Prepositions

This guide covers the definition of prepositions, their primary categories, and practical tips for avoiding common errors. Additionally, there are practice questions and solved examples to help you become more accurate and confident when taking tests. Let's start building this base.

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions are used in many ways, but they are mostly divided into groups for easy learning. The three common types are prepositions of time, place, and direction. Sometimes, the same preposition can be used in more than one way, depending on the sentence.

Here are the main types of prepositions.

Prepositions of Direction

Prepositions of direction are words that show movement from one point to another or indicate the path taken. They tell us where something or someone is headed. Common prepositions of direction include to, into, towards, onto, and across. These words are often used in ICSE grammar to test whether students can express movement clearly.

Usage and Mistakes:

• Prepositions like 'into' and 'onto' are used when the subject shows movement in a particular direction. Students often confuse them with 'in' and 'on', which are used for position, not movement.
• Remember: 'into' and 'onto' always suggest movement, not a fixed position.

Examples:

• The ball rolled into the basket during practice.
• The crowd moved across the road carefully.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time are words that link an action or event to a specific point or duration in time. They answer the question when. Important ones include at, on, in, during, since, and for.

Usage and Mistakes:

• They are used to mark exact times, days, dates, periods, and durations. A common ICSE mistake is using 'in Monday' instead of the correct 'on Monday'.
• Remember: Use 'in' for months and years (in July, in 2025), and 'on' for days and dates (on Tuesday, on 15 August). Use 'since' for the starting point of an action and 'for' to indicate its duration.

Examples:

• The exam begins at 9 a.m. sharp.
• She has stayed here since last year.

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place describe the location or position of a person, object, or event. They help answer the question where. Common ones are in, on, at, under, over, between, and among.

Usage and Mistakes:

• They are used to indicate exact or relative position. 'Between' is used when referring to two objects or people, while 'among' refers to more than two. Confusing these is a frequent ICSE exam error.

Examples:

• The puppy slept under the table quietly.
• The teacher moved among the students during the discussion.

Mastering these Prepositions is essential for ICSE Paper 1. Clear understanding of their definitions, correct usage, and accurate examples will help students avoid common mistakes and secure better marks in exams.

Tips to Use the Right Prepositions

For ICSE students, using the appropriate preposition can be challenging, particularly when answering grammar and composition questions. A small mistake can change the meaning of a sentence or affect exam scores. Adding superfluous words is a common mistake, such as writing 'discuss about' rather than 'just discuss'. Use these easy study tips that help you become more exam-focused and prevent such mistakes:

• Learn prepositions with phrases, not in isolation: For example, remember on time, at risk, by chance rather than learning single words.
• Remember fixed expressions: Many verbs, adjectives, and nouns take particular prepositions, such as interested in, afraid of, good at. Keep these combinations handy while revising.
• Use past ICSE papers to notice repeated patterns: Regular practice of old questions helps you see which prepositions appear often and how they are tested.

These strategies will build accuracy and confidence in your answers.

Practice Prepositions

Regular practice is the most effective way to master prepositions for ICSE exams. These small words may look simple, but their correct use decides whether a sentence is clear or confusing. Regular practice of prepositions teaches you to automatically select the appropriate word, which reduces errors and saves time on tests.

Consistent revision has two main benefits:

• Improves sentence clarity: Correct prepositions make writing precise and easy to understand.
• Boosts confidence in ICSE grammar exams: Familiarity with common patterns helps you attempt questions without hesitation.

The best way to improve is by solving worksheets and quizzes. They allow you to see how prepositions work in real contexts, spot errors, and build accuracy. You can start with Aneetta's Class preposition worksheets for structured practice and exam-style questions. With steady effort, prepositions will become one of your strongest grammar skills.