Prepositions Lesson 4

Correct use of prepositions – part II


In and At
In is usually used with large places – countries, districts, large cities etc. At is generally used for small and unimportant places like villages, small towns etc.
  • We shall meet him at the club this evening.
  • His brother lives in Paris.
Notes: This rule is not very rigidly followed. In is often used with small places. At, however, is seldom used for big places.
On, in, at and by
At shows an exact point of time; on shows a more general point of time and in shows a period of time.
  • I have a meeting at 4 pm.
  • The train leaves at 2 o’clock.
  • I was born on a Monday.
  • I was born on April 21st.
  • I was born in January.
  • We will visit them in the summer.
  • It is very hot in the day but quite cold at night.
By shows the latest time at which an action will be finished. So it is usually used with a future tense.
  • I will be leaving by 6 o’clock.
  • I hope to finish the work by next week.
On and upon
On is generally used to talk about things at rest. Upon is used about things in motion.
  • She sat on a chair.
  • He jumped upon his horse.
In, within
With reference to time, in means at the end of a certain period; within means before the end of a certain period.
  • I will finish writing this book in three days. (at the end of three days)
  • I will finish writing this book within three days. (before the end of three days)

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English Short Story 5

Belling The Cat There lived many mice in a grocer’s shop. They ate plenty of grains and the grocer suffered heavy loss. So, he brought a fat cat to catch the mice. The mice were worried. They held a meeting to drive away the cat. A smart-looking mouse suggested that the cat moved softly and swiftly. They decided to tie a bell round its neck. So that when the cat moves, the mice would become aware of the cat. All the mice agreed to this decision. The old mouse said, “Can you tell me who is to bell the cat?" There was no reply. Their decision is not yet executed.
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What are adverbs?

Adverbs are words like  now, then, today, tomorrow  and  carefully . An adverb modifies the meaning of a verb, an adjective or another adverb. Read the following sentences: Alice smiled  sweetly. Those mangoes were  very  sweet. He spoke  quite  loudly. In sentence 1, the adverb  quickly  shows how (or in what manner) Alice smiled. It modifies the verb  smiled. In sentence 2, the adverb  very  says something about the sweetness of the mangoes. It modifies the adjective  sweet . In sentence 3,  quite  says something about the manner in which he spoke. It modifies the adverb  loudly. Note that  adverbs  standing at the beginning of sentences sometimes modify the whole sentence, rather than a particular word. Unfortunately  no one was present there. (= It was unfortunate that no one was present there.) Probably  I am mistaken. (= It is probable that I am mistaken.) Kinds ...
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Adverbs Part 2

Adverbs of degree or quantity Adverbs of degree  answer the question ‘how much’ or ‘in what degree’ or ‘to what extent’. Examples are:  very, too, fully, quite, rather, enough, any, partly, almost, utterly, as, entirely etc. That was  very  tragic. I have  almost  finished. He was  rather  busy. Is he  any  good? You are  partly  right. You are  entirely  wrong. Adverbs of reason Adverbs of reason  answer the question ‘why?’. Examples are:  therefore, hence, consequently etc. Consequently  he refused to go. Therefore  they decided to boycott the meeting. He is  hence  unable to refute the charge. Adverbs of affirmation or negation Examples are:  surely, certainly, not, probably, indeed etc. You are  certainly  right. I am  not  going. He is a fool  indeed. Interrogative adverbs Adverbs which are used for asking questions are c...
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