Prepositions

Prepositions: Direct Answer for Exams

A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun to show relation: in the bank, on Monday, at 10 AM, with a sickle, between you and me. In banking and government-exam English, most questions test five rules: objective case after a preposition, AT/ON/IN for time and place, zero preposition before next/last/today/tomorrow, no extra preposition after transitive verbs, and fixed prepositions such as married to, superior to, interested in, and different from.

30-Second Search Snippet

Preposition rules: use at for exact point or time, on for surface/day/date, in for enclosed place/month/year/period, between for two or distinct named items, among for more than two, by for agent, with for instrument, in for static position and into for entry. After a preposition, use the objective case: between you and me, not between you and I.

High-Frequency Error Fixes

Incorrect	Correct	Rule
between you and I	between you and me	Object after preposition
discuss about the issue	discuss the issue	Discuss is transitive
enter into the room	enter the room	Enter is transitive
despite of the delay	despite the delay	Despite never takes of
on next Monday	next Monday	Zero preposition
married with her	married to her	Fixed preposition
superior than him	superior to him	Latin adjective takes to
cope up with pressure	cope with pressure	Fixed verb phrase

1. Definition and Concept

Preposition comes from Pre (before) + Position (placement/arrangement).

It is a word placed before a Noun or Pronoun to show its relationship, arrangement, or position with respect to the rest of the sentence.

Formula:

Noun/Pronoun + Preposition + Noun/Pronoun

Common examples: in, on, at, by, under, over, with, before, after

Types of Prepositions

Type	Description	Examples
Simple	Single-word prepositions	in, on, at, by, under, over, with, beside, between, among, through
Adjectival	Formed from adjectives, often follow a noun	following, including, considering, pending, like, unlike, concerning, near
Complex	Word combinations acting as single prepositions	according to, in spite of, because of, on behalf of, by means of, in addition to

The Rule of Objective Case

A preposition must always be followed by an Object. This means the Noun or Pronoun following a preposition must be in the Objective Case, not the Subjective Case.

Subjective Case (Doer)	Objective Case (Receiver/Object)
I	Me
We	Us
You	You
He	Him
She	Her
It	It
They	Them

Examples:

• ❌ The agriculture officer went to meet she.
• ✅ The agriculture officer went to meet her. ('Her' is the object of the preposition 'to'*)
• ❌ The land dispute is between Ramesh and I.
• ✅ The land dispute is between Ramesh and me. ('Me' is the object of the preposition 'between'*)
• ✅ The sarpanch sat beside him. (Not beside he)
• ✅ This subsidy is for us. (Not for we)

Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs

Not all verbs need a preposition to connect to an object.

1. Transitive Verbs: Directly take an object. No preposition is needed.

   • Example: "The pests attacked the wheat crop."
     • Attacked (Transitive Verb) $\rightarrow$ the wheat crop (Object). No preposition.

2. Intransitive Verbs: Cannot take an object directly. They need a preposition.

   • Example: "The agriculture officer went to Varanasi."
     • Went (Intransitive Verb) $\rightarrow$ to (Preposition) $\rightarrow$ Varanasi (Prepositional Object).

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2. Preposition vs. Conjunction

It is important to distinguish between prepositions and conjunctions, as they affect subject-verb agreement.

• Conjunction: Acts as a Joiner. It connects two subjects of equal importance.

  • Example: "Ramesh and Suresh have gone to the cooperative bank."
    • Here, Ramesh and Suresh are joined by and. The subject is plural (Ramesh + Suresh), so we use the plural verb have.

• Preposition: Shows a Relation. It connects a primary subject with a secondary noun/pronoun (the object).

  • Example: "Ramesh along with Suresh has gone to the cooperative bank."
    • Here, along with is a preposition.
    • Ramesh is the main Subject.
    • Suresh is the Object of the preposition.
    • The verb must agree with the main subject (Ramesh), so we use the singular verb has.

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3. Usage: Time and Place (AT, ON, IN)

These three prepositions are often confused. We can understand them through the concepts of Dimension (Space) and Scale (Time).

A. Place (Space & Area)

Preposition	Concept	Type	Visual Hint	Examples
AT	Point	Specific Location	📍	at the mandi gate, at the railway station, at the counter
ON	Surface	Line/Contact	➖	on the table, on the wall, on the platform
IN	Volume	Enclosed Area	📦	in the godown, in the village, in Lucknow

Special Cases:

1. Hierarchy of Place:
   • At: Specific Address/Point ("The district collector lives at 5, Civil Lines...").
   • In: Larger Area/Container ("...in Kanpur.").
2. House:
   • "Meet me at my house." (House as a meeting point).
   • "I am in my house." (Inside the enclosed structure).
   • "The children are playing on the terrace." (Terrace is a surface).
3. Addresses/Text:
   • "Please check the details on page no. 3." (Page is a surface).

B. Time (Clock, Calendar, Duration)

Preposition	Concept	Examples
AT	Clock Time (Point)	at 9 AM, at 4 o'clock, at dawn, at dusk, at night, at noon
ON	Day/Date (Calendar)	on Monday, on 26th January, on Diwali (day)
IN	Period (Duration)	in March, in 2024, in summer, in the morning, in the evening

Specific Comparisons:

• Noon vs Afternoon:
  • At noon (Exact point: 12:00 PM).
  • In the afternoon (Duration of time).
• Night:
  • At night (General time/Regular). Ex: The watchman patrols the mandi at night.
  • In the night (Specific night/Event). Ex: The fire broke out in the night. Stars sparkled in the clear winter night.

C. Future Time Nuances (After vs In)

Preposition	Usage	Example
After	Later than an event	We will announce the results after the final count.
In	Period required for action	The NABARD officer will submit the report in two days.

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4. The "Zero Preposition" Rule for Time

Do NOT use at/on/in before certain time expressions words like today, tomorrow, yesterday, next, last, this, that.

Examples:

• ❌ Submit the form on next Monday.
• ✅ Submit the form next Monday.
• ❌ The kisan mela was held on last Sunday.
• ✅ The kisan mela was held last Sunday.
• ❌ The IBPS results will be out on tomorrow.
• ✅ The IBPS results will be out tomorrow.

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5. Salutations and Greetings

Prepositions aren't used in these greetings, but understanding their timestamp is key.

• Good Morning (Welcoming)
• Good Noon (12:00 PM - Specific)
• Good Afternoon (After 12:00 PM - Welcoming)
• Good Evening (Welcoming)
• Good Night (Departure/Goodbye)

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6. Prepositions of Transport (Travel)

The rule depends on the type of vehicle and whether you can stand/walk inside it.

Vehicle Type	Preposition	Logic	Examples
Public/Large	ON	Area/Platform (You can walk)	on a bus, on a train, on a plane, on a ship
Private/Small	IN	Enclosed (You sit inside)	in a car, in a taxi, in an auto, in a helicopter
Open/2-Wheeler	ON	Surface (You sit on top)	on a bike, on a bicycle, on a horse/camel/donkey/elephant

Exceptions/Notes:

• "By": Used for the mode of travel generally (by car, by bus, by train) without 'a/an/the'.
  • The NABARD officer travels by jeep to remote blocks. (Mode)
  • She is sitting in the jeep right now. (Location/Position)
• "On Foot": Always "On foot", never "by foot".

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7. Prepositions of Furniture (Chair & Bed)

Whether you use in or on depends on the structure of the furniture.

A. Chair

• ON a chair: Used for armless chairs or if you sit on the surface (e.g., dining chair, stool).
  • Reason: It is a surface/platform.
• IN a chair: Used for armchairs or chairs that enclose you.
  • Reason: The arms create an enclosed space.

B. Bed

• IN the bed: Used for sleeping or resting under covers.
  • Reason: You are effectively inside the bedding.
• ON the bed: Used for sitting on the surface.
  • Reason: You are just on top of the mattress.

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8. Movement: IN vs. INTO

The difference lies in State vs. Motion.

Preposition	Concept	Diagram Hint	Examples
IN	Static/State	Inside a boundary	The farmer is in the field. The bullock is walking in the field (within the boundary).
INTO/INSIDE	Motion (Entry)	Outside $\rightarrow$ Inside	The officer walked into the godown. The fish jumped into the pond.

Transformation (Change of State):

• Into is used when the medium/form changes (Only 'into', not 'inside').
  • Milk converts into curd through fermentation.
  • Translate this notice into Hindi.

Important Errors:

• ❌ The patwari entered into the office. (Redundant 'into' with 'enter')
• ✅ The patwari entered the office.
• Exception: "Enter into an agreement" is correct.

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9. Vertical Position (Over, Under, Above, Below, Beneath)

Preposition	Concept	Key Logic	Examples
OVER	Vertically Up	Directly above (90°)	The irrigation pipe runs over the road.
UNDER	Vertically Down	Directly below (90°)	The seeds are stored under the tarpaulin. The calf rests under the tree.
ABOVE	Level Up	Higher level (Not necessarily vertical)	The Himalayan snowfields lie above the timberline.
BELOW	Level Down	Lower level	Read the instructions given below.
BENEATH	Just Below	Touching/Hiding underneath	The scorpion was hiding beneath the sack of wheat.

Up / Down / Up To:

Preposition	Usage	Example
Up	Upward movement/direction	The water level crept up the embankment.
Down	Downward movement/direction	Floodwater flowed down the slope into the fields.
Up to	Limit, maximum extent	Crop loans are available for up to five lakh rupees.

Idiomatic Use are exception:

• I am over the moon about clearing the IBPS PO interview. (Very happy).
• I am on cloud nine after getting the NABARD appointment letter. (Very happy).

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10. Motion and Dimensions (Through, Across, Along, Onto)

Preposition	Concept	Visual Hint	Examples
ONTO / UPON	Surface + Movement	Jump $\rightarrow$ Surface	The sacks were loaded onto the truck. He climbed upon the roof to check for leaks.
THROUGH	3D Movement	Entering & Exiting a medium	The canal water flows through the pipes. The train passes through the Vindhya tunnel.
ACROSS	Side to Side	One side $\rightarrow$ Other side	The farmer swam across the Ganga during the floods. The village lies across the river.
ALONG	Parallel Movement	Side-by-side	Eucalyptus trees are planted along the canal bank. "Come along with us to the mandi."

Comparison: Across vs Through

• Across: Movement over a surface (road, field, river).
• Through: Movement within a 3D space (forest, tunnel, crop rows).

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11. Distribution (Between, Among, Amidst)

Preposition	Rule	Condition	Examples
BETWEEN	Two Entities	Specific / Distinct Names	The dispute is between Ramesh and Suresh over the field boundary. A pact between India and Sri Lanka on fisheries. Note: Followed by AND, not 'to'.
AMONG	More than Two	Consonant Sound	Distribute the seed kits among the farmers.
AMONGST	More than Two	Vowel Sound	Divide the compensation amongst all affected families.
AMID / AMIDST	Uncountable	Abstract Nouns	The sarpanch stayed calm amidst the chaos of the flood relief camp.

Important Rules for "Between":

• Objective Case: Always use objective pronouns.
  • ❌ Between Ramesh and I.
  • ✅ Between Ramesh and me.
• Each/Every: Do not use 'Between' with 'each' or 'every' unless connected to 'the next'.
  • ❌ Between each row.
  • ✅ Between each row and the next.
• Distinct Names > 2: You can use "Between" for more than two items if they are distinct and named.
  • There is a tripartite agreement between India, Nepal, and Bhutan on river water sharing.

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12. Agency vs. Instrument (By vs. With)

Use this rule for Passive Voice or indicating how an action is done.

Preposition	Used For	Logic	Examples
BY	Doer / Agent	Living Thing	The field was surveyed by the patwari. The report was prepared by her.
WITH	Instrument / Tool	Non-Living Thing	The farmer cut the sugarcane with a sickle. The carpenter nailed the crate with a hammer.

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13. Time Nuances

A. On Time vs. In Time

Phrase	Meaning	Logic	Examples
ON Time	Exact Time	Punctual (Scheduled dot)	The IBPS exam started on time (at exactly 10:00 AM).
IN Time	Before Time	Early / With margin	Reach the exam centre in time (well before the gates close).

B. By / Within / Until

Preposition	Meaning	Example
BY	Deadline (At or Before)	Submit the crop insurance form by 31st October.
WITHIN	Duration (Inside limit)	The bank will disburse the loan within seven working days.
UNTIL	Duration (Up to point)	The procurement centre will remain open until 5 PM.

C. For vs. Since vs. From

Preposition	Usage (Tense)	Example
For	Duration (Perfect/Perfect Continuous)	The farmer has been waiting for his compensation for three months.
Since	Starting point (Perfect/Perfect Continuous)	The village has not received rainfall since June.
From	Starting point (Future/General events)	The new fertiliser subsidy scheme will be in effect from April to March.

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14. Important Confusions (Tree, Foot, Watch)

1. Tree (Shade vs Under):
   • IN the shade of a tree. (Shade creates a covered area/room).
   • UNDER the tree. (Directly below the branches vertically).
   • Example: "The farmers rested in the shade of the peepal tree." but "They sat under the mango tree."
2. Time by Instrument:
   • BY your watch. (Watch is an instrument/measuring tool).
   • Example: "What is the time by your watch?" (Not 'in' your watch).

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15. Concession (Despite vs. In Spite Of)

Both mean the same thing (Ke Bavajood), but their grammar differs.

• Rule 1: In Spite is always followed by OF.
• Rule 2: Despite is NEVER followed by of.

Structure:

Despite / In spite of + (V1+ing / Noun / "the fact that")

Examples:

• ❌ Despite of the drought, the farmer did not leave his land. (Wrong)
• ✅ Despite the drought, the farmer did not leave his land.
• ✅ In spite of the drought, the farmer did not leave his land.

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16. Common Errors with Verbs (Transitive Nature)

Certain verbs are Transitive and do NOT take a preposition when used in Active Voice.

A. No Preposition Required at all

Do not use on, about, of, with, into after these verbs:

Verb	Common Error (Don't Use)	Correct Usage
Attack	attacked on	The locusts attacked the standing crop.
Emphasize	emphasized on	The agriculture secretary emphasized the need for drip irrigation.
Stress	stress on	The NABARD report stressed the importance of micro-credit.
Discuss	discuss about	Let's discuss the new MSP policy.
Describe	describe about	The farmer described the extent of crop damage.
Comprise	comprise of	The cooperative comprises twelve villages.
Enter	enter into	The procurement officer entered the godown. (Exception: "Enter into an agreement" is correct)
Cope	cope up with	The small farmers could not cope with the drought. (Never cope up with)
Sign	sign on	Please sign the loan agreement.
Invade	invade in	The wild elephants invaded the paddy fields.
Crave	crave for	She craves recognition for her work in rural finance.
Lack	lack of	The aspirant lacked confidence in the interview. (Verb = No prep). Noun Exception: There was a lack OF irrigation water.
Ask	ask to	The officer asked the farmer.
Advise	advise to	The krishi vigyan kendra advised the farmers.
Encourage	encourage to	The block officer encouraged the women's self-help group.
Order	order to	The district magistrate ordered the procurement team.

B. Verbs Taking "TO" with Person

Some verbs require TO when connecting to a person (object), unlike "told" or "asked".

Verbs: Suggest, Propose, Report, Reply, Explain, Complain, Listen, Pray.

• ❌ The cooperative chairman suggested me.
• ✅ The cooperative chairman suggested to me that we increase the procurement target.
• ✅ The farmer complained to the district collector about the delay.
• ✅ The field officer explained to us the new subsidy scheme.

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17. Superfluous Expressions (Double Usage)

Avoid using linking words that repeat the same meaning.

• As / Since / Because ... should NOT be followed by So / Therefore.

  • ❌ As the rains failed, so the kharif crop was lost.
  • ✅ As the rains failed, the kharif crop was lost.
  • ✅ Since the river flooded, I stayed at the relief camp. (Not Since... so...)

• Suddenly + Come Across

  • "Come across" means to meet suddenly. Using "Suddenly" with it is redundant.
  • ❌ The field officer suddenly came across an old irrigation map.
  • ✅ The field officer came across an old irrigation map.

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18. Fixed Prepositions (Specific Usage)

A. Angry / Annoyed

• With a Person (Living).

• At a Thing (Behavior/Action).

• The NABARD officer was angry with the contractor.

• The NABARD officer was angry at the contractor's delay.

B. Made Of vs. Made From

• Made OF: Physical Change (Reversible / Material is visible).
  • The village granary is made of bamboo and clay.
• Made FROM: Chemical Change (Irreversible / Material changes form).
  • Ethanol is made from sugarcane.

C. Die (Cause of Death)

Preposition	Cause	Example
Die OF	Disease	The cattle died of foot-and-mouth disease.
Die FROM	Reason (External)	Several labourers died from heatstroke in the fields.
Die IN	Event	Two farmers died in the irrigation canal accident.

D. Adhere (Compliance)

• Adhere TO: To stick to or follow a rule/guideline.

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19. The Gerund Rule (Preposition + V1+ing)

As a general rule, a Preposition is followed by a Gerund (Verb + ing).

• She is good at managing the cooperative accounts.
• The officer apologized for arriving late to the village meeting.

Exception: "To" + V1+ing

Usually, "To" takes the Infinitive (To go). However, in certain fixed phrases, "To" is a preposition and takes V1+ing.

Phrases: Accustomed to, Looking forward to, Addicted to, Habituated to, Dedicated to, With a view to, Prone to, Given to.

• ✅ I look forward to meeting the NABARD district development manager.
• ✅ She is addicted to reading current affairs every morning.

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20. Adjectives and Comparison

Latin Adjectives (-ior)

Adjectives ending in -ior (Senior, Junior, Superior, Inferior) take TO instead of than.

• ✅ The district agriculture officer is senior to the block officer.

Prefer / Preferable

• Also takes TO.
• ✅ Many farmers prefer organic farming to chemical-intensive methods.

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21. Home as an Adverb

Do NOT use a preposition (to/at/in) before "Home" when used with verbs of motion (Go, Arrive, Reach, Get, Send).

• ❌ The farmer went to home after the mandi closed.
• ✅ The farmer went home after the mandi closed.
• ✅ The FCI officer arrived home late after the procurement drive.

Exception: If a possessive adjective (my, your, his) is used, then use a preposition.

• ✅ She went to her home in the village.

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22. Due to vs. Owing to

• Owing to: Starts a sentence (Reason).
  • ✅ Owing to the unseasonal hailstorm, the wheat crop suffered heavy damage.
• Due to: Follows a linking verb (is/am/was/were).
  • ✅ The crop failure was due to the unseasonal hailstorm.

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23. Passive Voice Exceptions (Fixed Preps)

In Passive Voice, distinct prepositions replace "By".

Word	Preposition	Example
Known	TO	The NABARD scheme is known to all farmers in the district.
Married	TO	She is married to a block development officer.
Satisfied	WITH	The district collector was satisfied with the relief work.
Annoyed	AT / WITH	The farmer was annoyed at the delay in payment.
Interested	IN	She is interested in rural banking and microfinance.

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24. Distinct Prepositions (The "AND" Rule)

When two adjectives or verbs connected by AND require different prepositions, mention BOTH explicitly.

• ❌ The new scheme is beneficial and relevant to farmers.
• ✅ The new scheme is beneficial for and relevant to farmers.

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Additional Reference: Making Sense of Prepositions

Core Meanings (A-Z Quick Dictionary)

Preposition	Core Concepts	Examples
ABOUT	Approximation, Concerning, Imminent	at about 3 o'clock; talk about MSP; about to harvest.
ABOVE	Higher (no contact), Superiority	above the flood level; above the rank of SO.
AFTER	Following (time/order), Pursuit	after the kharif harvest; run after the thief.
AGAINST	Opposition, Contact (leaning)	protest against the policy; leaning against the wall.
AT	Specific Point (Time/Place), Rate, Target	at 9 AM; at the mandi; at ₹2,000/quintal; smile at him.
BEFORE	Earlier than, In front of (formal)	before the deadline; stand before the magistrate.
BEHIND	At back of, Late/Lagging	behind the warehouse; behind schedule.
BEYOND	Further than, Outside scope	beyond the district boundary; beyond understanding.
BY	Near, Deadline, Agent, Means	sit by me; by March 31; written by the officer; by train.
FOR	Purpose, Duration, Recipient	for irrigation; for three seasons; for the kisan.
FROM	Origin, Source, Separation	from Punjab; from April to June; different from.
IN	Inside (Volume), General Time	in the godown; in 2024; in the morning.
INTO	Movement -> Inside, Change	walk into the field; turn into ice.
OF	Possession, Material, Partitive	leg of the irrigation channel; bag of wheat; member of the panchayat.
OFF	Separation, Disconnection	take off the shelf; turn off the pump; fall off the tractor.
ON	Surface, Day/Date, Topic	on the terrace; on Tuesday; report on soil health.
ONTO	Movement -> Surface	Loaded the grain sacks onto the truck.
OVER	Vertically Above, Covering	over the canal; tarpaulin over the grain.
THROUGH	Movement (3D), Means	through the wheat fields; through hard work.
TO	Destination, Direction	go to the mandi; give to the kisan.
TOWARDS	Direction (General)	walk towards the village.
UNDER	Vertically Below	under the tree.
WITH	Instrument, Together	cut with sickle; come with me.
WITHOUT	Lacking/Excluding	farming without irrigation is risky.

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Common Prepositional Phrases

Learning these as "chunks" helps in fluency.

• In front of: Positioned ahead. (The harvester was parked in front of the godown.)
• In case of: In the event of. (In case of crop failure, claim insurance.)
• In spite of: Despite. (In spite of the drought, the farmers sowed again.)
• Because of / On account of / Owing to: Due to. (Cancelled on account of rain.)
• On behalf of: Representing. (The sarpanch spoke on behalf of the village.)
• In order to: With the purpose of. (Farmers irrigate in order to improve yield.)
• With reference to: Regarding. (With reference to your crop loan application...)
• According to: Based on source. (According to the IMD forecast, rains are expected this week.)
• In addition to: Besides. (In addition to wheat, this district grows mustard.)
• For the sake of: For the benefit of. (For the sake of food security, MSP must be maintained.)

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Dependent Prepositions with Nouns & Verbs

Some words are "married" to specific prepositions.

Nouns + Preposition

• Knowledge OF: The officer has knowledge of soil health management.
• Trouble WITH: The trouble with this irrigation pump...
• Inquiry INTO: An inquiry into the irregularities in crop insurance.
• Attempt AT: An attempt at improving rural credit flow.

Verbs + Preposition

• Agree WITH (Person) / ON (Point) / TO (Proposal).
• Apply FOR (Job) / TO (Person).
• Argue WITH (Person) / FOR or AGAINST (Topic).
• Belong TO: This agricultural land belongs to the cooperative.
• Consist OF: The NABARD team consists of 8 officers.
• Deal IN (Business) / WITH (Handle issue). (He deals in paddy. Deal with the grievance.)
• Depend ON: The kharif harvest depends on the monsoon.
• Insist ON: The district collector insisted on timely payment of MSP.
• Listen TO: Listen to the krishi vigyan kendra's advice.
• Provide FOR (Support) / With (Supply). (Provide for the family. Provide the village with clean water.)
• Wait FOR (Person) / ON (Serve). (Wait for the officer. The attendant waits on the guests.)

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Quick Reference: Common Mistakes Table

Error Type	❌ Incorrect	✅ Correct
Discuss	Discuss about the MSP policy	Discuss the MSP policy
Enter	Enter into the procurement centre	Enter the procurement centre
Despite	Despite of the drought	Despite the drought
Comprise	Comprise of	Comprise (or Consist of)
Await	Await for the relief funds	Await the relief funds (or Wait for)
Cope	Cope up with	Cope with
Sign	Sign on the agreement	Sign the agreement
Home	Go to home	Go home
Time	On next Monday	Next Monday
Marriage	Married with him	Married to him
Superior	Superior than	Superior to
Benefit	Beneficial for	Beneficial to

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This lesson consolidates fundamental rules, confusing pairs, and advanced usage to give you a complete command over prepositions.

Summary Cheat Sheet

Concept / Topic	Key Details / Explanation
Definition	Preposition placed BEFORE noun/pronoun to show relationship. Always followed by objective case (me, him, her, us, them)
Types	Simple (in, on, at); Adjectival (like, near); Complex (in spite of, according to)
Preposition vs Conjunction	Conjunction joins equals (Ram and Shyam have); Preposition shows relation — verb agrees with FIRST subject ("Shyam along with his friends is going")
AT / ON / IN — Place	AT = point (at the mandi gate); ON = surface (on the terrace); IN = volume/enclosed (in the godown)
AT / ON / IN — Time	AT = clock time (at 9 AM, at night); ON = day/date (on Monday); IN = period (in April, in winter, in the morning)
Zero Preposition	Do NOT use at/on/in before: today, tomorrow, yesterday, next, last, this, that — "Submit by next Monday" (not "on next Monday")
Transport	ON public/large (bus, train, plane); IN private/small (car, taxi); ON open/2-wheeler (bike, horse)
"By"	Mode of travel — no article: "go by train" (not "by the train")
On foot	Always "on foot" — never "by foot"
Chair/Bed	ON armless chair; IN armchair (enclosed). IN the bed (sleeping); ON the bed (sitting)
IN vs INTO	IN = static/state (already inside); INTO = motion/entry (moving from outside to inside)
Enter	Never "enter into the room" — just "enter the room". Exception: "enter into an agreement"
Transformation	Use into (not inside): "milk converts into curd"; "translate into Hindi"
OVER vs ABOVE	Over = vertically above (90°); Above = higher level (not necessarily vertical)
UNDER vs BELOW vs BENEATH	Under = directly below; Below = lower level; Beneath = touching/hiding underneath
THROUGH vs ACROSS	Through = 3D movement within (forest, tunnel); Across = side-to-side over a surface (river, road)
BETWEEN vs AMONG vs AMIDST	Between = two distinct named entities (followed by and); Among = 3+ countable; Amidst = uncountable/abstract
BY vs WITH	By = doer/agent (living); With = instrument/tool (non-living)
On time vs In time	On time = exactly punctual; In time = before deadline/with margin
By / Within / Until	By = deadline (at or before); Within = inside a duration; Until = up to a point in time
For / Since / From	For = duration; Since = starting point (perfect tenses); From = starting point (future/general)
Despite vs In Spite Of	Despite is NEVER followed by "of"; In spite is ALWAYS followed by "of"
Verbs needing NO preposition	attack, emphasize, stress, discuss, describe, comprise, enter (room), cope (with, not "up with"), lack, crave, sign
Verbs needing TO (for person)	suggest, propose, report, reply, explain, complain, listen, pray — "He explained to the farmers"
Angry with/at	Angry with a person; Angry at a thing/behaviour
Made of vs Made from	Made of = physical/reversible (granary of bamboo); Made from = chemical/irreversible (ethanol from sugarcane)
Die of / from / in	Die of disease (foot-and-mouth); Die from external cause (heatstroke, wound); Die in event (accident)
Gerund after preposition	Preposition + V1+ing: "good at managing". Fixed phrases with "to": "look forward to meeting", "addicted to reading"
Latin adjectives (-ior)	Senior, Junior, Superior, Inferior take to (not than)
Home	No preposition with motion verbs: "go home", "arrive home". Add preposition only with possessive: "go to my home"
Due to vs Owing to	Due to follows a linking verb (was due to); Owing to starts a sentence (Owing to the drought,...)
As vs Because/So	Do NOT pair As/Since/Because with So/Therefore — use one or the other
Common errors	Discuss about, Enter into (room), Despite of, Comprise of, Cope up with, Go to home, Superior than, Married with — all incorrect