Understand before you answer
The rules and clues to remember
Time has different kinds of reference
At is commonly used with a clock time, on with a day or date, and in with a month or year. These patterns are useful starting points, not rules for every possible time expression.
ClockThe lesson starts at nine.
DayThe lesson is on Tuesday.
MonthThe course starts in July.
Remember: Learn special expressions, such as at night, as complete phrases.
A deadline is not a duration
By can mean no later than a point in time. For gives the length of a period. Since gives the starting point of a state or activity linked to a later reference time.
DeadlineReturn the key by six.
DurationThey waited for an hour.
Starting pointShe has worked here since April.
Remember: Ask whether the sentence gives an endpoint, an amount of time or a starting point.
Movement differs from position
Through can describe movement inside a passage from one end to the other. Across can describe movement from one side to the other. Between can locate something relative to two distinct reference points.
ThroughThey walked through the passage.
AcrossThey crossed from one bank to the other across the bridge.
BetweenA lamp stood between two chairs.
Remember: Between can also be used for more than two distinct items in suitable contexts; do not learn an absolute two-only rule.
Learn a common combination in context
Depend on, interested in an activity, and belong to someone or something are useful patterns in the meanings used here. Other constructions can exist with different wording or meaning.
DependenceThe route depends on the weather.
InterestShe is interested in learning to weave.
BelongingThe keys belong to the caretaker.
Remember: Do not assume that a verb or adjective can have only one construction in all uses.
Try it yourself
12 questions, with every choice explained
Choose the preposition that fits the complete sentence. Keep the stated time or movement relationship. Other prepositions may be possible with different wording or meaning; only one option fits these items.
Write down A, B, C or D before opening each answer. Work at your own pace. These exercises use no exam timer or negative marking.
Question 1 · Clock time
The bus leaves ___ 7:15 each morning.
- A.on
- B.at
- C.in
- D.since
Show answer and explanations for question 1
Answer B: at
Completed textThe bus leaves at 7:15 each morning.
- Not correct. On is not the standard preposition before the clock time 7:15 here.
- Correct. At is used with this clock time.
- Not correct. In does not introduce this exact clock time in the departure statement.
- Not correct. Since would mark a starting point for an extending situation, not this scheduled departure time.
Question 2 · Calendar date
Choose the standard day/date preposition: The inspection takes place ___ 14 December.
- A.among
- B.at
- C.between
- D.on
Show answer and explanations for question 2
Answer D: on
Completed textThe inspection takes place on 14 December.
- Not correct. Among needs a suitable group and cannot introduce this calendar date.
- Not correct. At is not the standard day/date preposition in this construction.
- Not correct. Between needs suitable reference points and cannot introduce this single date alone.
- Correct. On introduces a specific calendar date in this construction.
Question 3 · Month
The exhibition opens ___ August.
- A.at
- B.on
- C.in
- D.between
Show answer and explanations for question 3
Answer C: in
Completed textThe exhibition opens in August.
- Not correct. At is not the ordinary preposition before the month August here.
- Not correct. On would fit a specific day or date, not the month alone in this statement.
- Correct. In introduces the month August here.
- Not correct. Between needs suitable reference points and cannot introduce the single month this way.
Question 4 · Deadline
Submit the form ___ noon at the latest.
- A.by
- B.since
- C.during
- D.within
Show answer and explanations for question 4
Answer A: by
Completed textSubmit the form by noon at the latest.
- Correct. By noon means no later than noon, matching at the latest.
- Not correct. Since noon describes a starting point rather than this deadline.
- Not correct. During does not express the stated no-later-than deadline.
- Not correct. Within needs an interval such as two hours, not noon in this construction.
Question 5 · Duration
They have been waiting ___ forty minutes.
- A.on
- B.since
- C.at
- D.for
Show answer and explanations for question 5
Answer D: for
Completed textThey have been waiting for forty minutes.
- Not correct. On does not express the duration of waiting here.
- Not correct. Since would need a starting point rather than a length of time.
- Not correct. At does not introduce this duration in the waiting construction.
- Correct. For introduces the duration forty minutes.
Question 6 · Starting point
The shop has been closed ___ last Thursday.
- A.for
- B.since
- C.during
- D.at
Show answer and explanations for question 6
Answer B: since
Completed textThe shop has been closed since last Thursday.
- Not correct. For would need a duration, such as three days, rather than this starting point.
- Correct. Since introduces last Thursday as the starting point of the closure continuing up to now.
- Not correct. During last Thursday names a finished period rather than the starting point of this continuing closure.
- Not correct. At does not introduce this dated starting point in the given construction.
Question 7 · Two reference points
A wooden bench stands ___ two tall trees.
- A.during
- B.from
- C.between
- D.since
Show answer and explanations for question 7
Answer C: between
Completed textA wooden bench stands between two tall trees.
- Not correct. During expresses time rather than this location.
- Not correct. From does not directly locate the bench between these trees; a distance expression such as two metres from would need additional wording.
- Correct. Between places the bench relative to the two distinct trees.
- Not correct. Since would express a starting point or reason, not this position.
Question 8 · Movement inside a passage
Remaining inside the tunnel, we walked ___ it from one end to the other.
- A.through
- B.during
- C.beside
- D.above
Show answer and explanations for question 8
Answer A: through
Completed textRemaining inside the tunnel, we walked through it from one end to the other.
- Correct. Through describes movement within the tunnel from end to end.
- Not correct. During expresses time and does not describe movement inside the tunnel.
- Not correct. Beside places the movement alongside the tunnel, contrary to the stated route within it.
- Not correct. Above places the movement over the tunnel, not through its interior.
Question 9 · Movement from side to side
The pedestrians crossed from one riverbank to the other ___ the bridge.
- A.among
- B.across
- C.since
- D.during
Show answer and explanations for question 9
Answer B: across
Completed textThe pedestrians crossed from one riverbank to the other across the bridge.
- Not correct. Among would require a suitable group, not this single bridge and crossing relationship.
- Correct. Across describes movement from one side to the other over the bridge.
- Not correct. Since does not express this route of movement.
- Not correct. During is a time preposition and does not describe this crossing route.
Question 10 · Depend on
Our departure depends ___ the weather.
- A.for
- B.with
- C.on
- D.from
Show answer and explanations for question 10
Answer C: on
Completed textOur departure depends on the weather.
- Not correct. Depends for cannot connect the departure directly to the weather in this structure.
- Not correct. Depends with does not form this expression of dependence.
- Correct. Depend on expresses the relationship between the departure and the weather.
- Not correct. Depends from does not express the required relationship here.
Question 11 · Interested in an activity
Ravi is interested ___ learning pottery.
- A.in
- B.on
- C.at
- D.to
Show answer and explanations for question 11
Answer A: in
Completed textRavi is interested in learning pottery.
- Correct. Interested in introduces the activity learning pottery.
- Not correct. Interested on does not form the activity-interest expression here.
- Not correct. Interested at does not connect the adjective to this activity in the required way.
- Not correct. Interested to learning is not grammatical; to learning is not the required complement here.
Question 12 · Belong to
Express the device association, not physical placement: This charger belongs ___ the tablet, not the camera.
- A.from
- B.at
- C.on
- D.to
Show answer and explanations for question 12
Answer D: to
Completed textThis charger belongs to the tablet, not the camera.
- Not correct. Belongs from does not form this association expression.
- Not correct. Belongs at would describe an appropriate place in a different construction, not this device association.
- Not correct. Belongs on would concern placement on a surface in a different meaning.
- Correct. Belongs to connects the charger with the device it is associated with here.
References and exam scope
Scope: CGL 2026 Tier-II, Paper-I, Section-II; CHSL 2026 Tier-I and Tier-II English. These are topic lessons, not complete mocks. These topics are included in the linked SSC examination notices. The lesson wording, examples, passages and questions are original ESS teaching material. Check your exam’s current notice and subsequent corrections for its full syllabus, scoring and timing.
Sources reviewed: 3 November 2026. Study-time estimates are suggestions, not official exam limits.
