Preposition Rules - English Grammar

What is Preposition?

A preposition is a word placed before a noun to show in what relation the person or thing denoted by it stands to something else.

Kinds of preposition

(1) Simple preposition: they are the words used as prepositions.

Example: at, by, for, from, in, of, off, on, over, till, to, under, up, with, through, out.

(2)  Compound prepositions:  they are generally formed by prefixing a preposition (usually a = on or be= by) to a noun or an adverb.

Example:  about, above, across, along , amidst, among, around, before, behind, below, beside, between, beyond, inside, outside, within, without.

(3) Phrase Prepositions: When a group of word is used with the force of a single preposition, it is known as a phrase preposition. Example:

He succeeded in spite of obstacles.

(4) Participle prepositions:  when the present of a verb acts as a preposition, it is known as a participle preposition. Example:

There have not been too many celebrations in recent times barring those happened after Diwali.

Rule I: In is used with names of countries and large towns; at is more often used when speaking of small towns and villages. Example:

Incorrect: He lives at German y.

Correct: He lives in Germany.

Rule II: In and at are used in speaking of things at rest; to and into are used in speaking of things in motion. Example:

Incorrect: This week the song jumped at the top of the charts.

Correct: This week the song jumped to the top of the charts.

Rule III: Till is used of time and to is used of place. Example:

Incorrect: The office will remain open to six in the evening.

Correct: The office will remain open till six in the evening.

Rule IV: With often denotes the instrument used by the agent. Example:

Incorrect: The ball was hit by the bat.

Correct: The ball was hit with the bat.

Rule V: Both since and from are used before a noun denoting some point of time. However, while since is preceded by a verb in the perfect tense, from is used with the non-perfect tense. Example:

Incorrect: India has been playing Test cricket from 1932.

Correct: India has been playing Test cricket since 1932.

Rule VI: While since or from is used with a point of time, for is used with a period of time. Example:

Incorrect: The parcel has been lying here since 10 days.

Correct: The parcel has been lying here for 10 days.

Rule VII: Beside means by the side of while besides means in additions to. Example:

Incorrect: He sat besides the chair.

Correct: He sat beside the chair.

Rule VIII: Between is used for only two things or persons while among is used for more than two. Example:

Incorrect: You have to choose among tea and coffee.

Correct: You have to choose between tea and coffee.

Rule IX: Above and below merely denote position while over and under also carry a sense of covering or movement. Example:

Incorrect: The bird flew above the lake.

Correct: The bird flew over the lake.

Rule X: During is used when we are talking about the time within which something happens. For is used when we are talking about how long something lasts. Example:

Incorrect: There were few incidents of irregularity for the Emergency years.

Correct: There were few incidents of irregularity during the Emergency years.

Rule XI: The preposition “off” denotes “separation”, “at a distance from” or “far from” whereas the preposition “of” denotes cause, origin, quality, possession. Example:

Incorrect: He put of his coat.

Correct: He put off his coat. (Separation)

Incorrect: He died off cancer.

He died of cancer. (Cause)

Rule XII: The word compare is followed by to when it shows that two things are alike. It is followed by with when we look at the ways in which two things are like and unlike each other. Example:

Incorrect: Sanath Jayasuriya's batting may be compared with the sales of a useful book: they score fast right from the beginning.

Correct: Sanath Jayasuriya's batting may be compared to the sales of a useful book: they score fast right from the beginning.

Rule XIII: When we simply speak of a thing having got better, we talk of an improvement in it. When we compare two things, the second of which is better than the first, we talk of an improvement on the first thing. Example:

Incorrect: There has been an improvement on the weather.

Correct: There has been an improvement in the weather.

Rule XIV: In means at the end of, while within means before the end of, the said time duration. Example:

Incorrect: We left at 5 o'clock expecting to come back in an hour and watch the 6 o'clock movie.

Incorrect: We left at 5 o'clock expecting to come back within an hour and watch the 6 o'clock movie.

Some important points about prepositions

1. The words “superior”, “inferior”, “senior”, “junior” etc. take the preposition “to” with them. Example:

Incorrect: Ram is senior than Mohan.

Correct: Ram is senior to Mohan.

2. The words “prefer”, “preferable”, “preferred” also take the preposition “to” with them. Example:

Incorrect: I prefer tea than coffee.

Correct: I prefer tea to coffee.

3. The words “in spite of” and “despite” share the same meaning. The only difference is that in spite takes the preposition “of” whereas despite does not take any preposition. Example:

Incorrect: Despite of bad weather, he went to school.

Correct: Despite bad weather, he went to school.

In the same way, the word “consist” takes the preposition “of” whereas “comprise” does not take any preposition.

Incorrect: The classroom comprises of twenty students.

Correct: The classroom comprises twenty students.