CBSE Class 6 English Grammar – Correct Uses Of Prepositions

 

CBSE Class 6 English Grammar – Correct Uses Of Prepositions

1. A preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to show in what relation the person or thing denoted by it stands in regard to something else (The word Preposition means ‘that which is placed before.’) Examples: The bird is in the cage. He will meet me on Sunday in the evening. His house is within municipal limits. The cat jumped off the window.

2. A preposition is usually placed before its object, but sometimes it follows it; as: Here is the book you asked for. What are you looking at? What are you thinking of?

3. Preposition may be divided into the following categories:

(a) Simple Prepositions: e.g. at, by, for, from, in, of, off, on, out, through, till, to, up, with.

(b) Compound Prepositions: e.g. about, above, across, along, amidst, among, around, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, inside, outside, underneath within, without.

(c) Phrasal Prepositions: These are groups of words used with the force of single preposition: e.g. according to; along with; away from; because of; by means of; by way of; for the sake of; with regard to; in accordance with; in addition to; on behalf of; in favour of; in order to; in place of; in spite of; instead of; on account of; owing to; with reference to etc.

So, prepositions are usually put before the words they control; they show relations of different kinds, the commonest being of space (position, direction etc.), time, and various mental attitudes.

Correct Uses of Some Prepositions

The preposition to and from indicate direction; as:

Mohan took Anil to his home.

Mohit has copied the words from the blackboard.

Preposition in is used with names of countries and large towns;

at is more often used when speaking of small towns and villages;

as: They live in Mumbai.

He lives at Paschim Vihar in Delhi.

I met him at Haridwar in Uttar Pradesh.

He is in London these days.

In and at are also used in speaking of things at rest;

to and into are used in speaking of things in motion;

Example:

He is in his room.

Mohan jumped into the river.

He ran to school.

He is at the top of the class.

With reference to time

at is used for a point of time;

in is used for a period of time in which something happens;

Example:

I will start my work at 10 o’clock in the morning.

My brother was born in 2005.

On is used often in speaking of things at rest and upon of things in motion;

Example:

He sat on a stool. The cat jumped upon the table.

Till is used for time and to is used for place;

Example:

I slept till seven o’clock.

He walked to the end of the park.

With often denotes the instrument and by the agent; as;

He killed two birds with one stone.

He was stopped by a lunatic with a dagger.

Since is used before a noun or phrase denoting some point of time; in the past, for is used to denote a period of time in the present, past or future Example:

I have been waiting for Ramesh since four o’clock.

I have eaten nothing since morning.

He has been sleeping for two hours.

Between is used with two persons or things; among with more than two; as: There is a lot of difference between good and bad. There are many good sportsmen among our class students. 10. Beside means by the side of, while besides means in addition to; Besides scolding him, she hit him. Beside his house there is a beautiful park.

Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with at / on / in:

1. …………………. 12 September.

2. …………………. the evening.

3. …………………. half past four.

4. …………………. Wednesday.

5. …………………. 2006.

6. …………………. September.

7. …………………. 25 August.

8. …………………. Friday.

9. …………………. 12.35.