PREPOSITIONS (पूर्वसर्ग) – Complete Guide for Competitive Exams
📚 WHAT ARE PREPOSITIONS?
Prepositions = Relation दिखाने वाले शब्द (Time, Place, Direction, Manner)
✅ Example: The book is on the table. (Position)
✅ He came at 5 PM. (Time)
✅ She went to Delhi. (Direction)
🔥 MOST CONFUSING PAIRS (बहुत Confuse करने वाले)
PAIR 1: SINCE vs FOR (TIME)
| SINCE | FOR | |
| Use | Point of Time (बिंदुवार) | Period of Time (अवधि) |
| Meaning | “से” (शुरू का बिंदु) | “से” (कितनी देर) |
| Answers | कब से? (Since when?) | कितनी देर से? (For how long?) |
📊 Examples:
| Since (Point of Time) | For (Period of Time) |
| Since Monday | For 2 days |
| Since 1990 | For 10 years |
| Since morning | For 3 hours |
| Since 8 AM | For a long time |
| Since childhood | For ages |
| Since last week | For several months |
✅ Correct Usage:
- I have been working here since 2015. (Point of time)
- I have been working here for 10 years. (Period of time)
- She has been sleeping since morning. (Point)
- She has been sleeping for 3 hours. (Period)
PAIR 2: IN vs AT (PLACE & TIME)
| IN | AT | |
| Place | बड़े स्थान (Cities, Countries) | छोटे स्थान (Specific point) |
| Time | बड़ा समय (Months, Years, Parts of day) | सटीक समय (Exact time) |
📊 Place – IN vs AT:
| IN (Big place) | AT (Small point) |
| In India | At home |
| In Delhi | At the station |
| In the room | At the door |
| In the park | At the bus stop |
| In the world | At the corner |
📊 Time – IN vs AT:
| IN (General time) | AT (Exact time) |
| In the morning | At 5 PM |
| In January | At sunrise |
| In 2025 | At midnight |
| In the evening | At the moment |
| In summer | At noon |
PAIR 3: ON vs IN vs AT (TIME)
| ON | IN | AT | |
| Use | Specific Day/Date | Months/Years/Seasons | Exact Time |
| Example | On Monday | In January | At 5 PM |
| On 15th August | In 2023 | At noon | |
| On Sunday morning | In summer | At night |
✅ Correct Usage:
- I will meet you on Friday.
- I was born in July.
- I wake up at 6 AM.
- We go to the temple on Sunday.
- She works in the morning.
PAIR 4: ON vs IN (PLACE)
| ON | IN | |
| Use | Surface/Position | Inside/Enclosed |
| Example | On the table | In the box |
| On the wall | In the room | |
| On the floor | In the car |
More Examples:
- ✅ The book is on the table. (Surface)
- ✅ The pen is in the drawer. (Inside)
- ✅ She lives on the 5th floor. (Surface/Position)
- ✅ He is in the office. (Inside)
PAIR 5: INTO vs IN
| IN | INTO | |
| Use | Position (अंदर होना) | Movement (अंदर जाना) |
| Example | She is in the room. | He walked into the room. |
| The book is in the bag. | She jumped into the pool. |
PAIR 6: BETWEEN vs AMONG
| BETWEEN | AMONG | |
| Use | दो (Two) के बीच | दो से ज़्यादा (More than 2) के बीच |
| Example | Between Ram and Shyam | Among the students |
| Between 2 and 4 PM | Among the crowd |
✅ Correct Usage:
- ✅ Divide the money between the two brothers.
- ✅ Divide the money among the five children.
- ✅ The meeting is between 2 and 3 PM.
PAIR 7: ON vs UPON
| ON | UPON | |
| Use | Position (स्थिर) | Movement (गति) |
| Example | The book is on the table. | The cat jumped upon the table. |
| He sat on the chair. | The water rose upon the shore. |
🎯 ADVANCED RULES (IMPORTANT FOR EXAMS)
Rule 1: Preposition with “Angry”
| Angry WITH | Angry AT | |
| Use | व्यक्ति (Person) | चीज़/परिस्थिति (Thing/Situation) |
| Example | She is angry with me. | He is angry at the weather. |
| I am angry with my friend. | She is angry at the delay. |
Rule 2: Preposition with “Different”
| Different FROM | Different THAN | |
| Use | Standard (British) | Informal (American) |
| Example | This is different from that. | This is different than that. |
| Exam Standard | ✅ Always use FROM | ❌ Avoid in exams |
Rule 3: Preposition with “Afraid”
| Afraid OF | Afraid FROM | |
| Use | Standard (बीमारी या डर) | ❌ Incorrect |
| Example | I am afraid of dogs. | ~~I am afraid from dogs.~~ ❌ |
Rule 4: Preposition with “Prefer”
| Prefer TO | Prefer OVER | |
| Use | Standard (British) | Less common |
| Example | I prefer tea to coffee. | I prefer tea over coffee. |
| Exam Standard | ✅ Always use TO | ❌ Avoid in exams |
Rule 5: Preposition with “Die”
| Die OF | Die FROM | Die FOR | |
| Use | Disease/Cause | Cause (external) | Noble cause |
| Example | Die of cancer | Die from injuries | Die for the country |
Rule 6: Preposition with “Good/Bad”
| Good/Bad AT | Good/Bad FOR | |
| Use | Skill (Ability) | Benefit (फायदा/नुकसान) |
| Example | He is good at cricket. | Milk is good for health. |
| She is bad at maths. | Smoking is bad for health. |
Rule 7: Preposition with “Interested”
| Interested IN | Interested TO | |
| Use | Interest in something | ❌ Incorrect |
| Example | I am interested in art. | ~~I am interested to art.~~ ❌ |
Rule 8: Preposition with “Look”
| Look AT | Look FOR | Look AFTER | |
| Use | देखना (Direction) | ढूंढ़ना (Search) | देखभाल (Take care) |
| Example | Look at the board. | I am looking for my keys. | She looks after her mother. |
| Look UP | Look INTO | |
| Use | शब्द खोजना (Search in dictionary) | जाँच करना (Investigate) |
| Example | Look up the word. | Police will look into the matter. |
Rule 9: Time Prepositions – Complete Table
| Time Expression | Preposition | Example |
| Days | ON | On Monday, On Sunday |
| Dates | ON | On 15th August, On 1st Jan |
| Specific Day Part | ON | On Sunday morning |
| Months | IN | In January, In July |
| Years | IN | In 2023, In 1990 |
| Seasons | IN | In summer, In winter |
| Century | IN | In the 21st century |
| Exact Time | AT | At 5 PM, At 6:30 |
| Meal Times | AT | At breakfast, At dinner |
| Parts of Day | IN | In the morning, In the evening |
| Special Times | AT | At noon, At midnight, At night |
📝 OLD EXAM QUESTIONS (पुराने प्रश्न पत्र)
SET 1: Basic Level (Fill in the Blanks)
Q.1 I have been waiting here ______ 2 hours. (SSC GD 2020)
- (a) since (b) for (c) from (d) by
Answer: (b) for ✅
Reason: 2 hours = Period of Time → For
Q.2 She has been living in Delhi ______ 2015. (SSC CHSL 2021)
- (a) for (b) since (c) from (d) by
Answer: (b) since ✅
Reason: 2015 = Point of Time → Since
Q.3 We will meet ______ 5 PM. (SSC MTS 2022)
- (a) in (b) on (c) at (d) by
Answer: (c) at ✅
Reason: Exact time → At
Q.4 He was born ______ January. (NDA 2018)
- (a) in (b) on (c) at (d) by
Answer: (a) in ✅
Reason: Month → In
Q.5 The book is ______ the table. (SSC CPO 2020)
- (a) in (b) on (c) at (d) into
Answer: (b) on ✅
Reason: Surface → On
SET 2: Intermediate Level
Q.6 I prefer tea ______ coffee. (SSC CGL 2019)
- (a) than (b) over (c) to (d) from
Answer: (c) to ✅
Reason: Prefer…to (Standard rule)
Q.7 She is good ______ mathematics. (Bank PO 2018)
- (a) in (b) at (c) for (d) with
Answer: (b) at ✅
Reason: Skill → Good at
Q.8 The cat jumped ______ the table. (SSC CHSL 2022)
- (a) on (b) in (c) upon (d) over
Answer: (c) upon ✅
Reason: Movement (Jumped) → Upon
Q.9 He is angry ______ his brother. (SSC MTS 2021)
- (a) at (b) with (c) on (d) upon
Answer: (b) with ✅
Reason: Person → Angry with
Q.10 The train arrived ______ 6 AM. (SSC GD 2020)
- (a) in (b) on (c) at (d) by
Answer: (c) at ✅
Reason: Exact time → At
SET 3: Error Detection
Q.11 Find the error: (SSC CGL 2022)
I have been (A) / working in (B) / this company (C) / since three years. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (d) D ❌
Correct: “…for three years.”
Reason: Period of time → For (not Since)
Q.12 Find the error: (Bank PO 2021)
He lives (A) / in the (B) / fifth floor (C) / of the building. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (c) C ❌
Correct: “…on the fifth floor…”
Reason: Floor → On (not In)
Q.13 Find the error: (SSC CHSL 2023)
She is (A) / interested (B) / to join (C) / this course. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (c) C ❌
Correct: “…interested in joining…”
Reason: Interested in + V1-ing
Q.14 Find the error: (CDS 2022)
He died (A) / from cancer (B) / last year (C) / in Mumbai. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (b) B ❌
Correct: “…died of cancer…”
Reason: Disease → Die of
Q.15 Find the error: (SSC CPO 2023)
I prefer (A) / coffee than (B) / tea in (C) / the morning. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (b) B ❌
Correct: “…coffee to tea…”
Reason: Prefer…to (not than)
SET 4: Advanced Level (Mixed)
Q.16 Divide the money ______ the four children. (SSC CGL 2021)
- (a) between (b) among (c) with (d) by
Answer: (b) among ✅
Reason: More than 2 → Among
Q.17 The police are looking ______ the case. (Bank PO 2020)
- (a) at (b) for (c) into (d) after
Answer: (c) into ✅
Reason: Investigate → Look into
Q.18 He is afraid ______ dogs. (SSC MTS 2023)
- (a) from (b) of (c) with (d) by
Answer: (b) of ✅
Reason: Afraid of (Standard)
Q.19 She went ______ the room. (NDA 2021)
- (a) in (b) into (c) on (d) at
Answer: (b) into ✅
Reason: Movement → Into
Q.20 He is different ______ his brother. (SSC CHSL 2023)
- (a) than (b) from (c) with (d) by
Answer: (b) from ✅
Reason: Different from (Standard)
SET 5: Fill in the Blanks (Tricky)
Q.21 I will meet you ______ Sunday morning. (SSC GD 2022)
- (a) in (b) on (c) at (d) by
Answer: (b) on ✅
Reason: Specific day part → On
Q.22 She has been sleeping ______ 8 AM. (Bank PO 2019)
- (a) for (b) since (c) from (d) by
Answer: (b) since ✅
Reason: Point of time → Since
Q.23 He is very good ______ singing. (SSC CGL 2020)
- (a) in (b) at (c) for (d) with
Answer: (b) at ✅
Reason: Skill → Good at
Q.24 The ball fell ______ the well. (SSC CPO 2021)
- (a) in (b) into (c) on (d) at
Answer: (b) into ✅
Reason: Movement inside → Into
Q.25 Please look ______ this word in the dictionary. (CDS 2022)
- (a) at (b) for (c) up (d) into
Answer: (c) up ✅
Reason: Search in dictionary → Look up
📊 QUICK REVISION TABLE
| Preposition | Use | Example |
| Since | Point of Time | Since Monday, Since 1990 |
| For | Period of Time | For 2 days, For 5 years |
| In | Big Place/Time | In India, In January |
| At | Small Place/Exact Time | At home, At 5 PM |
| On | Surface/Day/Date | On the table, On Monday |
| Between | Two things | Between Ram and Shyam |
| Among | More than two | Among the students |
| Into | Movement inside | Jumped into the pool |
| Upon | Movement (position change) | Jumped upon the table |
| With | Person (Angry) | Angry with me |
| At | Thing/Situation (Angry) | Angry at the weather |
| To | Prefer | Prefer tea to coffee |
| Of | Disease (Die) | Die of cancer |
| From | External cause (Die) | Die from injuries |
| For | Noble cause (Die) | Die for the country |
| AT | Skill | Good at cricket |
| FOR | Benefit | Good for health |
| IN | Interest | Interested in art |
| INTO | Investigate | Look into the matter |
| UP | Search in dictionary | Look up the word |
| AFTER | Take care | Look after mother |
| FOR | Search | Look for keys |
| FROM | Different | Different from |
🎯 SUPER TRICKS SUMMARY
TRICK 1: Since vs For
- Since = “बिंदु” (Point) → Monday, 1990, morning
- For = “अवधि” (Duration) → 2 days, 5 years, a long time
- 👉 Test: क्या आप बता सकते हैं “कब से”? → Since; “कितनी देर से”? → For
TRICK 2: In vs At vs On (Time)
- In = Big time (महीना, साल, मौसम)
- On = Day/Date (सोमवार, 15 अगस्त)
- At = Exact time (5 PM, noon)
TRICK 3: In vs At (Place)
- In = Big place (India, Delhi, Room)
- At = Small point (Home, Station, Door)
TRICK 4: Important Fixed Prepositions (याद रखें!)
- Angry with (person) / Angry at (thing)
- Good at (skill) / Good for (benefit)
- Interested in (always)
- Afraid of (always)
- Prefer to (always)
- Different from (always)
- Die of (disease) / Die for (country)
TRICK 5: Look के साथ Prepositions
- Look at = देखना
- Look for = ढूंढ़ना
- Look after = देखभाल
- Look up = शब्द खोजना (Dictionary)
- Look into = जाँच करना
💪 COMMON EXAM TRAPS
Trap 1: Since/For Confusion
- ❌ I am here since 2 hours. (Wrong)
- ✅ I am here for 2 hours. (Correct)
- ❌ I am here for Monday. (Wrong)
- ✅ I am here since Monday. (Correct)
Trap 2: In/At/On Confusion (Time)
- ❌ I will meet you in Monday. (Wrong)
- ✅ I will meet you on Monday. (Correct)
- ❌ I wake up in 6 AM. (Wrong)
- ✅ I wake up at 6 AM. (Correct)
Trap 3: In/At Confusion (Place)
- ❌ She lives at Delhi. (Wrong)
- ✅ She lives in Delhi. (Correct)
- ❌ I am in home. (Wrong)
- ✅ I am at home. (Correct)
Trap 4: Between/Among
- ❌ Divide between five students. (Wrong)
- ✅ Divide among five students. (Correct)
Trap 5: Look के साथ गलती
- ❌ I am looking into my keys. (Wrong – कुंजियाँ ढूंढ़ना)
- ✅ I am looking for my keys. (Correct)
- ❌ Police will look for the matter. (Wrong – जाँच)
- ✅ Police will look into the matter. (Correct)
📝 PRACTICE TIPS
- Since/For पर ध्यान दें: Exam में हर पेपर में 1-2 questions
- In/At/On: Time और Place में अंतर याद रखें
- Fixed Prepositions: Angry with/at, Good at/for, Interested in, Afraid of, Prefer to
- Look: Look at/for/after/up/into – इनके meanings याद रखें
- Error Detection: सबसे ज़्यादा मार्क्स इसी से आते हैं
- Previous Papers: हर परीक्षा (SSC, Bank, NDA, CDS) के papers solve करें
📌 MOST IMPORTANT FOR EXAMS:
- Since vs For → हर परीक्षा में 1-2 सवाल (पक्का!)
- In vs At → 1-2 सवाल
- Fixed Prepositions (Angry, Good, Interested, Afraid, Prefer) → 2-3 सवाल
- Error Detection → 1-2 सवाल
- Look + Preposition → 1 सवाल पक्का!
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