Important Note

Dear Teachers,
 
Learning never stops. It can be fun some times...It is a challenge at other times...It surely is a pleasure anytime for anyone who finds true value in it. Happy to announce that Sri prakash has stepped up to add value to your never-ending pursuit of this noble endeavour. Please pay attention to the following in word and deed and come back to me with prompt compliance...

K.V.Madhusudan

Please go through the introduction part below. 
 
Once you are done with, you can find 9 STEPS of communicative English, and in between 3 Vocabulary Study levels. 
 
Gear up to STEP ahead...

Once you complete the introductory part, please update your concerned Head and get authorised to enter STEP-1. 
 
After authorisation, please mail to bangarraju.vvsb@sriprakash.org or whatsapp your request @ 9441020819 along with your Name and WIF User ID so that you will be granted access to STEP-1.
 
Similarly once you complete a STEP, please update your concerned Head and get authorised to enter next STEP.
 
For any subject related doubts you may call Mr. K.V.Madhusudan, Resource Person @ 80749 30589 between 9 am to 6 pm.
 
Happy learning!

WORDS RULE THE WORLD

In English, words belong to different parts of speech or classes according to their function or the way they are used.  It is the function or use that determines to which part of speech a word belongs in a given sentence.

Learners may do well to observe the fundamentals related to the word classes, like
  • number (singular or plural),
  • gender(masculine, feminine or neutral),
  • case (subject, object or possession),
  • degrees (positive, comparative or superlative),
  • position of adjectives and adverbs
  • verb forms (present (V1), past (V2), past participle (V3) or present participle (V4) forms),
  • articles and links like prepositions and conjunctions,
  • and word forms like nouns, adjectives, and verbs followed by links or verb forms .

NOTE:

For Access related queries - Concerned Heads
For Technical related queries - Mr. VVSBB Raju @ 94410 20819
For Content related queries - Mr. KV Mahdusudan @ 80749 30589
NOUN
  • Proper (own name): Ravi, Agra
  • Common (general): boy(s), match(es), city(ies), soldier, ship
  • Collective (group): army, fleet
  • Material (matter): gold, sand, wood
  • Abstract (drawn out): boyhood, slavery, bravery, growth, beauty, goodness

THE SAME WORD USED AS DIFFERENT PARTS OF SPEECH

The following are some of the most important words which may belong to different parts of speech according to the way in which they are used.  It is the function or use that determines to which part of speech a word belongs in a given sentence.

1.                    

Article

Preposition

:

:

He shot a tiger.

He attends school twice a (=in) day.

2.                    

Adv.

Prep.

:

:

They wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins.

There is something pleasing about him.

He is about (= nearly) fifty years old.

3.                    

Noun       

  

Adj.

 

Adv.           

Prep. 

:

 

:

 

:

:

Our blessings come from above.

The above is a correct statement.

Analyse the above sentence

Explain the above passage.

Look above. The heavens hang above.

The moral law is above the civil. He is placed above us.

4.                    

Adj.       

          

Adv.

Prep.

Conj.

:

 

:

:

:

After ages shall sing his glory.    

he after effects of fever are severe.

They arrived soon after.

He came to me after 4o’ clock. He takes after his father.

He arrived after the train had left.

5.                    

Noun 

 Adj.      

 Pron.

 Adv.     

:

:

:

:

:

He lost his all in speculation.      

All men are mortal.                        

All spoke in his favour.                 

He was all alone when I saw him.

He was dressed all in white.

In all he did four sums.

All boys went away.

They were all punished.

6.                    

Adj.       

 Pron.

 Adv.

:

:

:

Are there any witnesses present?

Does any of you know him?

Is that any better?

7.                    

Adv.

 Conj.       

 Rel pron.

:

:

:

We walked as fast as we could.

As he was poor, I helped him.   

 She likes the same colour as I do.

8.                    

Adv.  

Prep. 

Conj. 

:

:  

:  

 I have seen you before.

 He came before the appointed time.

 He had gone  away before I came.

9.                    

Adj.    

Adv.      

Noun

Verb     

:     :

:

:

I think yours is a better plan.

I know better.

Give place to your betters.

This medicine will better your health.

10.                

Adj.  

Pron

Conj.

:       :       :   

You cannot have it both ways.

Both of them are dead.

Both Nehru and Patel were patriots.

11.                

Adv.      

Prep.    

Conj.    

Rel Pron.

: 

: 

: 

: 

  It is but (=only) right to admit our faults.

 None but (=except) the brave deserves the fair.

 We tried hard, but did not succeed.

 There is no one but dislikes him.

12.                

Adv.      

Prep.  

Adj.       

Noun  

Verb   

: 

: 

:  

: 

: 

Down went the “Royal George”.

The fire engine came pushing down the hill.

The porter was killed by the down train.

He has seen the ups and downs of life.

Down with the tyrant!

13.                

Adj.       

Pron.

:

:

Each boy has a slate.

Each of the boys has a slate. I gave them each a pencil.

14.                

Adj.       

Pron. 

Conj. 

: 

: 

: 

Either bet is good enough.

Ask either  of them.

 He must either work or starve.

15.                

Adj.

Adv   

Conj 

: 

:

:

I have something else for you.

Shall we look anywhere else?

Make haste, else you will miss the train.

16.                

Adj           

Adv.   

Noun.

: 

:

:

There is time enough to spare.

 You know well enough what I mean.

  I have had enough of this.

17.                

Adj.          

Verb  

Adv.   

: 

:

:

The chances are even.

 Let us even the ground.

 Does he even suspect the danger?

18.                

Verb. 

Prep.  

Conj.  

: 

:

:

  If we except Hari, all are to be blamed.

 All the brothers are in Visakhhapatnam except Srinivas.              

I will not let you go except (=unless) you  bless me.

19.                

Prep.  

Conj.   

: 

:

I can shift for myself.

Give thanks unto the lord, for He is good.

20.                

Adv. 

Prep. 

Noun

: 

:

:

Come in.              The doctor is in

 He came in time.

 He came to know of the ins and outs of the case.

21.                

Adj.         

Adv.        

Noun

: 

:

:

Your attention has become less.

This soil is less fertile than that.

He is never satisfied with less.

22.                

Adj.       

Adv.      

Noun

Verb 

Prep.

: 

:

:

:

:

The are non of like build and stature.

 Like as a father pitieth his own children.

We shall not see his like again.

Children like sweets.

Don’t  talk like that

23.                

Adj.          

Noun.

Adv.         

: 

:

:

There is little danger in going there

Man wants but little here below.

 He eats very little.

24.                

Adj.       

Pron.

Adv.      

: 

:

:

We want more men like him.

 More of us die in bed than out of it.

 You should talk less and work more.

25.                

Adj.       

Pron.

Adv.      

: 

:

:

There is much sense in what he says.

 Much of it is true.

 He boasts too much.

26.                

Adv.  

Prep.

Adj.         

Verb 

: 

:

:

Draw near and listen.

 His house is near the temple.

 He is a near relation.

 The time nears.

27.                

Noun 

Verb  

Adv.   

: 

:

:

My needs are few.

It needs to be done with care.

He needs must come.

28.                

Conj 

Adj.          

Pron.

: 

:

:

Give me neither poverty nor riches.

Neither accusation is true.

It is difficult to negotiate where neither will trust.

29.                

Adj.       

Adv.      

Prep.   

Noun   

: 

:

:

:

I shall see you next Monday.

 What next?

He was sitting next her.

 I shall tell you more about it in my next.

30.                

Adj.       

Adv.      

Noun  

: 

:

:

 It is no joke.

 He is no more.

 I will no take a no.

31.                

Pron

Adv

: 

:

None of the competitors were present.

He is none the better for it. (= not at all)

32.                

Adv    

Conj   

Noun 

: 

:

:

I was young once.

 Once he hesitates, we have him.

 Please help me for once.

33.                

Adj.   

Noun

Pron 

: 

:

:

One day I met him in the street

 The little ones cried for joy.

One would think he was mad.   

34.                

Adj.  

Adv  

Conj 

: 

:

:

It was his only chance.

He was only foolish.

Take what I have, only (but) let me go.

35.                

Noun

Adj.   

Prep  

Adv   

: 

:

:

:

We can not undo the past.

His prime is past.                             

Half past three.   He is a old man past seventy.   

The regiment is marching past.        

36.                

Adv    

Noun 

Prep   

: 

:

:

Read it over carefully.

 In one over he took three wickets.

At thirty the change came over him.

37.                

Verb   

Adj.    

Noun 

Adv       

: 

:

:

:

That is a fault that will right itself.

He is the right man for the position.

I ask it as a right.

He stood right in my way.

38.                

Adj.  

Noun

Adv       

Prep.

Verb

: 

:

:

:

:

A square peg in a round hole.

 The evening was a round of pleasures.

 He came round to their belief.

 The earth revolves round the sun.

 We shall round the cape in safety.

39.                

Prep.

Conj.

Adv. 

: 

:

:

Since that day, I have not seen him.

 Since there’s no help let’s pray to God.

 I have not seen him since.

40.                

Adv. 

Conj.

: 

:

I am so sorry.

 He was poor, so they helped him.

41.                

Adj.   

Pron.

Adv.  

: 

:

:

We must find some way out of it.

Some say one thing and do another.

Some thirty chiefs were present.

42.                

Verb  

Adj.       

Noun 

Adv       

:

:

:

:

With his name the mother still their babies.

Still waters run deep.

Her sobs could be heard in the still of night.

He is still in business.

43.                

Adj.       

Pron   

:

:

Don’t be in such a hurry.

Such was not my intention.

44.                

Adj.     

Pron   

Adv     

Rel pro

Conj    

:

:

:

;

:

What is that noise?

That is what I want.

 I have done that much only.

 The evil that men do  lives after them.

 We eat that we may live.

45.                

Def Art

Adv      

:

:

The cat loves comfort.

The wiser he is, the better.

46.                

Prep. 

Conj  

:

:

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do  today.

Do not start till I give the word.

47.                

Adv    

Prep  

Adj.    

Noun 

:

:

:

:

Prices are up.

Let us go up the hill.

The next up train will leave here at 12.30.

They had their ups and downs of fortune.

48.                

Noun 

Adj.    

Adv    

Intej   

:

:

:

:

Let well alone.

I hope you are now well.

Well begun is half done.

Well, who would have thought of it?

49.                

Adj.        

Intjec.    

Pron.     

Rel Pron

Adv        

:

:

:

:

:

What evidence have you?

What ! You don’t mean to say so?

What does he want?

 Give me what you can.

What by fire and what by sward, the whole country was laid waste.

50.                

Noun  

Verb   

Conj    

:

:

:

Sit down and rest a while.

They while away their evenings with books and games.

While a great poet,  he is a greater novelist.

51.                

Int Adv  

Rel Adv 

Intjec     

Noun     

:

:

:

:

Why did you do it?

I know the reason why he did it.

Why, it is surely Nanak!

This is not the time to go into the why and wherefore of it.

52.                

Adv.     

Conj     

:

:

There is more evidence yet to be offered.

He is willing yet unable.

 

850 Most Common Words in English

A basic vocabulary is an indispensable requirement of using any language. Here is a list of 850 words that was devised by two Oxford professors in 1925

This list is an excellent starting point for building up a vocabulary which allows you to converse fluently in English. Use a dictionary to learn the meaning and usage of each word. It will go a long way towards enhancing both your written and spoken English.

100 Basic verbs, prepositions, Articles, pronouns, etc.

1

come

26

Between

51

Some

76

Now

2

get

27

By

52

Such

77

Out

3

give

28

Down

53

That

78

Still

4

go

29

From

54

This

79

Then

5

keep

30

In

55

I

80

There

6

Let

31

Off

56

He

81

Together

7

Make

32

On

57

You

82

Well

8

Put

33

Over

58

Who

83

Almost

9

Seem

34

Through

59

And

84

Enough

10

Take

35

To

60

Because

85

Even

11

Be

36

Under

61

But

86

Little

12

Do

37

Up

62

Or

87

Much

13

Have

38

With

63

If

88

Not

14

Say

39

As

64

Though

89

Only

15

See

40

For

65

While

90

Quite

16

Send

41

Of

66

How

91

So

17

May

42

Till

67

When

92

Very

18

Will

43

Than

68

Where

93

Tomorrow

19

About

44

A

69

Why

94

Yesterday

20

Across

45

The

70

Again

95

North

21

After

46

All

71

Ever

96

South

22

Against

47

Any

72

Far

97

East

23

Among

48

Every

73

Forward

98

West

24

At

49

No

74

Here

99

Please

25

Before

50

Other

75

Near

100

Yes

IMPORTANT CONTRACTIONS TO SPEED UP SPOKEN EXPRESSION

am not

aren’t/ain’t

are not

aren't

cannot

can't

could not

couldn't

did not

didn't

do not

don't

does not

doesn't

had not

hadn't

has not

hasn't

have not

haven't

he had; he would

he'd

he will; he shall

he'll

he is; he has

he's

I had; I would

I'd

I will; I shall

I'll

I am

I'm

I have

I've

is not

isn't

let us

let's

may not

mayn't

might not

mightn't

need not

needn't

ought not

oughtn't

shall not

shan't

she had; she would

she'd

she is; she has

she's

should not

shouldn't

that is; that has

that's

there is; there has

there's

they had; they would

they'd

they will; they shall

they'll

they are

they're

we had; we would

we'd

we are

we're

we have

we've

were not

weren't

what will; what shall

what'll

what are

what're

what is; what has

what's

what have

what've

where is; where has

where's

who had; who would

who'd

who will; who shall

who'll

who are

who're

who is; who has

who's

who have

who've

will not

won't

would not

wouldn't

you had; you would

you'd

you will; you shall

you'll

you are

you're

you have

you've

Personal Pronouns

1

2

3

4

5

6

Person

Number

 

Subject

 

Object

 

Possessive

adjectives

Possessive

pronouns

Reflexive and Emphatic

pronouns

First

Singular

I         నేను

me    నన్ను,  నాకు

my

నాయొక్క

mine

నాది

myself

నేనే

Plural

We

మేము, మనము

us

మమ్మల్ని, మనల్ని

మాకు, మనకు

our

మాయొక్క, మనయొక్క

ours

మాది, మనది

ourselves

మేమే, మనమే

Second

Singular

You    నీవు

you

నిన్ను,  నీకు

your

నీయొక్క

yours

నీది

yourself

నీవే

Plural

You   మీరు

You

మిమ్మల్ని,  మీకు

your

మీయొక్క

yours

మీది

yourselves

మీరే

Third

Singular

Masculine

He

అతడు

him

అతన్ని,  అతనికి

his

అతనియొక్క,

his

అతనిది

himself

అతనే

Feminine

She   ఆమె

her

ఆమెను,  ఆమెకు

her

ఆమెయొక్క,

hers

ఆమెది

herself

ఆమే

Neuter

It    ఇది, అది

it

దాన్ని, దీన్ని

దానికి, దీనికి

its

దానియొక్క, దీనియొక్క,

its

దానిది, దానివి దీనిది, దీనివి,

itself

అదే, ఇదే

Plural

They  వారు

them

వారిని, వారికి,

వాటిని, వాటికి,

their

వారియొక్క, వాటియొక్క

theirs

వారిది, వారివి, వాటివి

themselves

వారే


Learners have difficulty with the case of pronoun—subjective or objective?

In practice (especially in Spoken English) the objective case is often used where we should logically expect the subjective. Learners should understand the following points.

  • After ‘between’ and ‘let’ the objective case is used.
    • Let him play the first game.
    • Come and sit between him and me.
  • If a pronoun is not the active or real subject of a sentence, the natural form to use is the objective case.
    • That’s him over there.
    • Don’t disturb yourself; it’s only me.
    • If I were her, I’d write a letter about it.
  • If a relative clause follows the pronoun after the verb, the pronoun may be in either the subjective or objective case to agree with the relative pronoun.
    • It was she who told you, wasn’t it? (She told you.)
    • It was her you meant, wasn’t it? (You meant her.)
  • The words ‘than’ and ‘as’ are conjunctions and so may be followed by subjective or objective forms.
    • I like you more than she (does).
    • I like you more than her (=than I like her).
    • I saw her as clearly as he (did).
    • I saw her as clearly as him (=I saw him).

But in Spoken English, the objective case is frequently heard, as if both these words were prepositions.

  • You’re much cleverer than her.
  • When a preposition is present, the objective case is preferred.

I wouldn’t give it to such a man as him.

  • The objective case is usual, even in writing, whenever the pronoun is further qualified (for example, by adding ‘both’ or ‘all’).
  • You’re cleverer than them all.
  • You’re much taller than me, but she’s taller than us all.

 

Learners may do well to observe the possessive case:

The answer to the question ‘Whose?’ is given by the pairs of words: my/mine, your/yours, his/his, her/hers, our/ours, their/theirs.

The first of each pair of words is the form we use before a noun.

  • This is my/your…book.

The second word is the form we use without a following noun.

  • This (book) is mine/yours, etc.

Notice that only ‘his’ has the same form for both positions, and that ‘its’ (for things) is used only before a noun and cannot stand alone.

Another useful kind of possessive is the type “a friend of mine/yours, etc”, which is another way of saying “one of my/your, etc friends.

Learners can master the typical possessive with mix-up practice questions as follows:

  • Is this my, our, her, etc…paper, book, pupil, room, etc?
  • Is this book, coat, parcel, etc… mine, yours, hers, etc.?
  • This isn’t m, your, etc. … paper, book, etc., is it?
  • (No, it isn’t your, my etc., paper etc., it’s mine etc.)
  • Whose is this? Whose pen, book etc. is this (that)?

Complete these sentences with suitable possessives:

  • Have you done_________ homework? I’ve done _________.
  • Sujatha and Ishant have forgotten________notebooks again; we have forgotten _________too.
  • Ganesh has lost ______pencil; perhaps you can lend him ________.
  • She met a friend of ________at a temple this morning.
  • He wonders if you have seen a book of ______lying about somewhere.
  • You can take ________ticket and give me ________.
  • Jagan is coming here next week; _____father are ______were school friends.
  • They introduced me to a neighbor of _______.
  • We’ve taken _______share; has she taken ______?
  • It was a good idea of ______to put_______books with _______.

ARTICLES - BASIC CONCEPTS

  • A is used before consonant sounds.

  • An-before vowel sounds and unaspirated ‘h’- It generalises.

Ex: a cow; a boy; a European/uniform/union/unique / unitary / united / universal / usual / university / utilitarian / one eyed man / year / yearly / hotel

an elephant / umberella / heir / heiress / heirloom / honest / honesty / honorarium / honorary / honour / honourable / honoured / hour / hourly.

Where used

Where omitted

Countable nouns: living creatures, plants; material, objects; natural features; rivers; lakes; hills, seas….., salaries; rewards; punishments; penalties;

Bombay is a city.  He earns a high salary.

Mass nouns: denoting material.

Rice is a cereal.  Wine tastes sour.

Exceptions: I want a white wine (= a bottle)

Let’s have a coffee. (=a cup of coffee)

Take a copper for it (= a copper coin)

Proper nouns: Identity unknown

A Rama Rao came to see you.

Proper nouns: Known identity

N.T. Rama Rao was a famous cine actor.

Abstract nouns: qualified variability.

You shouldn’t have such a nasty philosophy of life.

Abstract Nouns : General

Philosophy is an absorbing subject.

Music is universal

Professions and occupations

My brother is a teacher.

I hope to be a doctor.

I have never known so talented a / such a talented player

Designations – Official capacity – Titles.

He was elected Prime Minister of India.

He was appointed President of the club.

(Titles):King and Queen followed by names

Queen Elizabeth-II; Pope John

 

a few = a small number; none/all expected

A few people gave the right answer.

(Positive in meaning)

A little time to spare = (we are  not so short of time).

Few = A small number; more expected.

Few people gave the right answers.

(I had hoped for more)

(negative in meaning)

Little time to spare (not so much as we should like)

Weakened form of the demonstrative ‘that’: Two  ways of pronunciation (before vowel  and consonant sounds). Used before both the sounds.  It points out or particularises.  Proper / Material /. Abstract nouns can become common nouns with its application.

This is the end of  the news: pronounced differently

 Kalidasa is the Shakespeare of India.

Where used

Where omitted

Particular kind of substances.

The gold mined here is of poor quality.

Substances if used in a general sense

Gold: bread; sand, grass, meat, milk

Meals-  social function; idea of food.

The dinner will be held at the Taj.

We enjoyed the breakfast she gave us.

Meals – general; possessive adjective

When do you have dinner?

It’s time I gave this dog its dinner.

Plural nouns: particular

The books you gave me are useful.

Countries made up of smaller units.

The U.S.A, the Philippines; the U.K.

The kingdom of Macedon; The Republic of South Africa / India.

Plural nouns: general

Books are essential to a student.

Games, countries, languages

Chess :     India ; China French Telugu

 Exceptions: the Sudan; the Transvaal   

Road (Optional) (The) Rashtrapthi Road

road : the road that leads to

Take the Kakinada road.

Road, street, Avenue, crescent, lane, square

Trafalgar Square; Red Cross Street.

The inhabitants of a country - collective

The Indians; the Chinese

The Englih; the French; the British.

The Spanish, the Irish.

The inhabitants of a country; Individually

Indians have dark skins.

Englishmen; Frenchmen, Britons

Spaniards; Irishmen                         

Mountain ranges: The Himalayas

Single mountains/hills: Everest; Mont Blanc

Scientific inventions: the electric bulb.

 

Musical instruments:the guitar, the flute

Exceptions: The Matterhorn, The Jungfrau Jazz,  Pop Music , on trumpet

News papers:The Hindu, The Indian Express

Most Magazines: Frontline; Observer; Probe

Rivers: Canals, seas, oceans, valleys, deserts, forests; the Ganges/the Pacific ….

 

 

The generic singular; The tiger is a big cat.

Man – representing human race.

 

Unique things:

the sun (shine), the earth, the moon

Municipal / govt. departments.

Shops: business houses, industrial concerns; banks & local stations: the Ministry of Education,

 The Erode station: The university of Hyderabad.

 

 

Universities: Central University

When begun with personal names

Lloyds’ Bank. Salar Jung Museum

 

Exceptions: The Albert Hall; the Usher Hall

 

Ships: trains: the Gitanjali Express

 

A means of travel : by train / bus

 

Seasons (optional): summer, winter

Parts of the day:  All the morning/after noon/ evening /week

 

Common expressions without articles.

All day : all night

to  /at/from school/college/university/work to/at/in/into/from church; to/in/into/out of bed/

prison/hospital; to /at sea; to/in from town /at night

at/from home; for/at/to breakfast/lunch/dinner / supper;

by car/bus/bicycle/plane/ train/tube/boat: on foot

go to sleep; watch television (TV): on TV.

Secondary purpose:

I went to the school to talk to the Head Master.

 

Primary purpose : go to prison/work/ school/hospital/ church.

He was taken to hospital = admitted

Exception: He goes to the office by scooter          Newspaper headlines, notices, posters etc

telegrams, instructions, dictionary entries, lists, notes, etc.,

 All the above  are special styles

Common nouns out of proper names

Bombay is the Manchester (= the greatest cloth centre) of India.

Proper nouns Kalidasa, Bombay

Abstract nouns : particular

The life of Srinatha is very sad in the end.

 

 

Abstract Nouns: general

Life is the  gift of God..

with the comparative.

The higher we go,  the colder it grows.

She is the elder of the two sisters.

 

Before the superlative adjective.

She is the best sports woman.

 

With an adjective: Plural

The rich should help the poor.

 

Common expressions of Nature

the town: the country, the sea, the seaside. the mountains; the rain; the wind;

 

 

PREPOSITIONS

  1. At is used :
    1. For a certain moment or point in time.

      We got up at dawn and had breakfast at eight o’clock.

      The train leaves at 2.45 p.m.

      (Similarly : at noon, at sunset, at midnight, at the end of the concert, at the beginning of the lesson)

    2. For festivals which mark a point in the year.

(Similarly: at the New Year, at the week-end, at dinner-time, at bed time, at high tide, at low tide)

 

‘At’ is used for these because they are recurrent ‘land marks’ in the speaker’s reckoning of time, as the festivals are in the year.

  1. On  is used
    1. For a specific day, whether it is given as a date (August 15th), as a day of the week (Wednesday), or as a special day in the year with a name of its own (Republic Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, one’s birthday, the anniversary of some one’s death or same happening.
      1. I will come on Friday.
      2. On Republic Day, we felicitate the distinguished.
      3. My sister was married on my sixteenth birthday.
      4. She was born on December 25th, 1964.
    2. For a specific past of any such day __on the night of August 14th, On Friday afternoon, on Wednesday evening, on Christmas morning.
      1. When we woke up on Christmas morning there was dew on the lawn.
      2. We say Christmas morning, but on the after noon/ evening of Christmas day, not on Christmas afternoon, or on Christmas evening. We may say on Christmas Eve. But Christmas Eve means ‘the day before Christmas’, not the evening of Christmas day’.

 

  1. In is used before words which denote a period of time.
    1. (In the summer, in September, in the year 1984, in the morning, in the evening, in the day time, in the dinner hour, in the English lesson, in the summer holidays).
      1. We first came to live here in 1992.
      2. Cricket is played in Summer and football in Winter.
    2. - to show the total length of time taken for the completion of some activity or operation.
      1. A good train will get you from Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad in seven hours.
      2. He ran the distance in three minutes, thirty five seconds.
    3. - to state a period at the end of which something will happen.
      1. We shall be ready in few minutes.
      2. Come back in an hour’s time.

 

  1. During is used to express the idea:
    1. that an occurrence continues, or a situation persists, throughout the whole of a specified period.
      1. During the war, food was rationed.
      2. We work during the day and sleep during the night.
    2. that an event took place, or is to take place, with a specified period of time.  In this sense it means more or less the same as ‘in the course of’.
      1. The house was burgled during the night.
      2. I will call to see you during the week.

 By is used to denote the latest time by which something was or is to be done.

    1. The implication is that it may be done before then, but not after.
      1. You must be here by ten 0’ clock.
      2. The work should be finished by next Friday.
      3. Applications for the post should be received by March 10th.
    2.  also used before the words ‘day’ and ‘night’, with practically the some meaning as ‘during’.
      1. Some motorists prefer to travel by night, when there is less traffic on the roads.
      2. ‘The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night’.
    3. Similarly there is the phrase ‘by moonlight’.
      1. ‘Look for me by moonlight, watch for me by moonlight;
      2. I’ll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way.’
  2. For is used to show the lapse of time during which something takes place, or a state of affairs persists – a period of time.
    1. It rained continuously for twenty-four hours.
    2. I have not seen him for a month.
    3. We have been waiting for two hours.
    4. They will not be here for another two days.
    5. The difference between ‘We stayed a week’ and ‘We stayed for a week’ is that the former merely states the sum total of the time when it is reached up at the end of the stay, where as the latter thinks of the time as it goes on, day by day, until a week has elapsed.
      1. She kept me talking half an hour.
      2. She kept me talking for half an hour
      3. I can only stay a few minutes.
      4. I can only stay for a few minutes.

 

  1. Since : Point of time : He has been working here since 1992.
  2. From : Starting Time : The school works from 9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
  3. To : End

Exceptions :

  • The Prepositions ‘at’, ‘on’ and ‘in’ are not used if the noun giving a time is preceded by an adjective.
    1. I met him last Friday. (not on last Friday)
    2. We are going away next weekend. (Not at next weekend)
    3. She will be eighteen next July.(Not in next July)
    4. The doctor calls to see him every day. (Not on everyday)
      1. (Similarly : every morning, every night, every evening, every week, next week, next month, next year, next Monday, last week, last year, last month, a week next Monday, a fortnight next Friday, next Saturday evening, next Pongal, last Pongal)
    5. Though we say ‘next Saturday’. If we reverse the order of the Noun and Adjective, we must use ‘on’ (on Saturday Next)
  • ‘Yesterday’, ‘ today’ and ‘tomorrow’ besides being Nouns, are also used as adverbs, and therefore do not take a 
    1. I will telephone you tomorrow.
    2. Sudha called to see me yesterday.
    3. He promised to come today.
    4. Similarly : Yesterday evening, yesterday afternoon, a week ago yesterday, tomorrow morning, a week tomorrow, a fortnight today.
    5. Though ‘yesterday’ and ‘tomorrow’ can both be followed by the words ‘Morning’, ‘afternoon’, and ‘evening’ ‘today’ cannot. We must say ‘this morning’ and ‘this evening’ (not today morning etc.)
    6. ‘Night’ can be used only after ‘tomorrow’. We say ‘tomorrow night’, but not ‘yesterday night’ or ‘today night’.  Instead we say ‘last night’ and ‘tonight’ respectively.
  1. Place of Residence (Countries, towns, etc.)
    1. For the kind of place, when the reference is merely general and no specific place is named we use ‘in’
      1. I like to spend the summer in the country, and the winter in the town.
      2. Many Indians live in villages.                                                          (Similarly  :  in a village, in the suburbs, in the desert; but at the seaside, and on an island).
    2.  For the names of countries, continents, and large land areas such as countries, departments or provinces, and for capital cities or the names of large towns, we use in.
      1. The Chinese live in China.
      2. My married sister lives in Bombay.
    3. For Villages and smaller towns, we normally use at.
      1. My grandfather lived at Mummidivaram.
      2. Shakespeare was born at Stratford-on-Avon.
  • But even in the case of a village or a small town, a speaker will use in.   
    1. When he identifies himself with the place, either because he lives there or because he happens to be there at the moment of speaking.
    2. Have you lived in Peddapuram long?

 

  1. Place of Residence (Houses etc.)
    1. For the kind of house or residence, when no specific one is mentioned, we use
      1. She always thought she would like to live in a bungalow.                        (Similarly: in a cottage, in a mansion, in a modern house, in a hotel, in a caravan, in a flat)
    2. For a particular house or place of residence, we use at.
      1. The Prime Minister of England lives at 10 Downing street.                     (Similarly: at Rashtrapathi Bavan, at the Taj Hotel)
    3. For the names of streets and roads, we use
      1. R.K. Narayan lived in Malgudi street.

  

  1. Places of work:
    1. If it is a building, we use
      1. His father works in a bank.                                                        (Similarly in an office, in a shop, in a factory, in a restaurant.)
    2. But if it is not a building, we use on : on a farm, on the railway, on an estate, on a rubber plantation.
    3. If a particular place is indicated, at is generally used.
      1. Both my brothers work at the Town Hall.                                    (Similarly at the public library, at the railway station, at Tripura restaurant, at the city General Hospital, at the Atomic Research Centre.
    4. For a particular room or department , we use
      1. He is employed in the Manuscripts Department at the Salarjung Museum.

(Similarly : in the cataloguing Department of the Public Library, in the Front office at Taj Coromondal)

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