Page 115 - New Grammar with a Smile 6

Frequently Confused Prepositions

1. since and for
Since tells us the moment of time when an action began.
For tells us the duration of the action. It tells us how long it lasted.
For example,

• I have not seen him since last night.
• I have not seen him for four days.

• They have known each other since childhood.
• They have known each other for thirty years.

2. between and among
Between suggests a position between two objects or people. Among indicates a
position where more than two people or objects are involved.
For example,

• I sat between Sara and Anu.

• There was a fence between their house and ours.
• Rashid is popular among his classmates.

• You can choose between a pup and a kitten for a pet.
Between can also be used for more than two things in certain sentences.
For example,

• India lies between China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
• I don’t leave the class between periods.
• There is a good understanding between the NATO countries.

3. beside and besides

Beside means ‘next to’ or ‘near’. Besides means ‘in addition to’. For example,
• The temple is beside the school.
• My father sat beside me.

• My mother bought me a card and a bag, besides two books.
• She is a good writer besides being a good editor.

4. in and into
In suggests the ‘position at rest’. Into suggests ‘movement from outside to inside’.
For example,

• They told the waiter that there was a fly in the soup.
• The chef rushed into the kitchen.

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