Multiple Uses of the Same Preposition

Different Uses of Some Prepositions

The same preposition can be used in a variety of situations to express different shades of thoughts. Let us take, for example, the preposition in.

He lost his way in the dark. (Physical surroundings or circumstances)

It is a novel in four parts. (Form, shape, arrangement)

It is a status in marble. (Condition)

Have you seen the women in white? (Dress.)

There are seven days in a week. (In conclusion)

The papers are in my bag. (Position)

He is in the Indian army. (Occupation)

He lives in London. (Large town)

He is young in years but old in wisdom. (Relation, reference)

Here is a list of some of the commonly used prepositions with their different uses.

On

a)       Supported by; fastened or attached to; lying against; in contact with

Pictures on the wall; a carpet on the floor; sit on the grass;

Float on the water; write on the paper; stick a stamp on the envelope;

hang something on a nail; carry a jacket on one’s arm; be/go on board a ship; have lunch on the train.

Have you any money on you? (In your pocket)

b)       About; concerning

A Lecture on Milton; lecture/write on the changing social scenario; be keen/determined/bent/set on the something/on doing something).

c)       Indicating membership.

He’s on this committee.

Are you on the Jury?

d)       Indicating direction

Turn one’s back on somebody; draw a knife on somebody; hit somebody on the head; March on the enemy’s capital; smile/frown on somebody.

e)       Expressing the basis, ground or reason for something.

On the penalty of death; on an average; arrested on the charge of theft; act on somebody’s advice; have something on good authority.

f)        Indicating a charge or imposition

Charge interest on money; put a tax on petrol; place a strain on the economy.

g)       Close to; against

A house on the main road; a town on the coast; on both sides of the river; on my right/left.

h)       Followed by noun or adjective; indicating an activity, manner, state on business; on holiday; on tour; on the way; be on the look-out for somebody; on fire; on sale; on loan.

i)        Added to

Suffer insult on insult/disaster on disaster.

j)        Indicating time

On Monday; on the 1st of July; on the evening of July the first;

On New year’s day/eve; on time, on the minute (punctually).

At

a)       To denote place and direction.

At the bust depot; at his office; at my uncle’s.

b)       In the direction of; towards

Laugh/grow at somebody/something; rush at the enemy; look at something/somebody; throw something at somebody; shoot/aim a gun at something.

c)       Indicating distance

It looks better at a distance. Hold it at arm’s length.

d)       Indicating frequency

At all times; at regular intervals; at periodic intervals.

e)       Indicating occupation

What’s he at now? (What’s he doing?)

He’s hard at it, (working hard)

They are at play. (They are playing)

I am at work. (I’m working)

f)        State, condition

At peace; at leisure; at war

g)       Manner

He finished the work at a sitting.

h)       Rate or degree, value, cost

At full speed; at a snail’s space; at immense cost; sell something at a loss.

i)        With superlative

At least; at (the) worst; at his/their/its best.

j)        Indicating a point of entrance or exist; through; by

What the master says often goes in (at) one ear and out (at) the other.

k)       Indicating order

At the second attempt; at first; at last.

l)        Indicating a point of time.

At 3 o’clock; at sunset; at any moment.

m)     Indicating an attempt to get or reach something, an uncompleted or imperfect action.

That drowning man had to clutch at the oar. (Tried to seize it)

We had to guess at the meaning.

By

a)       Near; at or to the side of; beside

Come and sit by me. My house is by the river.

b)       Showing direction of movement

They came by the field, not by the road.

c)       Pass; past

He goes by the telegraph office daily.

d)       Through the agency, means, or instrumentality of.

She makes a living by a teaching.

The Temple was designed by me.

The Street is lighted by electricity.

e)       Indicating path or means of travel, transport, conveyance

Travel by land/sea/air; go by bus/boat; etc.

Send something by post/hand.

f)        Indicating a part of the body that is touched, etc.

I took him by the hand. He seized me by the hair.

He grabbed the thief by the scruff of his neck.

g)       In accordance with; in agreement with.

By the term of agreement you have to pay Rs. 5000.

h)       According to

It is 4 o’clock by my watch.

You must not judge him by appearance.

i)        To the extent of

The Bullet missed him by the fraction of an inch.

She is too clever by half. (Much too smart)

j)        In oaths

He always swears by God. He swears by you all time.

k)       To express division (in Arithmetic)

Twenty divided by five is equal to four.

l)        To express measurement

This room is twenty feet by fifteen feet.

m)     Of time

The enemy soldiers attacked by night.

Do you prefer travelling by night? /or by day?

Can you complete this work by tomorrow?

They ought to be here by this name.

For

a)       Indicating eventual possession.

Here’s message for you. Save it for me.

Are all these for you? She made tea for me.

b)       Indicating what is aimed at, or the attaining of something.

She was educated for the law. He was trained for lectureship.

c)       Indicating destination or progress or endeavors towards

Let us set out for home. This is the train for Gava.

d)       Indicating purpose

Let’s go for a walk/ride/swim, etc.

They work for their living.

I read for pleasure.

It is a mill for grinding wheat.

e)       Indicating liking, affection, etc.

He has a weakness for gaudy dress.

He has a taste for classical music.

I have a strong liking for that young man.

f)        Indicating preposition to deal with a situation.

Let’s prepare for the ensuing examination.

The boys are getting ready for school.

g)       Indicating suitability, fitness.

You are fit/unfit/for this job.

It is good/bad for your health.

He has no clothes proper for the occasion.

You are the very man for the job.

h)       In view of (considering the circumstances, etc.)

This boy is tall for his age.

It is quite warm for December.

It is not good for a beginner.

i)        Representing; in place of.

Will he act for me in this matter?

The letters DA stand for Dearness Allowance.

j)        In defense or support of; in favor of.

Are you for or against this proposal?

I am all for an early solution to this problem.

Three cheers for the captain!

k)       In spite of; notwithstanding.

For all his wealth, he is discontented.

l)        With regard to; as far as it concerns.

I’m anxious for my father’s safety.

You may take my word for it. (Believe me)

m)     To the amount or extent of

The score of our team is 250 for three tickets.

The arrival team was all out for 320.

n)       In exchange for

Put a new tree for every tree you cut down.

I paid Rs. 50 for the book.

o)       Indicating extent in time.

That is enough for the present.

I am going to Delhi for a few days.

p)       Indicating extent in space.

For miles and miles, there is no greenery to be seen.

q)       In contrast with

For one enemy he has ten friends.

r)       Indicating aptitude

He has a good ear for music.

She has an aptitude for this language.

s)        Because of; an account of

For the sake of peace; for my sake; for this reason;

For fear of discovery; suffer for one’s sins;

dance/cry for joy; noted/famous for his wisdom.

t)        Followed by an object of hope, wish, search, enquiry, etc.

Let’s hope for the best, let’s pray for peace.

Let’s go to him for help. It’s cry for help.

Of

a)       Indicating cause

He died of grief.

He is sick/afraid/ashamed/proud/glad/tired of something or somebody.

b)       Indicating separation and or time.

That village is five miles south of Delhi.

They were within a hundred yards of the airport.

c)       Indicating relief, deprivation, and riddance.

Dr Sen cured me of this disease/bad habit.

You robbed me of my money/belongings.

You alone can relieve me of this anxiety.

Pray help me, I’m short of money.

The pied paper rid the town of all the rats.

These trees are bare of leaves.

d)       Indicating origin, authorship

He is a man of humble origin. You’re of royal descent.

Have you read the works of Shakespeare?

e)       Indicating material or substance

A table of humble origin;

Made of steel and concrete, built of brick

f)        Indicating connection, reference or relation

The cause of the accident; the result of the debate;

The master of the house; the wall of the garden; a topic of conversation; Master of Arts;

Accused/suspected/convicted of a crime; dream of somethin;

Sure/certain/confident/fond/guilty/innocent of something;

Hard of hearing; blind of one eye; think well of somebody

g)       Indicating partition, inclusion, measure

A sheet of paper; a roll of cloths; a pint of milk;

A ton of coal; two yards of cloth; four acres of land;

A lot/a great deal of that stuff; no more of that

h)       Indicating time

What do you do of a Sunday/on Sundays?

He at times comes in of an evening, in the evenings.

Off

a)       Not on; down from; away from.

He fell off a ladder/a tree/a horse.

The ball rolled off the table.

Cut another slice off the loaf.

Keep off the grass.

b)       Extending or branching from (of road or street)

His house is off the main road.

Look at the ship anchored off the harbor entrance.

Over

a)       In or across every part of

Snow is falling over the north of Kashmir.

He is famous all over the country.

b)       From one side to other; to or at the other side of.

We heard voice over the hedge.

He spoke to me over his shoulder.

c)       In connection with; while engaged in; concerning.

We had a pleasant chat over a cup of office.

They all laughed over the affair.

He went to sleep over his work.

d)       Indicating superiority in rank, authority, etc.

Akbar reigned over a great empire.

He has no command over his passion.

He has jurisdiction over two provinces.

e)       Resting on the surface of and covering, partially or completely

Tie a piece of cloth firmly over the top of the jar.

Let us spread a cloth over the table.

f)        At or to a level higher than, but not touching.

The balcony juts out over the street.

The telegraph wires over the streets are tight.

The sky is over/above our heads.

g)       More than (opposite of under)

He stayed in New York for over a year.

This river is over sixty miles long.

He spoke for well over two hours.

In

a)       For countries and large towns, and places important to the speaker.

In America; in the west of Asia; in Delhi; islands in the Indian Ocean; the highest mountain in the world; in every quarter of the colony; not a cloud in the sky; in the background/foreground; in temple/church/mosque/prison; a holiday in the country/in the mountain; lying in bed; sitting in the armchair (but on a chair without arms); a stick in one’s hand; a light in the distance; a ride a motor car.

b)       Of direction;

In this direction; in that direction; in all directions.

c)       Indicating direction of motion or activity.

He dipped his pen in the ink. Cut/break this cane in two.

Throw this rubbish in the fire.

d)       Of time when;

In the 20th century; in 1992; in the reign of Ashoka; in spring/winter/autumn/summer; in the morning/afternoon/evening; in the daytime; in the bed; in future; in the past; in these/those days; in his youth; in my old age; in my absence; in his hour of  triumph.

e)       Of time; in the course of; within the space of.

In an hour; in a moment; in few days; in a short time; in a week’s time.

f)        Indicating inclusion

A man in his forties; seven days in a week; four pints in a gallon

He has in him the makings of a good story writer.

He has nothing of the hero in him.

g)       Indicating ratio.

Not one in twenty of the boys could spell this word.

h)       Dress.

A king in disguise; in blue; in white shirt;

Dressed/clothed in rags; a beauty in rags.

i)        Indicating state or condition.

In good humor; in a troubled state; in tears; in a rage; in ruins; in a trice; in fun/jest; joke; in earnest.

j)        Indicating physical surroundings, circumstances.

Sleep in the open; go out in the rain; grope in the dark;

k)       Indicating form, shape, arrangement.

Boys sitting in rows; words in alphabetical order; a novel in five parts.

l)        Indicating the method of expression, the medium, means, material, etc.

Written in ink/pencil; printed in italic type; painted in oils; cast in bronze; carved in oak; a statue in marble; payment in cash/ in kind.

m)     Indicating relation, reference, respect.

In every way; in some/all respects; deficient; in courage; wanting/ lacking in judgment; six feet in length; blinded in the right eye.

n)       Indicating occupation, activity, etc.

In politics; in business; in the army; in the cabinet;

He was killed in action. (While fighting)

o)       Indicating identity;

We have lost an ace pilot in Roberts.

From

a)       Used to introduce the place, point, person, etc. that is the starting-point.

Travel from Delhi to Madrid; move from place to place; jump (down) from the wall.

b)       Used to indicate the starting of a period of time;

From childhood; from day to day; from the first of April; from beginning to end.

c)       Used to indicate the place, object, etc. whose distance, absence, etc. is stated;

Stay away from school; five miles from the coast;

Be/go away from home.

d)       Showing the giver, sender, etc.

A book from friend; a letter from my father, a gift from my sister.

e)       Art, showing the model, etc.

Painted from life; painted from nature.

f)        Showing the lower limit;

There were from five to ten clerks absent.

g)       Used to indicate the source from which something is taken.

Draw water from a well; draw conclusions from the evidence; from this point of view; quotations from Tagore.

h)       Showing the material, etc. used in a process, the material being changed as a result.

Steel is made from iron. Wine is made from grapes.

i)        Used to indicate separation, prevention, escape, avoidance, etc.

When was he released from prison?

Take that blade (away) from the baby.

What prevented/stopped/hindered him from coming?

j)        Used to indicate change;

Things are growing from bad to worse.

The price has increased from 50 paise to 75 paise.

k)       Showing reason, cause or motive

Suffer from starvation and disease; collapse from fatigue; do something from necessity, not from a sense of duty.

l)        Showing distinction or difference.

Distinct from other; different from others; differ from others.

With

a)       To indicate the means or instrument;

Cut something with a knife; walk with a crutch; write with a pen; see something with your own eyes; take something with both hands; with the help of your neighbor.

b)       To indicate what is used for filling, covering, etc.

Fill this bag with sugar. The hills are covered with snow. Let me stuff this bag with sand.

c)       Having; carrying; characterized by

A jug with no handle; a coat with three pockets; a girl with blue eyes; a beggar with no clothes on; with your permission.

d)       To indicate accompaniment or relationship;

Go for a walk with a friend; live with your parents; discuss a problem with somebody; mix one thing with another.

e)       To indicate antagonism, opposition;

Fight/struggle/quarrel, etc. with somebody;

Have an argument with somebody; battle with the smugglers.

f)        To indicate cause; because of; owing to;

Shaking with fear; shivering with cold; trembling with fear; a face wet with tears.

g)       To indicate manner;

Fight with courage; win with ease; with joy; with pleasure; do something with an effort/with a light heart;

With a roar/a growl/a shout of triumph; receive somebody with open arms.

h)       In the same way or direction as; at the sometime as;

With the approach of spring, flowers begin to bloom.

A tree’s shadow moves with the sun.

He rises with the sun.

i)        To indicate care; charge or possession;

I have no money with me. Leave the child with its nurse. The decision rests with you.

j)        In regard to; concerning;

Sympathize with the sick; be patient with them;

Bear/put up with somebody or something; have dealings/business with somebody

k)       To indicate separation;

Let us dispense with his services.

I parted with him at the college gate.

Why have you broken off with your friend?

l)        To indicate agreement, harmony;

I am with you in what you say.

Does this dress go with the color of her skin?

m)     In spite of; notwithstanding;

With all his faults I still liked him.