Chapter: The Preposition
📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition Classes Nine and Ten
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
abovebelowbetweenamongbeforeafterduringsinceuntilacrossthroughtowardsbecause ofdue todespiteaccording towithwithoutbylikethanin front ofin spite ofinstead ofnext to
📃 Word Formation Rules
► Use a preposition before a noun or pronoun: The book is on the table.
► Use a preposition before a gerund: He left without saying goodbye.
► Use because of, due to, despite, and in spite of before a noun phrase.
► Use because, although, and though before a complete clause containing a subject and verb.
► Use since for a starting point in time and for for a duration.
► Use between mainly for two persons or things and among for a group.
► Use in for a position inside an area and into for movement from outside to inside.
► Use on for a position on a surface and onto for movement to a surface.
► Use by to show the agent in passive voice: The poem was written by the poet.
► Use at for a specific point, in for a larger area or period, and on for a day or date.
1. Position and Place (8 words)
above[/əˈbʌv/]adveasy
Meaning: উপরে
Alt: এর চেয়ে বেশি
Example: The bird is flying above the trees.
Syn: overAnt: below
💡 Exam tip: Use above for a higher position without direct contact.
below[/bɪˈləʊ/]adveasy
Meaning: নিচে
Alt: এর চেয়ে কম
Example: The temperature fell below zero.
Syn: underAnt: above
💡 Exam tip: Below generally indicates a lower position or amount.
beside[/bɪˈsaɪd/]adveasy
Meaning: পাশে
Alt: কাছাকাছি
Example: She sat beside her mother.
Syn: byAnt: away
💡 Exam tip: Beside means at the side of; do not confuse it with besides.
between[/bɪˈtwiːn/]adveasy
Meaning: দুইটির মধ্যে
Alt: মধ্যে ভাগ করে
Example: The school stands between two buildings.
Syn: amidAnt: outside
💡 Exam tip: Traditionally use between for two persons or things.
among[/əˈmʌŋ/]adveasy
Meaning: অনেকের মধ্যে
Alt: মধ্যে
Example: He was sitting among his friends.
Syn: amidAnt: outside
💡 Exam tip: Use among before a group of more than two.
inside[/ɪnˈsaɪd/]adveasy
Meaning: ভিতরে
Alt: অভ্যন্তরে
Example: Please wait inside the room.
Syn: withinAnt: outside
💡 Exam tip: Inside indicates position within a boundary or container.
outside[/ˌaʊtˈsaɪd/]adveasy
Meaning: বাইরে
Alt: বাহিরে অবস্থিত
Example: The children are playing outside the house.
Syn: outdoorsAnt: inside
💡 Exam tip: Outside is followed by a noun when the external place is specified.
underneath[/ˌʌndəˈniːθ/]advmedium
Meaning: ঠিক নিচে
Alt: তলার দিকে
Example: The cat is hiding underneath the table.
Syn: beneathAnt: above
💡 Exam tip: Underneath emphasizes a position directly below something.
2. Time and Duration (8 words)
before[/bɪˈfɔːr/]adveasy
Meaning: আগে
Alt: পূর্বে
Example: Wash your hands before dinner.
Syn: prior toAnt: after
💡 Exam tip: Before may be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund.
after[/ˈɑːftər/]adveasy
Meaning: পরে
Alt: পরবর্তীকালে
Example: We went home after the examination.
Syn: followingAnt: before
💡 Exam tip: After is used for a later time or event.
during[/ˈdjʊərɪŋ/]advmedium
Meaning: চলাকালে
Alt: সময়ের মধ্যে
Example: Do not talk during the class.
Syn: throughoutAnt: outside
💡 Exam tip: Use during before a noun phrase, not usually before a complete clause.
since[/sɪns/]advmedium
Meaning: থেকে
Alt: যেহেতু
Example: She has lived here since 2020.
Syn: fromAnt: until
💡 Exam tip: Since usually marks the starting point of an action continuing to the present.
until[/ənˈtɪl/]adveasy
Meaning: পর্যন্ত
Alt: যতক্ষণ না
Example: Wait here until I return.
Syn: tillAnt: since
💡 Exam tip: Until indicates the end point of a period or action.
within[/wɪˈðɪn/]advmedium
Meaning: মধ্যে
Alt: নির্দিষ্ট সময়ের আগেই
Example: Submit the form within three days.
Syn: inAnt: beyond
💡 Exam tip: Within means not later than the end of a stated period.
throughout[/θruːˈaʊt/]advmedium
Meaning: সারাজুড়ে
Alt: সমগ্র সময়ে
Example: It rained throughout the night.
Syn: all throughAnt: partly
💡 Exam tip: Throughout can refer to the whole period or the whole area.
around[/əˈraʊnd/]adveasy
Meaning: প্রায়
Alt: চারদিকে
Example: I will return around noon.
Syn: aboutAnt: exactly
💡 Exam tip: Around may express approximate time, number, or movement.
3. Movement and Direction (8 words)
across[/əˈkrɒs/]adveasy
Meaning: এপার থেকে ওপারে
Alt: অতিক্রম করে
Example: They walked across the field.
Syn: overAnt: along
💡 Exam tip: Across suggests movement from one side to the other.
along[/əˈlɒŋ/]adveasy
Meaning: বরাবর
Alt: সঙ্গে সঙ্গে
Example: We walked along the river.
Syn: besideAnt: across
💡 Exam tip: Along is used for movement beside or following a line.
through[/θruː/]adveasy
Meaning: মধ্য দিয়ে
Alt: এক প্রান্ত থেকে অন্য প্রান্তে
Example: The train passed through the tunnel.
Syn: viaAnt: around
💡 Exam tip: Through means movement within and out of an enclosed place.
towards[/təˈwɔːdz/]adveasy
Meaning: দিকে
Alt: অভিমুখে
Example: The boy ran towards the playground.
Syn: toAnt: away from
💡 Exam tip: Towards shows direction but not necessarily arrival.
from[/frəm/]adveasy
Meaning: থেকে
Alt: উৎস বা স্থান নির্দেশ করে
Example: This letter is from my brother.
Syn: out ofAnt: to
💡 Exam tip: From marks the starting point, source, or separation.
into[/ˈɪntuː/]adveasy
Meaning: ভিতরে
Alt: এক অবস্থায় প্রবেশ
Example: The boy jumped into the pond.
Syn: inAnt: out of
💡 Exam tip: Into shows movement from outside to inside.
onto[/ˈɒntuː/]advmedium
Meaning: উপরে
Alt: কোনো পৃষ্ঠের ওপর
Example: The cat jumped onto the bed.
Syn: onAnt: off
💡 Exam tip: Onto indicates movement to a position on a surface.
past[/pɑːst/]advmedium
Meaning: পাশ দিয়ে অতিক্রম করে
Alt: নির্দিষ্ট সময়ের পরে
Example: The bus went past the school.
Syn: beyondAnt: towards
💡 Exam tip: Past indicates movement beyond a place or time.
4. Cause, Purpose and Relation (8 words)
because of[/bɪˈkɒz əv/]adveasy
Meaning: কারণে
Alt: জন্য
Example: The match was cancelled because of rain.
Syn: due toAnt: despite
💡 Exam tip: Because of must be followed by a noun or noun phrase.
due to[/djuː tuː/]advmedium
Meaning: কারণে
Alt: ফলে
Example: The delay was due to heavy traffic.
Syn: because ofAnt: owing to
💡 Exam tip: Use due to before a noun phrase to state a cause.
for[/fɔːr/]adveasy
Meaning: জন্য
Alt: সময়ের পরিমাণ বোঝাতে
Example: This gift is for you.
Syn: in favour ofAnt: against
💡 Exam tip: For expresses purpose, benefit, or duration.
against[/əˈɡenst/]adveasy
Meaning: বিরুদ্ধে
Alt: গায়ে ঠেস দিয়ে
Example: They protested against unfair treatment.
Syn: opposed toAnt: for
💡 Exam tip: Against may express opposition, contact, or direction.
despite[/dɪˈspaɪt/]advmedium
Meaning: সত্ত্বেও
Alt: বাধা থাকা সত্ত্বেও
Example: Despite the rain, we continued the journey.
Syn: in spite ofAnt: because of
💡 Exam tip: Despite is followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund, not usually a finite clause.
regarding[/rɪˈɡɑːdɪŋ/]advmedium
Meaning: সম্পর্কে
Alt: বিষয়ে
Example: I have a question regarding the new rule.
Syn: aboutAnt: excluding
💡 Exam tip: Regarding is a formal alternative to about.
concerning[/kənˈsɜːnɪŋ/]advmedium
Meaning: সম্পর্কে
Alt: বিষয়ক
Example: He wrote a letter concerning the problem.
Syn: regardingAnt: unrelated to
💡 Exam tip: Concerning is commonly used in formal writing.
according to[/əˈkɔːdɪŋ tuː/]adveasy
Meaning: অনুযায়ী
Alt: মতে
Example: According to the teacher, the test will be easy.
Syn: as stated byAnt: contrary to
💡 Exam tip: According to introduces a source, rule, or person’s opinion.
5. Association, Instrument and Comparison (8 words)
with[/wɪð/]adveasy
Meaning: সঙ্গে
Alt: দিয়ে
Example: She went to school with her sister.
Syn: alongsideAnt: without
💡 Exam tip: With expresses accompaniment, instrument, or possession of a quality.
without[/wɪˈðaʊt/]adveasy
Meaning: ছাড়া
Alt: ব্যতীত
Example: He left without saying goodbye.
Syn: lackingAnt: with
💡 Exam tip: Without is often followed by a noun or gerund.
by[/baɪ/]adveasy
Meaning: দ্বারা
Alt: পাশ দিয়ে
Example: The poem was written by Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Syn: throughAnt: from
💡 Exam tip: In passive voice, by introduces the agent of the action.
like[/laɪk/]adveasy
Meaning: মতো
Alt: সদৃশ
Example: He runs like a deer.
Syn: similar toAnt: unlike
💡 Exam tip: Like is followed by a noun or pronoun to show similarity.
unlike[/ʌnˈlaɪk/]advmedium
Meaning: মতো নয়
Alt: ভিন্ন
Example: Unlike his brother, he is very quiet.
Syn: different fromAnt: like
💡 Exam tip: Unlike introduces a contrast between people or things.
as[/æz/]adveasy
Meaning: হিসেবে
Alt: মতো
Example: He works as a teacher.
Syn: in the role ofAnt: unlike
💡 Exam tip: As means in the role or function of someone or something.
than[/ðæn/]adveasy
Meaning: চেয়ে
Alt: তুলনায়
Example: Rahim is taller than Karim.
Syn: in comparison withAnt: equal to
💡 Exam tip: Than is used after comparative adjectives and adverbs.
via[/ˈvaɪə/]advmedium
Meaning: মাধ্যমে
Alt: হয়ে
Example: We travelled to Chattogram via Dhaka.
Syn: throughAnt: directly
💡 Exam tip: Via indicates the route, means, or medium used.
6. Fixed Prepositional Expressions (8 words)
in front of[/ɪn frʌnt əv/]adveasy
Meaning: সামনে
Alt: অগ্রভাগে
Example: A tree stands in front of our house.
Syn: beforeAnt: behind
💡 Exam tip: Use in front of for a position ahead of someone or something.
in spite of[/ɪn spaɪt əv/]adveasy
Meaning: সত্ত্বেও
Alt: প্রতিকূলতা সত্ত্বেও
Example: In spite of his illness, he attended the class.
Syn: despiteAnt: because of
💡 Exam tip: In spite of has the same meaning and grammatical pattern as despite.
on behalf of[/ɒn bɪˈhɑːf əv/]advhard
Meaning: পক্ষে
Alt: কারও প্রতিনিধিত্ব করে
Example: She spoke on behalf of the students.
Syn: forAnt: against
💡 Exam tip: Use this phrase when someone acts as a representative.
in addition to[/ɪn əˈdɪʃən tuː/]advmedium
Meaning: ছাড়াও
Alt: অতিরিক্তভাবে
Example: In addition to English, he studies Arabic.
Syn: besidesAnt: instead of
💡 Exam tip: The noun or gerund after to is part of the phrase.
instead of[/ɪnˈsted əv/]adveasy
Meaning: পরিবর্তে
Alt: বদলে
Example: He walked instead of taking a bus.
Syn: in place ofAnt: in addition to
💡 Exam tip: Instead of is followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund.
out of[/aʊt əv/]adveasy
Meaning: বাইরে
Alt: থেকে
Example: The bird flew out of the cage.
Syn: from withinAnt: into
💡 Exam tip: Out of may express movement, absence, or a cause.
next to[/nekst tuː/]adveasy
Meaning: পাশে
Alt: সংলগ্ন
Example: The library is next to the post office.
Syn: besideAnt: far from
💡 Exam tip: Next to means immediately beside something.
in accordance with[/ɪn əˈkɔːdəns wɪð/]advhard
Meaning: অনুযায়ী
Alt: সঙ্গতিপূর্ণভাবে
Example: The decision was made in accordance with the law.
Syn: according toAnt: contrary to
💡 Exam tip: This formal phrase is useful in official letters and compositions.
💡 Exam Tips
• Learn common preposition collocations such as good at, interested in, proud of, and afraid of.
• Do not use a preposition unnecessarily after discuss, enter, reach, resemble, and order.
• Remember that despite and in spite of are followed by nouns or gerunds, whereas although is followed by a clause.
• Distinguish between beside meaning পাশে and besides meaning এছাড়াও.
• Use between for two and among for more than two in conventional examination answers.
• Use in time for being early enough and on time for punctuality.
• Use by for the latest time and until for continuation up to a time.
• In fill-in-the-blank questions, identify the relation first: place, time, direction, cause, instrument, or comparison.
• After a preposition, use an objective pronoun: between you and me, not between you and I.
• Revise fixed phrases because preposition choice is often tested through collocations.