c) at
4. (b) Sit beside me.
5. (b) among