Prepositions - Deep Mastery

Preposition = Pre + Position = Before noun/pronoun to show relation. Shows relation between noun and other words: time, place, direction, method, cause.

Structure: Preposition + Noun/Pronoun (Object): in room, on table, at 5pm, with him, for you. Object always objective: with me, between you and me.

Types: Time at 5pm on Monday in Jan since Monday for 2 hours by 5pm during meeting, Place at door on wall in box under table over head above roof below floor between A and B among many, Direction to school towards park into river onto roof through tunnel across bridge along river, Agent by him with knife, Cause because of rain due to traffic

Why Deep? 60% errors are preposition: discuss about, enter into room, go to home, fond to play => fond of playing.

At - Exact Time Point Festival Night: at 5pm at noon at midnight at night at dawn at Diwali at Christmas at breakfast time at the moment.
At night but in morning/afternoon/evening exception.

On - Days Dates Day+Part: on Monday on 15th Aug on 5th Jan 2025 on Monday morning on Monday evening but at night alone. On Christmas Day specific day at Christmas festival period.

In - Months Years Seasons Long Periods Part of Day: in Jan in 2025 in summer in winter in morning in afternoon in evening in 20th century in past in future in a week after a week.

Since vs For: Since point since Monday since 8am since 2010 since childhood with perfect: I have lived since 2020. For period for 2 hours for 5 years. Error Since 5 years => for 5 years.

By vs Until/Till vs Within: By deadline on or before 5pm Submit by 5pm. Until/Till up to continuity till point I will wait till 5pm. Within inside period Submit within 2 days.

During vs While vs For: During + noun during summer during meeting. While + clause while I was sleeping. For duration for 2 hours.

At - Small Area Point Address: at door at bus stop at corner at 10 MG Road at entrance at home at office at station. At small area at market at park at station In big area in Delhi in India in city.

On - Surface Floor Touching: on wall on table on floor on second floor on roof on page on map on screen.

In - Enclosed Big Area Inside: in box in room in car in bag in Delhi in India in world in sky in water. At bus stop point on bus as passenger in bus inside as object on the bus in the car.

Under Over Above Below Beneath: Under directly below covered under table under water. Over directly above covering over head over roof over 100 people more than. Above higher level not directly above sea level above roof. Below lower level below sea level below knee. Beneath under formal beneath dignity. Over directly above maybe touching Above higher not necessarily directly Under directly below covered Below lower level.

Between vs Among Beside vs Besides: Between 2 only between A and B between you and me objective. Among >2 among friends among four people. Beside next to beside me sit beside. Besides addition besides English he knows French.

To = Destination Final Point: go to school go to Delhi come to me give to him from A to B.

Towards = Direction Not Final Moving in direction: walk towards park direction not necessarily reaching look towards sky attitude towards work.

Into = Inside from Outside Movement Inside: jump into river outside to inside come into room divide into parts translate into English. Into vs In: Into movement inside jump into river In inside already in river swimming in river.

Onto = On from Outside Movement On Surface: climb onto roof ground to roof surface jump onto table put book onto table.

Through = Inside and Across From One Side to Other Inside: walk through tunnel inside tunnel from one end to other through forest through window look through. Through vs Across: Through inside enclosed through tunnel through forest Across one side to other on surface across bridge across river across road.

Across = One Side to Other Side Opposite Side: walk across bridge swim across river across street line across page.

Along = Parallel Lengthwise: walk along river parallel to river along road along corridor.

Over vs Across: Over above may be from one side to other above jump over wall bridge over river over 100 people more than.

Fixed Prepositions Must Mug: depend on, interested in + gerund, fond of + gerund, good at, addicted to + gerund, capable of, afraid of, tired of, angry with person at thing, married to, compare with similar to dissimilar, consist of, devoid of, made of visible made from invisible, look at/after/into/for, put off postpone put up with tolerate, deal with/in, junior/senior/superior/inferior/prior/preferable to, different from.

Golden List NEVER use preposition after these verbs in active voice Most tested: Discuss matter not about, Describe scene not about, Enter room not into (enter into agreement exception), Order pizza not for, Tell me not to me, Ask me not to me, Reach home/station/Delhi not to, Attack enemy not on, Resemble father not to, Lack money not of (lack of as noun), Comprise 11 players not of, Accompany me not with, Consider me friend not as, Inform me not to me but inform of/about danger, Obey teacher not to. Home no to go home but go to his home with possessive. by bus/train/car/air no article on the bus in the car on foot.

Golden Rule: Preposition + Gerund V+ing ALWAYS Never infinitive after preposition. Fond of playing not to play Interested in reading not to read Tired of waiting not to wait Capable of doing Addicted to smoking Used to living Accustomed to working Succeed in solving Prevent from going Insist on going Think of going. Error Interested to read => interested in reading.

Prepositional Phrases: In time before deadline vs On time exact time Submit in time before deadline Train is on time exact time. At last finally At least minimum At once immediately At first initially At all completely At present now. In detail In general In fact In future In time In order to purpose. On purpose intentionally On behalf of representing On foot walking On time punctual. By heart memorize By mistake By accident By chance. For the sake of In spite of despite Instead of in place of Because of due to Due to because of Owing to because of According to as per In accordance with as per rule. Beside next to sit beside me Besides addition besides English he knows Hindi. Between 2 only between A and B between you and me objective Among >2 among friends among four people.

All Prepositions Rules in One Page: Time at 5pm at night at Diwali on Monday on 15th on Monday morning in Jan in 2025 in summer in morning since point since Monday since 2020 perfect for period for 2 hours for 5 years perfect by deadline by 5pm until/till up to wait till 5pm within inside within 2 days during + noun during summer/meeting while + clause while I was sleeping for duration. Place at small point at door at bus stop on surface on wall on table on floor in enclosed in box in room in Delhi under directly below under table over directly above over head above higher above sea level below lower below sea level beneath formal under between 2 between you and me objective among >2 among friends beside next to beside me besides addition besides English. Direction to destination go to school towards direction walk towards park into inside from outside jump into river onto on from outside climb onto roof through inside across walk through tunnel forest across one side to other across bridge river along parallel along river. Fixed depend on interested in gerund fond of gerund good at addicted to gerund capable of angry with person at thing married to compare with similar to dissimilar consist of devoid of made of/from look at/after/into/for put off postpone put up with tolerate deal with/in senior/junior/superior/inferior/prior/preferable to different from. No Prep discuss matter describe scene enter room enter into agreement exception order pizza tell me ask me reach home attack enemy resemble father lack money comprise 11 players accompany me consider me inform me but inform of danger obey teacher Home no to go home go to his home by bus/train/air on bus in car on foot. Prep+Gerund Always gerund after prep fond of playing interested in reading tired of waiting Phrases in time before deadline on time exact at last at least at once in detail in general on purpose on behalf on foot by heart mistake in spite of despite instead of because of Beside vs Besides Between vs Among Over vs Above vs Under vs Below.