Preposition - Part- 4

 

1. After as a Preposition (Most Common Use)

When after is used as a preposition, it is followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (-ing form).

1.1 After = Later than (Time)

Used to show that one event happens later than another.

Examples:
I went home after school.
She called me after dinner.
The match was played after sunset.

1.2 After + Person / Thing = In search of / In pursuit of

Used to show chasing or trying to get something.

Examples:
The police are after the thief.
He is after a government job.
She is after success and fame.

1.3 After = Because of / As a result of

Used to show reason or cause (less common, formal).

Examples:
After the accident, he became careful.
After his hard work, he achieved success.

1.4 After + Gerund (Verb + ing)

When a verb comes after after, it is used in -ing form.

Examples:
After finishing his work, he went home.
She fell sick after eating outside food.
After completing the course, he got a job.

1.5 After = According to / In the style of

Used to show following someone’s example or model.

Examples:
This poem is written after Shakespeare.
The child is named after his grandfather.

1.6 After = Next to / Behind (Position)

Used to show position or order.

Examples:
B comes after A in the alphabet.
My house is after the temple.

2. After as a Conjunction

When after joins two clauses, it acts as a conjunction.
It is followed by a subject + verb.

After + subject + verb, main clause

Examples:
After he finished his work, he went home.
She started crying after she heard the news.
After the rain stopped, we went outside.

3. After as an Adjective

Used before a noun to mean later or following.

Examples:
In after years, he realized his mistake.
The after effects of the disease were serious.
We discussed it in the after meeting.

4. Common Expressions with “After”

4.1 After all = Finally / In spite of everything

Examples:
He failed many times, but he succeeded after all.
Don’t be angry; after all, he is a child.

4.2 Look after = Take care of

Examples:
She looks after her parents.
Please look after my bag.

4.3 Day after day / Year after year = Continuously

Examples:
He practiced day after day.
The prices are rising year after year.

4.4 Soon after / Shortly after

Examples:
Soon after the exam, the results were declared.
He resigned shortly after joining.

4.5 One after another - Sequentially

Examples:
The students entered one after another.
Problems came one after another.

5. After vs Before (Quick Comparison)

After → Later than
Before → Earlier than

Example:
I eat dinner after 8 pm.
I wake up before sunrise.

Preposition “Before” – All Possible Uses

Before means earlier than a particular time, event, action, or position.

Hindi meaning: से पहले / पहले

1. Before + Time (Exact time / Date / Period)

Used to show that something happens earlier than a specific time.

Before + time / date / period

Examples:

1. I wake up before 6 a.m.

2. Finish your homework before Monday.

3. He reached the station before sunset.

4. She left before the year ended.

2. Before + Noun (Event / Thing)

Used when something happens earlier than an event or noun.

Before + noun

Examples:

1. Wash your hands before dinner.

2. He met me before the meeting.

3. She checked the tickets before the journey.

3. Before + Pronoun

Used before object pronouns.

Before + pronoun (me, him, her, us, them)

Examples:

1. She arrived before me.

2. He finished the work before them.

3. The teacher spoke before us.

4. Before + Gerund (Verb + ing)

Used when one action happens earlier than another action.

Before + verb-ing

Examples:

1. Wash your hands before eating.

2. Think carefully before speaking.

3. He checked the lock before leaving.

5. Before + Clause (Before + Subject + Verb)

Used when the action is followed by a full sentence.

Before + subject + verb

Examples:

1. Finish your work before you go home.

2. She called me before she left.

3. Read the rules before you start the exam.

6. Before (Order / Sequence / Priority)

Used to show priority or preference.

X before Y

Examples:

1. Safety comes before comfort.

2. Health should come before wealth.

3. Duty comes before pleasure.

7. Before (In Comparison)

Used to show earlier position or rank.

Examples:

1. A comes before B in the alphabet.

2. He finished before his brother.

3. This chapter comes before the last one.

8. Before (As an Adverb – without object)

Sometimes before is used alone (no noun after it).

Examples:

1. I have seen her before.

2. This has happened before.

3. He had never been there before.

9. Before in Negative Sense (Too late)

Used to show that something did not happen in time.

Examples:

1. The patient died before help arrived.

2. The train left before we could reach.

3. The light went out before I finished reading.

10. Before vs Ago (Common Confusion)

1. Before → used with a reference point

2. Ago → used from now (present)

Examples:

1. I met him two years before the accident.

2. I met him two years ago.

11. Fixed Expressions with “Before”

1. Before long – soon

2. Just before – immediately earlier

3. Long before – much earlier

4. Ever before – at any earlier time

Examples:

1. He will return before long.

2. She left just before midnight.

Preposition “Behind” — All Possible Uses

The preposition behind shows position, place, time, cause, support, comparison, and secrecy. It generally means at the back of, after, or hidden from view.

Hindi meaning: पीछे, पीछे की ओर, बाद में, कारण से, समर्थन में

1. Physical Position (Place)

Used to show something is at the back of another object or person.

Subject + verb + behind + object

Examples:
The cat is sitting behind the door.
The school is behind the park.
She stood behind her brother.

2. Movement from the Back

Shows movement or action happening from the back side.

Examples:
Someone called me from behind.
The thief attacked him from behind.

3. Hidden or Not Visible

Used when something cannot be seen because it is covered or blocked.

Examples:
The sun is hidden behind the clouds.
He hid the gift behind the curtain.

4. Time / Delay (Late)

Shows that someone or something is late or slower than expected.

Examples:
I am behind schedule.
She is behind in her studies

5. Comparison / Lower Position

Used to show someone is at a lower rank, level, or position.

Examples:
He is behind his classmates in math.
This team is behind the other team.

6. Responsibility / Cause

Shows the person responsible for an action or situation.

Examples:
Who is behind this plan?
He is behind the success of the project.

7. Support / Agreement

Used to show support or backing for a person or idea.

Examples:
We are behind our leader.
The public is behind this decision.

8. Failure / Incomplete Work

Used when work is not finished or goals are not achieved.

Examples:
He is behind on his payments.
The company is behind on its targets.

9. Cause of Emotion or Action

Used to show the reason for a feeling or action.

Examples:
What is behind his anger?
Hard work is behind her success.

10. Secrecy / Hidden Truth

Used when something is secret or unknown.

Examples:
There is a story behind his smile.
The truth behind the incident shocked everyone.

11. Idiomatic / Common Expressions with “Behind”

Behind the scenes – पर्दे के पीछे
Behind bars – जेल में
Behind the times – पुराने विचारों वाला
Behind one’s back – पीठ पीछे
Behind closed doors – बंद दरवाज़ों के पीछे

Examples:
The decision was made behind closed doors.
He talked about me behind my back.

Preposition: toward / towards

“Toward” shows direction, movement, attitude, relationship, or proximity.
👉 Toward = American English
👉 Towards = British English
(Both are correct; meaning is the same.)

1. Direction or movement (सबसे सामान्य प्रयोग)

Used to show movement in the direction of someone or something.

Examples:

1. He walked toward the gate.

2. The dog ran toward its owner.

3. She moved toward the exit slowly.

👉 Hindi: की ओर, की तरफ

2. Destination not fully reached

Used when the movement is in the direction of a place but not necessarily reaching it.

Examples:

1. We drove toward Delhi but stopped halfway.

2. The boat sailed toward the island.

👉 Difference:

• to = exact destination

• toward = direction only

3. Attitude, feeling, or behavior (भावना / रवैया)

Used to show feelings, opinions, or behavior toward someone or something.

Examples:

1. He is very kind toward animals.

2. Her attitude toward her students is positive.

3. I feel grateful toward my parents.

👉 Hindi: के प्रति

4. Relationship or responsibility

Shows relationship, duty, or obligation.

Examples:

1. Parents have responsibilities toward their children.

2. He showed loyalty toward his country.

5. Purpose or goal (उद्देश्य)

Used to indicate aim, effort, or goal.

Examples:

1. This step is toward success.

2. He is working toward his dream.

3. Saving money is a move toward a better future.

6. Approximation in time (समय के आसपास)

Used to mean near the end or approaching a time.

Examples:

1. It was toward evening when it started raining.

2. She arrived toward midnight.

👉 Hindi: के आसपास

7. Approximation in place or position

Used to show nearness or orientation.

Examples:

1. The window faces toward the east.

2. His chair was turned toward the wall.

8. Change or development (परिवर्तन)

Used to indicate progress, movement, or change in condition.

Examples:

1. The country is moving toward development.

2. His health is improving toward recovery.

9. Reaction or response

Shows reaction or response to something.

Examples:

1. Her reaction toward criticism was calm.

2. His behavior toward failure surprised everyone.

10. Comparison or reference (दृष्टि से)

Used to show reference or comparison.

Examples:

1. His actions were unfair toward others.

2. This policy is friendly toward small businesses.

11. Mathematical or logical sense (कम प्रचलित)

Used to show movement closer to a number or limit.

Examples:

1. The temperature dropped toward zero.

2. Prices are moving toward stability.

12. In formal or academic writing

Often used instead of to to sound more formal or abstract.

Examples:

1. Steps toward improvement must be taken.

2. Commitment toward excellence is essential.