Master Guide: Prepositions – Understanding the Core Concept

Prepositions can be tricky because their usage often depends on context rather than strict rules. This “Master Guide” will focus on the most common and frequently tested prepositions in the SEBA Class 10 exam, explaining their logic with clear examples in both English and Assamese.

Master Guide: Prepositions

(ইংৰাজী আৰু অসমীয়াত সম্পূৰ্ণ বুজনি)

Understanding the Core Concept (মূল ধাৰণাটো বুজা)

In English: A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. It usually tells us about position, time, or direction. Think of it as a “linking word.”

In Assamese: Preposition হ’ল এনে এটা শব্দ যিয়ে বাক্যৰ noun (নাম) বা pronoun (সৰ্বনাম)ৰ লগত আন শব্দৰ সম্পৰ্ক দেখুৱায়। ই সাধাৰণতে অৱস্থান (position), সময় (time), বা দিশ (direction) বুজায়। ইয়াক এটা “সংযোগকাৰী শব্দ” বুলিও ভাবিব পাৰি।

Example (উদাহৰণ): The book is on the table. (কিতাপখন টেবুলৰ ওপৰত আছে।)

• Here, ‘on’ shows the relationship between the book and the table. (ইয়াত, ‘on’ শব্দটোৱে কিতাপ আৰু টেবুলৰ মাজৰ সম্পৰ্ক দেখুৱাইছে।)

The 3 Most Important Categories (৩টা আটাইতকৈ গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ শ্ৰেণী)

For your exam, prepositions can be grouped into three main categories.
(পৰীক্ষাৰ বাবে, preposition-বোৰক তিনিটা মূল শ্ৰেণীত ভাগ কৰিব পাৰি।)

1. Prepositions of Time (সময় বুজোৱা Preposition): AT, ON, IN
2. Prepositions of Place/Position (স্থান/অৱস্থান বুজোৱা Preposition): AT, ON, IN
3. Other Important Prepositions (অন্যান্য গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ Preposition): FROM, FOR, WITH, BY, OF, TO, AFTER

Category 1 & 2: The “AT, ON, IN” Triangle (AT, ON, IN-ৰ ত্ৰিভুজ)

This is the most confusing but also the most important group. Think of it as an inverted triangle, going from most specific to most general.
(এইটোৱেই আটাইতকৈ বিভ্ৰান্তিকৰ কিন্তু আটাইতকৈ গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ গোট। ইয়াক এটা ওলোটা ত্ৰিভুজৰ দৰে মনত ৰাখিব পাৰি, যি অতি নিৰ্দিষ্টৰ পৰা সাধাৰণলৈ যায়।)

For TIME (সময়ৰ বাবে):

• AT (অতি নিৰ্দিষ্ট সময়):
  • Use: For precise time (ঘড়ীৰ সময়) and specific points in the day.
  • Clues: Clock time (e.g., 7 a.m.), noon, night, midnight, dawn.
  • Example: He will arrive at 5 p.m. (তেওঁ ৫ বজাত আহি পাব।)
  • Example: The stars shine at night. (ৰাতি তৰাবোৰে পোহৰ দিয়ে।)
• ON (এদিনৰ বাবে):
  • Use: For days and dates.
  • Clues: Days of the week (Sunday, Monday), specific dates (15th August, 2nd October).
  • Example: He will come on Monday. (তেওঁ সোমবাৰে আহিব।)
  • Example: My birthday is on the 25th of May. (মোৰ জন্মদিন ২৫ মে’ত।)
• IN (দীঘলীয়া সময়ৰ বাবে):
  • Use: For longer periods like months, years, seasons, and centuries.
  • Clues: Months (January), years (2024), seasons (summer, winter), parts of the day (the morning, the evening).
  • Example: Assam is rich in minerals. (HSLC 2019) (This is a different context, but shows the versatility of ‘in’)
  • Example: He was born in 1990. (তেওঁৰ জন্ম ১৯৯০ চনত হৈছিল।)
  • Example: We play football in the afternoon. (আমি আবেলি ফুটবল খেলোঁ।)

For PLACE (স্থানৰ বাবে):

• AT (এটা নিৰ্দিষ্ট বিন্দুত):
  • Use: For a specific point or location.
  • Clues: Specific addresses (at Panbazar), bus stops, stations, top/bottom of a page, a point in a room (at the door).
  • Example: They are sitting at the dining table. (HSLC 2021) (তেওঁলোক ডাইনিং টেবুলত বহি আছে।)
  • Example: He is waiting at the bus stop. (তেওঁ বাছ আস্থানত ৰৈ আছে।)
• ON (পৃষ্ঠৰ ওপৰত):
  • Use: For a surface. Something is touching the surface.
  • Clues: the table, the floor, the wall, the road, the street.
  • Example: The cow lives on grass. (HSLC 2018) (গৰুৱে ঘাঁহ খাই জীয়াই থাকে।) (Here ‘on’ means ‘by eating’)
  • Example: I met him on the street. (HSLC 2019) (মই তেওঁক ৰাস্তাত লগ পাইছিলোঁ।)
• IN (এটা আৱদ্ধ স্থানৰ ভিতৰত):
  • Use: For an enclosed space or a large area.
  • Clues: Rooms (in the classroom), cities (in Guwahati), countries (in India), a box, a car.
  • Example: Rita excels in dancing. (HSLC 2020) (ৰীতা নাচনত পাৰ্গত।) (Here ‘in’ refers to a field or area of skill)
  • Example: We live in Assam. (আমি অসমত বাস কৰোঁ।)

Category 3: Other Important Prepositions (অন্যান্য গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ Preposition)

• TO (দিশ বা গন্তব্যস্থান):
  • Use: Shows direction or destination. Also used for comparison with ‘prefer’, ‘senior’, ‘junior’.
  • Example: He is going to school. (তেওঁ স্কুললৈ গৈ আছে।)
  • Example: She prefers tea to coffee. (HSLC 2017) (তাই কফিতকৈ চাহ বেছি ভাল পায়।)
  • Example: She is junior to me by three years. (HSLC 2016) (তাই মোতকৈ তিনি বছৰৰ সৰু।)
• FROM (উৎস বা আৰম্ভণি):
  • Use: Shows the starting point or source.
  • Example: He has come from Delhi. (তেওঁ দিল্লীৰ পৰা আহিছে।)
  • Example: Flour is made from wheat. (HSLC 2018) (আটা ঘেঁহুৰ পৰা তৈয়াৰ কৰা হয়।) (Source material changes form)
• WITH (সৈতে বা সঁজুলি):
  • Use: Means ‘accompanied by’ (in the company of) or shows an instrument used to do something.
  • Example: He is angry with his naughty sister. (HSLC 2015) (তেওঁ নিজৰ দুষ্ট ভনীয়েকৰ ওপৰত খং কৰিছে।)
  • Example: He writes with a pen. (তেওঁ কলমেৰে লিখে।)
• BY (দ্বাৰা বা কাষেৰে):
  • Use: Used in Passive Voice to show the doer. Also means ‘near’ or ‘beside’. Also used for means of transport.
  • Example: The work was done by him. (কামটো তেওঁৰ দ্বাৰা কৰা হৈছিল।)
  • Example: We go to school by bus. (HSLC 2017) (আমি বাছেৰে স্কুললৈ যাওঁ।)
• FOR (বাবে বা সময়ৰ ব্যৱধান):
  • Use: Shows purpose or a period of time.
  • Example: This train is bound for Delhi. (HSLC 2019) (এই ৰেলখন দিল্লী অভিমুখী।)
  • Example: I have been waiting for two hours. (মই দুঘণ্টা ধৰি অপেক্ষা কৰি আছোঁ।)
• OF (ৰ/ৰ সম্পৰ্ক):
  • Use: Shows possession or relationship. Also used in “fixed prepositions”.
  • Example: He is a man of few words. (তেওঁ কম কথাৰ মানুহ।)
  • Example: He is fond of sweets. (তেওঁ মিঠাই ভাল পায়।)
• AFTER (পিছত):
  • Use: Shows something that follows another in time or order.
  • Example: He always runs after money. (HSLC 2018) (তেওঁ সদায় টকাৰ পিছত দৌৰে।)

Fixed/Appropriate Prepositions (নিৰ্দিষ্ট Preposition)

Some words are always followed by a specific preposition. These should be memorized.
(কিছুমান শব্দৰ পিছত সদায় এটা নিৰ্দিষ্ট preposition বহে। এইবোৰ মুখস্থ কৰা উচিত।)

• preferable to (বেছি পছন্দনীয়)
• senior to / junior to (পদত ডাঙৰ/সৰু)
• angry with (a person) / angry at (a thing) (কাৰোবাৰ ওপৰত খং / কোনো বস্তুৰ ওপৰত খং)
• fond of (ভাল পোৱা)
• consists of (গঠিত)
• bound for (অভিমুখী)
• satisfied with (সন্তুষ্ট)
• live on (food) / live by (a principle) (খাই জীয়াই থকা / নীতিৰে জীয়াই থকা)
• excels in (পাৰ্গত)

By mastering this “AT, ON, IN” triangle and memorizing the common uses of other prepositions, you will be very well-prepared for the exam.

This list is organized by the type of preposition to help you understand the patterns better.

50 Important Preposition Examples from SEBA Past Papers (2015-2025)

Category 1: Prepositions of Time (AT, ON, IN)

(সময় বুজোৱা Preposition)

1. The train will stop at many stations. (HSLC 2024 Mock)
2. The classes started after the bell had rung. (HSLC 2019) (Shows sequence in time)
3. He will come back in an hour.
4. The stars shine at night.
5. My birthday is on the 24th of August.
6. We go to school in the morning.
7. The meeting will be held on Friday.
8. He was born in 2005.

Category 2: Prepositions of Place & Position (AT, ON, IN)

(স্থান আৰু অৱস্থান বুজোৱা Preposition)

9. They are sitting at the dining table. (HSLC 2021)
10. I met him on the street. (HSLC 2019)
11. He is appointed to the post. (HSLC 2016) (Appointed to a post, but works in an office)
12. Put the cup on the dish. (HSLC 2023)
13. The cows are in the field. (HSLC 2023)
14. He is waiting at the bus stop.
15. There is a bridge over the river.
16. The book is on the table.

Category 3: Fixed/Appropriate Prepositions (নিৰ্দিষ্ট Preposition)

17. Health is preferable to wealth. (HSLC 2015)
18. He is angry with his naughty sister. (HSLC 2015)
19. She is junior to me by three years. (HSLC 2016)
20. Ravi is senior to me by two years. (HSLC 2021)
21. She prefers tea to coffee. (HSLC 2017)
22. He is fond of reading novels. (HSLC 2023)
23. This shop deals in stationery. (HSLC 2023)
24. Happiness consists of speaking the truth. (HSLC 2019)
25. This train is bound for Delhi. (HSLC 2019)
26. They are satisfied with your works. (HSLC 2020)
27. Rita excels in dancing. (HSLC 2020)
28. He is looking for a domestic help. (HSLC 2020)
29. He was prevented from going to Delhi. (HSLC 2021)
30. He is proud of his wealth.
31. I am confident of my success.
32. She is gifted with a sweet voice.
33. The man repented of his past misdeeds.
34. Always beware of false friends.

Category 4: Other Common Prepositions (অন্যান্য সাধাৰণ Preposition)

35. Flour is made from wheat. (HSLC 2018 & 2021)
36. Write your answers in black ink. (HSLC 2018)
37. The cow lives on grass. (HSLC 2018)
38. He always runs after money. (HSLC 2018)
39. Man does not live by bread alone. (HSLC 2020)
40. Flour is made from wheat. (HSLC 2021)
41. We go to school by bus. (HSLC 2017)
42. The Principal presided over the meeting. (HSLC 2017)
43. She excels in dancing. (HSLC 2017)
44. He lives hand to mouth. (HSLC 2016)
45. He is appointed to the post. (HSLC 2016)
46. Lila lives with her parents. (HSLC 2023)
47. The man died from COVID-19. (HSLC 2021) (Die of a disease, but die from a cause like an accident, wound, or overeating)
48. The work was done in a hurry.
49. The students are sitting on the benches.
50. He will come home within a week.