The preposition

Such words as in,on,at,under,over,to,behind,etc., are prepositions.A preposition is a word that shows in what relation one thing,person,etc. stands to another:

• The mango is on the table.The mango is under the table.
• The words on and under show in what relation "mango" and "table" stand to each other.(table is object to mango")

Some selected prepositions

1. at
At is used in these ways: (a)To show nearness in place,used for smaller places:
• She is at home.They are quite at home in nuclear physics.
  Our friend is staying at Saddar in Karachi.Is he at the station?At the riverside.
(b)With respect to time:
• They came here at 9 a.m.At what time did the plane take off?
  Did she call (telephone) you at night?
(c)With respect to one's condition,etc:
• They were quite at ease (in comfort) in their village.
  He is nearly always at play.He is at work now.She came at last.She replied at once.
  At whose words did you go there?
(d)With respect to value:
• Pure milk is selling at a high price.
(e)With respect to aim:
• She laughs at me for nothing.
  He aims at becoming a doctor.
(f)With respect to passion:
• They were astonished (or surprised) at our attitude.
(g)With respect to action:
• They pointed at me at the meeting.When did they arrive at the college?
  Do not throw water at him.
  She avoids hitting hard at her opponents in her talks with them.
  We stopped at a hotel on the way.
2. in,into
"In" is used in reference to a big place,duration of time,condition, etc.It also means "inside."On time= at the right or exact time.
• She lives in Lahore.Which of your friends are staying at New York in America?(New York being much smaller than America)
  Our teacher was in anger at that time.
  She spoke in great joy.
  Do not talk in a passion of hatred for others.
  I shall come back two days.(that is,within two days)
  Ahsan is standing in the street.
  In the room,In the building.In the village.In the book,etc.
Into is used with reference to entrance or motion,etc.
• It will fall into the well.
  She went into the house when it is started raining.
  Change this water into ice.
  
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But also note these sentences:
• Let the soldiers fall in (form their lines). When they announced her name,she walked in.(that is,without any noun after "in.")
3. about
It is about (nearly) time we started for the station.
• He is about (soon going) to leave.
  There was none about (near) me to help when I fell down.
  It is about 8 p.m. now.
  Who will tell us about his plan?
4. along(from one end of the road, etc. to the other)
• The bus moved along the canal.We walked along the road.
5. amid or amidst(in the middle)
• Zarina was sitting amid(or amidst) her classmates.
6. among or amongst(in the middle of more than two)
• Who is your neighbor among these people?
• "Between" is used for two to show sharing,thus:
• Divide this money between the two boys.
Note.Divide the money among the five boys-Between also shows connection-two or more than two:
• They had four rooms between them.There wasn't any fighting between the demonstrators.
7. below,beneath
• I got below(less than) 80% marks (points) in this subject.
  Water was flowing beneath (under) the bridge.
8. 
   beside(by the side of),besides(in addition to)
• Nighat was sitting beside Sabiha.
  Besides visiting Shangrilla,we visited several other holiday spots.
9. by(near,up to)
• She passed by me on the road.
  I shall wait for you by 8 p.m.
10. in spite of,despite(with all this before one)
• They went into the jungle in spite of (or despite) my warning.
  Despite(in spite of) the war the country progressed a great deal.
11. within
• Please return this loan within the agreed period of time.
  It is not within my reach.(that is,not within my power)
  Always act within the limits of the law.
12. without
• My friend kept sitting without(outside) the examination hall.
13. across
• We went across the river.
  I want to put across (explain well) my ideas to you.
14. through
• Only through hard work can we all succeed.
  Great men have always been through great difficulties.

Prepositions & adverbs

A word is a preposition when it is related to a noun or a pronoun.A word is an adverb when it is generally tells about an adjective,verb or adverb.An adverb particle is directly connected to the verb to become a verbal idiom or phrasal verb like wake up,turn down,get over, etc.

Preposition The tools are in the box. The fan is over heads. Our house is behind the tree.

Adverbs Do not go in without permission. He jumped over the wall. Don't look behind,walk straight ahead.