Prepositions Notes, Quizzes & Revision

What is a preposition?

A preposition is a small word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and another word in the sentence. It often tells us where, when, or how something happens. Examples: in, on, at, under, next to, before, after.

Common types with Kenyan examples

• Place (where?): at, in, on, under, next to, between.
  Examples:

  • Nairobi National Park is near the city. (near)
  • She sat under the tree at the market. 🌳
  • My friend is in the matatu. 🚌
• Time (when?): at, on, in, before, after, during.
  Examples:

  • Assembly starts at 8:00 a.m. 🕗
  • We go to the coast in December. ☀️🏖️
  • The match is on Saturday.
• Direction/Movement: to, into, out of, towards, through.
  Examples:

  • Walk to the shop on the corner. 🏪
  • The students ran into the library when it rained. ☔
• Agent / Tool: by, with, without.
  Examples:

  • The story was written by the teacher. 🧑‍🏫
  • He cut the paper with scissors. ✂️

Structure — short rule

A preposition usually appears before a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition). Example structure: [preposition] + [noun phrase] — e.g., "in the classroom", "on the roof", "after school".

Some common single and multi-word prepositions

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Wrong: I am going to home. — Correct: I am going home OR I am going to my home.
• Wrong: She arrived to Nairobi. — Correct: She arrived in Nairobi.
• Wrong: He is good in maths. — Correct: He is good at maths.

Short practice — Kenyan context (age_replace)

1. Fill the blanks with a suitable preposition:
   1. The market is _____ the church. (between / next to)
   2. We will meet _____ 3 p.m. (at / in)
   3. She put the books _____ the table. (on / under)
   4. The children ran _____ the classroom when the bell rang. (into / at)
2. Choose the correct preposition:
   1. I left my bag _____ the matatu. (in / on)
   2. They walked _____ the bridge. (over / into)
3. Underline the preposition in each sentence:
   • The farmer walked across the field. 🌾
   • Grandma lives near Lake Victoria. 🏞️

Answers: a.i between, a.ii at, a.iii on, a.iv into; b.i in, b.ii over; c: across, near.

Tips for learners and teachers

• Use local contexts: practise sentences about school, market, bus, village, town — this helps memory.
• Group prepositions by function (place, time, direction) and learn a few at a time.
• Make simple drawings: e.g., draw a house and place a dot to show in/on/under to visualise meanings. 📍
• Encourage speaking and role-play: "Stand next to the chair", "Put the book on the desk".