Grammar Updates:
Prepositions exercise --- 91
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Complete the following sentences using appropriate prepositions.
1. She was happy when she got the job. But six months …………………….. she was fired.
2. I prefer the seaside …………………. the mountains.
3. She stopped talking about her illnesses and went ………………… . to tell us about all her other problems.
4. He is inclined ………………………. lose his temper.
5. Children raised by single parents may have difficulty …………………… . forming stable relationships themselves.
6. A crocodile starts life ………………… .. an egg.
7. She was surprised …………………… .. his mistake.
8. The Managing Director began his address …………………… .. the shareholders by summarizing the results for the year.
9. There tends ………………….. be jealousy when a new little brother or sister comes along.
10. I am going …………………… . a business trip next week.
ЁЯЯвAnswersЁЯЯв
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1. She was happy when she got a job. But six months later she was fired.
2. I prefer the seaside to the mountains.
3. She stopped talking about her illnesses and went on to tell us about all her other problems.
4. He is inclined to lose temper.
5. Children raised by single parents may have difficulty in forming stable relationships themselves.
6. A crocodile starts life as an egg.
7. She was surprised at his mistake.
8. The Managing Director began his address to the shareholders by summarizing the results for the year.
9. There tends to be jealousy when a new brother or sister comes along.
10. I am going on a business trip next week.
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Prepositions --- 92
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Read the following sentences:
ЁЯФ╣There is some water in the bottle.
ЁЯФ╣He is fond of his daughter.
ЁЯФ╣He fell off the ladder.
ЁЯФ╕In sentence 1, the word in shows the relation between two things – water and bottle.
ЁЯФ╕In sentence 2, the word of shows the relation between the adjective fond and the noun daughter.
ЁЯФ╕In sentence 3, the word off shows the relation between the verb fell and the noun ladder.
These words which are used before a noun or a pronoun to show its relationship with another word in the sentence are called prepositions. The noun or pronoun which follows a preposition is called its object. Note that pronouns used after a preposition should be in the objective case.
ЁЯФ╣He is fond of her. (NOT He is fond of she.)
A preposition may have two or more objects.
ЁЯФ╣Between you and me there are few secrets. (Here the pronouns you and me are the objects of the preposition between.)
Kinds of prepositions
There are different kinds of prepositions.
ЁЯНБ Simple prepositions
These are words like at, in, for, to, with, on, off, out, etc.
ЁЯФ╣He is in the office.
ЁЯФ╣She sat on the bench.
ЁЯФ╣She is angry with him.
ЁЯНБ Compound prepositions
These are words like above, before, behind, below, across, among, around, beside and between. Compound prepositions are generally formed by adding the prefix ‘a-‘ or ‘by-‘ to a noun, an adjective or an adverb.
ЁЯНБ Phrase prepositions
These are groups of words that serve as prepositions. Examples are: according to, along with, because of, in front of, by means of, on behalf of, in accordance with, in addition to, with reference to and in spite of.
ЁЯФ╣Owing to his ill health, he retired from business.
ЁЯФ╣He succeeded by dint of perseverance and hard work.
ЁЯФ╣She stood in front of the mirror.
ЁЯФ╣I can’t get along with him.
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Relations shown by prepositions --- 93
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Prepositions show various kinds of relations. The most important among them are the following:
ЁЯНБPlace
ЁЯФ╣She ran across the street.
ЁЯФ╣The boy fell among the thorns.
ЁЯФ╣We were at the foot of the hill.
ЁЯФ╣The thief was hiding behind the cupboard.
ЁЯНБTime
ЁЯФ╣I have a meeting in the afternoon.
ЁЯФ╣You must return before sunset.
ЁЯФ╣Wait till tomorrow.
ЁЯФ╣We waited for hours.
ЁЯНБMethod and manner
ЁЯФ╣The letter came by post.
ЁЯФ╣He cut the cake with a knife.
ЁЯФ╣They fought with courage.
ЁЯФ╣They succeeded by hard work.
ЁЯНБReason and Purpose
ЁЯФ╣She died of malaria.
ЁЯФ╣He trembled with anger.
ЁЯФ╣Smoking is injurious to health.
ЁЯНБPossession
ЁЯФ╣He is a man of principles.
ЁЯФ╣Mumbai is the financial capital of India.
ЁЯФ╣I saw a boy with red hair.
Direction and Motion
ЁЯФ╣He fell into the well.
ЁЯФ╣He climbed up the tree.
ЁЯФ╣She walked towards the market.
ЁЯФ╣The moon moves around the earth.
ЁЯНБObjects of prepositions
ЁЯФ╣The object of a preposition may be a noun, a pronoun, a gerund, an infinitive or a noun clause.
ЁЯФ╣The house was built near a river. (Noun)
ЁЯФ╣She was talking to him. (Pronoun)
ЁЯФ╣We were prevented from entering the house. (Gerund)
ЁЯФ╣What would you like to do besides watch a movie? (Infinitive)
ЁЯФ╣I am content with what I have. (Noun clause)
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Correct use of some prepositions --- 94
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Prepositions may be small words, but they are very important ones and their correct use shows your mastery of the language. Here are some hints about the correct use of some prepositions.
ЁЯНБBeside and besides
Beside means ‘by the side of’. Besides means ‘in addition to’.
ЁЯФ╣They have a house beside the sea. (by the side of the sea)
ЁЯФ╣He stood beside me. (by my side)
ЁЯФ╣He plays the violin besides the piano and the guitar. (He plays three instruments.)
ЁЯФ╣Besides being a good actor, he is also a good singer. (= In addition to being a good actor, he is also a good singer.)
ЁЯНБSince and for
Since should be used with a point of time in the past. It is used with a present perfect tense. For is used only when you refer to a period of time.
ЁЯФ╣He has been absent since Tuesday. (NOT He has been absent for Tuesday.)
ЁЯФ╣I have been ill since last week.
ЁЯФ╣He has been absent for three days. (NOT He has been absent since three days.)
ЁЯФ╣I have been ill for two weeks.
ЁЯНБBetween and among
Between is used to refer to two or three separate people or things. Among is used when the reference is to a group of people or things which we do not see separately.
ЁЯФ╣She sat among the children.
ЁЯФ╣She sat between Susie and Ann.
ЁЯФ╣This is a custom which exists among the Hindus.
ЁЯФ╣He has a house between the river and the woods.
ЁЯНБBy and with
By is used to refer to the doer of the action. With is used to refer to the instrument with which the action is performed.
ЁЯФ╣The spider was killed by the boy.
ЁЯФ╣The boy killed the spider with a stone.
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Correct use of prepositions – part II --- 95
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ЁЯНБIn and At
In is usually used with large places – countries, districts, large cities etc. At is generally used for small and unimportant places like villages, small towns etc.
ЁЯФ╣We shall meet him at the club this evening.
ЁЯФ╣His brother lives in Paris.
Notes: This rule is not very rigidly followed. In is sometimes used with small places. At, however, is seldom used for big places.
ЁЯНБOn, in, at and by
At shows an exact point of time; on shows a more general point of time and in shows a period of time.
ЁЯФ╣I have a meeting at 4 pm.
ЁЯФ╣The train leaves at 2 o’clock.
ЁЯФ╣I was born on a Monday.
ЁЯФ╣I was born on April 21st.
ЁЯФ╣I was born in January.
ЁЯФ╣We will visit them in the summer.
ЁЯФ╣It is very hot in the day but quite cold at night.
By shows the latest time at which an action will be finished. So it is usually used with a future tense.
ЁЯФ╣I will be leaving by 6 o’clock.
ЁЯФ╣I hope to finish the work by next week.
ЁЯНБOn and upon
On is generally used to talk about things at rest. Upon is used about things in motion.
ЁЯФ╣She sat on a chair.
ЁЯФ╣He jumped upon his horse.
ЁЯНБIn, within
With reference to time, in means at the end of a certain period; within means before the end of a certain period.
ЁЯФ╣I will finish writing this book in three days. (at the end of three days)
ЁЯФ╣I will finish writing this book within three days. (before the end of three days)
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