A preposition shows what one noun or pronoun has to do with another

Prepositions Gymnase du Bugnon CD 2012

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Introduction (from Mend Your English, Ian Brutton-Simmonds)

“A preposition shows what one noun or pronoun has to do with another.”

Underline the preposition in the following sentences:

The sky is above the earth. Run up the hill. The cat sat on the mat.

Your car is near mine. Flowers die without water. I want a dollar for this.

Please walk around the carpet, not across it. The boy fell into the water.

“The Old English (Anglo-Saxon) [%] lacked many prepositions and had

therefore to rely on adverbs, changeable word endings (inflexions), and

proximity of one noun to another in the word order. The proximity principle of

that primitive languages survives today in compound expressions such as

football = a ball for the feet or toothbrush = a brush for the teeth. In these

compounds clarity is enhanced by absence of the preposition [%]. Most of the

important prepositions were at first adverbs. This is why adverbs and

prepositions are so closely related in English.”

Prepositions Adverbs

He waited inside the house. He is inside.

We moved along the platform. Move along please!

He stood behind me. Please walk behind.

By whom was this done? The bus went by.

“Prepositions have great influence over verbs in that when compounded with

certain intransitives, they turn them into transitives.”

It depends. => It depends upon me. Don’t speak. => Don’t speak to them.

She was laughing. => She was laughing at her friends.

“Phrasal verbs consist of a verb with a prepositional or adverbial participle,

such as come to (regain consciousness), take off (of an aircraft), where the

preposition need not have an object following it.”


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There are over 100 prepositions in English, but some of them are more common than

others. They express time, place, purpose, possession and result.

aboard

about

above

absent

according to

across

after

against

ahead of

along

alongside

amid

amidst

among

around

as

as far as

as well as

at

atop

before

behind

below

beneath

beside

between

by

by means of

despite

down

due to

during

except

far from

following

for

from

in

in addition to

in case of

in front of

in place of

in spite of

inside

inside of

instead of

in to (into)

like

mid

minus

near

near to

next

next to

notwithstanding

of

off

on

on account of

on behalf of

on top of

on to (onto)

opposite

out of

outside

outside of

owing to

over

past

plus

prior to

regarding

round

save

since

than

through

throughout

till

times

to

toward

under

underneath

until

up

upon

with

with regards to

within

without


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Exercises

1. Time prepositions and adverbs: At the travel agency (L’anglais est un jeu, L.Rico et C.

Groud)

2. Place prepositions: Once upon a time in space (L’anglais est un jeu, L.Rico et C. Groud)

3. Mixed prepositions (English Grammar exercises, A. Boudry)

4. Fill in the gaps (English Grammar exercises, A. Boudry)

5. Prepositions after particular words and expressions (Vocabulaire anglais, A. Boudry)

6. Describing a room ( and all the following: Test your prepositions, P. Watcyn-Jones and J. Allsop)

7. Time expressions

8. Joke time

9. Verb groups

10. Noun groups

11. Adjective groups

12. Sentence transformation

13. Adverbs + preposition pairs

14. Similar, but different (MCQ)

15. Proverbs and sayings

16. The perfect woman

17. Idioms

18. Cartoon time


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1. At the travel agency : fill in the gaps with a preposition and put the letters in bold in the correct order to make adverbs.

at (4x) during to for under in (5x) by next on

- Good morning, young man. I want to book a ticket to Paris.

- Good morning, madam. Yes, when would you like to travel?

- I want to go away ________ week, as noso _____ as possible actually.

- How long do you want to stay?

- ______a month.

- OK. You can take off _______ Monday _____ 10 am. You will arrive in Paris ______ 11 am.

- Marvellous! I love Paris ______ June!

- Oh, I’m sorry, but we are ______ December, you couldn’t be in Paris ____ June if you decided to go won ________!

- Oh! I’m disappointed! It’s cold ______ December, isn’t it?

- Yes, I’m afraid it is. We are ____ winter!

- And with the jet lagI

- There is no jet lag ______ France!

- Oh! I And in case of hijacking!

- Take the Eurostar then! The trainI

- Oh yes! I have taken the train frobee ________, ocne _______!

- neyclert ___________?

- No, sixty years ago. For my wedding! I got married ______ twenty. I went to Twickenham with Albert. It was such a nice trip! But it was so long.

- Oh, I see. You know, adwayson ___________, the trip to Paris lasts 3 hours.

- Am I taking a train or a plane?

- You take the tunnel under the Channel.

- Are you kidding me on? I can’t do that!

- Take a ferry boat then!

- Well, that’s a good idea. I prefer to be ______ the water rather than _______. Can I see the picture of the ship captain, I want an old one.

- But you can’t choose a trip according ______ the captain’s looks! You’ll see him alter _______ _____ the ferry. Do you want to travel ______ night? You’ll take the boat and you’ll arrive ______ the following day.

- I don’t want to be seasick _______ my trip. It’s so difficult to chooseI


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- And what about a trip _____ Twickenham again? _______ bus? So you can remember the good old days? After allI

2. Once upon a time in space: fill in the gaps with a preposition.

Above behind close to from in (3x) in the middle of inside

into (2x) on (2x) through to (2x) under

Somewhere over the rainbow, October 12th 2015

My name is Speak. I was born ____ England, in 1965. I’m the captain of this spaceship. I’ve been lost

____ space for two weeks. I want to tell you my story before dying. I don’t think we can go back ____

the Earth station. We are going nowhere, I’m afraid.

Perhaps, I should have learnt to navigate before accepting this mission. But it’s too late now. We are

coming ___ the Moon but we were supposed to go ____ Mars.

Everything started three weeks ago. We were ____ a meteorite storm. My second commandant kept

saying: “Be careful ___ your left, a meteorI your leftI I said your left! I your left!! The other side!...

Quick!... Oh my God!” By criticizing me, he embarrassed me a lot and I lost my confidence. He had

some difficulty in understanding me.

“Could you shut up while going _____ the meteorite field!” Navigating with poor visibility on a busy

celestial road may be dangerous. I want you to keep cool. You can sing if you want to since I forgot my

radio”, I said. He insisted on taking the controls. He did not like my navigating. I was so irritated that I

sat ____ him, I just wanted to see his back. I pretended not to care about this trip. You can’t trust

someone who puts sweets ____ his ears. “Do you mind me having a cigarette? –A cigarette? Are you

crazy? Smoking is strictly forbidden!”

I put an ashtray ___ the table, ___ my football magazine. I lit my cigarette. Soon, it started to rain

inside, because the smoke alarm ___ our heads set off the sprinklers. We started to run around. We

needed to stop that. I pressed a button and we heard: “Mind the door, you have started the automatic

door opening system. Are you sure you want to go outside?”

On hearing the startling announcement, my second in command fainted. I screamed “Oh God!” and I

heard: “Door opening impossible. Chewing-gum ___ the opening system.” We were almost saved, but I

forgot the meteorites and before I could do anything, we crashed! Since then, we have been stuck ____

a meteorite. I can’t operate the vessel anymore. The meteorite is now in control of our movements. I

have got used to going where it wants. My second in command went ____ a coma. I put him ___ the

table. We have nothing left to eat, there is only one tin of corned beef left. I want the world to know what

happened. I can’t stop thinking about my future fame.


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3. Mixed prepositions: select the suitable preposition.

IN or INTO?

a. This small weed will grow a large tree.

b. Many rare plants grow his garden.

c. All the villagers danced a circle round the May-pole.

d. Intense cold turns water ice.

e. He dug the ground for an imaginary treasure.

FROM or OUT OF?

a. Having lost my key, I found myself locked my own house.

b. He lives miles away our village.

c. A last ray of sun came behind the clouds.

d. He is work at present, and can find nobody willing to employ him.

e. The little child ran her nurse’s arms into her mother’s.

AT or TO?

a. The dog was barking furiously the boy who had been teasing it.

b. I shall be home all day tomorrow.

c. We shall take our friend a play, as she loves the theatre.

d. They arrived the concert very late.

e. The wounded rabbit hopped back its burrow.

ON, OVER or ABOVE?

a. She was standing the bridge, looking the parapet into the water.

b. The moon was rising the dark line of the trees.

c. The branches of the oak, stretching our heads, gave us a pleasant shade.

d. The had dinner at a nice restaurant the lake.

e. She is fourteen, as her birthday was two months ago, the second of July.

ACROSS or THROUGH?

a. He passed his handkerchief his brow.

b. We succeeded in elbowing our way the crowd.

c. The explorer made his way back to the camp, many dangers.

d. The startled hen was running for its life the road.

e. The train was running a thick wood.

PAST, BY or ALONG?

a. Jack was walking my side, a busy street, when we chanced to go

a confectioner’s where we had to stop.

b. If you go the river, the old bridge, you will soon come to a house that stands

the riverbank.

c. He passed us without seeing us.


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d. Come with me and we shall take a long walk!

e. The streetlamps made spots of light all the Embankment.

4. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.

1. Our teacher is always considerate our feelings.

2. I don't want to interfere your plans.

3. James studied Latin instead Greek.

4. When did Gloria arrive New York?

5. When did your friends arrive the airport?

6. Will they cooperate us that matter?

7. That kind of invitation is not suitable a wedding.

8. I am glad I am not your place.

9. Please listen me when I speak you important matters.

10. When did Rachel get back her trip?

Il. Those books belong a friend of mine.

12. Are they ready the examination?

13. Don't worry that matter.

14. The road was full rocks.

15. I am quite fond dancing, but I am doubtful my ability.

16. Thomas is very excited his new car.

17. Arthur is working an essay right now.

18. Didn't you get tired hearing him boast his physical prowess?

19. We were prevented attending the party.

20. Don't hurry; I’ll wait you.

21. You have been absent the last two meetings.

22. We borrowed some money Jane yesterday.

23. I am very sorry my mistake.

24. We feel very sorry that old man.

25. You had better not insist going.

26. We take a great interest school affairs.

27. Why did you lend money that unreliable person?

28. She is angry John Brown his impolite behaviour.

29. Elizabeth has spoken taking a trip to Jamaica.

30. Are you looking forward taking a vacation?

31. The ship finally came sight.

32. Paul wasn't very sure his answers.

33. We complained the poor service.

34. That young girl is afraid being alone in the dark.

35. Aren't you accustomed that yet?

36. I certainly don't agree you that subject.

37. Those people are always a hurry.

38. Don't argue him money. It's useless!

39. That author is famous his Civil War novels.

40. The police are suspicious that strange man.

41. Robert always depends his brother assistance.

42. Have you decided a way to do it yet?


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5. Prepositions after particular words and expressions.

Fill in the text with the following prepositions.

ALONG - OVER - UNTIL - TO - lN - BESIDE - AT - AWAY - FOR - OUTSIDE - TILL - UP - OF - PAST - OUT -

AFTER - ON - / - / - BACK – DOWN

The young Greek, Michaelis, who ran the coffee joint 1) the ashheaps was the

principal witness 2) the inquest. He had slept through the heat 3) after five,

when he stroiled 4) 5) the garage, and found George Wilson sick 6)

his office - really sick, pale as his own hair and shaking ail 7) Michaelis advised him to

go 8) bed, but Wilson refused, saying that he'd miss a lot 9) business if he did.

While his neighbour was trying to persuade him a violent racket broke 10) overhead.

“I've got my wife locked 11) 12) there,” explained Wilson calmly. “She's going to stay there

13) the day 14) tomorrow, and then we're going to move away.”

Michaelis was astonished; they had been neighbours 15) four years, and Wilson had never

seemed faintly capable of such a statement. Generally he was one of these worn-out men: when he

wasn't working, he sat 16) a chair 17) the doorway and stared 18) the people

and the cars that passed 19) the road. When anyone spoke 20) him he invariably laughed

21) an agreeable, colourless way. He was his wife's man and not his own.

So naturally Michaelis tried to find 22) what had happened, but Wilson wouldn't say a word -

instead he began to throw curious, suspicious glances 23) his visitor and ask 24)

him what he'd been doing 25) certain times 26) certain days. Just as the latter was

getting uneasy, some workmen came 27) the door bound 28) his restaurant, and

Michaelis took the opportunity to get 29) intending to come 30) later. But he

didn't, he supposed he forgot 31) , that's all. When he came 32) again, a little

after seven, he was reminded 33) the conversation because he heard Mrs Wilson's voice,

loud and scolding, downstairs in the garage.

“Beat me!” he heard her cry. “Throw me 34) and beat me, you dirty little coward!”

Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, pp.129 - 130.

Cross out the wrong preposition.

1. ability in / at .

2. to agree on / about (matter for decision)

3. to allude to / at

4. to be angry against / with

5. to arrive in / at Great Britain

6. to be astonished at / with

7. to be bad at / in

8. to care about / for chocolate

9. to be clever at / in

10. to congratulate s.o. on / for

Il. covered with / by snow

12. to depend on / of

13. to be ill with / of

.14. to be kind with / to s.o.

15. to get married with / to s.o.

16. to recover from / of

17. rude with / to

18. responsible of / for

19. to shiver from / with

20. to suffer from / of

Complete.

1. A play Shakespeare. 2. We live the river. 3. his earliest childhood. 4. To go a walk.

5. To write pencil. 6. To be the radio. 7. Geneva Airport. 8. We walked the rain.


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9. my opinion. 10. three four.

11. a funny hat. 12. Christmas.

6. Describing a room

Above

Behind

Below

Between

In

In front of

Next to

On

Opposite

To the left of

To the right of

Under

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.


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7. Time expressions

Replace the underlined words with a time expression using the words in brackets + a preposition.

at (2x) before for (2x) from in (6x) out of to without

a. You’ll have to make your own bed from now on (future): you’ll have to make your own bed in future.

b. Most of her clothes are no longer fashionable (date):

c. You really make me angry occasionally (times):

d. Your aunt Kate is using the spare bedroom now (moment):

e. Now and then (time to time) we like to spend a weekend in the mountains:

f. We’ll be in the UK, but only briefly (long):

g. Nobody wanted to buy my car, so finally (end) I had to give it away:

h. Please complete the rest of your assignment right away (delay):

i. Please be very quiet. There is an examination going on (progress):

j. I hope to see you next month. Until then, (meantime) best of luck with your driving:

k. Wendy said that she would like to dance and immediately (no time) there were twenty young men

offering to dance with her:

l. Our daughter left home three years ago, and we don’t know even now (this day) what happened to

her:

m. I hope to see you all again soon (long):

8. Joke time

Complete the following jokes by filling in the missing prepositions.

Teacher: Where are you ______? Student: Germany. Teacher: Which part? Student: All of me.

An old lady went ______ the optician’s and said: “I need a new pair of glasses.” The optician replied: “I

knew that as soon as you walked ______ the window.”

Patient: Doctor! Doctor! I think I’m a dog. Doctor: Sit down, please. Patient: I can’t. I’m not allowed

______ the furniture.

What’s the best way to remove paint _______ a chair? Sit down ______ it before it’s dry.

Husband: I throw myself ______ everything I do. Wife: Go and dig a large hole then.

Girl: You remind me ______ the sea. Boy: Because I’m so wild and romantic? Girl: No, because you make

me sick.

Bulldog _______ sale. Will eat anything. Very fond _____ children.

I’ve always believed _____ love _____ first sight – ever since I looked _____ a mirror.


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What’s the definition _______ “minimum”? A very small mother.


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9. Verb groups

Place each of the following verbs under a suitable preposition (5 under each). Then see if you can make

sentences using each verb + preposition.

Abstain

Appeal

Apply

Approve

Believe

Benefit

Cater

Coincide

Collaborate

Compensate

Concentrate

Consist

Cope

Decrease

Dedicate

Delight

Depart

Depend

Dispose

Dream

Enrol

Expel

Flee

Glance

Hint

Indulge

Invest

Long

Marvel

Object

Point

Quarrel

Rely

Respond

Subscribe

Sympathize

Take advantage

Tread

Vote

Wink

at for from in of on to with

glance

Match each verb + preposition on the left with an object on the right.

1. Enrol on a. miracles

2. Believe in b. an oncoming vehicle

3. Translate into c. an April Fool trick

4. Fall behind with d. your knowledge of statistics

5. Brush up on e. a course at the English institute

6. Come into f. the chance to interview the President

7. Book into g. a heavy shower of rain

8. Inoculate against h. the best hotel in town

9. Jump at i. typhoid, cholera and yellow fever

10. Fall for j. your credit card payments


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11. Shelter from k. a fortune

12. Collide with l. several foreign languages

Complete the sentences with one of the following verbs + a preposition. Use the correct form of the

verb.

apologize arrive belong complain correspond die distinguish experiment

fill hear knock lose pray rhyme suffer vote

a. Did you ______________________ Tom and Sally? They’ve decided to emigrate to New Zealand.

b. It was almost midnight when we __________________________ the station.

c. Do you know who this book ________________________?

d. I _________________ taking so long to reply to your letter.

e. Could you ___________________ this form, please?

f. If you don’t agree with the proposal, you can always _____________________ it at the meeting.

g. Some people find it difficult to __________________ and American accent and a Canadian accent.

h. He _____________________ the manager about the poor service at the restaurant.

i. Would you say that the British House of Lords ___________________ the American Senate?

j. I think there’s someone _______________________ the door.

k. Can you think of a word that _________________ “sing”? Yes, “bring”.

l. Do you think scientists should be allowed to ______________________ animals?

m. The priest said he would ______________________ us.

n. For years, her husband had _____________________ migraines.

o. I don’t know why, but I really hate __________________ cards. It puts me in a bad mood all day.

p. Although he had survived the battle, the soldier later __________________ his wounds.


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10. Noun groups

Fill in the columns by placing the following nouns under a suitable preposition (4 under each). Then see if

you can make up a sentence for each of these prepositional phrases.

A moment

Accident

Dawn

Fact

First

Future

Heart

Holiday

Least

Lunch

Name

Private

Sale

Salvador Dali

Schedule

Strike

at by in on

first

Match the phrases in the two columns. Note which preposition is used with each noun.

1. She is undergoing treatment a. in wildlife

2. A bright student with an aptitude b. of the theatre manager

3. Congratulations c. into the causes of ageing

4. Scientists conduct research d. for spaghetti carbonara

5. He has fallen in love e. for learning foreign languages

6. The Princess is heir f. on your arms and shoulders

7. Coffee drinkers have a choice g. for a serious illness

8. Free tickets with the compliments h. to the Dutch throne

9. Kenya is a country rich i. with the girl next door

10. It is time for the children to pay a visit j. on your wedding anniversary

11. The Italian chef gave me a recipe k. to their grandparents

12. Working constantly at a computer puts a strain l. between black and white


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Complete the sentences with the correct preposition.

a. Congratulations ________ your thirty-fifth birthday!

b. With reference _____ your advertisement in today’s Guardian, I wish to apply ____ the position of

Sales Manager.

c. We have a good working relationship _________ the local authority.

d. Do you take pride ______ your appearance, or are you just vain?

e. John’s got very strange taste ______ clothes, hasn’t he?

f. Football fans showed their disapproval _____ the referee’s decision by booing loudly.

g. Please give my regards _____ your mother when you see her.

h. In a surprising departure ______ tradition, the Queen rode to the Parliament on a bicycle.

Complete the sentences with one of the following nouns + a preposition.

Basis campaign choice control cruelty excuse fall freedom

Genius anger knowledge objection opposite strain problem

a. What is the opposite of “timid”? Is it “bold” or “brave”?

b. The _______________________ chewing gum is that it loses its flavour too quickly.

c. If you had a ___________________ marrying for love or marrying for money, which would you do?

d. I know you have a clod, but that’s no __________________ not doing your homework.

e. If you have to deal with overseas clients, a _______________ foreign language is very useful.

f. Do you have any ____________________ my parking my car in front of your house?

g. Since the salmonella scare there has been a considerable ____________________ the

consumption of eggs.

h. Perhaps the three most important human rights are ____________________ hunger, fear and

persecution.

i. Einstein hated school and often missed classes, but he was a real ________________

mathematics.

j. In the dispute between the union and the management, new proposals have been put forward which

should at leas provide a ___________________ discussion.

k. In our class, we can do as we like; our teacher has no ___________________ us at all.

l. The RSPCA is the Royal Society for the Prevention of ______________________ Animals.

m. Overweight people should not job because it puts a great _________________ their hearts.

n. The African elephant will be extinct within twenty years if an international __________________

ivory trade is not started immediately.


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o. Vandalising public property is the only way some youngsters can express their ________________

society.

11. Adjective groups

Fill in the columns by placing the following adjectives under a suitable preposition (4 under each). Then see

if you can make sentences containing each of the adjectival phrases.

According

Accustomed

Annoyed

Aware

Famous

Friendly

Hand

Hopeless

Jealous

Late

Opposed

Pleased

Popular

Quick

Ready

Regardless

Short

Similar

Surprised

Valued

at of for to with

hopeless

Match each phrase on the left with a phrase on the right and put in the missing adjective. Choose from the

following.

accompanied accustomed blind convenient due hopeless

keen late nervous opposed pleased regardless rich suspicious

a. She’s a farmer’s daughter, so she is _ 1. for the motorway.

b. Harry’s so slow, he’ll even be _ 2. of strangers.

c. This car has high mileage and is _ 3. to working with animals.

d. She didn’t like the jacket but she was _ 4. of gender, age or ethnic origin.

e. I don’t like rap music, but I am _ 5. with the skirt.

f. The examination wasn’t difficult, but I’m _ 6. to his weaknesses.

g. She’s good at languages, but _ 7. about the results.

h. I’m in favour of fishing, but _ 8. by an adult.

i. The job is open to all, _ 9. on salsa.

j. The house is outside town, but is _ 10. for his own funeral!

k. He lives alone in a remote village, so is _ 11. in other minerals.

l. No children are admitted unless _ 12. to hunting.

m. It’s a country without much oil, but _ 13. for a service.


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n. He knows his good points, but he’s _ 14. at maths and science.

Complete the sentences below with one of the following adjectives + preposition.

allergic deep distracted envious exempt fortunate

quick sensitive suited sympathetic unaware

a. Although they said they were ___________________________ our cause, they were not prepared

to support us officially.

b. Sarah was very _______________________ figures, so she eventually became a successful

accountant.

c. I am _____________________ anyone who can play the piano really well.

d. Most people are ______________________ the difference between Eskimo and Inuit.

e. Some plants are so ___________________ pollution that they can only survive in a perfectly clean

environment.

f. Newton, the discoverer of gravity, was so __________________________ thought one morning

that his housekeeper found him holding an egg in his hand, having dropped his watch into the

boiling water.

g. The flat wasn’t very big, but is was perfectly ______________________ our needs.

h. Candidates with university degrees are _____________________ parts I and II of the examination.

i. Charles is disabled, so he is _______________________ having a wife who is also a trained nurse.

j. I don’t like open-plan offices. I am too easily _________________________ other people’s phones.

k. I am _________________ animal fur, so I avoid visiting friends who have cats or dogs in the house.


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12. Sentence transformation

Use the noun or verb in brackets + a preposition to write a new sentence: I can recite Wordsworth’s “Prelude” without looking at

the book (memory): I can recite Wordsworth’s “Prelude” from memory.

a. She spent the evening alone (herself):

b. They got married without telling anyone (secret):

c. I lent my cousin 5£ (to borrow):

d. What do the letters EU mean? (to stand):

e. I don’t feel like going out tonight (mood):

f. We have decided to stay here permanently (good):

g. I accidentally pressed the “eject” button (mistake):

h. My best friend is someone I can really trust (confidence):

i. Do you want a drink? (to care):

j. The way to get the best out of me is to make me work very hard (pressure):

k. My grandfather died when he was 96 (age):

l. Many filmmakers were influenced by the film Citizen Kane (impact):

m. I have the same name as my grandmother (to name):

n. I like the idea of a universal language (to appeal):

o. Henry really knew how to make people laugh (talent):

p. This rule is always true (exceptions):

q. Who’s taking care of the children? (to look):

r. Emma knows a great deal about organic farming (expert):

s. Are you and Jennifer related? (relative):

t. I don’t usually give lifts to hitch-hikers (habit):

u. My bank manager and I get on together very well (good terms):

v. My dog really likes you (to take):

w. I will not abandon you John (to stick):

x. Pay no attention to what he says (notice):

y. She decided to treat herself to a large box of chocolate (to indulge):


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z. Some people are opposed to women with small children going out to work (to agree):

13. Adverbs + preposition pairs

Complete each of the sentences using one of these adverbs + preposition pairs.

Around for around to away for away with back on behind with down to

down with in for in with on at out of over to up on up to up with

a. If you go into the park alone, watch ____________ pickpockets.

b. If you can’t do the job, why don’t you hand it _______________ someone else?

c. I’ve had so many other things to do lately that I’ve fallen _______________ my studies. Never mind,

I’ll soon catch up.

d. I’ve been looking ___________________ somewhere to live, but I haven’t found anything suitable

yet.

e. When the sky is red in the morning, it means we are _________________ some bad weather.

f. Is Pat ill again? He’s forever going ___________________ some illness or other!

g. Just because I kissed you last night, don’t run ____________ the idea that I’m serious about you.

h. When are you going to mend that broken window? Don’t worry, I’ll get ________________ it

one of these days.

i. I didn’t bring any money with me. If you pay for the meal, I’ll settle _______________ you later.

j. If you’re going to apply for that interpreter job, you’d better brush _____________ your French and

German.

k. When shall we meet for lunch? Well, I’m free anytime, so I’ll fit ______________ your plans.

l. He thinks he’s superior to everyone else. That’s why he always talks _______________ people.

m. My sister was very disappointed when she went to see the Backstreet Boys in concert. She said the

group failed to live ___________ her expectations.

n. My parents nag me constantly. They keep ________ me to smarten myself up and get a proper job.

o. When money is short, you have to think about cutting ___________ luxuries.

p. Did you get this booklet from a bookshop? No, I had to write ______________ it.


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14. Similar, but different

Choose the only suitable preposition for each sentence.

a. I always keep a dictionary _ hand in case I come across a word I don’t know.

1) by 2) to 3) out of

b. The technicians have checked the sound equipment and report that everything is _ order.

1) on 2) by 3) in

c. I tried to find someone to type up my essay for me, but _ the end I had to do it myself.

1) in 2) by 3) to

d. I’ve found a great newsgroup devoted to ice hockey! I came across it _ chance when I was surfing the

Web the other night.

1) from 2) out of 3) by

e. Have you seen this morning’s paper? There’s a big picture of you _ the front page!

1) at 2) on 3) in

f. I’ve taken this watch _ pieces, and now I can’t put it together again.

1) into 2) to 3) in

g. I never met Joe Louis, but he was a great boxer_.

1) by all accounts 2) on account 3) in the account

h. There is nothing illegal about my business dealings. Everything is strictly _ board.

1) on 2) above 3) by the

i. The red light goes on outside the studio door to let people know that you are _ air.

1) on the 2) in the 3) through the

j. I forgot to pack any food so we’ll get something to eat _ the way back.

1) in 2) on 3) over


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15. Proverbs and sayings

Complete the common sayings and proverbs below. Choose from the following prepositions (some of them

are used more than once).

Against before between from in into on

out of over up with without

a. A bird _____ the hand is worth two _____

the bush.

b. It’s like banging our head _____ a brick

wall.

c. _____ the devil and the deep blue sea.

d. To have a card _____ your sleeve.

e. To have several irons _____ the fire.

f. An iron fist ____ a velvet glove.

g. It’s no use crying ____ spilt milk.

h. To keep the wolf ____ the door.

i. To kill two birds _____ one stone.

j. To make a mountain ____ a molehill.

k. ____ sight, ____ mind.

l. ____ the frying pan and ____ the fire.

m. To put the cart ____ the horse.

n. The grass is always greener ____ the

other side.

o. There’s no smoke ____ fire.

Now match the expressions you have made with the meanings below.

To take advantage of one action to achieve something else as well. ___

To be surrounded by problems with no escape. ___

There must be some truth in even the most unlikely rumour. ___

This describes someone who is much tougher or stricter than they ___

appear to be on the surface.

You can only be sure of what you have at the moment; you cannot ___

be sure of something which you might get in the future.

To exaggerate or make a big fuss over something which is not serious. ___

To do things in the wrong order. ___

In negotiations, to have something in reserve that you have not yet ___

revealed.

To just manage to earn enough to live on. ___

To express the idea that all your efforts are getting you nowhere. ___

An expression which describes the way you no sooner get out of one ___

difficulty than you find yourself in another that is just as bad or worse.

An expression which describes our tendency to believe that life would ___

be better for us somewhere else.

An expression which describes how easily we forget people as soon as ___

we are no longer with them.

To have a number of different interests. ___


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This proverb advises you not to waste time regretting things which you ___

cannot change.

16. The perfect woman

This is a short story where all the lines are mixed up. We have given you the first and last line. Put the rest

in the correct order.


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17. Idioms

Each sentence contains an idiom which uses a prepositional phrase. Complete the sentences below with

one of the following prepositions. You will need to use some more than once.

At by from in into on out of under up to

a. She’s very busy at the moment; she’s up to her eyeballs in work.

b. The police arrived just in time; they came _______ the eleventh hour.

c. He’ll never pass the exam -- not _______ a month of Sundays.

d. The goods were not sold openly but were available ______ the counter.

e. She never once needed to consult the instructions, she had all the information ____ her fingertips.

f. Since he has won Wimbledon, everyone wants to interview him. He’s ____ great demand.

g. The boss didn’t tell Kevin off for coming late. He must be _____ her good books.

h. He’s almost dying; I’m afraid he’s ____ last leg.

i. There’s nothing else she can do now – the matter is completely ____ her hands.

j. I know everything I need to know about Roman Britain. I know the subject ____ A to Z.

k. She rarely goes to the cinema – just once _____ a blue moon.

l. They had very little money but they survived. They lived ____ a shoestring.

m. He hasn’t won yet – not ____ a long shot.

n. People arrived slowly, two or three at a time. They arrived ______ dribs and drabs.

o. Stop wasting time! Get to my office ______ the double!

p. I hate spiders. I break ______ a cold sweat just thinking about them.


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18. Cartoon time

Match the captions to the cartoons, adding the missing prepositions.

Documents

A preposition shows what one noun or pronoun has to do with another