Prepositions, Articles & Tenses

What a preposition does

A preposition shows the relation between a noun or pronoun (its object) and another word in the sentence — a relation of time, place, direction, cause, means or possession.

The book is on the table. (place) He arrived after lunch. (time) She travelled by train. (means)

A preposition is followed by a noun, a pronoun in the object case, or a gerund: for him (not for he), after finishing, interested in learning. It is never followed by an infinitive "to" in that role: ✗ He is fond to sing → ✓ fond of singing.

Prepositions of time

By vs till: By gives the deadline (something happens once before it); till gives how long something continues. I will finish by 5 (the finishing happens at or before 5). I will work till 5 (the working continues until 5).

Since vs for: I have lived here since 2015 / for eleven years. Do not use since with a period or for with a point.

Prepositions of place and position

• at — a point or a place seen as a point: at the door, at the station, at home, at school, at the crossing.
• in — inside an area or space: in the room, in Delhi, in India, in a car, in the box.
• on — a surface or line: on the wall, on the road, on the floor, on the bus/train/plane.
• over / above — higher than: the bridge over the river; the fan above the bed. Over also means covering or crossing; above is simply higher and not in contact.
• under / below / beneath — lower than; under implies covering or contact/right below; below is a lower level; beneath is formal.
• between — two persons or things: between the two towers.
• among — more than two, a group: among the students. Divide the sweets among the children.
• beside = at the side of: beside the road; besides = in addition to: besides English, he knows Hindi.
• by / near / next to — close to.
• behind, in front of, opposite, across, along, around, through, inside, outside, within, beyond.
• Against — in opposition or touching a support: lean against the wall; fight against injustice.

In vs at with place names: He lives in Delhi (a large area); the train stops at Delhi (a point on the route). He is at the bank (visiting), in the bank (inside).

Prepositions of direction and movement

• to — movement toward a destination: go to Mumbai, return to school.
• into — movement to the inside: jump into the water; in = position inside.
• onto / on to — movement to a surface.
• towards — in the direction of, without necessarily arriving.
• from, out of, off, away from.
• across, along, through, over, past, round/around, up, down.
• for — destination with leave/depart: leave for Pune; to with go/come/return.

Reach is a transitive verb: ✗ reached to Delhi → ✓ reached Delhi (or arrived at a station / in a city).

What is an article?

A, an and the are the articles. They are small words that come before a noun and show whether we mean any one (indefinite) or a particular one (definite). English has two indefinite articles, a and an, one definite article, the, and the zero article — the absence of an article, which is just as important.

A and an — the indefinite article

The sound rule

Use a before a word that begins with a consonant sound and an before a word that begins with a vowel sound. It is the sound, not the spelling, that matters.

When to use a/an

1. With a singular countable noun mentioned for the first time or in a general sense: I saw a bridge. (Then: The bridge was old.)
2. To mean one: a hundred, a dozen, a thousand, a quarter.
3. To mean any or each in a general statement: A dog is a faithful animal.
4. In the sense of per: twice a day, five rupees a kilo.
5. With a profession or class: He is an engineer. She became a doctor.
6. In certain fixed expressions: a few, a little, a lot of, a great many, as a rule, in a hurry, at a loss, to make a noise, to take a fancy to, to have a cold, to be in a position to, once upon a time, what a pity, such a man, many a man (many a + singular noun + singular verb).

When NOT to use a/an

• Before plural nouns (bridges) or uncountable nouns (water, advice, information, furniture, luggage). ✗ a furniture, ✗ an advice.
• After such in the pattern such + plural: such things. But such a thing.
• After what when the noun is plural: What beautiful buildings! but What a beautiful building!
• Before most/half in certain patterns: half an hour or an hour and a half (not a half hour in careful usage); quite a big room, rather a difficult task.

What is a tense?

A tense shows when an action happens and how it happens (once, continuing, completed). English has three times — present, past and future — and four aspects — simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous — giving twelve tenses.

Present tenses

Simple present — V1 (s/es for he, she, it)

Uses:

1. Habits and routines: He goes for a walk every morning.
2. General truths and scientific facts: Water boils at 100 °C. The earth moves round the sun.
3. Fixed timetables and schedules (near future): The train leaves at 6.
4. Statements of state with verbs of thinking, feeling, possession: I know the answer. She loves music.
5. Instructions and commentary: Take the first left.
6. Future in time/condition clauses: If it rains, we will stay home. (not will rain)

Markers: always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day, seldom, generally.

Present continuous — am/is/are + V-ing

1. An action happening now: He is writing a letter.
2. A temporary situation: I am staying with a friend this week.
3. A planned future action: We are leaving tomorrow.
4. Irritating habits with always: He is always complaining.
5. Changing situations: Prices are rising.

Markers: now, at present, at the moment, currently, today, this week.

Present perfect — has/have + V3

1. An action completed at an unspecified time in the past, with present relevance: I have finished my work.
2. An action that began in the past and continues (with since/for): He has lived here since 2015.
3. Life experience: Have you ever visited Goa?
4. A recent action: The train has just arrived.

Markers: already, yet, just, ever, never, since, for, so far, recently, lately, till now, up to now, this week.

Present perfect continuous — has/have been + V-ing

An action that started in the past and is still going on (or has just stopped, with visible results), stressing duration: He has been working since morning. It has been raining for three hours.

Past tenses

Simple past — V2

1. A completed action at a definite past time: He left yesterday.
2. Past habits: He played cricket daily in his youth. (also used to play)
3. A series of past actions: He came, saw and left.

Markers: yesterday, ago, last night, in 2010, once, then, when.

Past continuous — was/were + V-ing

1. An action in progress at a past moment: At 8 last night I was reading.
2. Interrupted action: I was walking when it began to rain. (long action in past continuous, short action in simple past)
3. Two simultaneous past actions: While he was cooking, she was reading.

Past perfect — had + V3

The earlier of two past actions: The train had left before I reached the station. Also used for unreal past in conditionals (If he had studied, he would have passed).

Markers: before, after, by the time, when, already, just, hardly ... when, no sooner ... than.

Past perfect continuous — had been + V-ing

Duration up to a moment in the past: He had been working for five hours when I met him.