Master IN, ON, AT, FOR, WITH, TO, OF – the most common prepositions in daily conversation
Why Prepositions Matter
Prepositions are small words that show relationships between words. They tell us about time, place, direction, reason, and connection. Hindi speakers often make mistakes with prepositions because Hindi uses postpositions (words that come after nouns) while English uses prepositions (words that come before nouns). For example, in Hindi you say "मैं बाजार जा रहा हूँ" (I market going am) - no preposition needed. In English, you must say "I am going to the market" - you need 'to'. Common mistakes include "I am waiting you" (correct: waiting FOR you), "She is married with him" (correct: married TO him), "I am here since 2 hours" (correct: I have been here FOR 2 hours). This lesson will teach you the 7 most important prepositions for daily conversation.
Remember: Prepositions show relationships - TIME, PLACE, and CONNECTION.
IN– time (months/years), place (inside), other uses
TIME
in July, in 2024, in summer, in the morning, in the evening
I was born in 1995.
She works in the morning.
PLACE (inside/enclosed)
in the room, in the car, in Delhi, in India
The keys are in my bag.
She lives in Mumbai.
OTHER USES
in love, in trouble, in a hurry, in the rain
He is in love with her.
Time rule: Use IN for longer periods (months, years, centuries, seasons, parts of day except night).
ON– time (days/dates), place (surface), other uses
TIME
on Monday, on July 15th, on my birthday, on the weekend (US)
Let's meet on Friday.
PLACE (surface)
on the table, on the wall, on the floor, on the bed
The book is on the desk.
I live on the 3rd floor.
OTHER USES
on TV, on the phone, on the radio, on time
Time rule: Use ON for specific days and dates.
AT– time (clock times), place (specific points), other uses
TIME
at 5 PM, at 7:30, at noon, at midnight, at night, at lunchtime
The class starts at 9 AM.
PLACE (specific points)
at home, at work, at the station, at the door, at the bus stop
She is waiting at the bus stop.
OTHER USES
at first, at last, at least, at the same time
Time rule: Use AT for specific clock times and "at night".
FOR– duration, purpose, benefit, reason
DURATION
for 2 hours, for 5 years, for a long time, for a week
I have been waiting for 20 minutes.
PURPOSE/BENEFIT
This gift is for you.
I need a doctor for my headache.
OTHER USES
for example, for sale, for rent, for free
Important: Use FOR with duration. "I have been here for 2 hours" not "since 2 hours".
a cup with a lid, a woman with red hair, a house with a garden
Common mistake: "married with" is wrong → "married TO" is correct.
TO– direction, recipient, comparison, connection
DIRECTION
go to school, go to work, travel to Delhi
I am going to the office.
RECIPIENT
give to me, send to her, talk to him
Please give this book to her.
COMPARISON/CONNECTION
married to, similar to, listen to, belong to
She is married to Rohan.
Please listen to me.
OF– possession, quantity, relationship, made from
POSSESSION/RELATIONSHIP
the color of the car, the name of the book, the capital of India
QUANTITY
a cup of tea, a glass of water, a lot of people, some of them
MADE FROM
made of wood, made of plastic, made of metal
Quick Comparison: IN, ON, AT for Time
IN → longer periods: months, years, seasons, centuries in July, in 2024, in summer, in the 20th century
ON → specific days and dates on Monday, on July 15th, on Christmas Day, on my birthday
AT → specific clock times and expressions at 5 PM, at night, at noon, at midnight, at the weekend (UK)
Quick Comparison: IN, ON, AT for Place
IN → inside/enclosed spaces (countries, cities, rooms) in India, in Delhi, in the room, in the car
ON → surfaces, floors, streets on the table, on the wall, on the floor, on the 3rd floor
AT → specific points, addresses, events at home, at work, at the bus stop, at the party
Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make
Wrong: "I am waiting you." → Correct: "I am waiting FOR you."
Wrong: "She is married with him." → Correct: "She is married TO him."
Wrong: "I am here since 2 hours." → Correct: "I have been here FOR 2 hours."
Wrong: "Please listen me." → Correct: "Please listen TO me."
Wrong: "We reached at the station." → Correct: "We reached the station." (no preposition before reached)
Wrong: "I go to home." → Correct: "I go home." (no 'to' before home)
Wrong: "He is good in English." → Correct: "He is good AT English."
Quick Practice Quiz
1. I was born ___ 1995. (in / on / at)
2. Let's meet ___ Friday. (in / on / at)
3. The class starts ___ 9 AM. (in / on / at)
4. I have been waiting ___ 20 minutes. (for / since / from)
5. She is married ___ Rohan. (with / to / for)
6. Please listen ___ me. (to / for / at)
Speaking Practice
Complete these sentences aloud with the correct preposition.
1. I live ___ Delhi. (in/on/at)
2. She is waiting ___ the bus stop. (in/on/at)
3. I cut the vegetables ___ a knife. (with/by/from)
4. Please send this email ___ her. (for/to/at)
5. I need a cup ___ coffee. (of/for/with)
Your Next Step
Practice prepositions every day. Notice how native speakers use them. Pay special attention to IN, ON, AT for time and place. Soon, prepositions will become automatic.
IN, ON, AT, FOR, WITH, TO, OF - रोज़ की बातचीत के लिए सबसे ज़रूरी प्रीपोज़िशन
प्रीपोज़िशन क्यों महत्वपूर्ण हैं
प्रीपोज़िशन छोटे शब्द हैं जो शब्दों के बीच संबंध दिखाते हैं। ये समय, स्थान, दिशा, कारण और संबंध के बारे में बताते हैं। हिंदी भाषी अक्सर प्रीपोज़िशन में गलतियाँ करते हैं क्योंकि हिंदी में पोस्टपोज़िशन होते हैं (शब्दों के बाद आने वाले) जबकि अंग्रेजी में प्रीपोज़िशन होते हैं (शब्दों से पहले आने वाले)। यह पाठ रोज़ की बातचीत के लिए 7 सबसे महत्वपूर्ण प्रीपोज़िशन सिखाएगा।
IN– समय (महीने/साल), स्थान (अंदर)
in July, in 2024, in the morning
जुलाई में, 2024 में, सुबह में
in the room, in Delhi
कमरे में, दिल्ली में
ON– समय (दिन/तारीख), स्थान (सतह)
on Monday, on July 15th
सोमवार को, 15 जुलाई को
on the table, on the wall
टेबल पर, दीवार पर
AT– समय (घड़ी का समय), स्थान (विशेष बिंदु)
at 5 PM, at night
शाम 5 बजे, रात में
at home, at the bus stop
घर पर, बस स्टॉप पर
FOR– अवधि, उद्देश्य, लाभ
for 2 hours, for 5 years
2 घंटे के लिए, 5 साल के लिए
This gift is for you.
यह उपहार आपके लिए है।
WITH– साथ में, उपकरण, समावेश
with my friend
अपने दोस्त के साथ
cut with a knife
चाकू से काटना
TO– दिशा, प्राप्तकर्ता, संबंध
go to school
स्कूल जाना
married to, listen to
सामान्य गलतियाँ
❌ "I am waiting you." → ✅ "I am waiting FOR you."
❌ "She is married with him." → ✅ "She is married TO him."
❌ "I am here since 2 hours." → ✅ "I have been here FOR 2 hours."
❌ "Please listen me." → ✅ "Please listen TO me."
त्वरित अभ्यास प्रश्नोत्तरी
1. I was born ___ 1995. (in / on / at)
2. Let's meet ___ Friday. (in / on / at)
3. The class starts ___ 9 AM. (in / on / at)
4. I have been waiting ___ 20 minutes. (for / since)
बोलने का अभ्यास
आपका अगला कदम
हर दिन प्रीपोज़िशन का अभ्यास करें। IN, ON, AT पर विशेष ध्यान दें। जल्द ही प्रीपोज़िशन स्वचालित हो जाएंगे।