English
Prepositions (Position Words)
Learning Objectives
- Students will understand what a preposition is.
- Students will learn prepositions of place (in, on, under, behind, between, near, above, below).
- Students will learn prepositions of time (at, on, in).
- Students will learn prepositions of direction (to, from, into, through).
- Students will use prepositions correctly in sentences.
- Students will identify prepositions in given sentences.
- Students will write their own sentences using prepositions.
Introduction
Look around your classroom. Where is your book? It is on the desk. Where is your bag? It is under the chair. Where is the clock? It is on the wall. The words on, under, and behind tell us the position of things. These words are called prepositions or position words.
What Is a Preposition?
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. It usually tells us:
- Where something is (place)
- When something happens (time)
- Which direction something moves (direction)
Examples
The cat is on the mat. (place — where?)
We have a holiday on Monday. (time — when?)
The bird flew into the nest. (direction — which way?)
Think: Where is your pencil right now? On the desk? In your hand? Under your book? You just used a preposition!
Prepositions of Place (Where?)
These prepositions tell us where something or someone is.
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in | Inside something | The book is in the bag. |
| on | On the surface of | The cat is on the mat. |
| under | Below something | The ball is under the table. |
| behind | At the back of | The garden is behind the house. |
| between | In the middle of two things | Ravi sits between Meena and Arjun. |
| near | Close to | The temple is near the river. |
| above | Higher than | The fan is above our heads. |
| below | Lower than | The fish swims below the water. |
Prepositions of Time (When?)
These prepositions tell us when something happens.
| Preposition | Used With | Example |
|---|---|---|
| at | Exact time | School starts at 8 o'clock. |
| on | Days and dates | We have PT on Monday. |
| in | Months, years, seasons | My birthday is in January. |
More Examples
The train arrives at 5 o'clock.
Republic Day is on 26th January.
We wear sweaters in winter.
Diwali comes in October or November.
Prepositions of Direction (Which Way?)
These prepositions tell us which direction something moves.
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to | Towards a place | We go to school every day. |
| from | Away from a place | Ravi came from Delhi. |
| into | Moving inside | The frog jumped into the pond. |
| through | From one side to the other | The train goes through the tunnel. |
Prepositions in Indian Context
| Sentence | Preposition | Type |
|---|---|---|
| The Ganga flows through many cities. | through | Direction |
| The temple is near the river. | near | Place |
| We celebrate Holi in March. | in | Time |
| The cow is under the banyan tree. | under | Place |
| Independence Day is on 15th August. | on | Time |
| The monkey jumped from one branch to another. | from, to | Direction |
| Meena keeps her tiffin in her bag. | in | Place |
| The kite flew above the rooftops. | above | Place |
Image: Cat in Different Positions
Image: Prepositions of Time Chart
Key Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Preposition | A word that shows position, time, or direction |
| Place | Where something is (in, on, under, behind, near) |
| Time | When something happens (at, on, in) |
| Direction | Which way something moves (to, from, into, through) |
| Position | The location of something |
| Surface | The top or outside of something |
⭐ Key Points to Remember
- A preposition shows the relationship between a noun and other words.
- Prepositions of place tell WHERE: in, on, under, behind, between, near, above, below.
- Prepositions of time tell WHEN: at (exact time), on (days/dates), in (months/years/seasons).
- Prepositions of direction tell WHICH WAY: to, from, into, through.
- Use "at" for exact time: at 5 o'clock.
- Use "on" for days and dates: on Monday, on 15th August.
- Use "in" for months, years, and seasons: in January, in 2024, in winter.
Practice Questions
A. Fill in the Blanks (use in, on, under, at, near, behind, to, from, into, through)
1. The cat is sitting the mat.
2. My pencil is my pencil box.
3. The dog is hiding the table.
4. School starts 8 o'clock.
5. My birthday is March.
6. The temple is the river.
7. We go school every morning.
8. The frog jumped the pond.
9. The garden is the house.
10. The train goes the tunnel.
B. Multiple Choice Questions
1. "The book is ___ the table." Choose the correct preposition.
2. Which preposition is used for exact time?
3. "We celebrate Diwali ___ October or November."
4. Which is a preposition of direction?
5. "Republic Day is ___ 26th January."
C. Identify the Preposition
1. The bird is sitting on the branch.
2. Ravi came from Jaipur.
3. The children played in the park.
4. The shop is near the bus stop.
5. We have a test on Friday.
D. Choose Place, Time, or Direction
1. The ball is under the chair. →
2. We eat lunch at 1 o'clock. →
3. The river flows through the city. →
4. Holi is in March. →
5. The cat jumped into the basket. →
E. Write Sentences Using These Prepositions
1. in
2. on
3. under
4. near
5. through
🎨 Fun Activity — Where Is It?
Look around your classroom or home. Write where these things are using a preposition:
| Thing | Where is it? (Use a preposition) |
|---|---|
| Your book | |
| Your bag | |
| The clock | |
| Your shoes | |
| The dustbin | |
| Your water bottle |
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