The Preposition English Grammar For Class 6
The Preposition
A Preposition is a word which is placed before a noun or pronoun to show its relation with some other word in the sentence.
Pre’ means before and ‘position’ means place. Preposition, therefore, means a word that ‘takes its place’ before a Noun or a Pronoun.
Preposition is, therefore, placed before a Noun or a Pronoun.
Examples:
1. There are four eggs in the basket.
2. I bought it for two rupees.
3. The dog walked behind his master.
4. We were walking along the road.
5. They reached home at ten.
6. Who put these flowers in the vase?
7. His pocket is full of money.
8. He has acted against me.
9. Somebody is standing at the gate.
In the above sentences, ‘in, for, behind, along, at, in, of, against, at’ have been used as Prepositions.
In sentence 1, in shows the relation between eggs (noun) and basket (noun).
In sentence 2, for shows the relation between it (pronoun) and rupees (noun).
In sentence 3, behind shows the relation between walked (verb) and master (noun).
In sentence 4, along shows the relation between walking (verb) and road (noun).
In sentence 5, at shows the relation between home (noun) and ten.
In sentence 6, in shows the relation between flowers (noun) and vase (noun).
In sentence 7, of shows the relation between full (adjective) and money (noun).
In sentence 8, against shows the relation between acted (verb) and me (pronoun).
In sentence 9, at shows the relation between standing (verb) and gate (noun).
Different Prepositions show different relations. For example, near the tree, under the tree, over the tree, and behind the tree, suggest different relations with the tree. So, we should be very careful in the use of Prepositions.
OBJECT OF PREPOSITION
A Preposition is said to govern a noun or pronoun and is always followed by the Objective Case. The noun or pronoun for which a preposition is placed, is called the Object of the Preposition.
Look at the following sentences:
1. The children are playing in the park.
2. He never borrows money from me.
In sentence 1, in the phrase ‘in the park’, ‘the park’ is the object of the preposition ‘in’.
In sentence 2, in the phrase ‘from me’, ‘me’ is the object of the preposition ‘from’.
PREPOSITION AND ADVERBS
Some words can be used as Prepositions as well as Adverbs. These are Prepositions if they govern a Noun or a Pronoun and these are Adverbs if these do not.
For example,
1. The aeroplane went up. (Adverb)
2. The lizard crawled up the wall. (Preposition)
In sentence 1, the word ‘up’ is Adverb as it does not govern a Noun or a Pronoun.
In sentence 2, the word ‘up’ is a Preposition, as it governs a Noun (the wall).
RELATIONSHIP OF PREPOSITIONS
Relationship with space or place
Study the following examples:
1. Sunita is jumping over the hurdle.
2. He is coming out of the water.
3. The cat jumped onto the table.
4. The cat jumped off the table.
5. The boy ran through the gate.
6. The goalkeeper is in the circle.
7. He is inside the circle.
8. The goalkeeper is out of the circle.
9. He is outside the circle.
10. The car is at the petrol pump.
11. Sarita is standing between Sunita and Anita.
12. The boy is going down the hill.
13. The lion is sitting under the tree.
All the Prepositions in the above sentences are the Prepositions of Space or Place because they answer the question: Where?
Relationship with time
Study the following sentences:
1. I get up at 6 o’clock in the morning.
2. My friend works in his office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3. He returns home by 7 o’clock in the evening.
4. She had been absent from class for two days.
5. I shall finish my work before Monday.
6. We celebrate Children’s Day on 14th November.
7. There are 30 days in November.
In the above sentences, Prepositions (at, from, by, for, before, on, in, etc.) are the Prepositions of Time because they answer the question: When?
Other Relationships
Study the following sentences:
(i) Manner
1. She learnt the poem by heart.
2. I can solve the sum without any difficulty.
3. We shall meet the challenge with courage.
(ii) Cause, Purpose
1. He died of a heart attack.
2. She is doing a lot for the benefit of the poor.
In the above sentences, of and for are the Prepositions of Cause or Purpose because they help to answer the question: Why?
(iii) Agency, Instruments
1. I learnt about it through my friend.
2. He cut his finger with a knife.
3. Some trains are run by electricity.
(iv) Measure, Rate
1. Milk is sold by the litre.
2. Apples are selling at sixty rupees a kilo.
(v) Source, Origin
1. These lines are from Shakespeare’s play.
2. We get light from the Sun.
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with the correct Prepositions given in the box:
in, on, at
1. I am staying…………… home today.
2. Many people were waiting…………… the bus stop.
3. My friend lives……. Kolkata.
4. The birds are flying……. the sky.
5. The pen is…………… the inkpot..
6. There is plenty of fish………… the river.
7. I met many old friends……………. the theatre.
8. He is swimming……… the lake.
9. He put the book……… the table.
10. He waited for two hours …………….. the bus stop.
Exercise 2
Choose the correct Preposition from those given in brackets and fill in the blanks:
1. This room is infested ……………. rats. (from, with, by)
2. The furniture is made ……………… wood. (with, of, from)
3. It has been raining cats and dogs …………………… morning. (since, for, by)
4. Smoking is injurious ……… health. (to, for, of)
5. The train arrived ………… the platform. (at, in, on)
6. I bought this pen ……… ten rupees. (for, in, with)
7. Students, please look …………… the blackboard. (on, at, in)
8. The cow lives …………. grass. (in, at, on)
9. Water boils …………… 100°C. (on, at, in)
10. I want a staff to walk …………. (with, from, to)
11. Who is knocking ………. the door? (on, at, in)
12. He is fond …………….. music. (of, in, from)
13. My father deals …………….. sugar. (in, at, on)
14. Distribute these apples ……………….. the boys. (between, among, in)
15. He is tired …………… work. (of, with, for)
Exercise 3
Fill in the blanks with suitable Prepositions, choosing from the given options:
1. The train had left ………….. (by, at, before, till) the time we reached.
2. Sometimes he used to sit ……… (on, at, for, in) hours.
3. The train leaves ………………. (at, on, in, by) 5 o’clock sharp.
4. I shall be back …………….. (in, within, by, between) two hours.
5. She is going away (for, in, at, with) a week’s time.
6. He invited all his friends …………. (on, at, for, to) his birthday.
7. We have not met…………. (for, on, over, by) a week.
8. Jawahar Lal Nehru died ……………. (at, upon, on, by) 27th May, 1964.
9. His name will live …………….. (in, on, among, with) the hearts of the people forever.
10. He is suffering …………. (of, from, with, by) fever.
11. My books are ………………. (at, upon, on, by) the table.
12. Meena is proud …………… (in, for, at, of) her beauty.
13. All are angry ………….. (to, with, for, at) me.
14. There was no water …………….. (into, in, on, within) the tank.
15. The teacher was quite satisfied ………………. (at, for, with, to) him.
16. He was born……. (at, to, for, with) poor parents.
17. I agreed ……………… (to, with, for) her ……………. (on, in, to, for) all points.
18. The officer is absent …………… (of, from, against, on) his duty.
19. We are grateful to him ……………..(at, on, for, by) his help.
20. Reena is fond …………. (at, of, in, on) playing.
21. What are you looking ………….. (on, at, by, against)?
22. The tired travellers rested …………….. (in, behind, under, below) the shade of a tree.
23. He is afraid …………… (at, of, off, on) going (in, into, for) the dark.
24. We put our money …………. (with, in, into, at) banks.
25. Many trees shed their leaves ……………. (by, in, into, with) winter.
26. The school will remain closed …………….. (for, at, from) Monday …………. (by, to, till) Friday.
27. Akhil learnt to ride a scooter ……….. (with, within, in, by) a month.
28. She has been studying in this school …………… (for, since, by, from) 2017.
29. We stayed at Shimla ………….. (by, for, within, on) a week.
30. We congratulated him ……………. (over, by, at, on) his success.
Exercise 4
In the following sentences prepositions have been used incorrectly. Spot the error and write correct form of the Preposition in the space provided:
1. Is she related with you?
2. The hunter aimed gun on the tiger.
3. My mother will be waiting of me.
4. I will stay at Delhi.
5. You were invited on tea
6. The child died from brain fever.
7. My shirt differs with that of yours.
8. He had to open the lock from the duplicate key.
9. The plane flew on the sea.
10. We can never trust on each other.