A. Read the following passage and notice the words in italics:

Jarif and Jawad live at 'Chadgao Abashik Elaka' in Chattogram. They wake up early in the morning. They go to bed early at night. They go to school regularly. Jarif needs a bag of books for his new class. Jawad needs a bag for his new school. They go to school by school bus.

These words usually establish relations with other words and come before a noun or anything equivalent to a noun.

They are called Prepositions

Look at the prepositions in the passage again and see the nouns after them:

In the first sentence at gives a relationship between 'Chadgao Abashik Elaka' and Jarif and Jawad.

In the second sentence in creates a relationship between 'the morning' and 'they'.

In the third sentence 'to' and 'at' respectively create relationship between 'bed' and 'they'; and between 'night' and 'they'.

In the fourth sentence 'to' establishes a link or relationship between 'they' and 'school'.

Guess the relationship of other prepositions with other nouns.

Therefore, the words that come before a noun or any noun equivalent to link it with another word of that sentence are prepositions.

A. Some useful Prepositions

i) Prepositions of Time:

ii) Prepositions of Place and Position:

iii.) Prepositions of Direction:

B. See the picture below carefully and answer the questions accordingly:

a) Where is the bird?
b) Where is the rainbow?
c) Where are the flowers?
d) Where are the boy and the girl?
e) What is the boy showing the girl?

C. Let us find some Prepositions in pictures. Describe the positions of the girl in each of the following pictures by using appropriate prepositions. Some of them are done for you.

Prepositions of Place

D. See the positions of the boy in the following pictures and match the sentences with the relevant pictures:

i. The boy is off the horse.
ii. The bird is in the tree.
iii. The boy is behind the tree.
iv. The boy is in front of the tree.
v. The boy is to the left of the tree.
vi. The boy is between the two trees.
vii. The boy is under the tree.
viii. The bird is above the tree.
ix. The boy is upside down.
x. The boy is on the horse.
xi. The boy is in the swimming pool.
xii. The boy is out of the swimming pool.
xiii. The boy is on the right side of the tree.
xiv. The boy is at the bottom of the ladder.
xv. The boy is at the top of the ladder.
xvi. The boy is to the left of the tree.

E. Some more Prepositions:

Before, during, after:

There is a cue before the bank counter.

Somebody received a phone call during the film.

Some students become tired after their examination.

A preposition is usually followed by a noun. But notice the following examples:

English Grammar and Composition

Ovijit takes preparations before going to examination hall.

Hasan attended his test after studying properly.

Here the prepositions are followed by the present participle form of a verb (Verb+ing).

Through, around, round, along, across, past:

Columbus reached the West Indies through the Atlantic Ocean.
The thief fled away through the window.
Night police walk around the town.
The earth moves round the sun.
Goutam walks along the park road with Shupravat.
Brozen Das swam across the English Channel.
Rudaba walked past the public library to reach Arts Faculty.

F. Certain verbs are followed by certain Prepositions. See the list below:

i) Verbs + Prepositions

Write sentences with any 5-7 combinations of "verb+ preposition".

G. Nouns + Prepositions:

Write sentences with any 5-7 combinations of "noun+ preposition".

H. Adjectives + Prepositions

Write sentences with any 5-7 combinations of "adjectives+ preposition".

I. i) Choose the correct prepositions from the box and fill in the gaps.

Dear Rumman,

We are going to Cox's Bazar sea beach (a) ________ the 14th December. Sadman, Sharafi and others are joining (b) ___________ the same day. We shall leave (c) ______ Chattogram (d) ______ noon. We hope to reach Chattogram (e) _________ train. (f) __________ Chattogram we shall go (g) ______ bus. We are planning to go (h) ______ the St. Martin's Island.

Please join us in time.
See you soon.
Raiyan

ii) Choose the correct prepositions from the box and fill in the gaps.

How are you? I want to meet you (a) ______ Mirpur. (b) _______ there, we shall go (c) __________ New Market. I have to buy so many things. Apuni will be waiting (d) _______ the foot over bridge (e) _________ New Market. Apuni will come (f) ______ bus. We shall go (g) ________ the New Market. It may take time. We shall stay there (h) __________ two hours.

So, see you soon.
Leera.

iii) Choose the correct prepositions from the box and fill in the gaps.

Dear Mostafa bhai,

How are you?

It has been three months since I saw you last. You wanted to know about Sylhet. I was (a) _____ Sylhet (b) _______ 2001 (c) ________ April2009. I lived (d) ______ Shibganj (e) _______ Sylhet. You have to go to Jaflong (f)______ Shibganj. M. C. College is (g) ________ the top of a hillock. You cannot but stare (h) ________ tea gardens in Sylhet because of natural beauty.

I hope you will enjoy your days in Sylhet.
Kallal

iv) Choose the correct prepositions from the box and fill in the gaps.

Dear Omrit,

How are you?

What is your profession? I have not seen you since I left Srimangal. Are you still (a) _____ Purbasha? How is your father? You were quite good (b) ________ cricket. But cricket disappeared (c) _______ your life. In fact, so many things disappeared from your life. Even then, you are our dear Omrit! You aimed (d) _________ nothing or anything that we did not know. Basit left Bangladesh (e ) ________ the U.K. Many other friends left you (f) _________ somewhere else. What have you brought (g) __________ your student life? (h) __________ studying at college you were so smart at everything but things faded away in course of time.

Regards.
Titu