Appropriate Prepositions

At: 

1. They left home at dawn.
2. We reached home at night.
3. He is now at home.
4. They came at noon.
5. He left school at twelve. (=when he was 12 years old)
6. He was then — work.
7. The examination is—hand. (=near at hand)
8. There is a beggar standing—the door.
9. He can see better—a distance.
10. I could not know him—first sight.
11. The train ran—full speed.
12. He sold the thing—a loss.
13. He could not finish the work—a sitting,
14. He bought the goods —taka 200.
15. Pure milk is dear—present.

Similarly-(at school, at the door, at a distance, at present, at war, etc.)

1. They traveled by boat/rail/car etc.
2. He came by air/land/water.
3. They work—day or—night.
4. He sent a letter —post or—hand.
5. We informed him—letter or—telephone.
6. Eggs are sold—the dozen.
7. He sat—me
8. We paid—cheque.
9. He knows me—name.
10. He is older than you —5 years.
11. It is four PM—my watch.
12. We defeated them—two goals to one.
13. Can you finish the work—tomorrow?
14. The man died—accident.
15. The teacher pulled him—the ear.
16. I did it—mistake.

For:

1. I am speaking for my class.
2. She cried out—fear.
3.  He was silent—shame.
4. We heard a cry—help.
5. He ran away —life.
6. The house is—sale.
7. Hope—the best, prepare—the worst.
8. Plant a new tree— every tree you cut down.
9. What is Dhaka famous—?
10. He did the job—nothing.
11. He was sent to prison—stealing.
12. They are the passengers —Khulna.
13. The girl is tall—her age (enough tall compared with her age.)
14. In the desert—miles and miles there is no house.
15. He is not getting ready—school.
16. They voted—him.

In:

1. He is—danger.
2. They dry fish—the sun.
3. I did this—his presence/absence.
4. I am—difficulty.
5. His party was—power.
6. We write—black ink.
7. Cut the apple—two.
8. He lived—luxury.
9. People—general are ignorant of health rules.
10. They were—love.
11. It is a novel—three parts.
12. Do you know the man—white dress?
13. The books were packed—bundles.
14. You may pay the amount—part.
15. He was talking —a loud voice.
16. You should pay—advance.
17. He is young—years but old—wisdom.
18. He will come—September.

(in despair, in doubt, in wonder, in public, in secret, in private, in fun, in tears, in writing.)

On:

1. We met him on the road.
2. He was—the way to Mymensingh.
3. Mahdi went their—duty.
4. Dhaka is—the Buriganga.
5. He lives—a small income.
6. He said this—oath.
7. This story is based—fact.
8. He fainted and fell—to the floor.
9. He retired—a small pension.
10. He bought the machine—credit.
11. His father brought a car—hire.
12. He came here—business.
13. This is payable—demand.
14. He gave a lecture—Shakespeare.
15. There was a big home—the main road.
16. He is coming—Monday.
17. He is—our committee.

To:

1. When do you go to bed?
2. He sang—the harmonium.
3. What is he—you?
4. (d)     He rose—high rank.
5. (e)     I was sitting with my feet—the fire.
6. (f)     This is—my liking.
7. (g)     He is a secretary—the MD.
8. (h)    Japan is—the east of Bangladesh.
9. (i)     Mother sang her baby—sleep.
10. (j)     It is a quarter—six.
11. (k) Do not start until the lights change from red—green.
12. (l)     The fruit is sweet—the taste.
13. (m)   He tore the letter—pieces.
14. (n)    This picture is true—life /nature.
15. (o)    It was—my advantage.
16. (p)    The house was—fire.

Under:

1. (a)     He holds a post—Government.
2. (b)    I do not like to work—him.
3. (c)     The case is now—trial.
4. (d)    The criminal is—sentence of death.
5. (e)     The building is—construction.
6. (f)    India—the Mohgals was very prosperous.
7. (g)    How long can you stay—water?
8. (h)   Your application is—consideration.
9. (i)    This is a road—repair.
10. (j)    The cat is—the table.
11. (k)   We passed—many bridges.
12. (1)   Fish move—water.
13. (m)  He is an officer—the rank of captain.
14. (n)   We found ten acres of land—paddy.
15. (o)   This is a matter—discussion.

Above:

1. (a)     We were flying—the clouds.
2. (b)     The sun rose—the horizon.
3. (c)  The temperature has been—the average recently.
4. (d)    It weighs—or over ten tons.
5. (e)     His conduct is always—suspicion.
6. (f)     The sky is—the earth.
7. (g)     A soldier should value honour—life.
8. (h)    Do not live—your means.
9. (i)     The applicants must be—21 years of age.
10. (j)     He is—meanness and deceit.
11. (k)    He is now —fifty.
12. (1)    There is nothing in this shop —Taka 200/-

Over:

1. (a)     Spread a cloth over the table.
2. (b)    The birds flew —my head.
3. (c)    Tie a piece of cloth —the top of the pitcher.
4. (d)   He held an umbrella —my head.
5. (e)   We had a pleasant talk —a cup of tea.
6. (f)   They climbed —a wall.
7. (g)  The river is —50 miles long.
8. (h)    He spoke for—an hour.
9. (i)     The wires—the streets are dangerous.
10. (j)     Mr. Khan is—you in the office.
11. (k)    He is famous all—the world. 
12. (1)     He ruled—a vast empire.

Against:

1. (a)     Public opinion was against this proposal.
2. (b)    We were going — the current.
3. (c)     They voted —him
4. (d)     He hit his head — the wall.
5. (e)     It is an injection — rabies.
6. (f)     Place the ladder — the wall.
7. (g)     He was leaning — a pillar.
8. (h)    The rain was beating — the wall.
9. (i)     She was married — her will.
10. (j)     Take precaution — fire.

With:

1. (a) It is a coat with two pockets.
2. (b) The hills are covered with snow.
3. (c) A baby — no cloths came here.
4. (d) We write—a pen.
5. (e) What’s your business—?
6. (f) He was trembling—fear.
7. (g) It is a habit—some people.
8. (h) Did you see it—your own eyes?
9. He was standing—his hands in his pockets.

• Abide by [the rules] (obey): Students should abide by the rules of the school.
• Abide in [a place] (live): His uncle abides in London
• Abstain from [smoking] (refrain from): We should abstain from smoking.
• Accused of [a guilt] (convicted): The man was accused of theft.
• Abound with [life] (full of): Our rivers abound with fishes.
• Abound in [a place] (exist plentifully): Fishes abound in our river.
• Admit to [a school] (take in / enroll): He was admitted to Motijheel Govt. Boys' High school.
• Agree with [a person] on [a point] (consent): I agree with you on this point.
• Agree to [a proposal] (consent): He did not agree to this proposal.
• Aim at [a thing] (shoot at): He aimed at the bird.
• Appear before [the court] (present publicly): The man appeared before the court.
• Appear in [the exam] (set for an exam): We shall appear in the S. S. C Exam.
• Apply to [a person] for [something] (ask for): I applied to the headmaster for leave.
• Appear to (seem): It appears to me that he is innocent.
• Attend to (give care and attention): You should attend to your lesson.
• Attend on/upon [a patient] (look after): The nurse is attending on/upon the patient. 
• Absent from [a place] (not present): He was absent from school. 
• Addicted to [smoking] (habituated to evil things): Don't be addicted to smoking. 
• Accompanied by [a person] with [a thing]: He went to Dhaka accompanied by his father. 
• Afraid of [snake] (frightened): Everybody is afraid of snakes. 
• Attentive to [study] (mindful): You should be attentive to studies. 
• Affectionate to [a person] (fond of): Teachers are affectionate to students. 
• Access to [an office] (entrance): We have access to the office. 
• Adjacent to [a place] (near): My office is adjacent to my residence. 
• Appetite for [food] (hunger): Physical exercise increases appetite for food. 
• Ambition for [fame] (strong desire): Almost everybody has ambition for fame. 
• Aware of (conscious): We should be aware of our duties.
• Anxious about (worried): Father is anxious about my result.
• Ashamed of (feeling shame): I am ashamed of your conduct.
• Adequate to (sufficient): Water supply is not adequate to our needs
• According to (in harmony with): He worked according to my advice.
• Beware of (having caution): Beware of pickpockets.
• Bask in (enjoy warmth and light): They were basking in the sun.
• Believe in (to have faith): We believe in Allah.
• Blind of [eye] (having no power to see): He is blind of one eye.
• Blind to [fault] (indifferent): The man is blind to his son's fault.
• Boast of (feel proud): He boasts of his riches.
• Born of (come of): He is born of a middle-class family.
• Bound for (ready to start): The train is bound for Sylhet.
• Burst into [tears] (suddenly begin to cry): Hearing the news, she burst into tears.
• Burst out [laughing] (suddenly begin to laugh): The whole class burst out laughing.
• Beneficial to [health] (good for): Walking is beneficial to health.
• Care for: I do not care for anybody.
• Close to (near): My house is very close to our school.
• Compare with (to make comparison with a similar thing): Rabindranath is compared with Shelly.
• Compare to (to make comparison with a dissimilar thing): Anger is often compared to fire.
• Commit to memory (memorize): Can you commit this long poem to memory?
• Charge against (complaint): What is the charge against him?
• Complain against (bring charge): They complained against the teacher.
• Complain to (bring charge to somebody): They complained to the headmaster.
• Comply with (keep): Please comply with my request.
• Competent for (fit for): You are competent for the post.
• Consist of (contain): Our family consists of five members.
• Consist in (lie in): Happiness consists in contentment.
• Compensate for (make up the loss): Who will compensate for the loss?
• Congratulate on (express pleasure for one's success): I congratulate you on your brilliant success.
• Condemn to (sentence to): The murderer was condemned to death.
• Conducive to (good for): Early rising is conducive to health.
• Congenial to (conducive): Polluted air is not congenial to health.
• Convict of (declare guilty): He was convicted of theft.
• Cure of (get rid of a disease): He was cured of malaria.
• Cure for (remedy): There is no cure for AIDS.
• Credit to (deposit): Credit the amount to my account.
• Deal in [a thing] (do business): His uncle deals in rice.
• Deal with [a person] (behave): He deals well with all.
• Deficient in (weak): He is deficient in English
• Deliver to (hand over): The postman delivered the letter to me.
• Deprived of (not allowed to enjoy rights): The poor are deprived of their rights.
• Die of (die of a disease): The man died of malaria.
• Die from (die because of harmful effect): The boy died from over-eating.
• Die for (sacrifice): Soldiers die for their country.
• Die by (die by own hand): The man died by suicide/hanging.
• Devoid of (empty of): He is devoid of commonsense.
• Cause of (reason): What is the cause of your failure?
• Cause for (reason for a future event): There is no cause for anxiety.
• Depend on (rely): We should not depend on foreign aids.
• Different from (not the same): This book is different from yours.
• Differ with (disagree): I differ with you on this point.
• Dull at (not bright): He is dull at Mathematics.
• Difference between (the state of being not the same) Do you know the difference between a poet and a scientist?
• Disqualified for (not qualified): Only a B.A. is disqualified for the post of Headmaster.

• Fond of (favorite): The cat is fond of milk.
• Faith in (belief): We have faith in Allah.
• Faithful to (loyal): The dog is faithful to its master.
• Famous for (reputed): Rajshahi is famous for mangoes.
• Feed on (live on): The cow feeds on grass.
• Expert in (skilled) He is an expert in English.
• Expect from (hope): We expect a good result from you.
• Fit for (suitable): He is fit for this post.
• Fine for (penalize): He was fined for misconduct.
• Fire at (shoot at): The hunter fired at the bird.
• Free from (exempt/ without): We are not free from diseases.
• Free of (without cost): We had the books free of cost.
• Full of (filled with): Every fruit is not full of juice.
• Fondness for (love): He has fondness for games.
• Good at (efficient): He is good at driving.
• Grateful to/for (thankful): We are grateful to you for your help.
• Guilty of (having guilt): He is guilty of theft.
• Hanker after (have a strong desire): Don't hanker after evil money.
• Hopeful of (having hope): I am hopeful of your success.
• Inform of (give information): Who informed you of the matter?
• Interested in (having an interest): He is interested in painting.
• Introduce to (acquaint with): He introduced me to the class.
• Laugh at (ridicule): Don't laugh at the poor.
• Jealous of (having ill feeling): He is jealous of my prosperity.
• Key to (mainly helpful): Industry is the key to success.
• Lame of (having lameness): He is lame of one leg.
• Marry to (to be in marriage): Mamtaz was married to Shahjahan.
• Mindful of (attentive to): Good students are mindful of their studies.
• Open to (allowing all): A school is open to all for education.
• Noted for (famous): Mohsin was noted for charity.
• Play at (cards/with fire): He was playing at cards. Don't play with fire.
• Popular with (loved by people): He is popular with his work mates.
• Preside over (be the head of): He presided over the meeting.
• Prepare for (get ready): He is preparing for the exam.
• Qualified for (fit for): He is qualified for the post of Principal.
• Play on (perform on a musical instrument): The boy was playing on a violin.
• Prevent from (forbid): Father prevented me from going to the cinema.
• Prohibit from (forbid): Father prohibited me from going to the cinema.
• Recover from (come round): He has recovered from illness.
• Regard for (honour): We must have regard for our elders.
• Smile at (laugh at): Don't smile at the poor.
• Smile on (favour): Fortune smiles on the brave.
• Sure of (having confidence): I am sure of my success.
• Trust in (believe in): We should trust in God.
• Taste for (interest): He has taste for music.
• Thirst for (strong desire): He had thirst for knowledge.
• Worthy of (deserving): Your action is worthy of praise.
• Wait upon (attend on): A nurse waits upon the patient.