What are prepositions?
Uses of different conjunctions
1. Uses of 'On'
(a) Fixed days and dates:
- on Sunday
- on Christmas
- on 14th, May
- on 1st January 2017
(b)To denote position (attached to sth/sb):
- on the wall
- on a map
- on the ceiling
- on the table
- on the group
- on the right
- on the left
(c)With means of transportation.
- on a horse
- on foot
- on cycle
- on a bicycle
- on a ship
(d) With verbs phrases like:
insist on, move on, rely on, depend on, keep on, pass on, live on, put on, switch on, turn on, on the right, on the other hand, on strike, on diet, onboard, on border
Uses of "On"
(a) Before,month,season
- in April
- in June
- in summer
- in spring
- in winter
Adjectives/verbs +in: deal in, involved in, succeed in, polite in , believe in, engaged in, interested in, employed in, skilful in, backward in
3. Uses of 'at'
(a) Before clock time:
- at 2 o'clock
- at four
- at 1.30
(b) Before name of festivals:
- at Deepawali
- at Lhosar
- at Christmas
- at Id
- at Easter
(c) To denote place:
- at a meeting
- at Balaju
- at the bus park
- at a hotel
(d) To make time adverbials:
- at lunchtime
- at the moment
- at present
- at the same time
- at daybreak
- at sunset
- at dawn
(e) Verbs / adjectives+at:
- mock at
- laugh at
- glad at
- look at
- smile at
- arrive at
- grasp at
- grin at
- stare at
- laugh at
- bark at
- smile at
- point at
- good at
- amazed at
- angry at
- excellent at
- shocked at
- slow at
- impatient at
(f) To indicate the age/speed / temperature:
- at the age of 30
- retire at 60
- left school at
- at 40 miles
- at 90 kilometres per hour
- at zero degree Celsius
- at 100 degree Celsius
(g) To indicate a rate, price:
- at 2 percent interest
- at 20 rupees per kg
(h) Some phrases:
- not at all
- at once
- at a distance
- at the mercy of
- at a glance
- at this point
- at fault
- at any cost
- at last
(i) Indicating side:
- My house is at Caspian lake.
- There is a crowd of people at the river.
4. Use of 'by'
(a) Before point of times in future:
- by 2012
- by March
- by Sunday
- by tomorrow
(b) By+ agent in passive:
- The cat is chased by a dog.
- America was discovered by Columbus.
(c) To denote position (near / beside / at the side of):
- Please sit by me.
- Come and stand still by him.
(d)To indicate a means of transport or a route is taken: (if there is no article in front of means of transportation)
- by boat
- by bus
- by car
- by plane
- by train
- by air
- by land
- by the sea
But; in a
car, in a taxi
Similarly
in front of large vehicles: on a bus, on a plane
(e)Mode of payment/measurement/route:
- He paid by cheque/in cash.
- We sell by the dozen.
- May I enter by the back door?
(f) Some phrases:
by accident, bit by bit, by
hand, by mistake, by chance, by the way, by heart, by oneself, one by one, side
by side, by means, little by little
Use of 'with'
(a)Possession:
- a boy with red hat
- a man with an umbrella
- a woman with a bag
- a coat with a belt
- a child with books
(b)Indicating the tool or instrument/material used:
- Draw with a pencil.
- Cut it with a knife.
- Feed with a spoon.
- Hit with an axe.
- Chop with a saw.
- Fill the bowl with water.
- The lorry was loaded with timber.
(c) In the company:
- I live with my parents.
- Discuss the plans with an expert.
- He played football with his friends.
(d) Manner:
He did it with pleasure/ease/ difficulty.
(e) Giving assistance:
Can you help me with the washing up?
(f)(Adjectives/verbs + with)
satisfied with, angry with, content with,
furious with, familiar with, bored with, deal with, collided with, bargain
with,
(g)Common expressions:
with pleasure, with care, pleased with, fed up with, quarrel with,
delighted with, agree with, fight with, difficulty with
Use of 'about'
(a) On the subject of sb/sth, in connection with, concerning or regarding:
- The poem is about nature.
- Tell me about poverty.
- He is careless about his personal hygiene.
(b) At a time near to, at approximately:
- They will reach home at about 10 o'clock.
- It cost about Rs. 150.
(c) Approximately:
- There are about 10 people in the meeting.
- He is about 50.
(d) Some phrases:
anxious about, excited about, doubtful about, worried about, concerned
about, depressed about, wrong about, curious about, happy about
7)Uses of 'of '
(a)Possession:
- a cousin of mine
- an acquaintance of my wife
- the lid of the jar
- the handle of the umbrella
- the role of the teacher
(b) Indicating unit of measurement or quantity:
- a kilo of rice
- a meter of rope
- a cup of tea
- a sheet of paper
(c) Indicating age:
- a man of 40
- a boy of 12
- Something made from a shirt of cotton
- Containing: a bag of potatoes
- Location: east of here
(d)Verbs + of
die of, short of, a sari of silk, a bundle of
sticks, the middle of the road, deprive
of, lack of,
accused of, get rid of
Use of 'off'
(a)Special use with verbs like doze off put off, get off, take off
- The pen rolled off the table.
- The cat pimped off the roof.
Use of 'for'
(a)Indicating purpose or function:
- Go for a walk.
- It's a machine for slicing bread.
- Are you learning English for pleasure or for your work?
(b) Indicating destination, aim or reason:
- head for the shore
- depart for home
- a book for children
- a chair for visitors
- bicycles for sale/hire
(c) Duration of time:
- He walked for two hours.
- She has been ill for a few days.
- He was in prison for twenty years.
- I love you forever.
(d) As the price, reward or penalty:
- I bought a book for Rs. 500. (price)
- He was fined for dangerous driving. (penalty)
- He got a medal for bravery. (reward) Purpose:
- These books are for blind people.
- What is this tool for?
(e) In favour of:
- I will vote for her.
- Are you for the motion?
(f) With some verbs like:
apply for, look for, apologize
for. wait for, search for, leave for
10)Use of 'since'
(a)Before point in time with present or past perfect tense:
- I haven't taken lunch since morning.
- She's been working in a bank since Christmas.
- He had spoken to her only once since his marriage.
11) Use of 'from'
(a) Place or direction from which sb/sth starts:
- Go from Gangabu to Kalanki.
- They came from Nepal.
- Has the bus from Pokhara arrived?
(b) Indicating the time at which sth starts:
- He is on leave from 20th July.
- He was ill from birth.
(c) Indicating who sent or gave:
- a message from my brother
- a present from a penfriend
- I had a phone call from Max.
(d) Indicating source:
- I knew it from her.
- He came from the south.
(c) over higher than / more than
- There is a bulb over that table.
- We have over five jobs vacant.
(d) under: beneath / less than
- There is a ball under the table.
- Under fifteen children are playing.
(e) across: from one side to another / on the other side.
- We walked across the road.
- There is a bookshop across the street.
(f) along: in the line
They
are walking along the road.
(g) between: between two
Olivia is sitting between James and John..
(h) among: between many
There
is a house among the trees.
(i) behind: at the back of
Our school is behind the hospital.
(j) in front of: ahead of
He stood in front of the class.
(k) beside: next to
Our office is beside the store.
(l) past: up to and beyond
I walked past the school.
(m) down: from high to low
He came
down the hill.