Prepositions for the Assam Police Constable (AB & UB) Exam
A preposition is a small word that shows the relation between a noun or a pronoun and another word, and it tells where, when or how something stands in relation to something else. In the General English paper prepositions are tested through fill-in-the-blanks and error detection, and they are feared by many candidates because the correct word often depends on fixed usage rather than on a single rule. There is no long passage to read; the answer comes from a set of patterns that repeat again and again. The good news is that a small number of prepositions covers most of the paper, and most of them keep fixed company with particular adjectives and verbs. This page arranges the prepositions by purpose, gives the fixed phrases, explains the confusing pairs, and lists the high-yield combinations that repeat in the paper. The material follows the standard grammar reference books used for Assam recruitment examinations and is reviewed before it is published.
How This Portion Is Set
The examiner usually gives a sentence with a blank and four prepositions, and asks for the correct one. Sometimes the wrong preposition in a sentence has to be spotted. In both cases the adjective or the verb before the blank decides the answer, because most prepositions are fixed to the word they follow. A candidate who reads the word before the blank first answers faster and with fewer mistakes.
Prepositions of Time: at, on, in
Use at with a point of time, as in at six 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 season, a year or a long period, as in in January, in summer and in 2026. Use since with a point from which something began 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 bus stop and at the gate. Use on for a surface, as in on the wall and on the table. Use in for an enclosed space or a large area, as in in the room, in Guwahati 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. Across shows movement from one side to the other of a surface, along shows movement following a line, above shows position higher than something, and over shows movement above and across. These words answer the question where the movement is going.
Prepositions of Agency and Instrument
By is used for the doer of an action and with for the instrument, as in the letter was written by me with a pen. With also shows company, as in he came with his brother. Of shows possession or connection, as in the roof of the house. For shows purpose or benefit, as in this gift is for you.
Fixed Phrases with Adjectives
Many adjectives always take one particular preposition, and these combinations must be learnt as whole phrases.
- good at, bad at, clever at, expert at.
- afraid of, fond of, proud of, ashamed of, jealous of, accused of, sure of.
- angry with a person but angry at a thing.
- married to, similar to, prefer one thing to another.
- interested in, involved in, successful in.
- suffering from, different from, absent from.
- famous for, sorry for, responsible for.
Fixed Phrases with Verbs
Some verbs also take a fixed preposition, and the pair must be learnt together.
- apologise for, congratulate on, insist on, depend on, rely on.
- belong to, lead to, listen to, object to, refer to.
- consist of, accuse of, remind of, think of.
- wait for, look for, care for, hope for.
- laugh at, look at, arrive at or in, agree with a person but agree to a proposal.
Confusing Pairs to Separate
- Between is for two, as in between the two brothers; among is for more than two, as in among the players.
- Since is for a point of time, as in since Monday; for is for a period, as in for two hours.
- In shows position and into shows movement, as in he is in the room but he went into the room.
- On shows position and upon shows movement, as in the book is on the table.
- By shows the doer and with shows the instrument.
Traps That Cost Marks
- 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.
- Changing a fixed preposition after an adjective, as in good on instead of good at.
- Using since with a period, as in since two hours instead of for two hours.
- Translating a phrase from the mother tongue and choosing the wrong preposition.
- Mixing the doer and the instrument, as in written with me instead of written by me.
High-Yield Pairs to Memorise
- Good at mathematics; afraid of snakes; fond of music.
- Married to a doctor; angry with a person; angry at a behaviour.
- Congratulate on success; apologise for a mistake; insist on going.
- Consists of ten chapters; prefer tea to coffee; accused of theft.
- At six o'clock; on Monday; in January; since 2015; for two hours.
A Revision Plan for This Block
- Learn the fixed phrases with adjectives and verbs as whole pairs, never as single words.
- Make a small chart for at, on and in for time and for place.
- Learn the confusing pairs with one sentence each.
- Write one sentence for every new combination met in reading.
- Revise the whole list twice a week and test yourself by covering the preposition.
Prepositions Used in Sentences
The paper tests prepositions inside a sentence, and the candidate must supply the word that the adjective or verb demands. A sentence may speak of a boy who is good at mathematics, a girl who is afraid of snakes, or a meeting held on Monday at ten o'clock. Reading the sentence first, and looking at the word before the blank, answers the question more safely than recalling a list without looking at the context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which preposition is used with time, day and month?
Use at with a point of time, as in at six o'clock, on with a day or a date, as in on Monday, and in with a month or a year, as in in January.
What is the difference between between and among?
Between is used for two things, as in between the two brothers, and among is used for more than two, as in among the players.
When do we use since and for?
Since is used with a point of time, as in since Monday, and for is used with a period of time, as in for two hours.
Which preposition follows the adjective good?
The adjective good takes at, as in good at mathematics and good at English. The preposition cannot be changed by logic.
What is the difference between by and with?
By shows the doer of the action, as in the letter was written by me, and with shows the instrument, as in written with a pen.