Correct uses of some
prepositions
Sometimes we
get confused while using prepositions. As we know that a preposition is a word
placed before a noun or pronoun to show true relationship with another word in
a sentence. To express the right sense of a sentence we must establish the
right relationship between the noun or pronoun and other words of a sentence. If we get confused or use an inappropriate preposition between two words , then the
sense or the meaning of the sentence will be different. Therefore it is very
important to use a correct one.
Now in this
article I am not going to cover the whole preposition chapter or the basic
rules but to discuss the uses of some preposition which may confuse us. Basically
we get confused between---- IN/WITHIN, IN/AT. BY/WITH, ON/UPON, IN/INTO,
AFTER/IN, SINCE/FOR, SINCE/FROM and many more.In this article we’ii learn about the variant situations and
conditions that we need to understand and remember while using these prepositions
IN/WITHIN
First of all
, let’s take two examples using in and within—
i)
My
father has gone to a business tour and he will return in a week .
ii)
My
father has gone to a business tour and he will return within a week .
Now, don’t think that both the sentences express the same
sense.The meaning and the sense of the sentences are interestingly different.
IN denotes at the end of the given time period in future
while WITHIN expresses before the end of the time period
Therefore,
in the first instance , the sense what we get is that the person will return at
the end of the week mentioned in the sentence( and not before a week). Whereas
in sentence no 2 it means that the person will return any time before the given
time period (week).This is the key difference between the use of IN and WITHIN.
BUY/WITH
BY is
generally used after past participle form of verb in the passive mood of a
sentence. BUY is used before living things or human beings to denote the doer
of any activity. But WITH is used before the instrument or non-living thing
with which an activity or action is done. As---
i)
The
thief was beaten by
the men with
sticks.
ii)
The
picture is drawn by
John with a pencil
only.
SINCE/FOR
SINCE is
used to express a point of time in the past. And FOR is used to denote the
duration of time for any particular act in any type of tense. AS---
i)
I
have been reading this story since
6 in the morning. (note, though the sentence is in present perfect continuous
tense but the time mention is a past moment.}
ii)
I
have been reading this story for
two hours.
In the first
sentence a point of time ( 6 ‘o’ clock) when the act started is mentioned.
Hence, SINCE has been used. While, in second one no specific point of time is
mentioned. Instead, the duration of the act(reading) is mentioned. i.e. how
long the act has been going on. Hence , FOR has been used .
SINCE/FROM
SINCE is
used to denote a point of time in the past and generally used before the
specific time mentioned in present perfect or present perfect tense ( as we
discussed earlier). While FROM is used in any form of tense. Again we need to
know that when FROM is used in a sentence it is generally followed by other
prepositions like to, till, until etc.
i.e. FORM denotes the starting point along with the ending point of an act by
following to, till, until etc. AS---
I)
I
have been living here since 1990.
II)
This
program will be running from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
III)
I
have been there from 2010 till now.
ON/UPON
When we
spoke of things which are unmoved or at rest , we use ON. On the other hand,
when things in motion are spoken of take the preposition UPON. Examples will
help you to make out the concept clearer. As---
i)
We
sat on the wooden
bench in the park.
ii)
The
thief jumped upon
the fence.
iii)
The
cat sprang upon the
wall.
iv)
He
was told to stand on
the bench.
IN/INTO
IN denotes
one’s sate of rest or position inside anything. While INTO denotes one’s change
of position from one place towards inside of anything.
i)
Dad
is in the room.( implies rest)
ii)
He
fell into the pool. ( implies change of position towards the pool.)
AFTER/IN
AFTER is
used to refer at the end of a time period in past . But, if a point of time is
to mention then AFTER can be used in all tenses. As---
i)
The
wound was cured after
a week. ( it will be wrong if we say The wound will be cured after a week)
ii)
He
will come/comes/came after
6 p.m.
Whereas, IN must be used to denote at the end of a future
space of time. As---
i)
He
will come in a
month.
ii)
They
will return in a
few days.
AGO/BEFORE
AGO is used to refer a time before
now ( at present) while BEFORE denotes a time earlier than a past event. There is one more point to remember that the
preposition BEFORE is generally used in past perfect tense. Look at the
instances---
i)
I joined this office 2 years ago.
ii) I
had joined this office before
Mr. Roy resigned
