Hello learners… Welcome to Week-2 lecture 1 of English Grammar for Employability.

In this
lecture, we shall explore Prepositions and will see different usages of prepositions…In English
Grammar, Prepositions are very tricky, especially for an Indian counterpart. These are short
words but their use in a sentence is very prominent. Wrong use of prepositions can alter the
entire meaning of the sentence. In speaking and writing, the correct use of prepositions is, of
course, a tough job because these prepositions are governed by nouns, adjectives, and verb in a
sentence. Certain prepositions take some fixed prepositions after them, whereas some others
take no preposition after. It’s equally difficult to trace prepositions’ errors in the sentences in
English and that why, in almost all entrance examinations these errors are given to the students
who are going to take competitive examinations. It is because a preposition can have different
functions in a sentence. The preposition ‘at’, for example, has as many as 18 different
functions, depending on which situation you are using in. If you consult a dictionary, you will
many uses of a single preposition. Also, there is no logical way of deciding in English grammar
which preposition goes with a particular noun, verb, or adjective. Anyway, it all depends on your
practice that can help you in the correct usage of prepositions. A preposition is a word that takes
place before a noun or pronoun to express a relation, direction, method, source, etc., with noun,
pronoun, phrases and another word (s): It is always followed by a “noun form or a pronoun,” and
never followed by a verb. Arjun was in the battlefield. She has returned from America. There are
different types of prepositions:1Simple Prepositions: in, at, of, off, to, with, by, for, from, out, till,
up, with, through etc. 2. Compound Prepositions: about, above, across, along, among, around,
before, behind, below, beneath, besides, between, beyond, inside, outside, within, without etc. 3.
Participle Preposition: concerning, considering, regarding, notwithstanding, owing, during etc.
4. Phrase/ Group Preposition: These are---because of, by means of, in spite of, for the sake of,
instead of, with reference to, with regard to, in addition to, on behalf of, in place of, in front of
etc. 5. Double Prepositions: Sometimes one preposition is not sufficient to serve the purpose, then
we use double prepositions. These are: from among, from under, out of, from beneath, into, onto
etc. Some Frequently used Prepositions and their Usage: Preposition of Time & Date: In: in the
morning/evening/afternoon/winter/ summer, in a month/year/ week etc. He plays in morning.
He came here in summer. At: at night/ noon/ midnight/Diwali (Festival)/ 2 O’clock/ 2 a.m., at
last/ first, at the beginning/ end etc. He comes from school at 9 O’clock. I will see you at 10:00 a.m.
By: by tomorrow/ by Sunday, by 3 O’clock. He will come here by Monday. I shall complete this
task by 9: O’clock. From: (duration) from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. My friend travels from Meerut to Delhi.
(Direction)During: (Time Duration) during winter/ summer/ holidays, during 1982. I cannot
recall what happened during the first months after my illness. Since: used for definite time
(since2 O’clock, morning, last night, 1981) She has been singing since morning. Prepositions of
Place: In: used for multiple purpose such as- big country, town, city, village, place (building,
factory), specific time, belief, etc. Manoj lives in America/ Delhi/ Mawana/ Puthi. (Place)
(country, town, city, big town) He works in a factory/ office/ company. (Place of work). I believe
in truth/ simple living/ high thinking. (belief/view/thinking) At: It is used in expressions like---
at home, at work, at cannel, used for small towns, village, address, specific time, e-mail etc. I live
at Parikshitgarh. (Small town) My friend works at B-49, sec-10, Rajnagar, Ghaziabad.
(Address)Please drop me your resume at dr………@[Link]. (e-mail Id) On: It is used in
expressions like- ----on the platform, on the railway line, on the farm, on work etc. Don’t play on
the platform Prepositions of Travel & Movement: From/ To: From is used for separation while
To is used for unification like----My friend came from Meerut to Haridwar. By: method of
transport like by car, by bus, by air, by boat etc. My friend often go to Nanital by car. Jack went
to Mumbai by [Link]-1: There are some verbs if used in active voice, they don’t take any
preposition after them. These are: Reach Order, resemble accompany, benefit, afford, combat,
violate, assist, obey inform, succeed, precede, request, pervade, pick, resist, attack, 1. I've been
told that I resemble with my grandfather. (Omit with). I've been told that I resemble my
grandfather. 2. He has reached in his office. (Omit in). He has reached his office.3. If you order
for it, they will go away. (Omit for). If you order it, they will go away.4. I will accompany with you
in every situation. (Omit with) I will accompany you in every situation. Rule-2: The phrases of
time like morning, afternoon and evening always take preposition "in" with them But -Dawn,
daybreak, noon, midday, and midnight take 'at’. :I went to the stadium in the morning. Some
students read at night. Moreover, when 'last' and 'next' qualify time, no preposition is ever used
For example Mohan saw me the last afternoon. (No Proposition) He will be coming to you the
next month. (No Proposition) Rule-3: Ago & Before are differently used. Ago is used with a past
tense and a time expression to count back from the present. Before is used with a past perfect
tense to count back from a past. Before can also be used to mean ‘at any time before now / then.
With this meaning, it can be used with both present and past perfect tenses. It happened a long
time ago. (Past tense) I met my friend in Delhi three years ago. (Past tense) You have seen this
film before. (Present tense) Have you been here before? (Present tense) Rule-4: Preposition 'on'
is used to denote the things in rest'; and upon to the things in motion For example There is a book
on the table. The cat sprang upon the table. But We use the preposition “onto” to talk about
direction or movement to a position on a surface, usually with a verb that expresses movement: The
cat climbed onto the table. (motion)Water was dripping onto the floor. (Motion)Rule-5: "To' and
'into' are used to denote the things which are in motion. While In is used when something is within
and When someone or something comes from outside to the inside, we use the preposition 'into’. He
is in water. He fell into the [Link]-6: The preposition Between is used for two and Among is
used for more than Two. There is a fight between good and vice. He has a number of
businessmen among his friends. Rule 7: It is advisable to use different prepositions with different
words, where one preposition does not serve the purpose. For example This book is preferable and
better than that book (incorrect)Because 'preferable" and better require different prepositions.
Preposition than is not sufficient to and serve both the words-preferable and better. Hence the
correction would be This book is preferable to and better than that book. Ram is more intelligent
and junior to Shyam (incorrect)Ram is more intelligent than and junior to Shyam. (correct)Rule
7: It is advisable to use different prepositions with different words, where one preposition does not
serve the purpose. For example This book is preferable and better than that book
(incorrect)because 'preferable" and better require different prepositions. Preposition than is not
sufficient to and serve both the words-preferable and better. Hence the correction would be This
book is preferable to and better than that book. Ram is more intelligent and junior to Shyam
(incorrect)Ram is more intelligent than and junior to Shyam. (correct)Rule 8: it is not a good
practice to end a sentence with a preposition. However, there are three exceptions to this
rule:(a) When in a sentence the object is Relative Pronoun that/ whom/who etc, the preposition
can be used at the end of a sentence, as Here is the glass of water that Ram is desiring for. This is
the child whom I was referring to(b) Preposition is commonly used at the end of a sentence when
the object happens to be the Interrogative Pronoun; as- What are you gazing at? Now, here is a
list of words followed by certain Prepositions. Do learn them and frame short sentences using them.
This activity will help you to learn this Word-Preposition combination. The list is also there in pdf
format to download.1. Verb+ Prepositions: Agree on, Agree with, Apply to, Approve of, Argue
with, Arrive at/ in, Ask about/ for, Believe in Belong to, Care about, Comment on, Compare
with/ to, Complain to2. Adjective + Preposition: Ability for, Access to, Advantage for,
Alternative to, Acquaintance with, Affection for, Anxiety for, Appetite for, Aptitude for, Blame
for Care for Comparison with, Accused of, Afraid of, Apprised of, Aware of, Bought of, Certain of,
Composed of, Conscious of Deprived/Devoid of, Distrustful of, Fearful of, Greedy of, Irrespective
of, Lavish of, Productive of3. Nouns+ Prepositions: Accused of, Addicted to, Accustomed to,
Annoyed with/at, Acquainted with, Afraid of, Allergic to, Amazed at/by, Associated with,
Abhorrence of, Assurance of, Charge of, Distrust of, Doubt of, Failure of, Proof of, Want of
etc. Now let’s take some easy sentences for practice and then we shall proceed to complex ones.
My friend went to abroad last year. (before abroad we don’t use Preposition To) He wrote me a
letter. (Use to and say He wrote a letter to me.) Please send his letter on my address. (use AT in
place of ON) It resembles to me. (Verb Resemble don't require TO. Now say ………) Correct
sentences are…My friend went abroad last year. He wrote a letter to me. Please send his
letter at my address. It resembles me. 5. My cousin reached to Delhi. (Erase to because the
verb reach doesn’t take preposition)6. Sanju sat on a tree. (Use in for tree we use in and not on)7.
She rides on a car. (In a car is the right expression)8. We have discussed on this topic already.
(No preposition, simply discuss + noun. Discuss = talk about) Say the sentence “We have discussed
this topic already. “Correct sentences are: My cousin reached Delhi. Sanju sat in a tree.
She rides in a car. We have discussed this topic already.9. Here is a chair to sit. Add preposition
IN after SIT In general, we use on for surfaces and in for enclosed areas (Inside and outside! IN
& ON both are right it depends on the type of chair). Mostly we say Here is a chair to sit in.10.
Smokers are prevented to come here. (Erse to and use FROM because the verb PERVERNT takes
FROM and gerund form after it) 11. I met with him. (Erase WITH and say……)12. Distribute these
books among Ram and Shyam. (For two we use between, and for more than two we use AMONG
So erase AMONG and use BETWEEN) Correct Sentences are: Here is a chair to sit in. Smokers
are prevented from coming here I met him. Distribute these books between Ram and Shyam.13.
He went near the station. (Use TO in place of NEAR. Because the verb GO takes to after it) 14.
This is a letter to you. (This is a letter for You is the right sentence) 15. Smoking is injurious for
health. (Use of FOR is wrong because for warning we use TO) now say…16. He met misfortune.
(Meet normally means 'come face to face with somebody or something’ Like I met a man but ‘Meet
with’ means 'to experience’. Here we are talking about experience, so use MET WITH. And say, He
met with misfortune. 13. He went near the station. 14. This is a letter to you. 15. Smoking is
injurious for health 16. He met misfortune.16. We suffer because we mistake the unreal as real.
(Erase AS and use FOR, Now the sentence is correct)17. They were talking something. (Use the
preposition ABOUT with the verb TALKING) 18. Send this letter through post. (We say by post,
it is common expression, so erase THROUGH and use BY) ………. 19. My boss is in his office. (For
office we use AT and not IN)16. We suffer because we mistake the unreal for real.17. They were
talking about something.18. Send this letter by post.19. My boss is at his office. By now, in this
video lecture, we have learnt important rules associated with Prepositions,