Prepositions: A Comprehensive Worksheet for Class 9

Prepositions are essential components of the English language, acting as the glue that connects words within a sentence. Mastering prepositions is crucial for Class 9 students as it enhances their ability to construct grammatically correct and meaningful sentences. Understanding prepositions improves both written and spoken communication, enabling students to express relationships between nouns, pronouns, and other sentence elements with precision. This article provides a detailed exploration of prepositions, complete with definitions, examples, usage rules, common mistakes, practice exercises, and advanced topics, ensuring a thorough understanding of this fundamental grammar concept.

This comprehensive guide is tailored for Class 9 students, educators, and anyone seeking to improve their grasp of English grammar. By working through the explanations, examples, and exercises, readers will gain confidence in using prepositions correctly and effectively.

Table of Contents

1. Definition of Prepositions
2. Structural Breakdown of Prepositions
3. Types of Prepositions
   • Simple Prepositions
   • Compound Prepositions
   • Phrase Prepositions
   • Participle Prepositions
   • Double Prepositions
4. Examples of Prepositions
5. Usage Rules of Prepositions
6. Common Mistakes with Prepositions
7. Practice Exercises
8. Advanced Topics in Prepositions
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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 precedes a noun or pronoun, forming a prepositional phrase. The noun or pronoun that follows the preposition is called the object of the preposition. Prepositions indicate various relationships, including spatial, temporal, and logical connections between elements in a sentence.

Prepositions are essential for providing context and clarity to sentences. They specify location, direction, time, cause, manner, and other relationships. Without prepositions, sentences would lack precision and could be easily misinterpreted.

Structural Breakdown of Prepositions

The basic structure involving a preposition consists of the preposition itself followed by its object, which is typically a noun or pronoun. This combination forms a prepositional phrase.

Preposition + Object (Noun/Pronoun) = Prepositional Phrase

For example:

• on the table (on is the preposition, table is the object)
• in the box (in is the preposition, box is the object)
• with him (with is the preposition, him is the object)

Prepositional phrases can function as adjectives or adverbs within a sentence. Adjective phrases modify nouns or pronouns, while adverbial phrases modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions can be classified into several types based on their structure and function.

Simple Prepositions

Simple prepositions consist of a single word. These are the most common and basic prepositions. Examples include: at, by, for, from, in, of, on, out, to, up, with.

Examples in Sentences:

• The book is on the desk.
• She arrived at the party.
• He is going to the store.

Compound Prepositions

Compound prepositions are formed by combining two or more words, often including a simple preposition. Common examples include: according to, because of, by means of, in front of, in spite of, on account of, out of.

Examples in Sentences:

• According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
• He succeeded because of his hard work.
• The event was cancelled on account of the storm.

Phrase Prepositions

Phrase prepositions are similar to compound prepositions but often involve more complex word combinations. Examples include: in addition to, in regard to, with respect to, in comparison with, in the event of.

Examples in Sentences:

• In addition to his salary, he receives bonuses.
• With respect to your proposal, we need more details.
• In the event of a fire, evacuate the building immediately.

Participle Prepositions

Participle prepositions are formed from present participles (verbs ending in -ing) but function as prepositions. Examples include: considering, concerning, regarding, including, excluding, pending, barring, assuming.

Examples in Sentences:

• Considering the circumstances, he did a good job.
• Regarding your question, I will provide an answer shortly.
• Including all taxes, the total cost is $100.

Double Prepositions

Double prepositions consist of two simple prepositions used together to provide more specific meaning. Examples include: from among, from behind, from beneath, out of, within, without, onto, upon.

Examples in Sentences:

• He emerged from behind the curtain.
• She took a book from among the many on the shelf.
• The cat jumped onto the roof.

Examples of Prepositions

To further illustrate the use of prepositions, here are several tables providing examples in various contexts.

The following table showcases examples of prepositions used to indicate location and direction.

Preposition	Example Sentence
on	The book is on the table.
in	The cat is in the box.
at	She is waiting at the bus stop.
under	The ball is under the chair.
over	The plane flew over the city.
above	The picture is hanging above the fireplace.
below	The temperature is below zero.
beside	He sat beside her.
between	The house is between the trees.
among	She found her keys among the clutter.
behind	The car is parked behind the building.
in front of	The store is in front of the park.
near	The school is near my house.
by	The river flows by the town.
next to	The bank is next to the post office.
across	They walked across the street.
through	The train went through the tunnel.
to	I am going to the library.
from	He came from Canada.
towards	They are walking towards the beach.
into	She walked into the room.
onto	The cat jumped onto the fence.
out of	He took the book out of the bag.
around	The dog ran around the yard.
along	They walked along the riverbank.

The following table showcases examples of prepositions used to indicate time.

Preposition	Example Sentence
at	The meeting is at 3 PM.
on	The party is on Saturday.
in	He was born in 1990.
before	She arrived before the deadline.
after	He called after the meeting.
during	It rained during the night.
until	I will wait until 5 PM.
since	He has been working here since 2010.
for	She studied for three hours.
by	The report is due by Friday.
from	The store is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
to	The store is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
past	It is five minutes past eight.
within	The project must be completed within a month.
throughout	The company operated throughout the year.
over	We discussed the issue over lunch.
about	The movie is about the Second World War.
around	The class starts around 9 AM.
between	The event will occur between June and August.
till	I will stay here till you come.
as of	As of today, the project is complete.
pending	Decision is pending till next week.
prior to	Prior to the meeting, please review the documents.
subsequent to	Subsequent to the event, a report will be issued.
up to	You can invite up to ten guests.

The following table showcases examples of prepositions used to indicate other relationships (cause, manner, purpose, etc.).

Preposition	Example Sentence
of	The city of Paris is beautiful.
for	This gift is for you.
with	She wrote the letter with a pen.
without	He left without saying goodbye.
by	The book was written by a famous author.
about	The movie is about history.
from	He suffers from allergies.
on	She congratulated him on his success.
in	He believes in honesty.
to	He is addicted to coffee.
with	I agree with you.
against	He is fighting against injustice.
through	He succeeded through hard work.
because of	The game was cancelled because of rain.
due to	The delay was due to traffic.
instead of	I will have tea instead of coffee.
according to	According to the news, it will snow tomorrow.
in spite of	In spite of the rain, they went for a walk.
on account of	The event was postponed on account of the weather.
by means of	They communicated by means of letters.
in addition to	In addition to his salary, he receives benefits.
with regard to	With regard to your inquiry, we will respond soon.
in comparison with	In comparison with last year, sales have increased.
in the event of	In the event of an emergency, call 911.
for the sake of	For the sake of peace, we must compromise.

Usage Rules of Prepositions

Using prepositions correctly requires understanding certain rules and guidelines. Here are some key points to remember:

• Prepositions usually precede nouns or pronouns: The preposition typically comes before the noun or pronoun it governs (the object of the preposition).
• Prepositions can come at the end of a sentence: While less formal, it’s acceptable, especially in questions (e.g., “Which school do you go to?”).
• Certain verbs are followed by specific prepositions: These are called prepositional verbs (e.g., agree with, listen to, depend on).
• Avoid unnecessary prepositions: Sometimes, prepositions are redundant and should be omitted (e.g., “Where are you at?” should be “Where are you?”).
• Use the correct preposition for time and place: At is used for specific times and places, on for days and dates, and in for general times and enclosed spaces.

Consider the following examples to understand the nuances of preposition usage:

• Correct: The book is on the shelf.
• Correct: She is waiting at the station.
• Correct: He lives in London.
• Correct: Where are you from?
• Incorrect: Where are you at?

Common Mistakes with Prepositions

Prepositions are a common source of errors for English learners. Here are some frequent mistakes and how to correct them:

Incorrect: I am agree with you. Correct: I agree with you.

Incorrect: Listen me carefully. Correct: Listen to me carefully.

Incorrect: He is afraid from dogs. Correct: He is afraid of dogs.

Incorrect: Where are you going at? Correct: Where are you going?

Incorrect: The cat jumped in the table. Correct: The cat jumped on the table.

Incorrect: She arrived to the party. Correct: She arrived at the party.

The following table provides more examples of common preposition errors and their corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
I depend of you.	I depend on you.	The verb “depend” is followed by the preposition “on.”
She is good at math.	She is good at math.	“Good” is followed by “at” to indicate proficiency.
He is interested on music.	He is interested in music.	“Interested” is followed by “in” to indicate interest.
They are waiting for the bus since morning.	They have been waiting for the bus since morning.	Use “have been waiting” to indicate a continuous action.
The book is different than that one.	The book is different from that one.	“Different” is followed by “from” for comparisons.
She is married with a doctor.	She is married to a doctor.	“Married” is followed by “to” to indicate the spouse.
He is angry on me.	He is angry with me.	“Angry” is followed by “with” when referring to a person.
I am looking forward to see you.	I am looking forward to seeing you.	“Looking forward to” is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing).
The accident happened in the street.	The accident happened on the street.	Use “on” for events occurring on a street.
He is sitting at the table.	He is sitting at the table.	“At” is used for specific locations like tables.
She is going to home.	She is going home.	No preposition is needed before “home” when used as an adverb.
He arrived in the airport.	He arrived at the airport.	“At” is used for specific places like airports.
The cat is hiding under the bed.	The cat is hiding under the bed.	Correct usage of the preposition “under”.
I will meet you on Monday at 10 AM.	I will meet you on Monday at 10 AM.	Correct usage of “on” for days and “at” for specific times.
They live in the city since 2015.	They have lived in the city since 2015.	Use “have lived” to indicate a continuous state.
She is talking to her friend about the problem.	She is talking to her friend about the problem.	Correct usage of “to” and “about” in the sentence.
He is good in playing football.	He is good at playing football.	“Good” is followed by “at” when referring to an activity.
I am waiting you.	I am waiting for you.	The verb “wait” requires the preposition “for.”
She is looking for her keys on the floor.	She is looking for her keys on the floor.	Correct usage of “for” and “on” in the sentence.
He is traveling by train to Delhi.	He is traveling by train to Delhi.	Correct usage of “by” and “to” in the sentence.

Practice Exercises

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

Exercise 1:

Question	Answer
1. The book is ______ the table.	on
2. She is waiting ______ the bus stop.	at
3. He lives ______ London.	in
4. They are walking ______ the park.	through
5. The cat jumped ______ the fence.	over
6. The meeting is ______ 2 PM.	at
7. The party is ______ Saturday.	on
8. He was born ______ 1995.	in
9. She will arrive ______ the deadline.	before
10. He called ______ the movie.	after

Exercise 2:

Question	Answer
1. This gift is ______ you.	for
2. She wrote the letter ______ a pen.	with
3. He left ______ saying goodbye.	without
4. The book was written ______ a famous author.	by
5. The movie is ______ history.	about
6. He suffers ______ allergies.	from
7. She congratulated him ______ his success.	on
8. He believes ______ honesty.	in
9. He is addicted ______ coffee.	to
10. I agree ______ you.	with

Exercise 3:

Question	Answer
1. The cat is hiding ______ the bed.	under
2. I will meet you ______ Monday ______ 10 AM.	on, at
3. They have lived ______ the city ______ 2010.	in, since
4. She is talking ______ her friend ______ the problem.	to, about
5. He is good ______ playing football.	at
6. I am waiting ______ you.	for
7. She is looking ______ her keys ______ the floor.	for, on
8. He is traveling ______ train ______ Delhi.	by, to
9. The accident happened ______ the street.	on
10. He is sitting ______ the table.	at

Advanced Topics in Prepositions

For advanced learners, understanding more nuanced aspects of prepositional usage can further refine their English skills.

• Prepositional Verbs: These are verbs that are always followed by a specific preposition. Mastering these combinations is essential for accurate communication. Examples include: look after, break into, get over, run into.
• Dangling Prepositions: This occurs when a preposition is left at the end of a sentence without a clear object. While sometimes acceptable in informal contexts, it’s generally better to avoid dangling prepositions in formal writing.
• Prepositional Idioms: Many idioms involve prepositions, and their meanings often differ from the literal interpretations of the individual words. Examples include: kick the bucket, hit the nail on the head, under the weather.
• Formal vs. Informal Usage: The choice of preposition can sometimes depend on the level of formality. For example, “Where are you at?” is less formal than “Where are you?”

Consider the following examples illustrating these advanced topics:

• Prepositional Verb: I am looking after my sister’s children.
• Dangling Preposition (Less Formal): Which school do you go to?
• Prepositional Idiom: He is feeling under the weather today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about prepositions:

1. What is the difference between ‘in,’ ‘on,’ and ‘at’ when referring to locations?

   In is used for enclosed spaces or general areas (e.g., in the box, in the city). On is used for surfaces (e.g., on the table, on the street). At is used for specific points or addresses (e.g., at the bus stop, at 123 Main Street).

2. Can a preposition come at the end of a sentence?

   Yes, it is acceptable, especially in informal contexts or questions (e.g., “Which school do you go to?”). However, in formal writing, it’s often better to restructure the sentence to avoid ending with a preposition.

3. How can I improve my understanding of prepositional verbs?

   The best way is to practice and memorize common prepositional verb combinations. Reading extensively and paying attention to how verbs and prepositions are used together can also help.

4. What is a dangling preposition, and why should I avoid it?

   A dangling preposition is a preposition at the end of a sentence without a clear object. While sometimes acceptable in informal speech, it can make sentences sound awkward or unclear. In formal writing, it’s better to rephrase the sentence.

5. Are there any exceptions to the rules of preposition usage?

   Yes, English is full of exceptions! Many prepositional phrases have idiomatic meanings that don’t follow standard rules. Learning these exceptions comes with practice and exposure to the language.

6. How do I know which preposition to use with a particular verb?

   Unfortunately, there’s no single rule. Many verb-preposition combinations are idiomatic and must be memorized. Consulting a dictionary or grammar guide can be helpful.

7. Why are prepositions so difficult for English learners?

   Prepositions are challenging because their meanings are highly context-dependent and often don’t translate directly from other languages. Additionally, many prepositional phrases have idiomatic meanings that are not immediately obvious.

8. What is the best way to practice using prepositions correctly?

   The best way to practice is through extensive reading, listening, and writing. Pay attention to how native speakers use prepositions, and try to incorporate them into your own language use. Practice exercises and quizzes can also be helpful.

Conclusion

Mastering prepositions is an essential step in achieving fluency and accuracy in English. By understanding the definitions, types, usage rules, and common mistakes associated with prepositions, Class 9 students can significantly improve their communication skills. Consistent practice, attention to detail, and exposure to a wide range of English texts will further enhance their proficiency.

Remember to review the examples and exercises provided in this article regularly. Pay close attention to the context in which prepositions are used and strive to incorporate them correctly in your own writing and speaking. With dedication and practice, you can master the art of using prepositions effectively and confidently.