Prepositions - Part 1

Prepositions

​Prepositions

A preposition is a word or group of words used before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show direction, time, place, location, spatial relationships, or to introduce an object. Some examples of prepositions are words like "in," "at," "on," "of," and "to."

Prepositions in English are highly idiomatic. Although there are some rules for usage, much preposition usage is dictated by fixed expressions. In these cases, it is best to memorize the phrase instead of the individual preposition

Prepositions of Direction

To refer to a direction, use the prepositions "to," "in," "into," "on," and "onto."

• He drove to the store.

• Don’t ring the doorbell. Come right in(to) the house.

• Drive on(to) the grass and park the car there.

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​Rules

Multiple Choice

The lions walked in a circle _______ the baby giraffe before they attacked.

• off

• around

Multiple Choice

The frightened deer disappeared _____ the forest.

• into

• onto

Multiple Choice

Raindrops ran ________ the windscreen making it difficult to see the road.

• off

• down

Multiple Choice

We strolled _____ the beach watching the sunset.

• around

• along

Multiple Choice

The man fell _______ the river.

• on

• into

• at

• down

Multiple Choice

He sent a message _______ his parents.

• for

• to

• at

• in

Multiple Choice

The cat crawled ________ the sofa.

• over

• under

• on

• at

Prepositions of Time

To refer to one point in time, use the prepositions "in," "at," and "on."

Use "in" with parts of the day (not specific times), months, years, and seasons.

• He reads in the evening.

• The weather is cold in December.

• She was born in 1996.

• We rake leaves in the autumn.

​

​Rules

Use "at" with the time of day. Also use "at" with noon, night, and midnight.

• I go to work at 8:00.

• He eats lunch at noon.

• He often goes for a walk at night.

• They go to bed at midnight.

​

​Rules

Use "on" with days.

• I work on Saturdays.

• She does laundry on Saturdays

​

​Rules

Multiple Choice

Where were you ________ the 28th February?

• in

• on

• at

• X

Multiple Choice

I got up _____ 8 o'clock this morning.

• in

• on

• at

• X

Multiple Choice

I'm going on holiday _____ October.

• in

• on

• at

• X

Multiple Choice

The park is beautiful _____ spring.

• in

• on

• at

• X

Multiple Choice

Sara was born _____ 1993.

• in

• on

• at

• X

Multiple Choice

Hurry! The train leaves _____ five minutes.

• in

• on

• at

• X

Multiple Choice

Let's meet _____ 7:30 pm tomorrow evening.

• in

• on

• at

• X

Multiple Choice

My Chinese neighbour's dog is sometimes noisy ____ night.

• in

• on

• at

• every

Match

Match the following

• in

• on

• at

We use ................. with month, years, periods in history, part of the day.

We use ................. with days and date.

We use ................. with clock times, festivals, the weekend, the beginning/ end of.

• We use ................. with month, years, periods in history, part of the day.

• We use ................. with days and date.

• We use ................. with clock times, festivals, the weekend, the beginning/ end of.

To refer to extended time, use the prepositions "since," "for," "by," "during," "from…to," "from…until," "with," and "within."

​

Extended time

​

• I have lived in Malaysia since 2017. (I moved there in 2017 and still live here.)

• He will be in Tabuk for 3 weeks. (He will spend 3 weeks in Tabuk.)

• She will finish her homework by 6:00. (She will finish her homework sometime between now and 6:00.)

• He works part time during the summer. (For the period of time throughout the summer.)

• I will collect data from January to June. (Starting in January and ending in June.)

• They are in school from August until May. (Starting in August and ending in May.)

• She will graduate within 2 years. (Not longer than 2 years.)

Multiple Choice

I was tired this morning. I stayed in bed _______ 10 o'clock.

• until

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

'How long did you stay at the masjid last night?'

'_______ midnight.'

• Until

• Since

• For

Multiple Choice

Mr and Mrs Egan have been married _____ 2011.

• until

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

Job applications must be received ______ the 22th April.

• by

• until

Multiple Choice

We visited Medinah _______ our holiday in Saudi Arabia.

• for

• if

• during

• by

Multiple Choice

We waited for Sami _______ an hour but he didn't come.

• until

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

He has been living in Riyadh _________several years.

• since

• for

• by

Multiple Choice

'Have you just arrived?' 'No, I've been here _______ half past six.'

• until

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

Shuaib and I are good friends. We have known each other ______ ten years.

• until

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

I'm tired. I'm going to lie down _____ a few minutes.

• until

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

This is my house. I've lived here ______ I was seven years old.

• until

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

Don't open the door of the train _______ the train stops.

• until

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

The new motorway will be open to traffic _______ the end of this year.

• in

• by

Multiple Choice

I haven't had any water ____ this morning.

• in

• by

• since

• about

Multiple Choice

Ali has gone away. He'll be away _____ Wednesday.

• until

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

Next week I'm going to Dammam _______ three days.

• until

• since

• for

Multiple Choice

I usually finish work at 5:30p.m., but sometimes I work _____ 6 p.m.

• until

• since

• for