Learn what prepositions are and how they connect words in a sentence. This foundation is crucial for building correct English sentences from Class 3 upwards. Master the basic definition and the essential trio: in, on, at.
1. What are Prepositions?
| Aspect | Explanation | Examples | Visual Clue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | A small word that shows the relationship between a noun/pronoun and another word in the sentence. | The cat is on the mat. The book is in my bag. |
They are position words. |
| Function | They tell us about place (where?), time (when?), direction (where to?), and other relationships. | Meet me at 5 PM (Time). Walk towards the park (Direction). |
Answer questions: Where? When? How? |
| Important Rule | A preposition is always followed by a noun or a pronoun. This is called its object. | She is talking to him (pronoun). Put it on the table (noun). |
Preposition + Object = Prepositional Phrase |
2. The Basic Trio: In, On, At
These three are the most common prepositions. Their usage depends on whether you are talking about Place or Time.
| Preposition | For PLACE (Where?) | For TIME (When?) | Simple Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| IN | Enclosed spaces, large areas. in the room, in India, in the box |
Months, Years, Seasons, Long periods. in July, in 2025, in summer, in the morning |
Think: Inside or During a period. |
| ON | Surfaces, specific streets. on the wall, on the floor, on MG Road |
Days, Dates. on Monday, on 15th August, on my birthday |
Think: Surface contact or Specific day. |
| AT | Specific points, exact locations. at the door, at the station, at home |
Specific clock times, short points in time. at 9 o'clock, at noon, at the moment |
Think: Exact point (in space or time). |
| Remember: IN → Bigger/General | ON → Surface/Specific Day | AT → Exact Point | |||
3. How to Spot a Preposition in a Sentence
| Step | Ask Yourself | Example Sentence | Preposition Found |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Find a noun/pronoun | What is the main person, place, or thing? | The keys are [ ? ] the drawer. | drawer (noun) |
| 2. Look before it | Is there a small connecting word before that noun? | The keys are in the drawer. | in (connects 'are' and 'drawer') |
| 3. Check the relationship | Does it show place (where are the keys?), time, or direction? | The keys are in the drawer. (Shows PLACE) | ✅ Yes, it's a preposition. |
4. More Common Simple Prepositions
| Preposition | Main Use | Example (Place) | Example (Other) |
|---|---|---|---|
| under / below | Lower position | The cat is under the table. | The temperature is below freezing. |
| over / above | Higher position | The lamp is over the desk. | She is above average height. |
| near / beside | Close to | My house is near the school. | Sit beside me. |
| between | In the middle of two things | She sat between her parents. | Choose between tea and coffee. |
| with | Accompaniment, having | Go with your friend. | He cut the paper with scissors. |
| for | Purpose, benefit, duration | This gift is for you. | I lived there for two years. |
5. Quick Practice (5 Questions)
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Wrong ❌ | Right ✅ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| I will meet you on Monday on 10 AM. | I will meet you on Monday at 10 AM. | Use on for days, at for specific clock times. |
| She is in home. | She is at home. | For the exact location 'home', we use the fixed phrase at home. |
| The ball is on the table. Pick it up from on. | The ball is on the table. Pick it up from there. | A preposition must have an object. You cannot end a sentence with a preposition in formal writing unless necessary. |
| Divide the chocolates between the three children. | Divide the chocolates among the three children. | Use between for two, among for three or more. (We'll learn 'among' later). |
🎯 Preposition Identification Challenge
Find the preposition in each sentence and say what it shows (Place/Time).
1. My birthday is in July.
Preposition: in | Shows: Time (a month)
2. The book is on the shelf.
Preposition: on | Shows: Place (a surface)
3. We have lunch at 1 o'clock.
Preposition: at | Shows: Time (an exact hour)
4. The cat slept under the bed.
Preposition: under | Shows: Place (position)
Answers are in grey text above.
7. Memory Aids & Tips
IN, ON, AT - The Space & Time Rule:
• IN the box (space) | IN the morning (time) → For enclosed or periods.
• ON the table (space) | ON Sunday (time) → For surfaces or specific days.
• AT the corner (space) | AT night (time) → For exact points.
The Preposition Test:
If you can ask "Where?" "When?" or "How?" about a noun and the small word before it gives the answer, that word is likely a preposition.
Example: The bird is [on] the roof. Where is the bird? On the roof. ✅ Preposition.
Common Mix-ups:
• In vs. At: You are in Delhi (city). You are at the Delhi airport (specific spot).
• On vs. At: The shop is on Park Street. The shop is at 21 Park Street (with number).
Exam Tip:
1. Read the sentence and find the nouns.
2. Look for the small connecting word before each noun.
3. Check if it answers Where? When? How?
4. For fill-in-the-blanks on IN/ON/AT, decide: Is it a Period/Space (IN), Surface/Day (ON), or Point (AT)?
5. A preposition never stands alone; it always has an object after it.
📝 Practice Identifying Prepositions
Test your understanding with our 25-question worksheet on the basics of prepositions!
Go to Introduction to Prepositions WorksheetIncludes answer key • Spot the preposition • Use IN, ON, AT • Identify relationships • Interactive format
