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A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun/pronoun and another word in a sentence. It indicates position, direction, time, or place (Pre + Position).
Preposition भनेको sentence मा दुई शब्द बीचको सम्बन्ध देखाउने शब्द हो। यसले Noun/pronoun को position, direction, time, वा place देखाउँछ।
Types of Prepositions
Prepositions are mainly divided into three categories based on what they indicate: Time, Place, and Direction.
| Type | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Preposition of Time | Shows time | at 5 PM, on Monday, in 2025 |
| Preposition of Place | Shows place/location | on the table, in the room, at school |
| Preposition of Direction | Shows direction/movement | toward the river, into the room, out of the house |
Rule 1 — Uses of ON, IN, AT
Use AT for exact points, ON for days/dates/surfaces, and IN for long periods/large places.
| Preposition | Main Use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| ON | Days, Dates, Surface, Specific expressions | on Monday, on the table, on foot |
| IN | Long periods, Large places, Stages of age | in 2025, in Kathmandu, in childhood |
| AT | Exact time, Small places, Festivals/Events | at 5 PM, at school, at Dashain |
Rule 2 — Uses of OF, WITH, BY
These prepositions indicate possession, togetherness, instruments, transport, or passive agents.
| Preposition | Main Use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| OF | Possession, Nature/Quality, Age | color of the car, a man of courage |
| WITH | Togetherness, Instrument, Situation/Feeling | went with my friend, cut with a knife |
| BY | Transportation, Passive Voice, Future limit, Near | by bus, written by Shakespeare, by tomorrow |
Rule 3 — Confusing Preposition Pairs
Understand the subtle differences between similar prepositions of place, movement, and time.
| Preposition Pair | Difference in Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| IN vs INTO | IN = position (inside) | INTO = movement (going inside) | is in the room vs. went into the room |
| ON vs OVER | ON = touching surface | OVER = above (not touching) | on the table vs. over the table |
| UNDER vs BELOW | UNDER = directly lower | BELOW = lower level | under the chair vs. below average |
| BETWEEN vs AMONG | BETWEEN = two persons/things | AMONG = more than two | Divide between Ram and Hari vs. sat among friends |
| SINCE vs FOR | SINCE = starting point | FOR = duration | since Monday vs. for two days |
| FROM vs TO | FROM = starting point | TO = ending point | from Nepal to India |
Rule 4 — Fixed Preposition Phrases
Certain adjectives and verbs are always followed by specific prepositions. You must learn them as fixed collocations.
Correct Format
He is fond of music. (interested/liking)She is interested in English. (attraction)They are afraid of snakes. (fear)He is good at mathematics. (skilled)She is angry with me. (angry toward person)He depends on his parents. (rely)The match was called off. (cancel)Incorrect Format
She is interested on English.He is good in mathematics.They are afraid from snakes.Exam Traps — Confusing Translations
Do not translate directly from Nepali. English has fixed phrases.
Some words take specific prepositions that contradict literal translation or logic. For instance, you arrive 'at' a small place but 'in' a big city.
नेपालीमा सोच्दा 'संग' (with) लाग्ने जस्तो लागे पनि English मा छुट्टै preposition लाग्न सक्छ। जस्तै: married to (with होइन), good at (in होइन)।
She is married to a doctor. (NOT: married with)
He is good at math. (NOT: good in)
I arrived at the station. (Small place = at)
I arrived in Nepal. (Big city/country = in)
Common Board Preposition Mistakes
She is interested on music.
She is interested in music.
He depends to parents.
He depends on parents.
I came with bus.
I came by bus.
He is married with a nurse.
He is married to a nurse.
She arrived in the station.
She arrived at the station.
Easy Level Practice
Easy Level
1
She always goes to school .......................... foot. (Complete the sentence with an appropriate preposition.)
Correct! The correct fixed expression for walking is 'on foot'.
Correct: on. The correct fixed expression for walking is 'on foot'.
2
I will meet you .......................... (in/on/at) Monday. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! Days and dates always take the preposition 'on'.
Correct: on. Days and dates always take the preposition 'on'.
3
He was born .......................... (in/on/at) 2005. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! Long periods of time, like years, require the preposition 'in'.
Correct: in. Long periods of time, like years, require the preposition 'in'.
4
The book is .......................... (on/in/at) the table. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! When an object is touching the surface of something, we use 'on'.
Correct: on. When an object is touching the surface of something, we use 'on'.
5
She is fond .......................... (of/in/on) music. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! 'Fond' is always followed by the fixed preposition 'of'.
Correct: of. 'Fond' is always followed by the fixed preposition 'of'.
6
He came .......................... (at/in/on) 5 PM. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! Exact clock times always take the preposition 'at'.
Correct: at. Exact clock times always take the preposition 'at'.
7
I came .......................... (with/by/on) bus. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! Modes of transportation generally take the preposition 'by'.
Correct: by. Modes of transportation generally take the preposition 'by'.
8
He walked .......................... (along/with/of) the river. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! Moving in a constant direction beside something like a river or road requires 'along'.
Correct: along. Moving in a constant direction beside something like a river or road requires 'along'.
Medium Level Practice
Medium Level
1
She is suspected .......................... (at/of/in/to) stealing money. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! The verb 'suspect' is followed by the fixed preposition 'of' when accusing someone of an action.
Correct: of. The verb 'suspect' is followed by the fixed preposition 'of' when accusing someone of an action.
2
She is interested .......................... (in/on/at) learning English. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! 'Interested' is a fixed collocation that always takes the preposition 'in'.
Correct: in. 'Interested' is a fixed collocation that always takes the preposition 'in'.
3
He depends .......................... (on/in/at) his parents. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! The verb 'depend' is always followed by the fixed preposition 'on'.
Correct: on. The verb 'depend' is always followed by the fixed preposition 'on'.
4
He has lived here .......................... (since/for) five years. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! We use 'for' to indicate a duration or length of time (five years).
Correct: for. We use 'for' to indicate a duration or length of time (five years).
5
I have known him .......................... (since/for) childhood. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! We use 'since' to indicate a specific starting point in time (childhood).
Correct: since. We use 'since' to indicate a specific starting point in time (childhood).
6
The bird flew .......................... (out of/with/of) the cage. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! 'Out of' shows movement from the inside to the outside of something.
Correct: out of. 'Out of' shows movement from the inside to the outside of something.
7
Divide the cake .......................... (between/among) Ram and Hari. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! Use 'between' when dividing or sharing something among exactly two people or things.
Correct: between. Use 'between' when dividing or sharing something among exactly two people or things.
8
She sat .......................... (between/among) her friends. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! Use 'among' when referring to a group of more than two people.
Correct: among. Use 'among' when referring to a group of more than two people.
Hard Level Practice
Hard Level
1
The culprit came .......................... office, walked across the road and got on a bus. (Use appropriate preposition - out of / toward / along / into to fill in the blank.)
Correct! The culprit is moving from inside an enclosed space (the office) to the outside, which requires the directional preposition 'out of'.
Correct: out of. The culprit is moving from inside an enclosed space (the office) to the outside, which requires the directional preposition 'out of'.
2
He is married .......................... (with/to/in) a doctor. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! In English, the fixed phrase is 'married to', regardless of how it translates directly into other languages.
Correct: to. In English, the fixed phrase is 'married to', regardless of how it translates directly into other languages.
3
The meeting was called .......................... (off/on/in) because of rain. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! The phrasal verb 'call off' means to cancel an event.
Correct: off. The phrasal verb 'call off' means to cancel an event.
4
He arrived .......................... (at/in/on) Kathmandu yesterday. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! We use 'in' for arriving at large places like cities and countries.
Correct: in. We use 'in' for arriving at large places like cities and countries.
5
The train passed .......................... (through/into/in) the tunnel. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! When something moves from one end of an enclosed space to the other, we use 'through'.
Correct: through. When something moves from one end of an enclosed space to the other, we use 'through'.
6
She stared .......................... (at/on/in) me angrily. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! The verb 'stare' takes the fixed preposition 'at' to indicate the direction of the gaze.
Correct: at. The verb 'stare' takes the fixed preposition 'at' to indicate the direction of the gaze.
7
The child hid .......................... (under/over/on) the bed. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! We use 'under' when something is directly covered or at a lower level directly beneath something else.
Correct: under. We use 'under' when something is directly covered or at a lower level directly beneath something else.
8
We were surprised .......................... (at/by/with) the result. (Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence.)
Correct! The adjective 'surprised' usually takes the fixed preposition 'at' when reacting to an event or result.
Correct: at. The adjective 'surprised' usually takes the fixed preposition 'at' when reacting to an event or result.