Grade 10 Grammar

Simple Joining Examples

1 The forest was gloomy and dark.Mr.Oliver travelled through it.
The forest through which Mr.Oliver travelled was dark and gloomy.

2 This is the house. Mr.Rajesh occupied it.

This is the house that Mr.Rajesh occupied.

3 She proposed the budget.It was accepted by all.

The budget she proposed was accepted by all.

4 He must return the money .He will be punished.

He must return the money or he will be punished.

5 She has fever.She cannot attend her private tuition.

She cannot attend her private tuition as she has fever.

6 He worked hard.He could not pass the exam.

Although he worked hard,he could not pass the exam.

7 Brutus killed Caesar.Caesar was ambitious.

As Caesar was ambitious ,Brutus killed him.

8 He is naughty.He does not listen to my advice.

He is too naughty to listen my advice.

9 Take care of your parents.It is your prime duty.

Taking care of your parents is your prime duty.

10 The mother embraced her child.It was a lovingly moment.

The mother embracing her child was a loving moment.

11.The hall was very small and had no ventilation.I sat inside it.
I sat inside the hall which was very small and had no ventilation.

12 Give food to the poor.It is a noble deed.

Giving food to the poor is a noble deed.

13 The girl is tall.She does not wear heels.

The girl is too tall to wear heels.

14 The thief was put into the prison.It was quickly done by the inspector.
The inspector quickly put the thief into the prison.

15 The team played well.They could not win the match.

Although the team played well,they could not win the match.
16.He is very proud.He does not admit his fault.
He is too proud to admit his fault.

17 The trunk is very heavy.I cannot lift it.

The trunk is too heavy for me to lift it.

18 The officer sent me no reply for a few days.I decided to meet him
personally.
As the officer sent me no reply for a few days,I decided to meet him
personally.

19.The hill is very steep.He can climb it.

Although the hill is very steep,he can climb it.

20.I saw the snake.I shouted.

When I saw the snake I shouted.

PREVAIL(TO ASK OR PERSUADE SOMEONE FOR

SOMETHING)

PREVAIL ON/UPON
I prevailed on/upon her to join our course.
She was prevailed on/upon to give an explanation of her
absence in the meeting.
Rohit was prevailed on/upon giving up of his habit of smoking.
I prevailed on him to join our team.

Here we see that prevail follows the prepositionon/upon.

This is to persuade or to ask someone to do something .So
we must understand the meaning of the sentence and then
apply the preposition.

PREVAIL(PROVE MORE POWERFUL)

PREVAIL OVER

Good deeds prevail over the forces of evil power.

Strength will prevail over weakness.
Bundle of joys prevail over million dollars.
Here we see that prevail follows the
preposition over. This is to show that one is
powerful than other.So we must understand
the meaning of the sentence and then apply
the preposition.

PREVAIL IN
Rigid customs prevail in interior of village culture.
The weight of gravity prevails in experienced person.
The cool climate prevails in the hilly regions of Himalayas.

Here we see that prevail follows the

preposition in. This is to show that
something is found in somewhere.So we
must understand the meaning of the
sentence and then apply the preposition.
Call for(asks for some
information ,something to be done )
She called for a party to honour the brave
children.
The teacher called for an explanation for his
absence.
They called for celebration at their success.

Call up(to phone someone)/recall

I called up my mom late at night.

You can call up the teacher after the period is over.
I called up the minister yesterday.
He called up the old memories and felt lonely.
I called up the professor to help me with my project.

Fill in each blank with an appropriate word

1.Do not run _______your rivals.

2.He did not comply______the wishes of his father.
3.The school will bring _______the annual magazine.
4.She has got ______all difficulties.
5.Students must look______to their teachers with respect.
6.His part time job brings_____a small amount of money.
7.His lack of punctuality will be held_______him.

1.behind
2.with
3.out
4.over
5.up
6.in
7.against

1. She would rather prefer to be scientist than to be soldier.

2.Using calculator in exam hall is against the rule of the
examination.
3The books will be delivered within ten days .
4.You will find the toy inside the box.
5.The Gulliver's Travel is written by Jonathan Swift.
6.The child was running along the bank of the river.
7.He was thrown out of the game as he did something which
is against the rules.
8.The office is somewhere around the clock tower in the market.
9.The girl knows every thing about the boy.
10.She called up her friend in the evening.

PUT

1.She has put back her books on the shelf.

2.Do not put down your friends any time.
3.I would like to put forward my ideas about the new project.
4.The mother told the child to put on her shoes.
5.Six fire engines came to put out the fire in the building.
6.He has put out a weekly magazine for kids.
7.The meeting has been put off for no reason.

Preposition for practice

1.The teacher asked for the copies from the students.

2.I was presented a bicycle on my birthday by my father.
3.She took sugar and honey from the shopkeeper.
4.The teacher was upset with the students of the class for their
misbehaviour.
5.It has been a long time since the two friends met each other.
6.He stood by his friend in the hour of need.
7.Truth always prevails in long run.
8.The boy was hiding behind the sofa.

Preposition for practice

1.Do not worry about your marks as it will not be counted in the
final result.
2.Let the lights be switched off.
3.The Prince is married to the brave soldier.
4.As I stepped into the room I found my guest was sitting in the
sofa.

PREPOSITION
A preposition is a word which relates a noun
or pronoun and remaining part of the sentence.

Let the class begin before the scheduled

time.
I came across a beautiful lake.
Do not run until I allow you to do.
Find the time to complete you work.

The words in bold letter are the preposition used

in the sentences.
Free practice sets in preposition
Preposition Practice Sets with
solution
These examples are given so that students
preparing for their Icse/Cbse English grammar
can be benefited .
1. It will take ____an hour to get to there.
2. She entertained them ______narrating her
adventures in Africa.
3. This animal is found ______Australia and
nowhere else.
4. Rex is now ready _____ answer to my
questions.
5. He prefers watching TV______ reading.
6. Why are you looking ______ her watch?
7. The Bengalis had a passion _______ rasgoollas.
8. Patience is the key______ jigsaw puzzle.
9. The patient is receiving treatment _____ a
specialist doctor.
10. Interests are expected to rise______two
percentage.

Answers
1.about
2.by
3.in
4.to
5.to
6.at
7.for
8.to
9.from
10.by
Free Exercises on Preposition

Preposition Practice Sets with

solution
1.She was rewarded ____ all her hard works.
2.He slipped a coat ____ his shirt.
3.Don't pretend that you know much _____the
subject.
4. Speak _____ injustice.
5.His pride forced him ___ suffer a lot.
6.Superstition still prevails ____ certain section
of people in society.
7.We are ___ the process of buying a new car.
8.The man was puffing _____ smoke from his
mouth.
9.There should be punishment _______ people
who are involved in corruption.
10.The meeting was called ______ the purpose of
selecting the chairman.
Answers
1.for
2.over
3.about
4.against
5.to
6.among
7.in
8.out
9.against
10.for
Free Exercises on Preposition

Preposition Practice Sets with

solution
1.Ravi promised to come but he never turned
____
2.The witness agreed to sign the paper only
_____ much persuasion.
3.We can't begin the program ____ the chief
guest arrives.
4.I have been taking the medicine _____ July.
5.We should not connect our past ____ our
present.
6.Due to poor weather we had not been ___ the
cinema hall on Monday.
7.The boy picked up the cup and held it ______
his mouth.
8.The publisher will bring _____ a book on life of
Irfan Khan.
9.Why did he deprive you ___ your property?
10.He was accused ____ stealing.

Answers
1.up
2.after
3.until
4.since
5.with
6.to
7.towards
8.out
9.of
10.of
Free Exercises on Preposition
Preposition Practice Sets with
solution

1.His response ____eye contact is really

commendable.
2.Forests soak _____ carbondioxide and release
oxygen.
3.Don’t consume too much _____ meat at a time.
4.The whole society has turned ______ him.
5.Here is some advice ______ the teacher.
6.Inspite ____ being a small boy ,he fought the
giant.
7._______robbing him ,they killed him also.
8.Music is a passion ____ him.
9.He fought _____ his last breathe.
10.Don’t let _____ your friends.

Answers

1.through
2.up
3.of
4.against
5.from
6.of
7.Besides
8.for
9.till

10.down

Preposition Practice Series 5

1. ____ cricket,I also like Tennis.

2.____ watching cricket, I enjoy watching football and

basketball.

3. There is no way_____ to accept the truth.

4.______ my novels and poems,I have published my short

stories.

5. The car came towards the blind man _____the road.

6.She is walking _____ the bank of the river.

7.He walked ________ the pine forest while returning way
back to

home.

Answers

1.Besides

2.Apart from

3.but
4.Besides

5.across
6.along
7.through

Practice sheet grammar 6

1. The lady had fallen ______ the threshold of her own door.

2. The kitten had secured a place ____ shelter in my house.

3. She had injured her spine _______ the final selection.

4. She had been looking _____ for a handsome guy.

1. upon

2. of

3. before

4. out

ICSE EXAMPLES ON PREPOSITION 2007

1. Truth always prevails ___ the long run.

2. Sujata stood ____ the river and saw the ship

pass by.

3. She took some money ___ her father.

4. Shilpa gave me a rare gift ___ my birthday.

5. Deepak was very upset ____ me.

6.Michel is longing ___ meet me.

7. It has been a long time ____ I met my sister.

8.The worker has asked ____ his wages.

Answers

1. in
2. beside

3. from

4. on

5. with

6. to

7. since

8. for

Practice sheet grammar 7(Answers in bold

letters
1.My mother came across the old lady in the market
selling bangles

of different colours.

2. It is seven o' clock by my watch.

3. I have spent most of my childhood in Hyderabad.

4.Raj has decorated his interior office walls with beautiful

paintings.

5.There was an argument between the two brothers.

6.I had nearly fainted as the temperature was below the

freezing

point.

7.The man slept under the tree for the whole night.

8.Don't jump over the wall.

You may fall.

9.The boy standing behind me is Suresh.

10.Look the beautiful sky above you.

11.Finally the match ended before time.

12.Don't get into the room as some teachers are there.

13. He experienced a horrible incident while passing through the dense

forest.
14.Besides being a poet, he is a painter too.

15.There was a quarrel between the two friends.

16.look inside the train, it is full with passengers.

17.The late comers are not allowed to stand in the row.

18. A hemispherical and conical hole are

scooped out a solid wooden cylinder.

Ways Of Joining Sentences #1

Joining Sentences into a Simple Sentence

Rule 1: By using an Infinitive

Daily Grammar Test - Attempt Now

Sentences Joining

She loves to read. The novel She loves to read the

is interesting. interesting novel.

He has a desire. He wants to He has a desire to travel

travel the world. the world.

They practice regularly. They They practice regularly

aim to improve. to improve.

She has a goal. She wants to She has a goal to learn

learn French. French.
 Sentences Joining

He works hard. He wishes to He works hard to achieve

achieve success. success.

Rule 2: Putting an adjective before a noun

Sentences Joining

I want to buy the fast

The car is fast. I want to buy it.
car.

She has a cat. The cat is playful. She has a playful cat.

He met a girl. The girl is He met an intelligent

intelligent. girl.

There is a house. The house is

There is an old house.
old.

I found a book. The book is I found an interesting

interesting. book.

Rule 3: Using an Adverb or Adverbial Phrase

Sentences Joining

She will finish the project. She will certainly finish the
It is certain. project.

He plays the piano. He He plays the piano with

plays it with great skill. great skill. (Adv. phrase)

They will complete the They will undoubtedly

 Sentences Joining

assignment. There is no
complete the assignment.
doubt.

The sun will rise The sun will rise tomorrow

tomorrow. It is without a doubt. (Adv.
guaranteed. phrase)

She can solve the puzzle. She can easily solve the
She can solve it easily. puzzle.

Rule 4: Using a Present Participle

Sentences Joining

Do not touch the stove. It is Do not touch the burning

burning. stove.

Do not play with the fire. It Do not play with the

is burning. burning fire.

The child was hungry. She Being hungry, the child

ate a snack. ate a snack.

The dog was cold. It curled Being cold, the dog

up in a blanket. curled up in a blanket.

We saw a homeless man. He We saw a homeless man

was eating out of a dumpster. eating out of a dumpster.

Rule 5: Using a Past Participle

Sentences Joining
We noticed a car. It was
We noticed an abandoned
abandoned on the side of the
car on the side of the road.
road.

They encountered a They encountered an

problem. It was unexpected. unexpected problem.

She found a book. It was She found a book hidden

hidden behind the shelf. behind the shelf.

Rule 6: Using a Perfect Participle

Sentences Joining

She read the book. She Having read the book, she
wrote a summary. wrote a summary.

They explored the ancient Having explored the

ruins. They took many ancient ruins, they took
photographs. many photographs.

He solved the puzzle. He Having solved the puzzle,

felt a sense of he felt a sense of
accomplishment. accomplishment.

They completed the Having completed the

marathon. They received marathon, they received
medals. medals.

She finished the painting. Having finished the

She signed it. painting, she signed it.

Rule 7: Using a Preposition with a Verbal Noun/Gerund

Sentences Joining
He received a job offer. He On receiving the job offer,
jumped with joy. he jumped with joy.

They saw the results of the On seeing the results of the

experiment. They were experiment, they were
amazed. amazed.

She received a promotion On receiving a promotion

at work. She threw a party at work, she threw a party
to celebrate. to celebrate.

Rule 8: Using a Prepositional Phrase

Sentences Joining

The cat climbed the tree. It The cat climbed the tree in
wanted to catch the bird. an attempt to catch the bird.

He worked hard. He won He won the prize by dint of

the prize. hard work.

Rule 9: Using a Noun/Phrase in Apposition

Sentences Joining

Maria is an excellent
Maria, an excellent pianist,
pianist. She performed at
performed at the concert.
the concert.

Tom is a skilled chef. He Tom, a skilled chef,

prepared a delicious meal. prepared a delicious meal.

The city has a famous

The city, home to a famous
landmark. It attracts
landmark, attracts tourists
tourists from around the
from around the world.
world.
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Rule 10: Using a Nominative Absolute [an Absolute Phrase]

Sentences Joining

The train arrived at

The train having arrived at the
the station.
station, the passengers
The passengers
disembarked.
disembarked.

The chef prepared

The chef, having prepared the
the ingredients.
ingredients, the aroma filled the
The aroma filled the
kitchen.
kitchen.

The concert started.

The concert having started, the
The audience
audience applauded.
applauded.

Ways Of Joining Sentences #2

Joining Sentences Into Complex Sentence

Rule 1: Joining with a Noun Clause
Linker: (that, who, which, what, why, if, etc.)
Sentences Joining

He passed the exam. I am I am certain that he

certain about it. passed the exam.

She solved the puzzle. I am I am curious about how

curious about it. she solved the puzzle.

They missed the deadline. Our concern is that they

This is our concern. missed the deadline.

They are celebrating. We are We are unaware of why

unaware of the occasion. they are celebrating.

Rule 2. Joining with a Relative Clause

Linker: who, whose, whom, which, when, where, why, that, etc.

Original Sentences: Mary is a talented musician. I met her

yesterday.
Combined Sentence with a Relative Clause:Mary, whom I met
yesterday, is a talented musician.

Original Sentences: The book is on the shelf. I was searching for

it.
Combined Sentence with a Relative Clause: The book that I was
searching for is on the shelf.

Original Sentences: The professor is very knowledgeable. I attend

his lectures.
Combined Sentence with a Relative Clause: The professor
whose lectures I attend is very knowledgeable.

Original Sentences: The city is beautiful. I visited it last summer.

Combined Sentence with a Relative Clause: The city that I
visited last summer is beautiful.

Original Sentences: The reason is not clear. I cannot understand

it.
Combined Sentence with a Relative Clause: The reason why I
cannot understand it is not clear.
Original Sentences: The house is old. They live in it.
Combined Sentence with a Relative Clause: The house in which
they live is old.

Original Sentences: This is the place. We first met here.

Combined Sentence with a Relative Clause: This is the place
where we first met.

Original Sentences: The dog is friendly. I adopted it from the

shelter.
Combined Sentence with a Relative Clause: The dog that I
adopted from the shelter is friendly.

Rule 3: Joining with an Adverbial Clause

Linker: If, though, as, when, where, so that, etc.

If: She will come to the party. You invite her.

Combined Sentence: She will come to the party if you invite her.

Though: It is raining. We will go for a walk.

Combined Sentence: We will go for a walk, though it is raining.

As: I was leaving. The phone rang.

Combined Sentence: As I was leaving, the phone rang.

When: The sun sets. We will start the barbecue.

Combined Sentence: We will start the barbecue when the sun
sets.

Where: She visited Paris. She met her long-lost friend there.
Combined Sentence: She visited Paris where she met her long-lost
friend.

So that: Study hard. You will pass the exam.

Combined Sentence: Study hard so that you will pass the exam.

Although: It’s hot. I enjoy going for a run.

Combined Sentence: Although it’s hot, I enjoy going for a run.
Ways Of Joining Sentences #3

Joining Sentences Into Compound Sentence

Rule 1: Using Co-ordinating Conjunctions(and, but, or, So, therefore,
yet, either….or, neither….nor)

And: I love hiking. My brother prefers swimming. Compound

Sentence: I love hiking, and my brother prefers swimming.

But: He is intelligent. He failed the exam. Compound

Sentence: He is intelligent but he failed the exam.

Or: We can watch a movie. We can go for a walk. Compound

Sentence: We can watch a movie or go for a walk.

So: The sun was setting. We decided to set up a

campfire. Compound Sentence: The sun was setting, so we
decided to set up a campfire.

Yet: It was raining. We decided to go for a picnic. Compound

Sentence: It was raining, yet we decided to go for a picnic.

Either…or: You can choose pizza. You can choose

pasta. Compound Sentence: You can either choose pizza or pasta.

Neither…nor: She neither likes coffee. She likes tea. Compound

Sentence: She neither likes coffee nor tea.

Joining Sentences Exercises

Joining Sentences Exercise for Grades 8, 9 & 10

Instructions: Combine the following pairs of sentences using
appropriate conjunctions, relative pronouns, or other
connecting words.

1. The sun was setting. The sky turned shades of orange

and pink.
2. She is an excellent artist. She often draws portraits of her
friends.
3. The students worked hard. They wanted to impress their
teacher.
4. The movie was exciting. It had a surprising twist at the
end.
5. The old house is haunted. Many people avoid walking
past it at night.
6. They missed the bus. They had to find an alternate mode
of transportation.
7. The scientists conducted experiments. They were trying
to discover a cure for the disease.
8. It was a rainy day. We decided to stay indoors and play
board games.
9. The novel was long and complex. I enjoyed reading it.
10. The bakery sells delicious pastries. The aroma
always attracts customers.
Answers:

1. As the sun was setting, the sky turned shades of orange

and pink.
2. She is an excellent artist who often draws portraits of her
friends.
3. The students worked hard to impress their teacher.
4. The movie, which was exciting, had a surprising twist at
the end.
5. The old house, which is haunted, is avoided by many
people at night.
6. Having missed the bus, they had to find an alternate
mode of transportation.
7. The scientists conducted experiments in an attempt to
discover a cure for the disease.
8. Because it was a rainy day, we decided to stay indoors
and play board games.
9. Although the novel was long and complex, I enjoyed
reading it.
10. The bakery, which sells delicious pastries, always
attracts customers with its aroma.
Joining Sentences Exercise for Grades 6, 7 & 8
Instructions: Combine the following pairs of sentences using
conjunctions or connecting words.

1. The cat sat on the windowsill. It watched the birds

outside.
2. Mary is allergic to peanuts. She brought a peanut butter
sandwich for lunch.
3. The students finished their project. They celebrated their
success.
4. The alarm clock rang. She woke up immediately.
5. Emily practiced the piano for hours. She wanted to
perform well in the concert.
6. It was raining heavily. The soccer match was canceled.
7. The garden is beautiful. I often spend time reading there.
8. Tom enjoys science. He finds it fascinating.
9. The bicycle had a flat tire. I had to walk to school.
10. Julia studied hard for the test. She didn’t perform
well.
Answers:

1. The cat sat on the windowsill and watched the birds

outside.
2. Although Mary is allergic to peanuts, she brought a
peanut butter sandwich for lunch.
3. The students finished their project, and they celebrated
their success.
4. When the alarm clock rang, she woke up immediately.
5. Emily practiced the piano for hours so that she could
perform well in the concert.
6. Because it was raining heavily, the soccer match was
canceled.
7. The garden is beautiful, and I often spend time reading
there.
8. Tom enjoys science because he finds it fascinating.
9. The bicycle had a flat tire, so I had to walk to school.
10. Although Julia studied hard for the test, she didn’t
perform well.

Joining Sentences Exercise for Grades 3, 4 & 5

Instructions: Combine the following pairs of sentences using
basic conjunctions or connecting words.

1. The sun is up. The sky is blue.

2. Lucy has a yellow dress. She also has a red one.
3. Max went to the store. He bought candy.
4. The cat is black. It has green eyes.
5. It’s a rainy day. We will stay inside.
Answers:

1. The sun is up and the sky is blue.

2. Lucy has a yellow dress and a red one.
3. Max went to the store and bought candy.
4. The cat is black with green eyes.
5. It’s a rainy day, so we will stay inside.

Types Of Preposition

There are 6 types of Prepositions

1. Simple Prepositions
2. Double Prepositions
3. Compound Prepositions
4. Participle Prepositions
5. Phrase Prepositions
6. Disguised Prepositions

Simple prepositions
Simple Prepositions are at, after, by, for, from, in, of, on, out, over,
through, till, up, under, with, off, till, over, etc.

 I put my keys on the table.

 The plane flew over the mountains.
 I will cook dinner with my mom tonight.
 Please turn off the lights when you leave the room.
 He will arrive at 10 a.m.

Double prepositions
When a single preposition is not sufficient to express the sense, two
simple prepositions are combined to express the sense completely.

Some Double Prepositions are into, from among, from within, from
behind, over against, out of, etc.

 He was chosen from among a group of talented

musicians.
 The cat emerged from within the bushes.
 The thief sneaked away from behind the parked car.
 The car was parked over against the wall.
 The bird flew out of the tree and into the sky.

Compound prepositions
Compound prepositions are formed by combining two or more words
to form a new proposition. Compound prepositions are usually
formed by prefixing a preposition with a noun, an adjective, or an
adverb.

Some examples of Compound prepositions are as follows:

 across (= on + cross),
 amidst (= on + middle),
 behind ( = by + hind),
 about (= on + by + out),
 above (= on + by + up),
 before (= by + fore)
 beneath (= by + neath),
 between (=by + twain),
 beyond (= by + yonder),
 but (= by + out, except)

Participial prepositions
Some present or past participles such as considering, concerning,
regarding, pending, notwithstanding, etc. are used as prepositions.
These words are known as Participle Prepositions.

 Notwithstanding her boss’s criticism, the employee

submitted her report.
 Regarding this matter, I cannot provide any additional
information.
  The stream flows past the meadow.
 Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the plane will
take off on time.
 Concerning her artwork, critics have mixed opinions.

Phrase prepositions or Prepositional phrases

When a phrase begins and ends with a Preposition (of, at.
by. with, from, over etc.) it is called a Prepositional Phrase.

Some common Phrase Prepositions are – On the eve of, In

consequence of, In the place of, In company with, At enmity with, In
keeping with, In prospect of, Because of, By force of, In pursuit of,
With an eye to, By the side of, By means of, etc.

Disguised prepositions
When the prepositions ‘on‘ and ‘of‘ are changed, into ‘a‘ and ‘o‘
respectively they are called Disguised prepositions; as

This fair is held once a year” – “A” is used here as a shortened form
of “on,” indicating that the fair is held on a yearly basis.

“It’s ten o’clock now” – “O” is used here as a shortened form of “of,”
indicating that the time is ten hours of the clock.

Uses Of Preposition

Preposition About

 On the subject of: The lecture was about the benefits

of exercise.
 At a time near to: We’ll be ready to leave at about 7
PM.
  In/round: There’s a lot to see and do about the city.
 Carried with: I always make sure to have some cash
on/about me in case of emergencies.
 Relating to: He’s always talking about his job, but I
don’t know much about it.

Preposition Above

 Higher than something: The clouds were floating

above the mountain peak.
 More than: The temperature rose above 90 degrees
Fahrenheit.
 Higher in rank, position, etc.: He was promoted to a
position above his colleagues.
 Beyond the reach of: The company’s success is above
reproach.
 Beyond the limits of: His arrogance is above all reason.

Preposition After

 Later than: She’s going on vacation after the school

year ends.
 In view of/in spite of: After what you’ve done, I don’t
know if I can trust you again. After all the obstacles, she
finally reached her goal.
 In pursuit or quest of: The dog chased after the
squirrel.
 About/concerning: I inquired after his health.
 In imitation of: This sculpture is modelled after a
famous artist’s work.
 Indicating much repetition: He hit the same note on
the piano key after key. She ran mile after mile in her
training.
Next to in order: Your presentation is scheduled after
mine in the conference lineup.
Preposition At

 Expressing the position of a person/thing: The

concert is at the park. The party is at my friend’s house.
 Expressing a point in time: The movie starts at 7 pm.
The meeting is at 2 pm.
 Expressing engagement in an activity: He is at the
gym. She is at the doctor’s office.
 Expressing a price/rate/speed: The shoes are selling
at $50. The car is driving at 60 miles per hour.
 Expressing age: She got her first job at 25. The building
was demolished at 50 years old.
 Expressing direction (towards): The bird flew at the
window. He pointed the gun at the target.
 In response to: She nodded her head at his suggestion.
 Used with a superlative: The restaurant is at its
busiest on Friday nights. The view from the mountain
peak is at its most stunning in the early morning.

Preposition Before

 Earlier than somebody/something: I always wake up

before sunrise. We have to finish this project before the
deadline.
 In front of/ahead: The car in front of me suddenly
stopped. The runner was ahead of his competitors. The
road before us was long and winding.
 In the presence of: The suspect was brought before the
judge. I feel nervous speaking before a large audience.
 Rather than/in preference to: I would go for a walk
rather than watch TV. She chose to study business
administration instead of medicine.
Preposition Behind

 In the rear of: The car behind us is honking

continuously.
 Hidden or implied by: The true intention behind his
actions is still a mystery.
 Inferior to/weaker than: Our team is currently behind
in the score.
 Indicating lateness in time: The construction work is
behind schedule.
 In favor of/supportive of: The company is fully behind
the decision to implement eco-friendly policies.

Preposition By

 Near/Beside: She sat by my side during the entire

movie. There is a supermarket by the gas station that
offers fresh produce.
 During: The baby cries during the night and plays during
the day. She prefers to exercise during the morning and
meditate during the evening.
 Not later than before: You must finish your homework
by tonight, or you will not be allowed to go out. We have
to submit the report by the end of this week, or else we
might lose the contract.
 Through the agency or means of:I learned to play the
guitar by taking online classes. He found the address by
searching on Google Maps. The artist created a
masterpiece by using a mix of watercolours and acrylic
paints.
 According to: By law, you must wear a seatbelt while
driving a car. According to the weather forecast, it will
snow heavily tonight.
 Using something as a standard: The cake was priced
by the slice. He charges by the minute for his legal
advice. The tailor measures the cloth by the yard.
  To the extent: The athlete missed the gold medal by a
fraction of a second. The car passed by a hair’s breadth
from the pedestrian.
 With regard to: By birth, she is Chinese but grew up in
the United States. He is an engineer by profession and a
traveler by heart. She is known by her stage name, not
her birth name.
 Because of/As a result of/Through: I lost my wallet by
mistake. He became a successful entrepreneur through
hard work and dedication. By working together, we can
achieve our common goal.
 Indicating part of the body touched: She was struck
by a ball on her face. He was hugged by his best friend.
The doctor examined the patient by touching his
abdomen.

Preposition For

 In the interest or to the benefit of: She sacrificed

everything for her family. He donated a large sum of
money for charity.
 Indicating purpose or function: She bought a new
dress for the party. He built a shed for storing tools. I am
learning Spanish for my upcoming trip.
 Indicating destination, aim, or reason: They left for
Paris last night. I am studying for my exams. The
company is hiring for a new position.
 Instead of: I will have soup for lunch instead of a
sandwich. She chose the blue dress for the red one.
 As the price, reward, or penalty of something: He
paid $50 for the concert ticket. He was fined $100 for
speeding.
 Indicating preparations: She is getting ready for her
wedding day. They are preparing for the big game.
 As a representative of somebody/something: He
spoke for the company at the conference. She acted as a
spokesperson for the group.
 In defence or support of (somebody/something): He
stood up for his friend when he was being bullied. They
are fighting for their rights.
  In order to obtain something (After a verb): She
went to the store for bread and milk. He is searching for a
job.
 With regard to (somebody/something)/concerning
(somebody/something): We need to make a decision
for the future of the company. She has concerns for her
daughter’s safety.
 Because of: He was late for the meeting due to traffic.
They cancelled the event for the bad weather. She got a
headache for staying up too late.
 Indicating a length of time: They have been married
for 10 years.
 Indicating liking/affection: She has a passion for
photography.
 Indicating fitness: He is not fit for the marathon.
 Indicating distance: The nearest gas station is 10 miles
for here.
 In spite of: For all his wealth, he was not happy.

Preposition From

 Indicating the place or direction from which

somebody/something starts: She walks from her
house to the park every day. The train departs from
platform number 2.
 Indicating the time at which something starts: The
office will be closed from tomorrow. The sale will start
from 1st May.
 Indicating who sent, gave something: He received a
gift from his girlfriend. I got a message from my boss.
 Indicating the source from which something is
taken: She extracted the juice from the oranges.
 Indicating the material from which something is
made: This dress is made from cotton. The cake is made
from chocolate.
 Showing the model: The sculpture is made from clay
from the river bank. This portrait is painted from a
photograph.
 Indicating separation, removal, etc: She took away
the toy from her little brother.
  Showing cause/reason/motive:He is suffering from a
fever. He resigned from his job due to stress.
 Showing a distinction between two things: His
personality is different from his brother’s. The taste of the
pizza is distinct from the pasta.
 Indicating a standpoint: From a customer’s point of
view, the service is poor.

Preposition In

 Indicating place/position: The cat is hiding in the box.

The restaurant is in the heart of the city.
 Indicating movement into something: He jumped in
the pool. She put her hand in her pocket.
 Indicating a period of time: The concert will start in
five minutes. We will be on vacation in August.
 Indicating a certain time: The plane will arrive in two
hours. The party will start in an hour.
 Within a certain time: The cake will be ready in thirty
minutes.
 Indicating inclusion: There are twelve months in a
year. There are twenty-four hours in a day.
 Wearing: She is dressed in a red dress. He is clothed in
black.
 Indicating circumstances/surroundings: We went for
a walk in the rain. He works in an office.
 Indicating the state/condition of somebody or
something: The car is in good condition. She is in a good
mood today.
 Indicating form/arrangement: The book is written in
the first person. The chairs are arranged in a circle.
 Indicating the medium, means, material, etc.: She
communicated in sign language. The painting was done
in oil on canvas.
 Regarding something: She excels in sports but
struggles in academics. He has a lot of experience in the
field.
 Indicating somebody’s occupation, activity,
etc.: She is in the medical field. He is in the
entertainment industry.
Preposition Of

 Indicating origin/authorship: The book on Indian

history was written by a scholar of great repute.
 Concerning/depicting: The movie is a powerful
portrayal of the struggles of immigrants.
 About (somebody/something):I’ve never heard of that
band before. She told us of her plans to travel the world.
 Indicating the material used to make
something: The statue was made of marble. The
necklace is made of pearls.
 Indicating what is measured, counted, or
contained: She drank a glass of water.
 Showing the relationship between part and the
whole of something: He is a member of the basketball
team.
 Indicating a cause: The accident was the result of
reckless driving.
 Indicating a quality: She is a woman of great
compassion. He is a man of impeccable character.
 Indicating deprivation: She was stripped of her title.
 Showing possession: The keys to the car are in the
hands of the owner.
 Showing point of reference: The town is located east
of the river.
 In relation to concerning something: Do you know
the name of the author of this book?
 Showing distance in time/space: The airport is 20
miles north of the city. They met for the first time in the
summer of 2010.

Preposition On

 Covering, touching: The cat is on the roof. There’s a

stain on your shirt. Please leave your keys on the table.
  Supported by or attached to
(somebody/something): The child was standing on one
leg. There was a dent on the car door. The bracelet was
on her wrist. The painting was on the wall.
 In/into (a large vehicle): We got on the train to go to
the city. Let’s get on the plane for our vacation. She
jumped on the bus to get to school.
 Indicating time: On his birthday, we threw him a party.
On the weekend, we like to relax. On Christmas morning,
we open presents.
 Immediately after: On finishing his work, he left the
office. On the announcement of the winner, there was
applause.
 About/concerning: I’m giving a presentation on climate
change. The article is on the benefits of exercise.
 Indicating membership of a group/an
organization: She’s on the board of directors for the
company.
 Indicating direction towards: Turn left on the next
street. The restaurant is on the corner of Main and Elm.
 Near/close to: My house is on the outskirts of the
city. The park is on the other side of town.
 Indicating a basis/ground/reason for something: His
argument is based on facts.
 Supported financially by
(somebody/something): They live on a fixed income.
He survives on his part-time job.
 By means of (something); using: I communicated
with her on social media. He played a song on his guitar.
 Indicating food: The bear lives on fish. He survives on a
diet of fruits and vegetables.
 Indicating condition: He agreed to the job offer on the
condition of a higher salary.
 At the expense of: The prank was on him. The dinner is
on me tonight.

Preposition To

 In the direction of/towards: She walked to the park.

The cat ran to its owner. The bird flew to the tree.
  Indicating location in a specified direction: The
beach is to the east of the hotel. The mountains are to
the north of the city. The river flows to the west of the
town.
 Reaching the state of something:The speech brought
her to tears. He worked hard to rise to the top of the
company. The athlete trained for years to achieve her
goal.
 Indicating limit/as far as: The road stretches to the
horizon. The store is open from 9 am to 9 pm. The hike
lasted from sunrise to sunset.
 Belonging to/for: She gave the key to the lock to her
husband. The book belongs to the library. He is a
personal assistant to the CEO.
 Indicating a comparison or ratio: She prefers tea to
coffee.
 In honour of: They raised a monument to the memory
of the fallen soldiers.
 Concerning: The article talks about the benefits of
meditation to mental health.
 Causing: To his disappointment, the concert was
cancelled.
 Satisfying: The food was delicious, but not to his liking.
 Expressing purpose or result in an adverb
clause: She went to the store to buy some milk.
 With an adjectival function: She was the first to arrive
at the party. He is the last to leave the office.

Preposition Towards

 In the direction of: The bird flew towards the horizon.

 In relation to (somebody/something): John has
always been hostile towards his boss. The company has a
positive attitude towards diversity.
 As a contribution to/for: I donated money towards the
orphanage’s education fund. The team collected
donations towards the charity event.
 Near (a point of time): The concert will start towards
the evening. She finished her work towards midnight.
Preposition With

 Expressing instrument/means used: She typed the

report with a computer. He painted the wall with a brush.
They repaired the car with a wrench.
 In the company or presence of
(somebody/something): She went to the party with her
boyfriend. He watched the movie with his family. They
went on a trip with their dog.
 In the care, charge, or possession of: The key is with
the receptionist. The documents were left with the
lawyer. The responsibility lies with the manager.
 Having or carrying something: The waiter came with
a tray of drinks. She went to the store with a shopping
list. He arrived at the meeting with a folder of documents.
 Indicating the material or item used: She made the
cake with flour and eggs. The sculpture was made with
marble. The dress is made with silk.
 Indicating agreement or support: I am with you on
this decision. She stands with her team on this issue.
They voted with the majority.
 Indicating opposition against: He had a disagreement
with his boss. She had an argument with her friend. They
had a fight with their neighbours.
 Because of: He sighed with relief. She smiled with
happiness. They shouted with excitement.
 Indicating the manner, circumstances, or condition: He
spoke with a British accent. She completed the task with
ease. They travelled with caution.
 In regard to/concerning: She is disappointed with the
service. He is proud of his accomplishment. They are
satisfied with the product.
 Indicating separation from
something/somebody: She parted with her favourite
dress. He sold his old car and parted with it. They are not
ready to part with their childhood home.
 In spite of/despite: With all the noise outside, he
managed to concentrate on his work. She continued with
the project despite the difficulties. They persisted with
their plan in spite of the obstacles.
 Indicating the point of reference: The students are
comfortable with their teacher. He is friendly with his
coworkers. She is strict with her children.