SF Prep
05 General English — Common Notes 🕒 Updated 2026-10-16
Common Notes SSC CGL · CHSL · Police · Bank · Railway Chapter 05

📍 Prepositions

Prepositions of time, place and movement, plus fixed prepositions (verb/adjective + preposition) — tested in blanks and error spotting.

📌 1. Prepositions of Time

PrepositionWhen to useExample
atExact time, festivals, nightat 5 pm, at Diwali, at night, at noon
onDays, dateson Monday, on 15 August, on my birthday
inMonths, years, seasons, parts of the dayin May, in 2024, in winter, in the morning
since / forPoint of time / periodsince 2010 / for ten years
by / till(until)Deadline (no later than) / continuously up toby Friday / till Friday
within / inInside the limit / after the periodwithin a week / in two days

📌 2. Place and Movement

  • at — a point or small place (at the station); in — an enclosed/large area (in Delhi, in the room); on — a surface (on the table).
  • into = movement from outside to inside (jumped into the river); in = state of being inside.
  • between two, among more than two.
  • beside = next to; besides = in addition to.
  • across = from one side to the other (on a surface); through = passing inside.

📌 3. Fixed Prepositions (High-frequency)

Word + PrepositionMeaning
accuse of / charge withto blame for
abide byto follow (rules)
afraid of, fond of, proud of, capable offear, liking, pride, ability
angry with (person) / angry at (thing)angry
agree with (person) / agree to (proposal)agree
congratulate on, insist on, depend oncongratulate, insist, depend
different from, prevent from, refrain fromdifferent, prevent, refrain
married to, addicted to, prefer to, superior tomarried, addicted, prefer, superior
comply with, deal with, part with (cheez)comply, deal, give up
good at, arrive at (small)/in (city/country)skilled, reach
⚠️ Exam Traps:
  • These verbs take a direct object, NO preposition: discuss, describe, reach, enter, resemble, order, attack, accompany, emphasise — discuss about ❌.
  • "Return back", "repeat again", "revert back" are redundant.
  • Die of a disease, die from a wound/cause, die for one's country.

📌 4. Practice MCQs

📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Choose the correct preposition: The meeting will start ______ 10 a.m. Practice
(A) at
(B) on
(C) in
(D) by
Correct answer: (A) at
Explanation: Exact clock time takes 'at'.
Q2. Choose the correct preposition: He was born ______ 15 August. Practice
(A) in
(B) at
(C) on
(D) by
Correct answer: (C) on
Explanation: Dates take 'on'.
Q3. Choose the correct preposition: We go for a walk ______ the morning. Practice
(A) in
(B) on
(C) at
(D) by
Correct answer: (A) in
Explanation: Parts of the day (the morning) take 'in'.
Q4. Choose the correct preposition: She has been ill ______ last Monday. Practice
(A) for
(B) from
(C) by
(D) since
Correct answer: (D) since
Explanation: 'Last Monday' is a point of time → since.
Q5. Choose the correct preposition: Divide the sweets ______ the two brothers. Practice
(A) among
(B) between
(C) amongst
(D) within
Correct answer: (B) between
Explanation: Between two people → 'between'.
Q6. Choose the correct preposition: The boy jumped ______ the river. Practice
(A) in
(B) on
(C) at
(D) into
Correct answer: (D) into
Explanation: Movement from outside to inside → into.
Q7. Choose the correct preposition: He was accused ______ theft. Practice
(A) with
(B) of
(C) for
(D) about
Correct answer: (B) of
Explanation: 'Accuse' takes 'of' ('charge' takes 'with').
Q8. Choose the correct preposition: Everyone must abide ______ the rules. Practice
(A) with
(B) to
(C) by
(D) on
Correct answer: (C) by
Explanation: Fixed phrase: abide by.
Q9. Identify the error: We discussed about the problem for an hour. Practice
(A) discussed about
(B) We
(C) the problem
(D) for an hour
Correct answer: (A) discussed about
Explanation: 'Discuss' takes no preposition: We discussed the problem.
Q10. Choose the correct preposition: She is married ______ a doctor. Practice
(A) with
(B) to
(C) by
(D) from
Correct answer: (B) to
Explanation: 'Married to' ('married with' is wrong).
Q11. Choose the correct preposition: I prefer tea ______ coffee. Practice
(A) than
(B) over
(C) from
(D) to
Correct answer: (D) to
Explanation: 'Prefer' takes 'to'.
Q12. Choose the correct preposition: Your pen is different ______ mine. Practice
(A) from
(B) than
(C) to
(D) with
Correct answer: (A) from
Explanation: Standard English: different from.
Q13. Choose the correct preposition: Submit the form ______ Friday; late entries will not be accepted. Practice
(A) till
(B) since
(C) by
(D) until
Correct answer: (C) by
Explanation: A deadline (no later than Friday) → by.
Q14. Choose the correct preposition: He died ______ cholera. Practice
(A) from
(B) of
(C) by
(D) with
Correct answer: (B) of
Explanation: Dying of a disease → die of.
Q15. Choose the correct preposition: I congratulate you ______ your success. Practice
(A) for
(B) at
(C) on
(D) with
Correct answer: (C) on
Explanation: Congratulate on.
Q16. Choose the correct preposition: ______ English, he knows French and German. Practice
(A) Beside
(B) Except
(C) Without
(D) Besides
Correct answer: (D) Besides
Explanation: Besides = in addition to.
Q17. Choose the correct preposition: She is angry ______ her brother. Practice
(A) with
(B) at
(C) on
(D) to
Correct answer: (A) with
Explanation: Angry with a person.
Q18. Identify the error: The train reached at the station late. Practice
(A) The train
(B) the station
(C) reached at
(D) late
Correct answer: (C) reached at
Explanation: 'Reach' takes a direct object: reached the station (or arrived at the station).
Q19. Choose the correct preposition: He will finish the work ______ an hour (not later than an hour from now). Practice
(A) within
(B) in
(C) by
(D) since
Correct answer: (A) within
Explanation: Inside the time limit → within.
Q20. Choose the correct preposition: The thief ran ______ the dark forest and escaped. Practice
(A) across
(B) over
(C) along
(D) through
Correct answer: (D) through
Explanation: Passing inside the forest → through.

📝 Practice questions

General English — Practice MCQs Ch 5: Prepositions
📝 Test this chapter Practice questions

Practice MCQs prepared by SF Prep (not PYQs). Rules checked against standard grammar references.