Preposition Worksheet for Class 7: Complete Grammar Guide

Understanding prepositions is essential for mastering English grammar, especially for students in Class 7 who are progressing from basic language skills to more advanced usage. Prepositions link nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence, indicating relationships such as place, time, direction, cause, and manner.

A strong grasp of prepositions enhances clarity, precision, and fluency in both written and spoken English. This comprehensive guide offers detailed explanations, examples, practice exercises, and tips tailored specifically for Class 7 learners, helping them develop confidence and competence in using prepositions effectively in various contexts.

Table of Contents

1. 1. What Are Prepositions? Definition and Explanation
2. 2. Structural Breakdown of Prepositions
3. 3. Types and Categories of Prepositions
4. 4. Extensive Examples of Prepositions
5. 5. Usage Rules and Tips
6. 6. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
7. 7. Practice Exercises for Class 7 Students
8. 8. Advanced Aspects of Prepositions
9. 9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
10. 10. Conclusion and Final Tips

1. What Are Prepositions? Definition and Explanation

Prepositions are words that connect nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence, showing the relationship between the involved elements. They are usually placed before a noun or pronoun, forming a prepositional phrase. For example, in the sentence “The book is on the table,” the preposition on connects the noun table to the rest of the sentence, indicating the position of the book.

Prepositions answer questions such as where? when? how? why? or in what manner? These words help specify relationships in different contexts:

• Place: in, on, at, under, between
• Time: before, after, during, since, until
• Direction: to, toward, into, onto, through
• Cause or reason: because of, due to
• Manner: by, with, like

Prepositions are classified into simple prepositions (one-word prepositions) and compound prepositions (multi-word prepositions). They are used in both formal and informal contexts, but understanding their correct usage is vital for clear communication.

2. Structural Breakdown of Prepositions

2.1. Basic Pattern

The typical pattern involving a preposition is:

Preposition + Noun/Pronoun/Phrase

For example:

Preposition	Object	Example Sentence
in	the park	The children played in the park.
on	the table	She placed the vase on the table.
at	the bus stop	We waited at the bus stop.

2.2. Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, its object, and sometimes modifiers of the object. It functions as an adjective or adverb in a sentence:

• Adjective phrase: The book on the shelf belongs to me.
• Adverbial phrase: She arrived before noon.

2.3. Position of Prepositions

Prepositions usually come before their objects, but in questions or sentences with prepositional phrases, the preposition can sometimes be placed at the end:

• Standard: She is reading about the history.
• Question form: What are you talking about?

3. Types and Categories of Prepositions

3.1. Simple Prepositions

These are single-word prepositions, the most common type:

Preposition	Meaning	Examples
in	inside	in the room, in the box
on	on top of	on the wall, on the table
at	specific point or location	at the door, at the corner
by	next to, beside	by the river, by her side
for	intended for or duration	for you, for two hours
with	accompanied by, using	with a smile, with a pen
about	concerning	about the project
over	above or across	over the roof, over the bridge
under	below	under the bed
between	in the space separating two things	between the two houses

3.2. Compound Prepositions

Made of two or more words, these often express relationships more precisely:

Compound Prepositions	Meaning	Examples
according to	as stated by	According to the rules
because of	due to	Cancelled because of rain
ahead of	before in time or position	Ahead of schedule
due to	caused by	The delay was due to traffic
in front of	ahead of	The car parked in front of the house
on behalf of	for the benefit of	She spoke on behalf of the team
out of	from within or caused by	He did it out of kindness
in spite of	despite	In spite of the rain, we went out
instead of	as a replacement	Instead of coffee, he drank tea
on top of	above, over	The lamp is on top of the table

3.3. Prepositions of Time

These specify when an action occurs:

Preposition	Meaning	Examples
before	earlier than	Before sunrise
after	later than	After lunch
during	throughout the course of	During the meeting
since	from a specific past time	Since 2020
until	up to a point in time	Until tomorrow
at	specific time	At 5 o’clock
by	not later than	Please finish by Monday

4. Extensive Examples of Prepositions

4.1. Prepositions Indicating Place

Preposition	Object	Sentence Example
in	the box	The toys are in the box.
on	the roof	The bird is sitting on the roof.
at	the corner	Meet me at the corner.
under	the table	The cat is hiding under the table.
between	two chairs	The shop is between two restaurants.
near	the park	The school is near the park.
beside	the river	The house beside the river is beautiful.
above	the clouds	The mountains above the clouds look majestic.
below	the surface	The fish swim below the surface.
around	the corner	There are trees around the house.

4.2. Prepositions Indicating Time

Preposition	Object	Sentence Example
before	dinner	We finished homework before dinner.
after	the meeting	She went for a walk after the meeting.
during	the movie	He slept during the movie.
since	Monday	They have been waiting since Monday.
until	midnight	Stay awake until midnight.
at	noon	The train arrives at noon.
by	next week	Finish the task by next week.

4.3. Prepositions of Direction

Preposition	Object	Sentence Example
to	the park	They are going to the park.
toward	the door	He moved toward the door.
into	the room	She went into the room.
onto	the platform	The train pulled onto the platform.
through	the tunnel	The car drove through the tunnel.

4.4. Prepositions of Cause and Manner

Preposition	Object	Sentence Example
because of	rain	The game was canceled because of rain.
due to	traffic	The delay was due to traffic.
by	car	The letter was delivered by car.
with	a smile	He greeted her with a smile.
like	a professional	She works like a professional.

5. Usage Rules and Tips

5.1. Common Rules for Using Prepositions

• Prepositions are always followed by a noun or pronoun: He is interested in music.
• Prepositions never stand alone at the end of a sentence, but in informal speech, ending sentences with prepositions is common, e.g., “What are you talking about?”
• Prepositional objects are in the objective case: She is fond of him.
• Prepositions of time before the noun: We will meet after lunch.
• Prepositions of place before the noun: The keys are on the table.

5.2. Prepositions with Certain Verbs

Some verbs are followed by specific prepositions. For example:

Verb	Preposition	Example
Believe	in	She believes in honesty.
Depend	on	It depends on the weather.
Listen	to	He listens to music.
React	to	He reacted to the news calmly.
Agree	with	They agree with our plan.

5.3. Prepositions in Formal vs. Informal Contexts

In formal writing, ending sentences with prepositions is often avoided, preferring more formal structures:

• Informal: What are you talking about?
• Formal: About what are you talking?

6. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

6.1. Mistake: Using Prepositions Incorrectly

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
He is good in singing.	He is good at singing.
She is interested on music.	She is interested in music.
They arrived to the station.	They arrived at the station.
He is angry for the delay.	He is angry about the delay.
We discussed about the project.	We discussed the project.

6.2. Mistake: Omitting the Preposition

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
She is good at singing.	She is good at singing.
He is interested in music.	He is interested in music.
They arrived at the station.	They arrived at the station.
He is angry about the delay.	He is angry about the delay.
We discussed the project.	We discussed the project.

7. Practice Exercises for Class 7 Students

7.1. Easy Level

1. Fill in the blank with an appropriate preposition: The cat is sitting ____ the sofa.
2. Choose the correct preposition: She is waiting ____ the bus.
3. Identify the preposition: The books are on the shelf.
4. Rewrite the sentence ending with a preposition: What are you talking about?
5. Fill in the blank: We will meet ____ Monday.
6. Choose the correct preposition: The picture hangs ____ the wall.
7. Identify the preposition: He went into the room.
8. Fill in the blank with the right preposition: She is interested ____ learning new languages.
9. Choose the correct preposition: The plane flew ____ the clouds.
10. Complete: The students are working ____ a project.

7.2. Medium Level

11. Fill in the blank: He is responsible ____ the team’s success.
12. Choose the correct preposition: They arrived ____ the station early.
13. Identify the prepositional phrase: The girl with the red dress is my sister.
14. Rewrite the sentence without ending with a preposition: Who are you talking about?
15. Fill in the blank: We went ____ a walk after dinner.
16. Choose the correct preposition: The keys are ____ the drawer.
17. Identify the preposition: He jumped over the fence.
18. Fill in the blank: She is good ____ playing chess.
19. Select the appropriate preposition: The children are playing ____ the park.
20. Complete the sentence: This gift is ____ you.

7.3. Hard Level

21. Fill in the blank: The report was prepared ____ the manager’s instructions.
22. Choose the correct preposition: He is famous ____ his paintings.
23. Identify the prepositional phrase: She looked out of the window.
24. Rewrite the sentence avoiding ending with a preposition: What are you talking about?
25. Fill in the blank: They are interested ____ learning new languages.
26. Choose the correct preposition: The train is going ____ the tunnel.
27. Identify the preposition: She thanked him for his help.
28. Fill in the blank: The project depends ____ the cooperation of everyone.
29. Choose the right preposition: The boat sailed ____ the island.
30. Complete the sentence: The teacher emphasized ____ the importance of punctuality.

8. Advanced Aspects of Prepositions

8.1. Prepositional Phrases as Adjective and Adverb

Prepositional phrases can modify nouns (acting as adjectives) or verbs/adjectives (acting as adverbs):

• Adjective: The man with the red hat is my uncle.
• Adverb: She arrived before sunrise.

8.2. Prepositions in Passive Voice

The preposition often indicates the agent in passive sentences:

The book was written by her.

Here, by shows who performed the action.

8.3. Prepositions with Gerunds and Infinitives

Some prepositions are followed by gerunds or infinitives, affecting sentence structure:

• Preposition + Gerund: She is interested in studying.
• Preposition + Infinitive: He is eager to learn.

8.4. Preposition Combinations and Collocations

Prepositions often combine with other words to form fixed expressions:

• In charge of
• On behalf of
• Out of order
• In spite of
• According to

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can a preposition be at the end of a sentence?

Yes, in informal speech and some writing styles, ending a sentence with a preposition is acceptable. For example, “What are you talking about?” However, in formal writing, it is better to restructure the sentence, e.g., “About what are you talking?”

Q2: What is the difference between prepositions and conjunctions?

Prepositions link nouns or pronouns to other words and show relationships like place or time. Conjunctions connect clauses or sentences, such as “and,” “but,” or “because.”

Q3: How do I know which preposition to use after a verb?

Some verbs are followed by specific prepositions. This often needs to be memorized or learned through exposure and practice.

For example, “depend on,” “listen to,” “believe in.”

Q4: Are prepositions the same in all languages?

No, different languages have different prepositional systems. Some prepositions do not have direct equivalents, and their usage can vary significantly.

Q5: Can prepositions be used with adjectives?

Yes, certain adjectives are followed by prepositions to complete their meaning, e.g., “interested in,” “good at,” “tired of.”

Q6: Are prepositions always necessary?

Prepositions are essential for clarity in many sentences, but some sentences can be constructed without prepositions, especially in short responses or commands.

Q7: How do I identify prepositional phrases in a sentence?

Look for a preposition followed by a noun or pronoun, forming a phrase that describes location, time, or other relationships within the sentence.

Q8: What are some common prepositional errors made by learners?

Common mistakes include using incorrect prepositions with verbs, ending sentences with prepositions in formal writing, or omitting prepositions where needed. Practice and awareness help avoid these errors.

10. Conclusion and Final Tips

Prepositions are small but powerful words that significantly influence the clarity and precision of your sentences. Mastering their correct usage enables you to communicate ideas more effectively, whether in writing or speaking.

Regular practice through exercises, reading, and writing helps internalize prepositional patterns and collocations. Remember, many prepositions are connected to specific verbs, adjectives, or phrases, so learning these combinations enhances your language skills.

Keep experimenting with different sentences, and don’t hesitate to revisit this guide whenever you need clarification. With diligent practice, using prepositions correctly will become second nature, elevating your overall command of English grammar.