Competitive
English
(For all
competitive exams - Central & State Government jobs)
Prepositions
Make you Perfect
part - 4
ON
Used to show that something is in a
position above something else:
ü Look at all the books on your desk!
ü Ow, you're standing on my foot!
ü Your suitcase is on top of the wardrobe.
ü They live in that old farmhouse on the hill.
ü Don't put your elbows on the table.
ü Your dinner is on the table.
ü They've built a new church on the site of the old
one.
Covering the surface of, being held by,
or connected to:
ü You've got blood on your shirt.
ü Which finger do you wear your ring on?
ü We could hang this picture on the wall next to the
door.
ü The article continues/is continued on page ten.
ü We stayed in/at a hotel on the seafront.
ü There's a new Italian restaurant opening on the high
street.
ü We've just moved house and we're not on the
phone (= not connected to the telephone
service) yet.
Used to show when something happens:
ü Many shops don't open on Sundays.
ü What are you doing on Friday?
ü My birthday's on the 30th of May.
ü They're driving to Scotland on Tuesday.
ü Private cars are banned from the city on alternate
days.
ü Please make my excuses at the meeting on Friday.
ü We've fallen into the habit of getting up late on
Saturday mornings.
ü Would you mind telling me what you were doing on the
afternoon of Friday?
ü She was dead on arrival (= dead when she arrived) at
the hospital.
ü Please hand in your keys at reception on your
departure from (= when you leave) the hotel.
Used to show where something has been
written, printed or drawn:
ü What's on the menu (= What food is available)
tonight?
ü It says on the label that no artificial colourings
have been added.
ü Do you recognise the writing on the envelope?
ü He carved her name on a tree.
ü See the article on page 4 for more details.
ü This morning's newspapers all carry the same story
on their front page.
Used for showing some methods of travelling:
ü I love travelling on trains.
ü She'll be arriving on the five-thirty train.
ü We went to France on the ferry.
ü It'd be quicker to get there on foot .
ü two figures on horseback
ü We're going across to France on the ferry.
ü I'll collect you from the station. Which bus will
you be on?
ü The crowd were surrounded by police on horseback.
ü We fell asleep on the train and woke up to find
ourselves in Calais.
ü The railcard allows students and young people to
travel half-price on most trains.
Used to show the form in which something
is recorded or performed :
ü How much data can you store on a floppy disk?
ü When's the movie coming out on video?
ü He was typed on his old typewriter.
ü She comes across really well on television.
ü Sound and pictures can be stored digitally, as on a
CD.
ü I was really embarrassed the first time I saw myself
on film.
ü What's on television tonight?
ü The whole car can be modelled on a computer before a
single component is made.
Used to show what causes pain or injury
as a result of being touched :
ü I hit my head on the shelf as I was standing up.
ü You'll cut yourself on that knife if you're not
careful.
ü She banged her knee on the edge of the desk.
ü He smashed his elbow on the door.
ü The chef burnt himself on the oven.
ü She pricked her finger on the needle.
ü He scraped his hands on the pavement when he fell
off his bike.
To or towards:
ü Our house is the first on the left after the post
office.
ü Take the first turning on the left.
ü They survived the attack of bombing on the village.
Relating to:
ü A
book on pregnancy
ü Her
thesis is on Italian women's literature.
ü The
minister has refused to comment on the allegations.
ü Criticism
has no effect on him.
ü Have
the police got anything on you (= have they got any information about you which
can be used against you) ?
ü The
committee published a hard-hitting report on the bank's management.
Used to show something for which a
payment is made:
ü He spent eighty pounds on a hat.
ü I've wasted a lot of money on this girl.
ü We made a big profit on that deal.
ü How much interest are you paying on the loan?
ü He spent all his savings on an expensive car.
ü She made a lot of money on the sale of her house.
ü They decided to buy the bike on credit.
Used to show a person or thing that is
necessary for something to happen or that is the origin of something:
ü I might come - it depends on Uma.
ü His latest movie is based on a fairy story.
ü On what basis did you make your decision?
ü The meaning of a sentence often depends on stress
and intonation.
ü He's either a hero or a villain, depending on your
point of view.
ü Our success rests on an increase in sales.
Used to show when someone is involved or
taking part in something:
ü I'm working on a new book.
ü In the last class we were on the uses of “From”,
weren't we?
ü I was on the final page of the book, when the phone
rang.
ü "Is the shower fixed yet?" "I'm
working on it".
ü I'm on duty until midnight.
Used to show what is providing financial
support or an income :
ü He retired on a pension from the company.
ü She's on (= earning) Rs.15 000 a month.
ü Have you got enough to live on?
ü He gets by on a very modest salary.
ü New employees start on a basic salary of Rs.15 000.
Used to show something which is used as
food, fuel or a drug :
ü What do mice live on?
ü Does this radio run on batteries?
ü Is he on drugs?
ü My new car runs on diesel.
ü Some calculators run on solar power.
ü Does your car run on petrol?
Next to or along the side of :
ü Cambridge is on the River Cam.
ü Our house was on Shiridi sai Temple.
ü Strasbourg is on the border of France and Germany.
ü A new coffee shop is opening on the sana street.
ü Tao Educare occupies a very prominent position on
the Sana street.
Used to show when someone is a member of
a group or organization:
ü Have you ever served on a jury?
ü There are no women on the committee.
ü How many people are on your staff?
ü She's a researcher on a women's magazine.
ü He has been rewarded for his 20 years of service
with a seat on the board.
ü Police officers aren't usually allowed to serve on a
jury.
ü She is on the school's development committee.
OUT
OF
No longer in a stated place or
condition:
ü An apple rolled out of the bag.
ü Professor Santoshkumar is out of town this week.
ü The patient is now out of danger .
ü The coffee machine is out of order
ü (= does not work) .
ü Both she and her husband are out of work
ü (= no longer have jobs) .
Used to show what something is made
from:
ü The dress was made out of velvet.
ü He made a hat for himself out of newspaper.
ü Didn't you know that butter was made out of milk?
ü Helmets and bullet-proof vests are often made out of
Kevlar.
ü He carves garden ornaments out of wood and sells
them.
ü The cake decorations are made out of sugar, so you
can eat them if you like.
Used to show the reason why someone does
something :
ü I took the job out of necessity because we had no
money left.
ü She decided to call her ex-boyfriend out of
curiosity.
ü He only went to see her out of duty.
ü Just out of interest, how old are you?
ü Just out of revenge, he told her husband about their
affair.
ü We didn't publish the details, out of consideration
for the victim's family.
From among an amount or number :
ü Nine out of ten people said they liked the product.
ü Out of all my friends, she is the most ambitious.
ü No one got 20 out of 20 (= all the answers correct)
in the test.
ü He's the only child out of the whole class who's not
going on the school trip.
ü I've heard that, out of all the applicants for the
job, he was the only graduate.
ü I should be able to find one dress out of all this
lot that suits me.
Used to describe where something came from or
began:
ü She dresses like a character out of a 19th century
novel.
ü I paid for the computer out of (= using some of) my
savings.
No longer involved in:
ü He missed two practice sessions so he's out of the
team.
ü I'm out of the habit of cycling to work.
OVER
Above or higher than something else,
sometimes so that one thing covers the other; above:
ü The sign over the door said "Exit".
ü She held the umbrella over both of us.
ü Helicopters dropped leaflets over the city.
ü I put my hands over my eyes/ears because I couldn't
bear to watch/listen.
ü He clamped his hand over her mouth.
ü The trees' branches intertwined to form a dark roof
over the path.
In a position that is covering
something:
ü Put a clean cloth over the cakes..
ü I put a shawl over my shoulders.
Across from one side to the other,
especially by going up and then down:
ü She jumped over the gate.
ü She is always chatting with her neighbour over the
garden wall.
ü From the top of the tower you could see for miles over
the city.
ü The contents of his bag spilled all over the floor.
ü It's difficult to track an animal over stony ground.
ü She rubbed sun lotion over her entire body.
Falling down from somewhere:
ü The coin rolled over the edge of the table.
ü Sundaram jumped out of the car just before it went
over the cliff.
More than:
ü Most of the carpets cost over £100.
ü Children over the age of 12 (= older than 12) must
have full-price tickets.
ü I value quality of life over money.
On the other side of :
ü There's a pub over the road we could go to.
ü The story continues over the page.
ü We don't sell them, but you could try over the road
in the hardware store.
ü There's a postbox just over the road.
(Referring to a cause of interest,
worry, discussion, etc.) Connected with
or about:
ü I need time to talk/think over your proposal (= to
discuss/consider it carefully) .
ü The legal battle was over who should have custody of
the child.
ü A legal battle is taking place over who owns the
rights to the song.
ü She is taking the newspaper to court over the
allegations.
ü There's no point crying over spilt milk.
ü There's no point arguing over it now.
During something, or while doing
something:
ü I was in Vizag over the summer.
ü Shall we discuss it over lunch/over a drink?
ü They took/spent an hour over lunch (= Their meal
lasted an hour) .
ü It's fascinating to watch how a baby changes and
develops over time (= as time passes) .
ü Computer hacking has become very widespread over the
last decade.
ü The improvement in water standards over the last 50
years has been very great.
ü There has been a gradual improvement in our sales
figures over the last two years.
In control of or teaching someone or
something:
ü A good teacher has an easy authority over a class.
ü She's a sales manager but she has a regional sales
director over (= with a higher rank
than) her.
ü The victory over the Pak at Kashmir was India’s
greatest triumph.
ü The board concurred that the editor should have full
control over editorial matters.
ü She's got no control over that child - it's
terrible.
ü The Mogul dynasty ruled over India for centuries.
Using
ü They spoke over the phone.
ü We heard the news over the radio.
ü I've accepted the job over the phone, but I haven't
confirmed in writing yet.
ü I won't go into detail over the phone, but I've been
having a few health problems recently.
ü Long-distance truck drivers often talk to each other
over FM radio.
ü I bought the tickets over the internet.
THROUGH
From one end or side of something to the
other:
ü They walked slowly through the woods.
ü The boy waded through the water to reach his boat.
ü He struggled through the crowd till he reached the
front.
ü Her words kept running through my mind/head (= I
kept hearing her words in my imagination) .
ü I saw him drive through a red light (= he did not
stop at the red traffic light) .
ü I'll put you through (= connect you by telephone) (
to the sales department).
ü The teacher drew a diagram showing how the blood
flows through the heart.
ü She heard the eerie noise of the wind howling
through the trees.
ü Some poisonous gases can enter the body by
absorption through the skin.
From the beginning to the end of a period
of time :
ü We've gone through a few financially insecure years.
ü Unfortunately, I lost interest half way through the
film.
ü The bells ring at regular intervals through the day.
ü We sat through two lectures and then left.
ü If I can just get through the training period, it
won't be so bad after that.
ü Electricians worked through the night to localize
the faulty switches.
As a result of:
ü If he fails it won't be through lack of effort.
ü A lot of water is wasted through leakage.
ü Four million hours were lost last year through
stress-related illnesses.
ü The company lost the order through production
delays.
By; using:
ü I got my car through my brother who works in a
garage.
ü We sold the bike through advertising in the local
paper.
ü The performers tell the story through song and
dance.
ü She met her husband through a dating agency.
ü The police entered the building through the side
door.
ü She still controls the company indirectly through
her son, who is the managing director.
TO
ü In the direction of :
ü We're going to town on the bus, okay?
ü We went to Tirupathi last year.
ü I asked someone the way to the town centre.
ü I've asked Dumdi and Sundaram to dinner
ü (= invited them to come and eat dinner with me) next
week.
ü We received another invitation to a wedding this
morning.
ü She walked over to the window.
ü You've got your sweater on back to front.
ü She goes to her doctor for regular checkups.
ü We're going to the airport by coach.
Used for showing who receives something
or who experiences an action:
ü I lent my bike to my brother.
ü Who's the letter addressed to?
ü Who should I make out this cheque to ?
ü When you've finished your work sheets, clip them
together and hand them in to me.
ü Has the news been communicated to the staff yet?
ü If the service was so bad why didn't you complain to
the manager?
Until a particular time, state or level
is reached :
ü It's only two weeks to Christmas.
ü Unemployment has risen to almost eight million.
ü He drank himself to death.
ü She nursed me back to health.
ü Cheap rate for overseas telephone calls is from 8pm
to 8am.
ü Sundaram studied music to grade 7, I think it was.
Used before an infinitive, usually with
'be', to form the future tense:
ü We are to leave tomorrow at dawn.
ü You are to go to your room immediately.
ü If he is to pass the exam, he must do more work.
ü Troops are to take over the role of the fire
brigade.
ü He said we were not to leave the room.
Serving:
ü As a personal trainer to the rich and famous, he
earns over a million dollars a year.
ü He was footman to the king.
ü He was doctor to the poor.
ü She was maid to a rich family in London.
Against or very near:
ü Stand back to back.
ü They were dancing cheek to cheek
ü Their faces were nose to nose, scowling at each
other.
ü The children stood back to back to see who was
tallest.
ü They are kissing lip to lip each other.
Matching or belonging to:
ü Is there a cover to this book?
ü There is a softer side to her nature.
ü I gave her the password to my computer.
ü He's given me the keys to his car - the fool!
ü I've lost the trousers to this jacket.
TOWARDS
In the direction of, or closer to
someone or something :
ü She stood up and walked towards him.
ü He leaned towards his wife and whispered, "Can
we go home soon?"
ü She kept glancing towards the telephone.
ü There is a trend towards healthier eating among all
sectors of the population.
ü We were heading towards Kumasi when our truck broke
down.
ü I walked backwards towards the door.
ü When she came towards me shouting, I retreated
behind my desk.
In relation to something or someone:
ü They've always been very friendly towards me.
ü There has been a change in government policy towards
energy efficiency.
ü He feels a lot of anger towards his father.
ü A lot of people think that most newspapers are based
towards one particular political party.
ü He's adopted a remarkably light-hearted attitude
towards the situation.
ü A parent must be careful not to show favouritism
towards any one of their children.
ü He claims that society has been far too
accommodating towards drug taking.
Near to, just before or around a time or
place :
ü Our seats were towards the back of the theatre.
ü I often get hungry towards the middle of the
morning.
ü We're getting towards winter and it's getting dark
earlier.
ü He went mad towards the end of his life.
ü The CD speeded up towards the end.
ü Johnson came on as a substitute towards the end of
the match.
ü The shop becomes less busy towards lunchtime.
For the purpose of buying or achieving something:
ü I'm saving up to buy a car, and Dad has given me
some money towards it.
ü Would you like to make a contribution (= give some
money) towards my orphanage?
ü The work that the students do during the year will
count towards their final degrees.
ü Their policies are all towards the creation of
wealth.
ü Do you agree with the principle that everyone should
pay something towards the development of his college?
UNDER
In or to a position below or lower than
something else, often so that one thing covers the other :
ü He hid under the bed.
ü She put the thermometer under my tongue.
ü She was holding a file under her arm (= between her
upper arm and the side of her chest) .
ü They stood under a tree (= below its branches) to
avoid getting wet.
ü I bent down to look under the bed.
ü A dog lay under the table, gnawing on a bone.
ü She used to hide her diary under her pillow.
ü There was no soap, so I just quickly rinsed my hands
under the tap.
Less than:
ü All items cost/are under Rs.50/-.
ü The discount applies only to children under (the age
of) ten (= younger than ten) .
ü If you get under 50%, you've failed the exam.
ü You can get travel concessions if you are under 26.
ü It's against the law to leave children under a
certain age alone in the house.
ü I managed to get all three suitcases for under Rs.
200/-
ü She ran her first marathon in just under three
hours.
ü You can walk from here to the station in under ten
minutes.
Happening during, as a result of or
according to a particular situation, event, rule, etc :
ü The work was completed under very difficult
conditions.
ü Now that the deadline is approaching we all feel
under pressure.
ü The chair broke under his weight (= because he was
too heavy for it) .
ü Under the present rules, you can buy ten litres of
wine.
ü An adult under British law is someone over 18 years
old.
ü He was under attack for daring to criticize the
Prime Minister.
ü I imagine he's under a lot of pressure at the
moment.
Controlled or governed by a particular
person, organization or force:
ü He's a Colonel, with hundreds of soldiers under him
(= obeying his orders) .
ü People born under (= during the period of) the star
sign Aries are supposed to be dreamy and artistic.
ü He served under Harold Wilson as Transport Minister.
ü As a young painter, he studied under Picasso.
Using a particular name, especially one
that is not your real name:
ü He writes under the name (of) John le Carré.
ü For his own safety, he has to operate under a false
name/an alias.
UP
In a higher level or position:
ü We followed her up the stairs to a large meeting
room.
ü The lorry chugged up the hill.
ü he climbed up the tree to cut some coconuts.
ü The spider crept up the wall.
ü The noise of the car startled the birds and the
whole flock flew up into the air.
At the top of :
ü If you want Fred, he's up that ladder.
ü Her office is up those steps to your right.
ü They've got a different flag up the flagpole today.
ü Who would build their house up a mountain? That's
silly.
ü Is anyone still up the tower, or did you all come
down together?
(further) along:
ü The car shot off up the road at high speed.
ü They live just up the road.
ü There's a big traffic jam further up the motorway,
so we'd better take a different route.
ü The plane set off up the runway, gradually gathering
speed.
WITH
In the company or presence of a person
or thing:
ü I was with Dumdi at the time.
ü He lives with his grandmother.
ü He's impossible to work with.
ü I'm going to France with a couple of friends.
ü Mix the butter with the sugar and then add the egg.
ü I'll be with you (= I will give you my attention) in
a moment.
ü She's staying with her parents (= at their house)
for a few months.
ü He's been with the department (= working in it)
since 1982.
ü I can't play chess with him.
ü She's having an affair with Dumdi.
ü She's running around with Sundaram and his friends
these days.
ü Why don't you take him along with you when you go?
Using something:
ü She wiped her lipstick off with a tissue.
ü Fix the two pieces together with glue.
ü Please handle this package with care.
ü They set up a business with the help of a bank loan.
ü The wires were fastened together with a plastic
clip.
ü The concrete is strengthened with steel rods.
ü Seal the package up with sticky tape.
Having or including something:
ü a tall woman with dark hair
ü He's married with three children.
ü She left school with no qualifications.
ü He spoke with a soft English accent.
ü Two coffees please, one with milk and one without.
ü He arrived in Los Angeles with nothing but the
clothes he was wearing.
ü He woke up with a dreadful headache.
ü I was second in the race with a time of 14.2
seconds.
ü Both their children graduated with degrees in
economics.
ü Many of the TV programmes are broadcast with
subtitles for the deaf.
ü He's been in bed all week with flu.
Relating to or in the case of a person
or thing:
ü He's very careless with his money.
ü She talked a lot about her relationship with Dumdi.
ü The police have found no evidence of a terrorist
link with the murder.
ü I'm having problems with my computer.
Used to show what is on or in something
:
ü Her dress was spattered with blood.
ü The room was littered with toys.
ü The trucks were laden with food and medicine.
ü She filled the jug up with cream.
ü How much of the Earth's surface is covered with
water?
ü Under her bed, they found a bag stuffed with money.
Because of or caused by someone or
something
ü He winced with pain.
ü I was trembling with fear.
ü She's been at home with a bad cold for the past
week.
ü I can't work with all that noise going on.
ü With exams approaching, it's a good idea to review
your class notes.
ü With all the excitement and confusion, I forgot to
say goodbye to her.
ü Her face crumpled with laughter.
ü I couldn't catch what the announcer said, with all
the other noise going on.
Used with words showing separation:
ü His plans represented a break with tradition.
ü He split up with his girlfriend after he had known
about her affair.
ü She's just broken up with her boyfriend.
Followed by :
ü I'd like to have ice cream with chocolate.
ü There will be a screening of the film with a talk by
the director afterwards.
ü They were offered a free meal, with wine.
Used in comparisons:
ü This cake's very light compared with the last one
you made.
ü This road is quite busy compared with ours.
ü I thought I was badly treated but my experiences
pale in comparison
Supporting someone or something:
ü If you want to go for a promotion, I'll be with you
all the way.
ü You've got to decide where you stand on this issue -
you're either with me or against me.
ü I need to know that you're with me before I stand
for election.
ü You're either with us or against us on this issue.
ü Are you with me on this?
ü The opposition were with the government on the
decision to go to war.
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