The following peculiarities in the use of Prepositions should be noted.
AT & IN
The Preposition AT relates to a small extent of space or time.
The Preposition IN relates to a wider extent of space or time.
1. He will start at six o'clock in the morning.
2. The end is at hand (= very close).
3. The work is in hand (= in a state of progress).
WITH & BY
The Preposition WITH relates to the instrument employed for doing anything.
The Preposition BY relates to the agent or doer.
1. This book was written by me with a quill pen.
2. We have completed this project with your help.
3. I traveled to Chennai by bus.
BETWEEN & AMONG
The Preposition BETWEEN represents two persons, things or ideas.
The Preposition AMONG represents more than two persons, things or ideas.
1. There was a passage between the two houses.
2. Those two men quarreled between themselves.
3. Those three men quarreled among themselves.
4. He liked to spend his evening among his friends.
BESIDE & BESIDES
The Preposition BESIDE means by the side of and hence sometimes outside of.
The Preposition BESIDES means in addition to.
1. He came and sat beside me.
2. He came and sat by my side.
3. Your answer is beside the question.
4. Your answer is outside of the question.
5. Your answer is irrelevant to the question.
6. Besides advising them, he gave them some money.
7. In addition to advising them, he gave them some money.
IN & INTO
The Preposition IN denotes position or rest inside anything.
The Preposition INTO denotes motion towards the inside of anything.
1. The frog is in the well. (Rest)
2. The frog fell into the well. (Motion)
But with verbs of motion or change, IN is used.
1. He put the letter in his pocket.
2. She cut it in half.
3. She threw the letter in the fire.
IN & WITHIN
The Preposition IN denotes at the close of some future period.
The Preposition WITHIN denotes some time short of the close.
1. He will return in a week's time.
2. He will return at the close of a week's time.
3. He will return within a fortnight.
4. He will return in less than a fortnight.
SINCE & FROM
Both of these denote a point of time and not a space or period.
But SINCE is preceded by a Verb in some Perfect Tense, while FROM can be used with
any form of Tense. Another difference is that SINCE can be used only in reference to past time, whereas FROM can be also used for present and future time.
1. He has been ill since Thursday last.
2. He studied Latin from the age of ten.
1. The increased scale of salaries will operate from today.
2. From Monday next the library will close at 8 p.m.