a-f 116 prepositions

7/21/2019 A-F 116 Prepositions

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ANGLO-PEDIAAnglo-File 116: PREPOSITIONS

As in any other language, there are no strict rules in English to guide you in which preposition touse where. The best way to learn prepositions is to learn them with the word or expression

from the start, as if the preposition was part of that expression. So, instead of learning ‘tosucceed’, you should learn ‘to succeed in’.

Here are some of the most common words and expressions that require a preposition.

As repetition is the key to learning these, use the accompanying CD as often as possible to makethese reflexive.

Part 1: Prepositions of time

(for, during, while, since, by, until, at, on, in)

Guidelines:

For + a length of time: for 2 hours, for 3 daysDuring + an activity: during the speech, during the tripWhile + a verb: While (I was) sleeping

Until: Indicates when an action is/was/will be finished.I’ll be here until Wednesday. I worked until midnight. By= no later thanI will have finished this report by Wednesday. He had everything ready by midnight.Since: From a certain time in the past until now

I have been here since Monday.

At + time: At 5:30

On + day / date: On Monday, On 15th JuneIn + month / year: In January, In 1999

In + the morning / the afternoon / the evening

Fixed Expressions:

At ChristmasAt Easter

At the weekendAt nightAt the momentAt the time At this time / At the same time

Invited toA visit / a trip to

On time = At the arranged timeIn time = No too late

In 5 days = When 5 days are overWithin 5 days = Between now and 5 days from now



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Part 2: Prepositions of place (at, on, in, to, into)

Guidelines:

To + verbs of movement: drive to town, return to baseInto + verbs of movement & specific space: go into the garden, run into the house

In + room, garden, building, town, CityAt + exact location (the station, the traffic lights, the cinema … )

On + surface (the door, floor, ceiling, page 2 …)

NOTE:For both time and place, ‘at’ is generally used for the smaller more precise unit, then ‘on’ andthen ‘in’ for the larger units:

At two o’clock, on Monday, in January At number 23, on Oak Street, in London

Fixed Expressions:

In a photograph / pictureIn the skyIn the worldIn a book / letter / magazineIn hospital

In the carIn bed

In prison

In my / John’s etc. house (referring to the building)

On the first floorOn a list

On a mapOn the right / leftOn a farmOn an islandOn the bus / train / plane

At home

At my / John’s etc. house (referring to the location) At workAt university / school / collegeAt a party / meeting / seminar / event



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Part 3: Prepositions with some common verbs and expressions

(in, for, on, to, about, of, by, from, with)

degree in

in a good / bad moodin writing

increase/ decrease / rise / fall / drop in interested in succeeded in

reason for Go for a drive / a walk / a ride / a drinkdemand for responsible for wait for ask for

on holidayon television / the radioOn footrely / count / depend on

solution to similar to married to listen to

angry about somethingworried about know about story about

cause of afraid of hear of = Know of the existence

by train / bus / plane / taxi / bicycle / motorbikedone by (actor of the verb)

different from Hear from = Have news from

satisfied with



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EXERCISES

Part 1: (Tracks 1-16)

Complete the sentences with a suitable preposition of time (for, during, while, since,

by, until, at, on, in).

Example:

Tom has been playing the guitar ………… 5 years.Tom has been playing the guitar for 5 years.

1. She fell asleep…………….

the speech.

2. She fell asleep ……………. (she was) listening to the speech.

3. They lived in an apartment ……………. six years.

4. I have …….. Tuesday to post this letter.

5. I must post this letter ………….. Tuesday.

6. He will be back ………….. an hour.

7. She is coming back …………. Friday.

8. We have been waiting ……….. three hours.

9. They arrived ……….. 11 o’clock.

10. I’m starving. I haven’t eaten ……….. yesterday.

11. She didn’t speak …………….. the whole trip.

12. We met an interesting man ………… travelling to India.

13. Harry suddenly began to feel ill ………… the examination.

14. She had left ……….. the time I arrived home.

15. I will stay ………….. I have finished my work.



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Anglo-Fi le 116: Preposi t ions / Answer K ey

Part 1: Prepositions of Time

1. She fell asleep during the speech.

2. She fell asleep while (she was) listening to the speech.

3. They lived in an apartment for six years.

4. I have until Tuesday to post this letter.

5. I must post this letter by Tuesday.

6. He will be back in an hour.

7. She is coming back on Friday.

8. We have been waiting for three hours.

9. They arrived at 11 o’clock.

10. I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since yesterday.

11. She didn’t speak during the whole trip.

12. We met an interesting man while travelling to India.

13. Harry suddenly began to feel ill during the examination.

14. She had left by the time I arrived home.

15. I will stay until I have finished my work.



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EXERCISES


Complete the sentences with a suitable preposition of place (at, on, in, to, into)

Example:

Your suitcase is ……… your bed.Your suitcase is on your bed.

1. She lives…………

the south of Spain.

2. We met ………… a conference.

3. There was no sign ……………. the door.

4. We went ………….. Rome last week.

5. I went ………… the shop to buy a book.

6. Do you know what film is showing ………… the cinema?

7. The actress appeared ………… the stage.

8. Could you buy me some milk when you go ………… town.

9. He lived ………… South Africa until he was ten years old.

10. Are you going ………… Italy for your holiday?

11. I want to climb ………… the top of the mountain.

12. We must all jump ………… the swimming pool together.

13. He lives ………….. Nº 69, ………….. East Street.

14. Give me a call when you arrive ………… the airport.

15. He was invited ………… the football match.



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Part 2: Prepositions of Place

1. She lives in the south of Spain.

2. We met at a conference.

3. There was no sign on the door.

4. We went to Rome last week.

5. I went into the shop to buy a book.

6. Do you know what film is showing at the cinema?

7. The actress appeared on the stage.

8. Could you buy me some milk when you go into town.

9. He lived in South Africa until he was ten years old.

10. Are you going to Italy for your holiday?

11. I want to climb to the top of the mountain.

12. We must all jump into the swimming pool together.

13. He lives at Nº 69, on East Street.

14. Give me a call when you arrive at the airport.

15. He was invited to the football match.



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EXERCISES


Complete the sentences with a suitable preposition that matches the word orexpression (with, on, in, to, by, for, of, about, from)

Example:

I have a university degree …………… Economics.I have a university degree in Economics.

1. I don’t know much ………….. the French revolution.

2. It was made ………….. a Japanese manufacturer.

3. It’s a story ……………an old man and a river.

4. She is …………… a bad mood.

5. He went …………… a drive in the countryside.

6. I’m going to Morocco ………….. holiday.

7. Have you seen that documentary ………….. television?

8. Could you put that …………. writing, please?

9. Travelling ………… train is more relaxing.

10.The cause ………… her death is unknown.

11. What is the reason ………… having this meeting?

12. We predict an increase ………… sales over the next year.

13. We need to find a solution ………… this problem.

14. The demand ………… organic produce is growing.

15. She was angry ………… the mess we had made.

16. We are slightly worried ………… his behaviour.

17. I want them to be satisfied ………… my work.

18. The little boy was afraid ………… the dark.

19. Your dress is similar ………… hers.



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20. Their philosophy is very different ………… ours.

21. She is married ………… a famous movie star.

22. We must be responsible ………… our actions.

23. If you hear ………… a suitable replacement, please let me know.

24. I listen ………… the radio in my car.

25. We are waiting ………… a parcel from the United States.

26. Could you ask ……… the bill, please?

27. I’m sure they will be interested ………… your book.

28. It all depends ………… the outcome of the meeting.

29. He has succeeded ………… inventing a solar powered car.

30. There has been a sharp fall ………… temperature overnight.



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Part 3: Prepositions with certain words & expressions

1. I don’t know much about the French revolution.

2. It was made by a Japanese manufacturer.

3. It’s a story about an old man and a river.

4. She is in a bad mood.

5. He went for a drive in the countryside.

6. I ’m going to Morocco on holiday.

7. Have you seen that documentary on television?

8. Could you put that in writing, please?

9. Travelling by train is more relaxing.

10.The cause of her death is unknown.

11. What is the reason for having this meeting?

12. We predict an increase in sales over the next year.

13. We need to find a solution to this problem.

14. The demand for organic produce is growing.

15. She was angry about the mess we had made.

16. We are slightly worried about his behaviour.

17. I want them to be satisfied with my work.

18. The little boy was afraid of the dark.

19. Your dress is similar to hers.

20. Their philosophy is very different from ours.

21. She is married to a famous movie star.

22. We must be responsible for our actions.

23. If you hear of a suitable replacement, please let me know.

24. I listen to the radio in my car.

25. We are waiting for a parcel from the United States.

26. Could you ask for the bill, please?

27. I’m sure they will be interested in your book.

28. It all depends on the outcome of the meeting.

29. He has succeeded in inventing a solar powered car.

30. There has been a sharp fall in temperature overnight.

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a-f 116 prepositions

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