Prepositions

Theory
Prepositions of time
In, at, on.
Be careful - many students of English use 'on' with months (it should be 'in'), or put a preposition
before 'next' when we don't need one.

times At midnight
at 8 pm
At 6:30
Holiday periods At Christmas
at
At easter
At night
At the weekend
at lunchtime, at dinnertime, at breakfast time
Days On Monday
On my birthday
On Christmas day
on
Days + moment Morning/afternoon/evening/night
On Tuesday afternoon
Dates On the 20th of June
Years In 1993
In 2008
Months In December
In June
Decades In the sixties
in
In the 1790s
Centuries In the 19th century
Seasons In winter
In summer
In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening

Prepositions of place
If something is at a at the airport at the door
point (such as a at the table at the bus stop
building, location) at the cinema at the top
at the bottom at the pub
at
at the traffic lights at the front
at the back at school
at university at the window
at the hospital at the piano
on If something is on on the table on the wall
a line or a on the floor on the window
horizontal or on my face on a plate
vertical surface on the page on the sofa
on a chair on a bag
on the river on a t-shirt
on the ceiling on a bottle
 on a bike on his foot
If something is in the newspaper in a house
contained inside a in a cup in a drawer
box or a wide flat in a bottle in a bag
area in bed in a car
in
in London in England
in a book in a pub
in a field in the sea
in my stomach in a river

Adjectives and prepositions

Some adjectives need a preposition before their object. There doesn't seem to be a logical rule, I'm
afraid! We just need to learn them.
Here are some of the most common ones:

 famous for  good at

France is famous for its food. Einstein was very good at physics.
 proud of  married to
He is very proud of his new car. My mother has been married to my
 interested in father for 20 years.
Julie is very interested in sport.  excited about
 pleased with I'm very excited about my holiday.
John is very pleased with his new suit.  different from / to
 bad at Coffee is different from tea.
They are very bad at maths.  afraid of
I'm afraid of spiders.

Verbs and prepositions

Some verbs need a preposition before an object or another verb. The preposition is only
grammatical, so it doesn't change the meaning of the verb.

Here are some of the most common ones:

 arrive at / in somewhere  explain something to somebody

We arrived at the airport. The teacher explained the exercise to
We arrived in London. the students.
 belong to somebody  listen to something / somebody
This book belongs to me. I listened to music.
 borrow something from somebody  pay somebody for something
I borrowed a book from my classmate. I paid the waiter for the coffee.
 concentrate on something / doing  wait for somebody / something
something Wait for me!
I concentrated on studying at the  worry about somebody / something
weekend. Don't worry about a thing!
 depend on something / somebody
It depends on the weather.
Prepositional phrases
Prepositions can be tricky. One problem is that there is often no logic at all! We use them in many
phrases and expressions and unfortunately, we just need to learn these by heart. There aren't really
any rules.

1: At last = finally

 After a long journey, at last we arrived at our hotel.

 At last! I thought you'd never get here!

2: On foot = walking (NOT by foot)

 I usually go to work on foot.

 Did you come by car or on foot?

3: By mistake = not meaning to

 I dropped the glass by mistake. I'm really sorry.

 She gave him the wrong book by mistake.

4: In advance = beforehand

 We need to book the tickets for the cinema in advance, or we won't get a good seat.
 She always buys her food for Christmas well in advance.

5: Out of reach = too high to touch (literally or metaphorically)

 She tried to grab the kite as it flew away but it was already out of reach.
 That job is out of reach. I don't have the right qualifications for it.

6: For instance = here is an example

 John reads a lot. For instance, yesterday he read two books.

 You should eat more vegetables. Why don't you have a salad at lunchtime, for instance?

7: In danger = in a dangerous situation

 When the car started rolling we realised that we were in danger. Luckily we managed to stop.
 The dog fell into the river and was in danger for several minutes.

8: Without fail = always / definitely

 She visits her mother every week without fail.

 I study for twenty minutes a day without fail.

9: By chance = without planning

 I saw Julie at the station by chance.

 She found the perfect book by chance in a second hand bookshop.
10: On purpose = intending to do something

 She left without paying on purpose! It wasn't a mistake.

 Did you take my bag on purpose? Why would you do that?

11: For a change = to do something different

 Let's have Italian food for a change. We always eat British food.
 I don't want to go to the cinema again. I want to go to the park for a change.

12: On time (for) = at the time that was arranged

 She was on time for the meeting. It started at nine and she arrived at nine.
 Why are you never on time? I'm so fed up with waiting for you.

13: To my surprise = I was surprised

 I opened the door, and to my surprise, it was Lucy! I'd thought she was in Paris.
 To his surprise, the baby stopped crying and smiled at him.

14: At once = immediately

 You must do it at once! Don't wait even one minute.

 She cleaned up at once when she realised that her mother was coming to visit.

15: In common (with) = something that's shared or the same

 People from different countries have a lot in common. We all want to have good lives.
 What does a cat have in common with a mouse? Well, they are both mammals.
 Exercises
1. Put in the correct preposition: 'at', 'in', 'on' or '_' (no preposition). (Time)
1. Lucy is arriving ____ February the 13th ____ 8 o'clock ____ the morning.

2. The weather is often terrible in London ______________ January.

3. It's better to get a taxi if you are out alone ______________ night.

4. She got married ______________ September.

5. They usually go to the south of France ______________ the summer.

6. Columbus sailed to the Americas ______________ the 16th century.

7. The Beatles were popular ______________ the 1960s.

8. I graduated from university ______________ 2001.

9. His birthday is ______________ June.

10. I usually go to my parents' house ______________ Christmas. We eat turkey together

______________ Christmas Day.

11. The train leaves ______________ tomorrow morning _______________ 8 am.

12. I love going skiing _______________ January.

13. We met at the restaurant _______________ 8 pm.

14. The class is ____ 9 am _______________ Monday mornings.

15. I like to drink coffee _______________ the morning and tea _______________ the afternoon.

2. Put in the correct preposition: 'in', 'on' or 'at'. (Place)

1. He's swimming _______________ the river.

2. Where's Julie? She's _______________ school.
3. The plant is _______________ the table.
4. There is a spider _______________ the bath.
5. Please put those apples _______________ the bowl.
6. Frank is _______________ holiday for three weeks.
7. There are two pockets _______________ this bag.
8. I read the story _______________ the newspaper.
9. The cat is sitting _______________ the chair.
10. Lucy was standing _______________ the bus stop.
11. I'll meet you _______________ the cinema.
12. She hung a picture _______________ the wall.
13. John is _______________ the garden.
 14. There's nothing _______________ TV tonight.
15. I stayed _______________ home all weekend.

3. Put in the correct preposition. (adjectives and prepositions)

1. England is famous _______________ its rainy weather.

2. I'm very proud _______________ my daughter. She worked very hard.

3. He isn't really interested _______________ getting married.

4. Luke is very pleased _______________ his exam results.

5. Unfortunately, I'm very bad _______________ music.

6. I've been married _______________ my husband for 10 years.

7. She's very excited _______________ the party.

8. Julie is very different _______________ her sister.

9. My niece is afraid _______________ dogs.

10. A ball gown is similar _______________ an evening dress.

4. Put in the correct preposition. (verbs and prepositions)

1. Stop worrying __________ your exam - everything will be fine.

2. I've waited __________ Judy for 30 minutes. I'm going home.

3. Stop talking and concentrate __________ your work.

4. Don't forget to pay __________ the newspaper.

5. He explained the computer program __________ me.

6. I don't know what we'll do at the weekend. It depends __________ the weather.

7. She will arrive __________ Beijing at 3pm.

8. I like to listen __________ the radio when I wake up.

9. He borrowed £20 __________ his brother.

10. Who does this coat belong __________?

5. Put in the correct preposition(s). (Phrases)
1. She paid for lunch _______________ advance, so we don't need to pay now.

2. I went to the wrong house _____________mistake!

3. Please make sure that you're _______________ time for the class!

4. I was walking to the station and, _____________ chance, I saw the glove I'd lost on the ground.

5. I love eating out in London. _________________ instance, one of my favourite restaurants has
amazing Japanese food.

6. I think the cat is ___________________ danger on that high roof.

7. I picked up the laptop and ________________ my surprise it fell apart in my hands.

8. I have a lot ___________________ common with my cousin. We both like many of the same
things.

9. If the baby starts to cry, pick her up _________________ once.

10. Did you forget your purse ________________ purpose so you wouldn't have to pay?

11. It's best to arrive ___________________ foot, because there is nowhere to park.

12. What do a whale and a dolphin have __________________ common?

13. He added salt instead of sugar _______________ mistake.

14. What's your favourite thing to do? __________________ instance, do you like sport?

15. The book was __________________ reach on a high shelf.

16. I want to go to Germany ________________ a change. I've never been there.

17. Please let me know __________________ advance if you can't come to the meeting.

18. She often goes to school _________________ foot.

19. Do you always brush your teeth before bed _______________ fail?

20. The little girl broke the toy ____________________ purpose because she was so angry.

21. Please come ___________________ once. We have a big problem.

22. She worked very hard and ___________________ last she managed to pass the exam.

23. We need to be ______________________ time or my grandmother will start to get anxious.

24. It feels like owning a house is ________________ reach. I'll never be able to do it.

25. We thought about it a lot and _________________ last we decided to buy a new flat.

26. We watched a film ___________________ a change. Usually, we read.

27. She was really __________________ danger for a few minutes in the rough sea, but luckily a
lifeguard saw her.
28. I went to the bookshop and, __________________ chance, I found a really interesting book about
Switzerland.

29. He walked into the kitchen and _____________ his surprise there was food all over the floor.

30. She drinks a litre of water every day ________________ fail.

6. Use the prepositions below to complete the sentences.

between - under - around – off - of - besides – behind - from - into - in - for - with

1. They say good looks run ____________ my family.

2. We read the report many times ____________ preparation for our meeting.

3. The earthquake caused our building to shake ____________ side to side.

4. No one forced him to come to work when he was ill, he did it ____________ his own free

will.

5. I take a lot of pride ____________ my ability to read Arabic.

6. Our dance class is an excellent bridge ____________ different cultures.

7. I sold my bike ____________ a profit.

8. She has two cars and a boat, ____________ her bicycle.

9. Peter is so far ____________ in his rent payments that they are going to throw him out.

10. You make a good case ____________ a pay rise, but we can’t afford it.

11. This is the best grammar book I own, but unfortunately it’s out ____________ print.

12. Everyone is nice to Ron at work, but they are always talking ____________ his back.

13. When I realised I was about to miss my bus, I broke ____________ a run to catch it.

14. Please bear ____________ us while we try to fix the computer system.

15. What we discussed in our meeting was supposed to be ____________ the record, but they

printed it in the newspapers anyway.

16. Sales have been increasing ____________ the leadership of our new boss.

17. If you hang ____________ successful people, you are more likely to become successful

yourself.