Different types of prepositions

A preposition indicates the relationship between the noun or pronoun used with it and some other word in the sentence. Prepositions are used to show position, direction or time.

Following prepositions show position.

Alexander is sitting on a stool.

Mother was at home when I came from school.

Marlon came aboard the Queen Mary.

Deepika was leaning against a wall.

Jane jumped over the fence.

Gamini sat astride a large white horse.

We were at the airport when Shirani returned from London.

Below us on our left there was a big river.

The cat was sleeping under the table.

Sagala’s house is near the public library.

Semage’s painting is hanging on the walls.

Deepthi left her umbrella at the railway station.

The boys were standing beside the road.

The dog is sleeping in the kennel.

There is a fence round my aunt’s farm.

We took shelter under a tree.

Prem parked his car beside the van.

Sheelan’s montessori is near the hospital.

Here are some prepositions that show direction.

Pethum ran across the street.

Mendis came driving his car along a crowded street.

Can you show me the way to the railway station?

Semini climbed up the stairs to her room.

Jane jumped over the fence.

Mala put the books into her bag.

Please listen to me.

Sena dived into the pool.

Ajitha went to the fruit stall and bought some oranges.

The reckless driver drove round the bend at full speed.

Here are some prepositions that show time.

Silva returned home after midnight.

Before going to bed, Padma completed the essay.

He has been here since 8 o’clock.

The meeting will begin at 10 o’clock.

My brother returned from Australia after a month.

It’s 2 o’clock by my watch.

It’s already half past six.

It may rain later in the evening.

Where were you during the storm?

The school concert will begin at 9 o’clock.

Sometimes it is not easy to use certain prepositions such as ‘in’ and ‘at’.

‘In’ is generally used with large towns and countries.

We live in Sri Lanka, not in England.

The cat was sleeping under the table.

They study in Hong Kong.

Father was working in Singapore.

‘At’ is usually used with small places.

My uncle lives at Malamulla.

The preposition ‘on’ is used to show position.

The teacher sat on a chair.

Seetha left her bag on a chair.

However ‘upon’ shows motion.

The tiger jumped upon the deer.

The cat sprang upon the mouse.

Enrich your vocabulary

Giving one word for many is an interesting way to enrich your vocabulary. Here is a quiz to gauge your knowledge. Underline the correct word and check your answers with the solution.

1. Fluent in two languages: (a) bilingual (b) multilingual

2. Lasting only for a very short time (a) daily (b) ephemeral

3. Word for word: (a) verbose (b) verbatim

4. To change to stone: (a) petrify (b) stone

5. To reduce to powder: (a) pulverise (b) pulsate

6. Wasteful in spending: (a) excite (b) extravagant

7. To learn by memory: (a) remember (b) memorise

8. Capable of being drawn out: (a) malleable (b) malign

9. Consisting of several kinds: (a) multinational (b) miscellaneous

10. The exclusive right to buy or sell a commodity: (a) monopoly (b) motif

11. Unable to pay one’s debts: (a) debonair (b) insolvent

12. Easily broken: (a) fragile (b) complaint

Solution: 1(a), 2(b), 3(b), 4(a), 5(a), 6(b), 7(b), 8(a), 9(b), 10(a), 11(b), 12(a).

Words denoting numbers

Following is a list of words denoting numbers.

Read the phrases and sentences on the left and fill in the blanks with the suitable words.

Flock, school, shoal, catch, covey, pack, drove, herd, team, flight, muster, leap, gaggle, swarm, bevy, hive, nest, stud, troop, rookery

01. A number of rooks ———

02. A number of monkeys ———

03. A number of horses kept for riding ———

04. A number of ants ———

05. A number of bees ———

06. A number of beautiful girls ———

07. A number of locusts ———

08. A number of geese ———

09. A number of leopards ———

10. A number of peacocks ———

11. A number of birds moving together ———

12. A number of horses harnessed together

———

13. A number of cattle ———

14. A number of horses driven together ———

15. A number of asses ———

16. A small number of birds ———

17. A number of fish caught in a net ———

18. A number of herrings ———

19. A number of whales ———

20. A number of sheep ———

Solution: 1. rookery, 2. troop, 3. stud, 4. nest, 5. hive, 6. bevy, 7. swarm, 8. gaggle, 9. leap, 10. muster, 11. flight, 12. team, 13. herd, 14. drove, 15. pack, 16. covey, 17. catch, 18. shoal, 19. school, 20. flock.