Prepositions Worksheet for Class 7: Mastering Spatial Relationships

Understanding prepositions is crucial for building a strong foundation in English grammar. Prepositions are the glue that holds sentences together, showing the relationship between nouns, pronouns, and other words in a sentence. This article provides a comprehensive guide to prepositions specifically designed for Class 7 students, covering definitions, types, usage rules, common mistakes, and plenty of practice exercises to reinforce learning. Mastering prepositions will significantly improve your writing and speaking skills, enabling you to express yourself more clearly and accurately.

This guide will benefit students in Class 7 and anyone looking to solidify their understanding of basic English grammar. Whether you’re struggling with prepositions or simply want to improve your skills, this article will provide the knowledge and practice you need to succeed.

Table of Contents

1. Definition of Prepositions
2. Structural Breakdown of Prepositions
3. Types of Prepositions
   • Simple Prepositions
   • Compound Prepositions
   • Phrase Prepositions
4. Examples of Prepositions
5. Usage Rules of Prepositions
   • Prepositions of Time
   • Prepositions of Place
   • Prepositions of Movement
6. Common Mistakes with Prepositions
7. Practice Exercises
8. Advanced Topics in Prepositions
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
10. Conclusion

Definition of Prepositions

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. It typically indicates location, direction, time, or manner. Prepositions are essential for creating clear and meaningful sentences because they provide context and connection between different elements. Without prepositions, it would be difficult to understand the spatial or temporal relationships between objects and events.

Prepositions usually come before a noun or pronoun, which is called the object of the preposition. The preposition and its object together form a prepositional phrase. For example, in the sentence “The book is on the table,” “on” is the preposition, “table” is the object of the preposition, and “on the table” is the prepositional phrase.

Prepositions can also express abstract relationships, such as purpose, cause, or possession. Consider the sentence “He did it for her.” Here, the preposition “for” indicates purpose, showing why he performed the action. Understanding these different functions of prepositions is vital for effective communication.

Structural Breakdown of Prepositions

The basic structure involving a preposition is quite simple: Preposition + Object of the Preposition. The object is usually a noun or pronoun. The entire phrase acts as an adjective or adverb, modifying other words in the sentence.

Let’s break down this structure further with examples. In the phrase “in the garden,” “in” is the preposition, and “the garden” is the object of the preposition, a noun phrase. The entire phrase modifies a verb or noun, providing additional information. For instance, “The children are playing in the garden” (modifying the verb “are playing”).

Another example is “to him.” Here, “to” is the preposition, and “him” is the object of the preposition, a pronoun. This phrase could be used as in, “I gave the book to him” (modifying the verb “gave”).

The prepositional phrase can also include modifiers. In the phrase “on the big, wooden table,” “on” is the preposition, and “the big, wooden table” is the object of the preposition, which includes adjectives modifying the noun. This more complex prepositional phrase still functions as a single unit within the sentence.

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions can be categorized into three main types based on their structure: simple prepositions, compound prepositions, and phrase prepositions. Understanding these categories helps in identifying and using prepositions correctly.

Simple Prepositions

Simple prepositions are single-word prepositions. These are the most common and basic types of prepositions. Examples include: at, in, on, to, from, by, for, of, over, under, with. These prepositions are used to indicate various relationships, such as location, time, and direction.

Here are some examples of simple prepositions in sentences:

• The cat is on the roof.
• He lives in London.
• She arrived at 6 PM.
• I am going to the store.
• The gift is from my friend.

Compound Prepositions

Compound prepositions are formed by combining a preposition with another word, usually a noun, adjective, or adverb. They often consist of two or more words but function as a single preposition. Examples include: according to, because of, in front of, instead of, on account of, by means of, in spite of, due to, owing to, with regard to.

Here are some examples of compound prepositions in sentences:

• According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
• The game was canceled because of the rain.
• The bank is in front of the post office.
• Instead of going to the park, we stayed home.
• In spite of the difficulties, he succeeded.

Phrase Prepositions

Phrase prepositions (also known as prepositional phrases) are groups of words that function as a single preposition. They typically include a simple preposition combined with other words to create a more complex meaning. Examples include: in addition to, along with, in relation to, with respect to, on behalf of, by way of, for the sake of, in the event of.

Here are some examples of phrase prepositions in sentences:

• In addition to English, she speaks French.
• He went to the party along with his friends.
• The report was written in relation to the recent events.
• With respect to your proposal, we need more details.
• She spoke on behalf of the entire team.

Examples of Prepositions

To further illustrate the use of prepositions, let’s look at various examples categorized by the type of relationship they express. Understanding these relationships will help you choose the correct preposition in different contexts.

The following tables provides examples of prepositions used to express time, place, direction, and other relationships. Each table contains a detailed list of sentences showcasing how different prepositions are used to convey specific meanings.

Table 1: Prepositions of Time

This table showcases how prepositions like ‘at,’ ‘on,’ ‘in,’ ‘since,’ ‘for,’ ‘during,’ ‘until,’ ‘to,’ ‘past,’ and ‘by’ are used to indicate different points or durations in time.

Preposition	Example Sentence
at	The meeting will start at 9 AM.
on	I will see you on Monday.
in	He was born in 1990.
since	I have been working here since January.
for	I have been studying for three hours.
during	He fell asleep during the movie.
until	I will wait until you arrive.
to	It’s quarter to seven.
past	It’s half past six.
by	I need to finish this by Friday.
within	The project must be completed within a month.
before	Please arrive before 8 AM.
after	We will leave after the meeting.
around	I will be home around 5 PM.
throughout	The museum is open throughout the year.
from…to	The store is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
over	They talked over dinner.
between	The event will be held between July and August.
by the time	By the time I arrived, the party had already started.
in the meantime	I’ll prepare the food in the meantime.
forthwith	The order was executed forthwith.
instantly	He reacted instantly to the situation.
momentarily	I will be there momentarily.
presently	She is presently working on the project.
simultaneously	The two events happened simultaneously.
subsequently	He was promoted subsequently to his hard work.

Table 2: Prepositions of Place

This table illustrates how prepositions such as ‘in,’ ‘on,’ ‘at,’ ‘under,’ ‘over,’ ‘above,’ ‘below,’ ‘beside,’ ‘between,’ ‘among,’ ‘near,’ ‘behind,’ ‘in front of,’ and ‘opposite’ are used to indicate different locations or positions.

Preposition	Example Sentence
in	The book is in the bag.
on	The picture is on the wall.
at	She is waiting at the bus stop.
under	The cat is sleeping under the table.
over	The plane flew over the city.
above	The birds are flying above the clouds.
below	The temperature is below zero.
beside	She sat beside me.
between	The house is between the trees.
among	He is popular among his classmates.
near	The school is near my house.
behind	The car is parked behind the building.
in front of	The park is in front of the museum.
opposite	The bank is opposite the store.
inside	The keys are inside the drawer.
outside	Let’s play outside.
around	There are trees around the house.
along	The path runs along the river.
through	The train went through the tunnel.
across	The bridge goes across the river.
adjacent to	The building is adjacent to the park.
amidst	The house stood amidst the trees.
beyond	The mountains are beyond the horizon.
enclosed within	The garden is enclosed within a fence.
in the vicinity of	The accident occurred in the vicinity of the school.

Table 3: Prepositions of Movement

This table demonstrates how prepositions like ‘to,’ ‘from,’ ‘towards,’ ‘into,’ ‘out of,’ ‘through,’ ‘across,’ ‘along,’ ‘up,’ ‘down,’ and ‘around’ are used to describe different types of movement or direction.

Preposition	Example Sentence
to	I am going to the library.
from	He came from Italy.
towards	She walked towards the door.
into	He jumped into the water.
out of	She took the book out of the bag.
through	The train went through the tunnel.
across	They walked across the street.
along	We drove along the coast.
up	He climbed up the hill.
down	She walked down the stairs.
around	We drove around the city.
over	The bird flew over the house.
under	The cat crawled under the fence.
past	He walked past the store.
toward	They were moving toward the exit.
on	He got on the bus.
off	He got off the bus.
by	The car drove by the house.
beyond	They traveled beyond the mountains.
from…to	The journey took them from London to Paris.
away from	The dog ran away from the loud noise.
toward	They were heading toward the city center.
around	We took a walk around the block.
across from	The park is located across from the school.
beside	She walked beside the river.

Table 4: Prepositions of Other Relationships

This table gives examples of prepositions that express relationships beyond time, place, and movement, such as purpose, reason, possession, and means. Examples include: ‘of,’ ‘for,’ ‘with,’ ‘by,’ ‘about,’ ‘from,’ and ‘without.’

Preposition	Example Sentence
of	The book is of great value.
for	This gift is for you.
with	She wrote the letter with a pen.
by	The house was built by my grandfather.
about	The movie is about a young artist.
from	He suffers from anxiety.
without	I can’t live without you.
on	He insisted on going.
in	She believes in ghosts.
at	He is good at playing the piano.
to	I am addicted to coffee.
with	I agree with you.
despite	Despite the rain, they went for a walk.
due to	The flight was delayed due to bad weather.
owing to	Owing to circumstances, the meeting was postponed.
in accordance with	The project was completed in accordance with the plan.
with reference to	With reference to your letter, I am writing to confirm…
by means of	The door was opened by means of a key.
in terms of	In terms of cost, this option is the best.
in view of	In view of the evidence, the suspect was arrested.
on account of	The event was canceled on account of the storm.
regarding	I need more information regarding the incident.
concerning	I have some questions concerning your proposal.
per	The price is $10 per person.

Usage Rules of Prepositions

Using prepositions correctly involves understanding their specific functions and the contexts in which they are appropriate. Some prepositions are interchangeable, while others have very specific meanings that cannot be substituted. The following sections outline some key usage rules for prepositions of time, place, and movement.

Prepositions of Time

At, on, and in are the most common prepositions of time. At is used for specific times, on is used for days and dates, and in is used for months, years, seasons, and general periods of time.

• At: at 3 PM, at lunchtime, at night
• On: on Monday, on July 4th, on my birthday
• In: in July, in 2023, in the summer, in the morning

Other prepositions of time include since, for, during, until, and by. Since indicates the starting point of a period, for indicates the duration of a period, during indicates when something happens within a period, until indicates the end point of a period, and by indicates a deadline.

• Since: I have been waiting since 9 AM.
• For: I have been waiting for two hours.
• During: He slept during the movie.
• Until: I will wait until 5 PM.
• By: I need to finish this by tomorrow.

Prepositions of Place

At, on, and in are also used as prepositions of place, but with different meanings than when used for time. At is used for specific locations, on is used for surfaces, and in is used for enclosed spaces.

• At: at the bus stop, at the door, at home
• On: on the table, on the wall, on the floor
• In: in the room, in the garden, in the city

Other prepositions of place include under, over, above, below, beside, between, among, near, and behind. These prepositions indicate the relative position of one object to another.

• Under: The cat is under the table.
• Over: The plane flew over the city.
• Above: The birds are flying above the clouds.
• Below: The temperature is below zero.
• Beside: She sat beside me.
• Between: The house is between the trees.
• Among: He is popular among his classmates.
• Near: The school is near my house.
• Behind: The car is parked behind the building.

Prepositions of Movement

Prepositions of movement indicate how something or someone moves from one place to another. Common prepositions of movement include to, from, towards, into, out of, through, across, along, up, and down.

• To: I am going to the store.
• From: He came from Italy.
• Towards: She walked towards the door.
• Into: He jumped into the water.
• Out of: She took the book out of the bag.
• Through: The train went through the tunnel.
• Across: They walked across the street.
• Along: We drove along the coast.
• Up: He climbed up the hill.
• Down: She walked down the stairs.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions

Prepositions can be tricky, and even native English speakers sometimes make mistakes. Here are some common errors to watch out for:

• Incorrect: I am agree with you.
  Correct: I agree with you.
• Incorrect: He is good in playing the piano.
  Correct: He is good at playing the piano.
• Incorrect: She is addicted of coffee.
  Correct: She is addicted to coffee.
• Incorrect: The book is in the table.
  Correct: The book is on the table.
• Incorrect: I will meet you in Monday.
  Correct: I will meet you on Monday.

Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition with certain verbs or nouns. For example, some verbs are always followed by a specific preposition (e.g., listen to, depend on, look at). It’s important to learn these combinations through practice and exposure to the language.

Avoid unnecessary prepositions. Sometimes, a preposition is not needed at all. For example:

• Incorrect: Where are you going to?
  Correct: Where are you going?
• Incorrect: He entered into the room.
  Correct: He entered the room.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of prepositions with these exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.

Exercise 1: Prepositions of Time

1. The class starts ________ 9 AM.
2. I will see you ________ Friday.
3. He was born ________ 2005.
4. I have been studying ________ two hours.
5. The movie starts ________ an hour.
6. We will go ________ the summer.
7. I’ll be there ________ 5 minutes.
8. She arrived ________ the evening.
9. The meeting is scheduled ________ next week.
10. He has been working ________ last year.

Answer Key:

1. at
2. on
3. in
4. for
5. in
6. in
7. in
8. in
9. for
10. since

Exercise 2: Prepositions of Place

1. The cat is sleeping ________ the sofa.
2. The picture is ________ the wall.
3. She is waiting ________ the corner.
4. The book is ________ the bag.
5. They live ________ London.
6. The park is ________ the school and the library.
7. He is hiding ________ the tree.
8. My house is ________ the river.
9. The shop is ________ the bank.
10. The bird flew ________ my head.

Answer Key:

1. on
2. on
3. at
4. in
5. in
6. between
7. behind
8. near
9. beside
10. over

Exercise 3: Prepositions of Movement

1. I am going ________ the store.
2. He came ________ Paris.
3. She walked ________ the park.
4. He jumped ________ the pool.
5. She took the keys ________ her pocket.
6. The cyclist rode ________ the path.
7. We drove ________ the mountain.
8. The wind blew ________ the trees.
9. They walked ________ the tunnel.
10. The dog ran ________ the fence.

Answer Key:

1. to
2. from
3. towards
4. into
5. out of
6. along
7. up
8. through
9. through
10. around

Exercise 4: Mixed Prepositions

1. I will meet you ________ the library ________ 3 PM.
2. The book is ________ the table ________ the window.
3. She is good ________ playing the guitar.
4. He depends ________ his parents ________ support.
5. They are talking ________ the movie.
6. I am looking forward ________ seeing you.
7. The accident happened ________ the corner ________ Main Street.
8. She is interested ________ learning new languages.
9. We arrived ________ the airport ________ time.
10. He is afraid ________ heights.

Answer Key:

1. at, at
2. on, by
3. at
4. on, for
5. about
6. to
7. at, of
8. in
9. at, on
10. of

Advanced Topics in Prepositions

For advanced learners, it’s important to understand more nuanced aspects of prepositional usage. One such area is the use of prepositions with specific verbs and adjectives. These pairings often have idiomatic meanings that are not immediately obvious.

For example, consider the verb “insist.” It is always followed by the preposition “on,” as in “He insisted on going to the party.” Similarly, the adjective “dependent” is followed by “on,” as in “She is dependent on her parents for support.”

Another advanced topic is the use of prepositions in phrasal verbs. Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb that together have a meaning different from the individual words. Examples include “look up” (to search for information), “give up” (to quit), and “take off” (to depart).

Understanding the subtle differences between prepositions can also be challenging. For example, “in” and “within” both indicate enclosure, but “within” implies a boundary or limit, while “in” is more general. Similarly, “beside” and “besides” are often confused, but “beside” means “next to,” while “besides” means “in addition to.”

Finally, advanced learners should be aware of the regional variations in prepositional usage. Some prepositions are more common in certain dialects of English than others. For example, in some parts of the United States, it is common to say “on line” instead of “in line,” while in other parts, the opposite is true.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the difference between a preposition and an adverb?

   A preposition always has an object (a noun or pronoun), forming a prepositional phrase. An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb and does not have an object. For example, in “The cat is on the table,” “on” is a preposition because it has an object (“the table”). In “The cat jumped up,” “up” is an adverb because it modifies the verb “jumped” and has no object.

2. How do I know which preposition to use?

   Choosing the correct preposition depends on the specific relationship you want to express. Consider whether you are indicating time, place, direction, or another type of relationship. Look at the context of the sentence and the meaning you want to convey. Practice and exposure to the language will also help you develop an intuition for which prepositions are appropriate in different situations.

3. Can a sentence end with a preposition?

   While some grammar purists discourage ending sentences with prepositions, it is perfectly acceptable in modern English, especially in informal contexts. Sometimes, ending a sentence with a preposition is the most natural and clear way to express your meaning. For example, “What are you looking at?” is a common and grammatically correct sentence.

4. What are some common prepositional phrases?

   Common prepositional phrases include “in addition to,” “on behalf of,” “in spite of,” “according to,” and “because of.” These phrases function as single units within a sentence and often have idiomatic meanings.

5. Are there any prepositions that can be used with both time and place?

   Yes, the prepositions “at,” “on,” and “in” can be used with both time and place, but their meanings differ depending on the context. “At” is used for specific times and locations, “on” is used for days and surfaces, and “in” is used for months, years, seasons, and enclosed spaces.

6. How can I improve my understanding of prepositions?

   Read widely in English, paying close attention to how prepositions are used in different contexts. Practice using prepositions in your own writing and speaking. Use online resources, grammar books, and practice exercises to reinforce your learning. Pay attention to the specific combinations of verbs and prepositions, as these often have idiomatic meanings.

7. What is the difference between ‘between’ and ‘among’?

   “Between” is typically used when referring to two distinct items or groups, indicating a relationship or position in the space separating them. For example, “The house is between the trees.” “Among,” on the other hand, is used when referring to three or more items or groups, indicating that something is surrounded by or included within them. For example, “He is popular among his classmates.”

8. Why are prepositions so difficult to learn?