Prepositions: A Comprehensive Worksheet for Class 10

Prepositions are fundamental to constructing grammatically correct and meaningful sentences in English. For Class 10 students, mastering prepositions is crucial for both academic success and effective communication.

This article provides a detailed exploration of prepositions, covering their definition, types, usage rules, common mistakes, and practice exercises. By the end of this guide, you will have a solid understanding of prepositions and be able to use them confidently in your writing and speaking.

This comprehensive guide is designed for students in Class 10, English language learners, and anyone seeking to improve their understanding of prepositions. It offers clear explanations, numerous examples, and practical exercises to reinforce learning.

Let’s dive in and unlock the power of prepositions!

Definition of Prepositions
Structural Breakdown of Prepositions
Types and Categories of Prepositions
Examples of Prepositions
Usage Rules of Prepositions
Common Mistakes with Prepositions
Practice Exercises
Advanced Topics in Prepositions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Conclusion

Definition of Prepositions

A preposition is a word that connects a noun or pronoun to other words in a sentence. It typically indicates the temporal, spatial, or logical relationship of its object to the rest of the sentence. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the object of the preposition. Prepositions are essential for creating clear and precise sentences, as they provide context and detail about the relationships between different elements.

Prepositions can express a variety of relationships, including location (at, on, in), time (before, after, during), direction (to, from, towards), and manner (by, with, without). Their flexibility and versatility make them a vital part of the English language.

Structural Breakdown of Prepositions

The basic structure involving a preposition is quite simple: Preposition + Object (Noun/Pronoun/Gerund). This combination forms a prepositional phrase, which functions as an adjective or adverb, modifying other parts of the sentence. Understanding this structure is key to correctly identifying and using prepositions.

For instance, in the sentence “The book is on the table,” the preposition is “on,” and the object of the preposition is “the table.” Together, “on the table” forms a prepositional phrase that modifies the noun “book,” indicating its location. The prepositional phrase acts as an adverbial modifier, answering the question “Where is the book?”

Another example is “She went to the store.” Here, “to” is the preposition, “the store” is the object of the preposition, and “to the store” is a prepositional phrase functioning as an adverb, indicating the direction of her movement.

Types and Categories of Prepositions

Prepositions can be categorized based on the type of relationship they express. The main categories include prepositions of time, place, movement, direction, agency, and phrasal prepositions.

Each category has its own specific set of prepositions and usage rules.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens, happened, or will happen. Common prepositions of time include at, on, in, before, after, during, since, for, until, and by. The choice of preposition depends on the specific time frame being referenced.

For example, “I wake up at 7 am” uses “at” to specify a precise time. “The meeting is on Monday” uses “on” to indicate a specific day of the week. “He was born in 1995″ uses “in” to refer to a year.

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place indicate where something is located. Common prepositions of place include at, on, in, above, below, under, beside, between, behind, in front of, and near. These prepositions help to describe the spatial relationships between objects or locations.

For instance, “The cat is on the roof” uses “on” to indicate the cat’s position relative to the roof. “The book is in the bag” uses “in” to show that the book is inside the bag. “The restaurant is near the station” uses “near” to indicate proximity.

Prepositions of Movement

Prepositions of movement indicate how something or someone moves from one place to another. Common prepositions of movement include to, from, through, across, along, into, out of, over, and around. These prepositions describe the path or direction of motion.

For example, “She walked to the park” uses “to” to indicate the destination of her walk. “He drove through the tunnel” uses “through” to describe the path he took. “The bird flew over the house” uses “over” to show the bird’s trajectory.

Prepositions of Direction

Prepositions of direction are closely related to prepositions of movement but focus more on the direction in which something is oriented or aimed. Examples include toward(s), up, down, onto, and off.

For instance, “They headed towards the mountains” uses “towards” to indicate the general direction of their travel. “The ball rolled down the hill” uses “down” to specify the direction of the ball’s movement. “He climbed onto the stage” uses “onto” to show movement to a specific location.

Prepositions of Agency

Prepositions of agency indicate the means by which something is done or the person or thing responsible for an action. Common prepositions of agency include by and with.

For example, “The letter was written by John” uses “by” to indicate who wrote the letter. “She cut the paper with scissors” uses “with” to specify the tool used for cutting.

Phrasal Prepositions

Phrasal prepositions are combinations of two or more words that function as a single preposition. These phrases often include a preposition, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. Common phrasal prepositions include according to, because of, in front of, in spite of, on account of, due to, with regard to, and in addition to.

For instance, “According to the report, the economy is improving” uses “according to” as a phrasal preposition to introduce the source of the information. “Because of the rain, the game was canceled” uses “because of” to indicate the reason for the cancellation. “In spite of the difficulties, they succeeded” uses “in spite of” to show contrast.

Examples of Prepositions

To further illustrate the use of prepositions, here are several tables with examples categorized by type.

Table 1: Prepositions of Time Examples

This table show the prepositions of time with its example sentences.

Preposition	Example Sentence
At	I will meet you at 5 pm.
On	The concert is on Saturday.
In	She was born in 1990.
Before	Please arrive before 8 am.
After	We will leave after the meeting.
During	He slept during the movie.
Since	I have lived here since 2010.
For	She studied for three hours.
Until	The library is open until 9 pm.
By	The report is due by Friday.
From	The store is open from 9am to 5pm.
Past	It’s half past five.
Within	The project must be completed within a week.
Throughout	The festival lasted throughout the summer.
Over	Let’s discuss it over lunch.
Around	I’ll be home around 6 PM.
Till	I’ll wait till you come back.
Up to	Up to now, everything is fine.
As of	As of today, the rules have changed.
Between	The meeting is scheduled between 2 PM and 4 PM.

Table 2: Prepositions of Place Examples

This table show the prepositions of place with its example sentences.

Preposition	Example Sentence
At	She is at the library.
On	The book is on the shelf.
In	The keys are in the drawer.
Above	The picture is above the fireplace.
Below	The temperature is below zero.
Under	The cat hid under the bed.
Beside	He sat beside her.
Between	The house is between the trees.
Behind	The car is behind the truck.
In front of	The store is in front of the bank.
Near	The school is near my house.
By	There’s a park by the river.
Over	The bird flew over the house.
Underneath	The cat is hiding underneath the table.
Around	There are trees around the lake.
Among	The child was lost among the crowd.
Inside	The keys are inside the car.
Outside	Let’s eat outside on the patio.
Across	The bank is across the street.
Along	We walked along the beach.

Table 3: Prepositions of Movement Examples

This table show the prepositions of movement with its example sentences.

Preposition	Example Sentence
To	She went to the market.
From	He came from Italy.
Through	The train passed through the tunnel.
Across	They walked across the bridge.
Along	We drove along the coast.
Into	She stepped into the room.
Out of	He ran out of the house.
Over	The plane flew over the city.
Around	We walked around the block.
Up	They climbed up the mountain.
Down	The ball rolled down the hill.
Past	He walked past the store.
Toward	They walked toward the beach.
Away from	She moved away from the noise.
Off	He jumped off the stage.
Under	The cat went under the fence.
Onto	The cat jumped onto the table.
Towards	They are walking towards the school.
From…to	We travelled from London to Paris.
Around	We drove around the city center.

Table 4: Phrasal Prepositions Examples

This table show the phrasal prepositions with its example sentences.

Preposition	Example Sentence
According to	According to the news, it will rain tomorrow.
Because of	Because of the traffic, we were late.
In front of	The car is parked in front of the building.
In spite of	In spite of the cold, we went swimming.
On account of	On account of his illness, he couldn’t attend.
Due to	Due to the storm, the flight was delayed.
With regard to	With regard to your request, we need more information.
In addition to	In addition to English, she speaks French.
In relation to	We are discussing this in relation to the budget.
By means of	They communicated by means of letters.
In view of	In view of the circumstances, we must act quickly.
For the sake of	For the sake of peace, we agreed to their terms.
In the event of	In the event of a fire, use the emergency exit.
With reference to	With reference to your email, I am pleased to respond.
On behalf of	I am writing on behalf of the entire team.
In accordance with	The project was completed in accordance with the plan.
In connection with	The police are investigating the incident in connection with the robbery.
In contrast to	In contrast to his brother, he is very quiet.
With respect to	With respect to your concerns, we will address them promptly.
In comparison to	In comparison to last year, sales have increased.

Usage Rules of Prepositions

Using prepositions correctly requires understanding certain rules and guidelines. Here are some important points to keep in mind:

Prepositions are usually followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund. For example, “He is good at playing the piano.”
Prepositions can come at the end of a sentence, especially in informal speech. For example, “Who are you talking to?”
Some prepositions have specific uses depending on the context. For example, “in” is used for enclosed spaces (in the box), “on” is used for surfaces (on the table), and “at” is used for specific locations (at the station).
Certain verbs and adjectives are followed by specific prepositions. For example, “depend on,” “interested in,” “afraid of.”
Avoid unnecessary prepositions. For example, instead of saying “Where are you going to?”, simply say “Where are you going?”

Understanding these rules will help you use prepositions accurately and effectively in your writing and speaking.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions

Prepositions can be tricky, and even native speakers sometimes make mistakes. Here are some common errors to watch out for:

Incorrect: “I am agree with you.”
Correct: “I agree with you.”

Incorrect: “She is good in English.”
Correct: “She is good at English.”

Incorrect: “He is waiting for you since two hours.”
Correct: “He has been waiting for you for two hours.”

Incorrect: “Where are you going to?”
Correct: “Where are you going?”

Incorrect: “The book is different than the movie.”
Correct: “The book is different from the movie.”

Table 5: Common Preposition Mistakes

This table shows the common mistakes with prepositions with correct and incorrect sentences.

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
I am agree with you.	I agree with you.	The verb “agree” does not require “am.”
She is good in English.	She is good at English.	The correct preposition to use with “good” in this context is “at.”
He is waiting for you since two hours.	He has been waiting for you for two hours.	“Since” is used with a specific point in time, while “for” is used for a duration. The present perfect continuous tense is more appropriate here.
Where are you going to?	Where are you going?	The preposition “to” is unnecessary at the end of the sentence.
The book is different than the movie.	The book is different from the movie.	The correct preposition to use with “different” is “from.”
They discussed about the problem.	They discussed the problem.	The verb “discuss” does not require the preposition “about.”
She insisted to go.	She insisted on going.	The correct preposition to use with “insist” is “on.”
He is afraid from spiders.	He is afraid of spiders.	The correct preposition to use with “afraid” is “of.”
I prefer coffee than tea.	I prefer coffee to tea.	The correct preposition to use with “prefer” is “to.”
The accident resulted to his death.	The accident resulted in his death.	The correct preposition to use with “result” in this context is “in.”

Practice Exercises

To test your understanding of prepositions, here are some practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate prepositions.

Exercise 1: Prepositions of Time

Complete the following sentences using the correct preposition of time.

Question	Answer
1. I will see you ______ Monday.	on
2. The meeting is ______ 2 pm.	at
3. She was born ______ July.	in
4. We will arrive ______ the evening.	in
5. He has been working here ______ 2015.	since
6. The movie starts ______ 7:30 pm.	at
7. I need the report ______ Friday.	by
8. She will be back ______ an hour.	in
9. We studied ______ three hours.	for
10. The store is closed ______ Sunday.	on

Exercise 2: Prepositions of Place

Complete the following sentences using the correct preposition of place.

Question	Answer
1. The cat is ______ the table.	on
2. The keys are ______ the drawer.	in
3. The picture is ______ the wall.	on
4. The park is ______ the school.	near
5. He is sitting ______ her.	beside
6. The ball is ______ the box.	in
7. The restaurant is ______ the corner.	at
8. The dog is ______ the house.	behind
9. The children are playing ______ the garden.	in
10. The shop is ______ the bank and the post office.	between

Exercise 3: Prepositions of Movement

Complete the following sentences using the correct preposition of movement.

Question	Answer
1. She walked ______ the store.	to
2. He came ______ London.	from
3. The train went ______ the tunnel.	through
4. They ran ______ the street.	across
5. We drove ______ the coast.	along
6. She stepped ______ the car.	into
7. He jumped ______ the stage.	off
8. The bird flew ______ the tree.	over
9. We walked ______ the park.	around
10. The river flows ______ the valley.	through

Exercise 4: Phrasal Prepositions

Complete the following sentences using the correct phrasal preposition.

Question	Answer
1. ______ the weather, we went for a walk.	In spite of
2. The game was cancelled ______ the rain.	Because of
3. ______ the report, the company is doing well.	According to
4. ______ his hard work, he succeeded.	On account of
5. ______ English, she also speaks Spanish.	In addition to
6. The accident was ______ his carelessness.	Due to
7. ______ your email, I am happy to respond.	With reference to
8. The decision was made ______ the committee.	On behalf of
9. The project was completed ______ the plan.	In accordance with
10. ______ the circumstances, we must act quickly.	In view of

Advanced Topics in Prepositions

For advanced learners, understanding more complex aspects of prepositions can further enhance their language skills. One such area is the use of prepositions in idioms and fixed expressions.

These combinations often have meanings that cannot be deduced from the individual words.

Another advanced topic is the placement of prepositions in relative clauses and questions. While it is grammatically correct to end a sentence with a preposition, it is sometimes considered more formal to place the preposition before the relative pronoun or interrogative pronoun.

For example:

Informal: “Who are you talking to?”
Formal: “To whom are you talking?”

Mastering these advanced topics requires extensive exposure to the English language and careful attention to detail.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some frequently asked questions about prepositions:

What is the difference between a preposition and an adverb?
A preposition always has an object (a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase), whereas an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb and does not have an object. For example, in “The cat is on the table,” “on” is a preposition because it is followed by the noun phrase “the table.” In “The cat jumped up,” “up” is an adverb because it modifies the verb “jumped” and does not have an object.
Can a preposition come at the end of a sentence?
Yes, it is grammatically acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition, especially in informal speech and writing. However, in more formal contexts, it is often preferred to place the preposition earlier in the sentence. For example, “Who are you talking to?” is perfectly acceptable, but in formal writing, it might be rephrased as “To whom are you talking?”
How do I know which preposition to use?
Choosing the correct preposition often depends on the specific context and the relationship you want to express. Pay attention to the meaning you want to convey (time, place, movement, etc.) and consider common collocations (words that frequently occur together). Practice and exposure to the language are key to developing a good sense of which preposition is appropriate in a given situation.
What are phrasal prepositions?
Phrasal prepositions are multi-word units that function as single prepositions. They typically consist of a preposition combined with other words, such as verbs, adverbs, or adjectives. Examples include in spite of, because of, and according to. These phrases have a specific meaning and must be used as a unit.
Are there any prepositions that always go with certain verbs or adjectives?
Yes, many verbs and adjectives are typically followed by specific prepositions. These combinations are called collocations. Examples include “depend on,” “interested in,” “afraid of,” and “similar to.” Learning these common collocations can help you use prepositions more accurately.
What is the difference between ‘in’ and ‘at’ when referring to places?
“In” is generally used for enclosed spaces or larger areas, while “at” is used for specific points or locations. For example, you would say “I am in the garden” (enclosed space) but “I am at the bus stop” (specific location).
When should I use ‘on’ versus ‘over’?
“On” usually indicates that something is directly touching a surface, while “over” implies a position above something else, often without contact. For example, “The book is on the table” (touching the surface) but “The plane flew over the city” (above, but not touching).
How can I improve my understanding and use of prepositions?
The best way to improve your understanding of prepositions is through consistent practice and exposure to the English language. Read widely, listen to native speakers, and pay attention to how prepositions are used in different contexts. Complete practice exercises, and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback on your writing and speaking. Over time, you will develop a stronger intuition for the correct use of prepositions.

Conclusion

Prepositions are essential components of English grammar, playing a crucial role in connecting words and conveying meaning. This comprehensive guide has covered the definition, types, usage rules, common mistakes, and practice exercises related to prepositions.

By understanding these concepts and practicing regularly, Class 10 students and English language learners can significantly improve their language skills.

Remember to pay attention to the context, learn common collocations, and practice using prepositions in your writing and speaking. With dedication and effort, you can master prepositions and communicate more effectively in English.

Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to seek help when needed. Good luck!