Phrasal Prepositions - These are phrases working as prepositions.
Example - by means of, on account of etc.
Some Important Prepositions
Since & For
Since is used before a point of time, while for is used before a period of time.Example - I did not see you for a long time.
My cousin brother has been here since Monday last.
Since and From
Both since and from are used before a point of time but since is preceeded by a verb in the perfect tense, while from can be used with any tense.Example - Albert has started rowing from (or since) Monday last.
Albert started rowing from yesterday. (not since)
Albert started rowing from today. (not since)
Albert will start rowing from tomorrow. not since
Before, by & within
Before and by are used with a point of time, while within is used with a period of time. Before means any time within specified limit of time and by means not after the specified limit of time.Example - You must come back by 8pm. (not after 8pm)
You must come back before 8pm. (any time before 8pm)
Albert came back within an hour. (not before)
In & within
In means at the end of while within means before the end of.Example - The movie will end within an hour. (before the hour is passed)
The movie will end in an hour. (at the end of the hour)
In & into
In refers to position already inside anything and into refers to a movement towards the inside of anything.Example - I am in the garden.
I went into the garden.
In & at
In refers to a much wider space or time than at.Example - Lady Hydari Park is at Shillong in Meghalaya.
In & after
In is used about the future time, while after is used about the past.Example - I will come in a few minutes.
I have left after an hour.
On & at
On is used before a particular date or day and at before a particular hour.Example - I shall come on Friday at 9 o'clock.
Between & among
Between is used about two persons or things, while among is used for referring to more than two persons or things.Example - The money was divided between the two workers.
She is the most beautiful among all the girls in her class.
Beside & besides
Beside means by the side of while besides means in addition to.Example - Besides Mayank, his friends also sat beside me.
By & with
By is used with the doer or agent while with is used before the object with which a person does a thing.Example - The online test was not done by me.
The online test was done with the help of my friend.
Except & excepting
Except means without while excepting means without excluding.Example : Everyone came to the party except Albert. (Albert did not come)
Everyone not excepting Albert came to the party. (Albert came)
To
To is used to refer direction or destination.Example - After the lockdown, students need to go to school.