Prepositions — Study Notes for CG TET
Overview
Prepositions are small but powerful words that show relationships between nouns, pronouns, and other elements in a sentence. They indicate position, direction, time, and manner. In the CG TET Language II English paper, prepositions appear both in direct grammar questions and within unseen passages where candidates must identify correct usage or fill in blanks.
Mastery of prepositions is essential because they are among the most error-prone areas for second-language learners. Many preposition choices in English are idiomatic—they do not follow strict logical rules and must simply be memorised. The exam tests your ability to choose the correct preposition in context, spot errors in preposition usage, and understand how prepositions affect meaning in comprehension passages.
This topic requires memorisation of common patterns combined with practice in applying rules to unfamiliar sentences. Focus on the most frequently tested prepositions: in, on, at, to, for, by, with, from, of, about, between, and among.
Key Concepts
- Definition: A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun to show its relationship with another word in the sentence. Example: The book is on the table.
- Object of preposition: The noun or pronoun that follows a preposition is called its object. Prepositions always take the objective case (him, her, them, whom—not he, she, they, who).
- Prepositional phrase: A preposition + its object + any modifiers form a prepositional phrase. Example: under the old wooden bridge.
- Types by function: Prepositions of place (in, on, at, under, behind), time (in, on, at, during, since, for), direction (to, towards, into, through), and agent/instrument (by, with).
- Simple vs compound prepositions: Simple prepositions are single words (in, on, at). Compound prepositions are phrases acting as one unit (in front of, because of, in spite of, on account of).
- Idiomatic usage: Many verbs, adjectives, and nouns take fixed prepositions that must be memorised: interested in, depend on, afraid of, reason for.
- No preposition needed: Some verbs do not take prepositions where Hindi might use one: discuss the matter (not discuss about), enter the room (not enter into), answer the question (not answer to).
Formulas / Key Facts
Prepositions of Time
| Preposition | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| at | Specific time, festivals without "day" | at 5 o'clock, at Diwali |
| on | Days, dates | on Monday, on 15th August |
| in | Months, years, seasons, parts of day | in March, in 2024, in the morning |
| since | Point of time (with perfect tense) | since 1990, since Monday |
| for | Duration of time | for two hours, for a week |
| by | Deadline or latest time | by 6 PM, by tomorrow |
| during | Throughout a period | during the vacation |
Prepositions of Place
| Preposition | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| at | Specific point or address | at the bus stop, at 24 MG Road |
| in | Enclosed space, large areas | in the room, in Raipur |
| on | Surface contact | on the wall, on the floor |
| between | Two items | between the two houses |
| among | More than two | among the students |
Common Verb + Preposition Combinations
- agree with (a person), agree to (a proposal)
- believe in, consist of, depend on, insist on
- listen to, look at, look for, look after
- succeed in, suffer from, wait for
Common Adjective + Preposition Combinations
- afraid of, angry with (person), angry at (thing)
- fond of, good at, interested in, proud of
- different from, similar to, married to
Worked Examples
Example 1: Fill in the blank The meeting will start ____ 10 AM ____ Monday.
Step 1: Identify what follows—10 AM is a specific time, Monday is a day. Step 2: For specific time → use "at". For day → use "on". Answer: The meeting will start at 10 AM on Monday.
Example 2: Error correction She is interested to learn music.
Step 1: Identify the structure—adjective "interested" needs a preposition + verb form. Step 2: The correct combination is "interested in" (not "interested to"). Step 3: After a preposition, use the gerund form (-ing). Answer: She is interested in learning music.
Example 3: Choose the correct option Divide the sweets ____ the five children. (a) between (b) among (c) in (d) with
Step 1: "Divide" suggests distribution. Step 2: Five children = more than two, so use "among" (not "between"). Answer: (b) among
Example 4: Spot the unnecessary preposition He entered into the classroom.
Step 1: The verb "enter" is transitive and does not require a preposition. Step 2: Remove "into". Answer: He entered the classroom.
Common Mistakes
- Using "since" with duration → Wrong: I have been waiting since two hours. Correct: I have been waiting for two hours. Use "since" for a point in time, "for" for a duration.
- Confusing "in" and "at" for places → Wrong: I live in 45 Station Road. Correct: I live at 45 Station Road. Use "at" for specific addresses, "in" for cities, states, and countries.
- Adding prepositions where not needed → Wrong: She discussed about the problem. Correct: She discussed the problem. Verbs like discuss, enter, reach, attack, and comprise do not take prepositions.
- Using "between" for more than two → Wrong: The property was divided between the four brothers. Correct: The property was divided among the four brothers. "Between" is for two; "among" is for three or more.
- Wrong preposition after adjectives → Wrong: He is good in mathematics. Correct: He is good at mathematics. Memorise fixed adjective-preposition pairs.
Quick Reference
- Time rule: at (exact time) → on (day/date) → in (month/year/season)
- Place rule: at (point) → on (surface) → in (enclosed/large area)
- Between = 2, Among = 3 or more
- Since + point in time; For + duration
- No preposition after: discuss, enter, reach, attack, resemble, comprise
- Object of preposition takes objective case: between you and me (not I)