Prepositions
A preposition is a small word that shows the relation between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence, and it is the word that tells us where, when or how something stands in relation to something else. In the ADRE Grade IV General English paper prepositions are tested through fill-in-the-blanks and error detection, and they are feared by many candidates because the correct choice often depends on usage rather than on a single rule. The good news is that a small number of prepositions covers most of the paper, and most of them follow fixed patterns with common words. The method followed in the Master Book approach is to learn each preposition together with the words it usually goes with, because a preposition is best remembered in the company it keeps rather than alone.
Basic Terms
- Preposition: a word showing the relation of a noun or pronoun to another word.
- Preposition of place: shows position, as in in, on, at, under and between.
- Preposition of time: shows time, as in at, on, in, since and for.
- Preposition of direction: shows movement, as in to, into, towards and through.
- Prepositional phrase: a preposition together with its object.
- Object of a preposition: the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition.
Every preposition needs its object, and the object is always a noun or a pronoun in the objective case. Knowing this keeps the sentence correct in form.
Prepositions of Time: at, on, in
Use at with a point of time, as in at five o'clock and at noon. Use on with a day or a date, as in on Monday and on the fifth of May. Use in with a month, a year or a long period, as in in June, in 2026 and in the morning. Use since with a point from which something started and for with a length of time.
Prepositions of Place: at, on, in
Use at for a point or a small place, as in at the gate. Use on for a surface, as in on the table. Use in for an enclosed space or a large area, as in in the room and in India. Between is used for two things and among for more than two.
Prepositions of Movement
To shows direction towards a place, into shows movement to the inside, and through shows movement from one side to the other. Towards shows direction without reaching, and across shows movement from one side to the other of a surface. These words answer the question where the movement is going.
Common Prepositional Phrases
Many prepositions are fixed with particular words: interested in, good at, afraid of, angry with, married to, dependent on and different from. These combinations are not logical but conventional, and the candidate must learn them as whole phrases. A small list, revised often, saves many marks.
Prepositions after Verbs and Adjectives
Some verbs and adjectives always take a particular preposition. We listen to music, wait for a friend, consist of parts and object to a plan. We say fond of, proud of, capable of and similar to. Because usage is fixed, the safest method is to note the preposition whenever a new combination is met.
Prepositions and Phrasal Verbs
A verb joined to a preposition may make a new meaning altogether, as in look after to mean take care of, and put off to mean postpone. Here the preposition is not showing place but forming part of the verb. The candidate must learn the whole phrasal verb, because the meaning cannot be guessed from the two words separately.
How This Topic Appears in the Examination
In ADRE Grade IV, APSC and Assam Police English papers the preposition appears as a blank to be filled, as a wrongly used preposition in an error detection sentence, or as a phrase to be completed. The tested points are almost always at, on and in for time and place, between and among, and the fixed phrases after common adjectives and verbs.
Shortcut Methods for Quick Answers
For time, decide whether the reference is a point, a day or a longer period, and then use at, on or in accordingly. For place, decide whether it is a point, a surface or an enclosed space. For fixed phrases, trust the combination you have learned rather than logic. When two prepositions seem possible, recall a sentence you already know with the same word.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using in where on or at is needed, as in in Monday instead of on Monday.
- Using between for more than two things instead of among.
- Translating a phrase from the mother tongue and choosing the wrong preposition.
- Changing the fixed preposition after an adjective, as in good on instead of good at.
- Separating a phrasal verb from its preposition and losing the meaning.
How to Prepare This Topic
- Learn at, on and in for time and place with clear examples.
- Make a list of common fixed phrases with adjectives and verbs.
- Practise between and among, and the prepositions of movement.
- Collect phrasal verbs with their meanings and revise them.
- Finish with a mixed fill-in-the-blank set and read each sentence aloud.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose between at, on and in for time?
Use at for a point, as in at five o'clock. Use on for a day or date, as in on Sunday. Use in for a month, year or longer period, as in in April and in 2026.
What is the difference between between and among?
Between is used with two persons or things, as in between the two houses. Among is used with more than two, as in among the students.
Why is the preposition after an adjective fixed?
Because these combinations are conventions of usage and not rules of logic. We say good at, afraid of and interested in simply because that is how the language is used.
What is a phrasal verb?
It is a verb joined with a preposition to give a new meaning, such as look after meaning to take care of, or put off meaning to postpone. The whole phrase must be learned together.
Should I translate prepositions from my own language?
No. Prepositions rarely match word for word between languages. The safe method is to memorise the English phrase as a whole and to test it in a sentence.