Prepositions are small words but they are important ones. A preposition shows the relation between two words or phrases in a sentence. For example, in the sentence ‘The cat is on the roof’, the preposition on shows how the cat and the roof are related.

We use the prepositions in, on and at to show position. These prepositions are also used to show time.

• She is at work.
• The cat is in the box.
• There are some books on the table.
• The meeting is on Wednesday.
• I met him in January.
• The train arrives at 2.30.

The preposition by is used to talk about the agent – the person or thing that causes or performs the action. The preposition with is used to talk about the tool with which the action is performed.

• The travelers were attacked by a lion.
• He was shot with a pistol.

The prepositions between and among show position. Use between to talk about two people or things. Use among to talk about more than two people or things.

• The girl sat between her father and mother.
• The teacher sat among the students.

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition. This prepositions worksheet is helpful for students of classes 8, 9 and 10.

1. Why are you shouting …………………….. me? (at / on / in)

2. Listen carefully ………………………… the instructions. (to / for / with)

3. He hit the spider ………………………… the shoe. (with / by)

4. The spider was killed ………………………. the cruel boy. (with / by)

5. The patient was operated …………………………. in the morning. (on / by / for)

6. There is nothing wrong …………………………. him. (with / to / at)

7. Hot weather is typical …………………………… Chennai. (to / of / for)

8. The girl was throwing bread crumbs ……………………….. the pigeons. (at / to / for)

9. Don’t throw stones ………………………….. the cat. (at / to / for)

10. We were surprised ………………………….. his victory. (at / by / of)

11. He suffers ……………………….. cancer. (of / from / with)

12. The thought ……………………… failing never bothered him. (of / about / for)

Answers

1. at, 2. to, 3. with, 4. by, 5. on, 6. with, 7. of, 8. to, 9. at, 10. at/by, 11. from, 12. of