Grade 6 Primary English Preposition – Use Of Prepositions In Sentences Notes
Primary English — Preposition
Subtopic: Use of Prepositions in Sentences (Age 11, Kenya)
What is a preposition?
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and another word in the sentence. It often tells:
- where something is (place)
- when something happens (time)
- the direction or movement
Where the preposition appears
A preposition usually comes before a noun or pronoun. Example: in the classroom, on the table, at 8 o'clock.
Common types of prepositions with Kenyan examples
- Place: in, on, under, above, next to, between.
Examples: in Mombasa, on the matatu, under the desk, next to the gate.
- Time: at, on, in, during, before, after.
Examples: at 7 a.m., on Monday, in 2023, during assembly.
- Direction / Movement: to, from, into, out of, towards.
Examples: go to school, come from home, walk into the classroom.
- Instrument / Agent: with, by.
Examples: cut with a knife, delivered by courier.
- Cause / Reason: for, because of.
Examples: late for class, absent because of illness.
Simple visual: Place prepositions (in / on / under)
IN
ON
UNDER
Use: "The ball is in the box." — "The book is on the table." — "The cat is under the chair."
Rules & tips
- Prepositions usually come before nouns or pronouns: "She sat on the chair."
- Some verbs need certain prepositions: "listen to", "depend on", "wait for".
- Avoid doubling prepositions: say "He went to school", not "He went to to school".
- Many prepositions have more than one use — check the meaning in the sentence.
- It's all right in everyday English to end a sentence with a preposition: "Who are you talking to?"
Common mistakes
- Wrong: "She arrived to Nairobi." — Correct: "She arrived in Nairobi." or "She arrived at the airport."
- Wrong: "He is good in Maths." — Correct: "He is good at Maths."
- Wrong: "I am waiting since 2pm." — Correct: "I have been waiting since 2pm."
Short practice (try these)
- Fill the blanks with a preposition:
a) The students sit ___ the classroom.
b) I will meet you ___ 4 p.m.
c) The cat jumped ___ the fence.
d) He walked ___ the bus stop. - Choose the correct preposition:
e) She lives (in / on / at) Nairobi.
f) He is fond (of / in / for) football.
Answers:
a) in the classroom. b) at 4 p.m. c) over / over the fence (or into, depending on sentence). d) to the bus stop.
e) in Nairobi. f) of football.
e) in Nairobi. f) of football.
Extra practice ideas for class or home
- Make sentences about your school using prepositions: e.g., "The flag is in front of the headteacher's office."
- Draw a simple picture (desk, book, ball) and write sentences using in / on / under / next to.
- Find prepositions in a short story or in your English textbook and list them by type.
Quick tip: Learn common preposition pairs (e.g., interested in, good at, afraid of). These help you make correct sentences quickly.
Prepared for Primary English learners (Kenya). Practice and ask your teacher to check your sentences.