Learn the Difference between Different Prepositions

The misuse of preposition is one of the most common of errors. It is, therefore, advisable to know when and when and where to use a particular preposition. Here is a list of some prepositions distinguished.

1.       At and In: At is used for small places, minor operations, definite part of space, definite points of time. In ‘indicates a point of rest, the place where a person or thing is, including the idea of being close to a thing or person.’

He lives at Rajgir. He lives his bed at 5 am.

The bus stood at the end of the Serpentine road.

The servant stood at the far end of the room.

He is staying at his uncle’s place.

His son is at school.

At is also used with words denoting the rate, or degree at which a thing is done; as-

He drove the car at full speed.

Milk is selling eight rupees a kilo.

He moved at a snail’s pace.

At is also used in verbs of motion which indicate completion or attempt at completion: as—

       The coolies rushed at the foreign tourists.

       He simply aimed at the bird. He did not shoot it.

       In is used before countries, large towns and a period of time in reference to future time; as—

       He lives in South Africa.

       He lives in Pakistan.

       He will come in two days.

2.       In and Into: In denotes position or rest inside something. Into denotes motion towards inside from outside; as—

There is a frog in this well.

A cat has just fallen into the well.

3.       By and With: By is used to indicate the doer or agent of an action. This is usually a person, but may sometimes be expressed by an abstract noun. With indicates the material, instrument or tool used in the action;

       The stick was broken by Ranjana.

Let me write with a pen.

The horse was beaten with a whip by the rider.

He was struck by the beauty of Kashmir.

4.       In and After: In used with a period of time of in reference to future. After is used to denote a period of past time; as—

I shall come back in (just at the expiry of) an hour.

He went there after a month.

5.       In and within: when is is used before a noun denoting a period of time; it means ‘at the close of. Within means ‘before the close of; as—

I shall be back an (at the close of) a month.

I shall be back within (before the close of) an hour.

6.       On and Upon: On is used in speaking of things at rest; upon of things in motions; as—

He sat on the chair.

The dog sprang upon a cat.

7.       On and Over: On denotes actual contact with some object. Over does not do so; as—

He is standing on the road.

The plane flew over my head.

8.       Before and Within: Before denotes points of time, Within denotes period of time; as—

He will reach before next January.

He will come back from UK within a month.

9.       At and About: At denotes a fixed moment. About suggests proximity to a certain time; as—

He left work at 3 o’clock.

It is about seven now.

10.    Till and By: Till means ‘not earlier than’. By means ‘By means ‘not later than’; as—

I was kept waiting till 5 o’clock.

I shall return home by 10 o’clock.

11.    Within and By: Within is used for space of time. By is used for point of time; as—

I shall submit my theses within ten days.

He will come back by 8 o’clock.

12.    Between and Among: Between is used in speaking of two persons or things; among is used in speaking of more than two persons  or things; as—

Divide these apples between these two boys.

Divide these apples among these four boys.

Note: Sometimes, however, between can be used in speaking of more than two things: So far as honesty is concerned, there is not much to choose between the three men.’

13.    Beside and Besides: Beside means ‘by the side of or ‘near’. Besides means ‘in addition to’; as—

He stood beside the RT bus.

He gave me a watch besides a pen.

14.    Since and For: Since refers to a point of time and for to a period of time. They are generally preceded by a verb in the perfect tense; as—

He has been working since 5 o’clock.

I have not met him for three months.

15.    From and By: From refers to time. It may be used with any tense, past, present, or future. By refers to point of future time and denotes some time before that time; as—

I began business from the age of twenty.

He will reach Agra by 6 o’clock in the morning.