English grammar - Prepositions for Class 6

Prepositions are words that tell us the relationship between a noun or a pronoun and another word of speech in the same sentence. Students learning prepositions for Class 6 should remember that these words generally connote a place of action or movement in a given space. As a rule, a preposition is followed by a noun or a pronoun, which it links to another word. We use several prepositions in our day-to-day conversations. The most commonly used prepositions are: in, on, above, below, at, before, after, into and towards.

 

There are many other prepositions that facilitate our communication in the English language. In the following chapter, you will learn simple prepositions for Class 6. PlanetSpark has curated easy-to-learn grammar lessons that enable you to learn Class 6 English prepositions. You will find important tips and learn how to place prepositions in a sentence in the following passages.

 

Types of preposition

While there are several kinds of prepositions that we use in the English language, we shall discuss the three basic kinds of prepositions for Class 6. Online tutorials curated by our educators will help you in understanding these prepositions. The three broad types of a preposition are: Prepositions of place, prepositions of time, and prepositions of movement. Let’s discuss them one by one to understand their behaviour and usage.

 

1. Prepositions of place

Prepositions of place are the most commonly used prepositions in the English language. These prepositions are also known as prepositions of location because they tell us where a subject is placed. Some commonly used prepositions of place are: above, behind, below, between, among, behind, over, in, on and under.

Examples

1. She is dancing on the roof.
2. Dad keeps his car in the garage.

 

As you can see, in all the examples above, the italicised words are connecting the noun with another word. These are the prepositions in the sentence. In the above examples, the prepositions are identifying the place which is related to the noun or pronoun. That is why these prepositions are called prepositions of place, or prepositions of location. These prepositions are simple prepositions for Class 6 students. Prepositions of place sometimes, point to spatial references. These prepositions are called prepositions of space.

 

Examples

1. The plane flew over our heads.
2. The bookstore is near the church.
3. I can hear them talking behind the bush.

 

2. Prepositions of time

The prepositions that connect a noun or a pronoun with another word in the context of time, are called prepositions of time. These prepositions can also be linked to a date or a calendar event in the sentence.

 

Examples

1. The new prime minister will take oath in January.
2. Raman’s bus arrives at 9 pm.
3. The school will resume after vacations.

 

In the aforementioned examples, note how the same prepositions that were used in describing a place (in the previous passage), are now explaining time or date of an event. The events pointed out by the prepositions of time can be in the past, the present or the future.

 

3. Prepositions of movement

Words that tell you about a direction or inform you about the space in which the noun is connected to another word, are called prepositions of movement. Prepositions of  movement are also sometimes called prepositions of direction. As the name suggests, these prepositions point you in the direction of the noun or a connected word.

 

Examples

1. Shefali was running toward us.
2. He jumped into the sea.
3. They drove along the interstate highway.

        

As you can see in the examples above, the prepositions used here indicate movement or point to a direction in the conversation. Therefore, they are called as prepositions of movement.

Rules for usage

Students learning Class 6 English prepositions need to follow some basic rules about their use. You have to follow these rules to make grammatically correct sentences. Prepositions are helpful words in building a conversation. Along with a verb, they provide context to your written or verbal discussion. Here are some ground rules to keep in mind while using Class 6 English prepositions.

 

1. Prepositions work with nouns and pronouns

Prepositions do have any meaning by themselves. They do not add any value if used alone. They need a noun or a pronoun to link them with other words of speech in a sentence. It is only when we link them with other words then they work as a backdrop to the subject and the action described in the sentence.

 

2. Prepositions and their placement

A preposition is placed before a noun or a pronoun, which it connects with other parts of speech in the sentence. Since prepositions are ‘relationship words,’ they must be preferably associated with a linking noun or a pronoun. Such a noun or a pronoun is called the ‘object of preposition’. The object object of a preposition cannot be a verb.

 

3. Prepositions of manner

While learning prepositions for Class 6, students can make use of prepositions of manner. These prepositions are also called prepositions of instrument or prepositions of agent. There are two prepositions of manner, which can be used independently or in the same sentence. These are: by and with.

 

Examples

1. We work with our hands
2. Deepak was hit by a bat
3. He was cheated by a hacker with a fake account.

Uses of prepositions

1. For and since

While learning prepositions for class 6, students usually get confused between ‘for’ and ‘since’. There is a simple rule to this. You use the preposition ‘for’ to describe a period of time. When you are describing a point of time or a point of origin, you should use the preposition ‘since’.

Examples

1. Rohan has been ill for a month now.
2. Rohan has been ill since October.

 

2. On and upon

Another confusing usage for students learning Class 6 English prepositions is of ‘on’ and ‘upon’. Here is a simple trick for students that will remove this confusion for once, and for all. Whenever you are using the preposition ‘on’, remember that it points to a ‘resting position’. On the other hand, ‘upon’ denotes a noun in motion.

 

Examples

1. Her laptop is on the desk.
2. The cat leapt upon the wall.

 

3. In and into

The prepositions ‘in’ and ‘into’ behave the same way as ‘up’ and ‘upon’. ‘In’ relates to a stationary usage of the noun, whereas, ‘into’ shows movement. The following examples of prepositions for Class 6 will further illustrate the difference in usage.

 

Examples

1. He hid his comic book in the drawer.
2. The teacher walked into the classroom.

 

4. Beside and Besides

When using beside and besides, the distinction to be made is that ‘beside’ refers to ‘by someone or something’s side’. ‘Besides’ has a different meaning. It means in addition to something or someone.

 

Examples

1. She was standing beside her father.
2. Besides a house, they also have a car and a television.

 

5. Between and among

Another confusion that students encounter in Class 6 English prepositions is over the use of between and among. The two prepositions are different in meaning. ‘Between’ points to the presence of two persons or things. You use ‘among’ to establish sharing of a common purpose, when there are more than two subjects or a group of subjects.

 

Examples

1. Trade is good between India and the USA.
2. The WHO circulated Covid-19 guidelines among the member countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a preposition in the English language?

A preposition is a ‘relationship word’. It links a noun with another word in the sentence. Prepositions also work with pronouns.

2. Where is a preposition usually placed?

A preposition is usually placed before a noun or a pronoun, which it connects with other words in the sentence. Since prepositions show a relationship between a noun and another word, it is better if a noun follows it immediately.

3. What are the different kinds of prepositions?

Based on general usage, prepositions for Class 6 students can be broadly divided into three kinds. These are: Prepositions of place, time and movement.

4. Do prepositions convey a meaning if used alone?

No. prepositions do not have any meaning if used without a noun or a pronoun. They acquire a meaning only when they show a relationship between two parts of speech in a sentence.

5. What are prepositions of manner?

Prepositions of manner are also called ‘prepositions of instrument’. They are used to point to the agent of an action in a sentence. There are two prepositions of manner. These are ‘by’ and ‘with’.

6. Does PlanetSpark literature help with prepositions for Class 6, online?

Our learning material helps children learn Class 6 English prepositions

better. Our learning material is available online. It makes prepositions easy to use and understand.

Summary

Prepositions are the words which help a conversation establish a relationship between two or more parts of speech. Prepositions provide context to a noun or a pronoun. We use prepositions in our daily conversations to give directions, provide a timeline to an event or events, and give a dimension to the noun with which it is linked. Our compilation on prepositions for Class 6 online will help students improve their knowledge of prepositions for Class 6. PlanetSpark offers simple and ready-to-use learning tools. For students of 6th class, English prepositions have been made easier by our educators.