Preposition - Part- 5 - Rules & Examples | EnglishEraWithAmitPoonia

 

What is a Preposition? (English + Hindi)

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in a sentence. It usually tells us about place, time, direction, cause, or manner.

Preposition वह शब्द होता है जो संज्ञा (noun) या सर्वनाम (pronoun) का वाक्य के दूसरे शब्दों से संबंध बताता है। यह संबंध अक्सर स्थान, समय, दिशा, कारण या तरीके का होता है।

Example:

The book is on the table.
Here, on is a preposition. It shows the relationship between book and table (place).

किताब मेज़ पर है।
यहाँ पर (on) एक preposition का काम कर रहा है। यह किताब और मेज़ के बीच स्थान का संबंध बता रहा है।

All Possible Uses of the Preposition “OVER”

The preposition “over” is one of the most commonly used prepositions in English. It does not have only one meaning. Its meaning changes according to context.

1. Over - Above (higher than something)

Used when something is at a higher position, sometimes covering the area.

Examples
The plane flew over the city.
There is a bridge over the river.
The lamp hangs over the table.

(Hindi sense: ऊपर)

2. Over - Covering (on the surface of)

Used when something covers or spreads on something else.

Examples
She put a blanket over the child.
There was dust over the furniture.
He poured water over the plants.

(Hindi sense: ऊपर से ढका हुआ)

3. Over - Across / From one side to the other

Used to show movement from one side to another.

Examples
He jumped over the wall.
The cat ran over the road.
She climbed over the fence.

(Hindi sense: पार)

4. Over - More than (Excess / Beyond limit)

Used with numbers, age, amount, time, or quantity.

Examples
The bag weighs over 10 kilos.
She is over 18 years old.
It took over two hours to finish the work.

(Hindi sense: से अधिक)

5. Over - During (period of time)

Used to show something happening throughout a period of time.

Examples
We talked over dinner.
He slept over the weekend.
Sales increased over the years.

(Hindi sense: के दौरान)

6. Over - About / Regarding

Used to show the topic of discussion, argument, or concern.

Examples
They argued over money.
We discussed over the plan.
She is worried over her future.

(Hindi sense: के बारे में)

7. Over - Finished / Ended / Completed

Used to show that something has ended.

Examples
The match is over.
The movie is over.
Our exams will be over tomorrow.

(Hindi sense: समाप्त)

8. Over - Control / Authority

Used to show power, control, or supervision.

Examples
The manager has control over the staff.
He has influence over his followers.
The king ruled over the country.

(Hindi sense: पर अधिकार)

9. Over -While using (means or medium)

Used when something is done by means of something.

Examples
We talked over the phone.
She sent the message over email.
The news was broadcast over the radio.

(Hindi sense: के माध्यम से)

10. Over - Prefer / Choose

Used to show preference.

Examples
I prefer tea over coffee.
She chose honesty over money.
He values health over wealth.

(Hindi sense: की तुलना में)

11. Over - Recovery / Return to normal

Used to show recovery from illness, shock, or trouble.

Examples
She is over her illness now.
He is getting over the shock.
I am over my fear.

(Hindi sense: से उबर जाना)

12. Over - Examining / Checking

Used to show careful checking or review.

Examples
Please check over your answers.
The teacher went over the homework.
Let me read it over once.

(Hindi sense: जाँच करना)

13. Over - Overflowing

Used when something flows beyond its limit.

Examples
The milk boiled over.
The river flowed over its banks.
His anger spilled over.

(Hindi sense: छलक जाना)

14. Over = Repetition / Again

Used to show doing something again.

Examples
Read the lesson over.
Let’s start over.
Think it over carefully.

(Hindi sense: फिर से)

15. Over - Distance / Spread

Used to show area or distribution.

Examples
The disease spread over the city.
Fog spread over the valley.
The news spread over the country.

(Hindi sense: पूरे में)

16. Over - Sudden movement downward

Used when something hits or passes suddenly.

Examples
He fell over the chair.
She tripped over a stone.
The glass tipped over.

(Hindi sense: ठोकर खाकर)

17. Over in Idiomatic Expressions

Common expressions using over:

Get over – recover
Hand over – give control
Take over – assume control
Look over – inspect
Turn over – flip
Run over – hit with a vehicle / exceed time

Examples
The car ran over the dog.
The meeting ran over time.
He took over the business.

Preposition “ABOVE” – All Possible Uses

“Above” means at a higher position, level, or rank than something else.
It usually shows position, level, amount, age, rank, or standard.

1. Physical position (higher than, not touching)

“Above” is used when something is higher than another thing, but not directly touching it.

Examples:
The fan is above the table.
There is a clock above the door.
The plane is flying above the clouds.
A picture hangs above the sofa.

👉 Difference note:
“Above” ≠ “on” (on means touching).

2. Higher level or height (measurement)

Used for height, temperature, level, or altitude.

Examples:
The water rose above the danger mark.
The temperature is above 40 degrees today.
His house is built above sea level.
The mountain peak is above 5,000 meters.

3. More than a number, amount, or quantity

“Above” is used to mean more than a certain number or limit.

Examples:
Children above 10 years are allowed.
The salary is above ₹50,000 per month.
Marks above 90% are considered excellent.
No vehicles above 2 tons are allowed.

4. Age, rank, or status (higher position)

Used for social position, authority, rank, or age.

Examples:
He is above me in rank.
The manager is above the clerk.
She married someone above her social status.
No one above the age of 60 was selected.

5. Moral or ethical sense (superior, not affected by)

“Above” shows moral superiority or control over feelings.

Examples:
He is above suspicion.
She is above greed and jealousy.
A judge should be above personal interest.
He is above such cheap behavior.

6. In writing or speech (earlier mentioned)

“Above” refers to something already written or said.

Examples:
As mentioned above, practice is essential.
Refer to the paragraph above.
The above rules must be followed strictly.
From the above discussion, we can conclude…

7. Preference or priority (more important than)

Used to show preference or importance.

Examples:
He values honesty above money.
Health comes above wealth.
Duty should be above pleasure.
She puts family above career.

8. Comparison (better than / superior to)

“Above” is used when comparing quality or standard.

Examples:
His performance is above average.
This book is above standard.
The hotel service is above expectation.
Her intelligence is above normal.

9. Distance or position on a scale

Used in figures, graphs, ranks, or lists.

Examples:
The temperature line moved above the average.
His name is above mine on the list.
The score is above the pass mark.
Sales remained above last year’s level.

10. Not influenced or controlled by

Shows freedom from control or authority.

Examples:
He believes he is above the law.
No one is above the constitution.
She thinks she is above rules.
The army works above politics.

All Possible Uses of the Preposition “Between”

The preposition “between” is mainly used to show position, relationship, choice, division, time, and comparison involving two or more clearly defined people or things.

1. Between (Two People or Things)

Use: To show a position or relationship involving two distinct persons or things.

Examples

1. • The teacher sat between Ram and Shyam.
2. • There is a wall between the two houses.
3. • The match was played between India and Australia.

👉 Rule: Even if more than two items are mentioned, “between” is correct when they are clearly separate or individual.

2. Between (More Than Two — When Individually Defined)

Use: When more than two people/things are involved but each is considered separately.

Examples

1. • The money was divided between the three brothers.
2. • Negotiations took place between the five countries.
3. • There is an understanding between the members of the committee.

👉 Important:
Between ≠ only two
Between = clearly identified individuals

3. Between (Choice or Alternatives)

Use: To express a choice between two options.

Examples

1. • Choose between tea and coffee.
2. • I can’t decide between staying home and going out.
3. • She is confused between science and commerce.

4. Between (Comparison or Contrast)

Use: To show a comparison, difference, or contrast.

Examples
• What is the difference between “affect” and “effect”?
• There is a big gap between theory and practice.
• Can you distinguish between right and wrong?

5. Between (Position / Space)

Use: To show physical position in the middle of two points.

Examples
• The park lies between the hospital and the school.
• He stood between the two pillars.
• The village is located between two rivers.

6. Between (Time — Start and End Points)

Use: To indicate a period of time with a clear beginning and ending.

Examples
• The shop is open between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• The meeting will be held between Monday and Friday.
• He slept between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.

7. Between (Sharing or Division)

Use: To show distribution or sharing.

Examples
• The prize money was shared between the winners.
• Divide the work between the team members.
• The responsibility is between you and me.

8. Between (Relationship or Agreement)

Use: To describe mutual relationships, agreements, or interactions.

Examples
• There is strong trust between the teacher and students.
• An agreement was signed between the two companies.
• Friendship between them lasted for years.

9. Between (Cause and Effect / Connection)

Use: To show a connection or link.

Examples
• There is a connection between diet and health.
• Scientists found a link between stress and sleep problems.
• No relation exists between wealth and happiness.

10. Between (Numbers, Limits, or Range)

Use: To show numerical limits.

Examples
• His age is between 20 and 25.
• The temperature stayed between 30°C and 35°C.
• The score was between 60 and 70 marks.

11. Between (Emotional or Abstract States)

Use: To express mental conflict or emotional position.

Examples
• He was torn between duty and desire.
• She felt trapped between fear and hope.
• The student was stuck between confidence and doubt.

Preposition “Among” – All Possible Uses

Among means in the middle of, surrounded by, or shared by more than two people, things, or groups.

👉 It is used when we talk about three or more persons or things.

1. Among - In the middle of / Surrounded by (More than two)

Used when someone or something is inside a group or crowd.

Examples

1. He was sitting among his friends.

2. The house is among tall trees.

3. She felt nervous among strangers.

Here, the person is surrounded by many people/things.

2. Among - One of a group (Membership)

Used to show that someone or something is part of a larger group.

Examples

1. He is among the best teachers in the city.

2. English is among the most spoken languages in the world.

3. She is among the finalists of the competition.

Used to include someone/something within a group.

3. Among - Shared or Distributed collectively

Used when something is shared, divided, or common to many people.

Examples

• The money was distributed among the poor.

• The responsibility is shared among all members.

• Happiness should be spread among people.

Action or thing is divided between more than two.

4. Among = In comparison within a group

Used when comparing someone or something inside a group, not directly one-to-one.

Examples

1. She is popular among students.

2. This phone is expensive among similar models.

3. He is respected among his colleagues.

Focus is on position or reputation inside a group.

5. Among - During interaction within a group

Used for discussion, agreement, conflict, or feeling inside a group.

Examples

1. There was a disagreement among the members.

2. Unity among people is important.

3. Rumors spread quickly among villagers.

Shows internal relationship or interaction.

6. Among - Hidden or mixed within many things

Used when something is mixed or hidden inside a group.

Examples

1. The thief was hiding among the crowd.

2. The letter was lost among old papers.

3. Truth is often hidden among lies.

Emphasizes difficulty of identification.

7. Among + Collective Nouns

Often used with collective or plural nouns.

Common combinations

1. among people

2. among students

3. among friends

4. among children

5. among nations

Examples

1. Discipline is important among students.

2. Peace should exist among nations.

Preposition “Amongst” — All Possible Uses

Amongst is a preposition. It is a slightly more formal or British variant of “among.”
In modern English, among is more common, but amongst is still grammatically correct and used in writing, literature, and formal speech.

1. Used for more than two people or things

“Amongst” is used when something is in the middle of three or more people, objects, or things.

Examples
She was sitting amongst her friends.
The teacher distributed the books amongst the students.
He felt comfortable amongst strangers.

👉 Rule:
If there are more than two, use among / amongst. For two, use between.

2. Used to show shared distribution

“Amongst” shows that something is shared, divided, or distributed within a group.

Examples
The prize money was divided amongst the winners.
The work was shared amongst the team members.
Food was distributed amongst the poor.

3. Used to show presence in a group

It shows that someone or something exists or happens inside a group.

Examples
There is a traitor amongst us.
She lived quietly amongst the villagers.
His name is well known amongst scholars.

4. Used to show relationship or interaction within a group

It indicates interaction, discussion, agreement, or conflict inside a group.

Examples
There is no agreement amongst the members.
The matter was discussed amongst the committee.
A feeling of trust developed amongst them.

5. Used to show a choice or comparison within a group

It can indicate selection or ranking from a group.

Examples
He is considered the best amongst his peers.
She was chosen from amongst the candidates.
This book is popular amongst young readers.

6. Used for abstract things (feelings, ideas, qualities)

“Amongst” can be used with abstract nouns, not only people or objects.

Examples
There was fear amongst the crowd.
Happiness spread amongst the children.
Confusion prevailed amongst the students.

7. Used in formal, literary, or British English

“Amongst” is preferred in formal writing, literature, and British-style English, while among is more common in American English.

Examples
Unity must be maintained amongst nations.
He walked silently amongst the trees.
Trust is essential amongst colleagues.