1. Prepositions

2. Preposition Use in / at / on prepositions of place Preposition Use in / at / on prepositions of place 1

3. IN Use 'in' with spaces: in a room / in a building in a room / in a building in a garden / in a park in a garden / in a park Use 'in' with bodies of water: in the sea in the sea in the water in the water in a river in a river Use 'in' with lines: in a row / in a line in a row / in a line in a queue in a queue

4. AT Use 'at' with places: at the bus-stop at the bus-stop at the door at the door at the cinema at the cinema at the end of the street at the end of the street Use 'at' with places on a page: at the top of the page at the top of the page at the bottom of the page at the bottom of the page Use 'at' in groups of people: at the back of the class at the back of the class at the front of the class at the front of the class

5. ON Use 'on' with surfaces: on the ceiling / on the wall / on the floor on the ceiling / on the wall / on the floor on the table on the table Use 'on' with small islands: I stayed on Maui. I stayed on Maui. Use 'on' with directions: on the left on the left on the right on the right straight on straight on

6. IMPORTANT NOTES In / at / on the corner We say 'in the corner of a room', but 'at the corner (or 'on the corner') of a street'

7. In / at / on the front We say 'in the front / in the back' of a car We say 'in the front / in the back' of a car We say 'at the front / at the back' of buildings / groups of people We say 'at the front / at the back' of buildings / groups of people We say 'on the front / on the back' of a piece of paper We say 'on the front / on the back' of a piece of paper

8. 2 Preposition Use in / at / to / nothing prepositions of place and movement prepositions of place and movement

9. IN Use 'in' with static (non-movement) verbs and cities, countries, states, etc.: stay in the USA stay in the USA work in New York work in New York

10. AT Use 'at' with static (non-movement) verbs and places: at the cinema at the cinema at work at work at home at home

11. TO Use 'to' with verbs of movement such as go, come, drive, etc. : go to work go to work drive to California drive to California

12. IMPORTANT NOTES The use of (nothing) With verbs of movement and the noun 'home' - He went home. - they drove home. With verbs of movement and the noun 'home' - He went home. - they drove home. With the verb 'visit' - She visited France last summer. With the verb 'visit' - She visited France last summer.

13. 3 Preposition Use for / while / during for / while / during

14. FOR Use 'for' with a period of time to express the duration or 'how long' something has happened: for three weeks for three weeks for many years for many years

15. WHILE Use 'while' plus a verb form: while I was watching TV while I was watching TV while I lived in New York while I lived in New York

16. DURING Use 'during' with a noun to express 'when' something happens: during class during class during my vacation during my vacation during the discussion during the discussion

17. 4 Preposition Use in / at / on in / at / on prepositions of time and date prepositions of time and date

18. IN Use 'in' months and years and periods of time: in January in January in 1978 in 1978 in the twenties in the twenties Use 'in' a period of time in the future: in a few weeks in a few weeks in a couple of days in a couple of days

19. AT Use 'at' with precise time: at six o'clock at six o'clock at 10.30 at 10.30 at two p.m. at two p.m.

20. ON Use 'on' with days of the week: on Monday on Monday on Fridays on Fridays Use 'on' with specific calendar days: on Christmas day on Christmas day on October 22nd on October 22nd

21. IMPORTANT NOTES in the morning / afternoon / evening - at night We say in the morning, afternoon or evening BUT we say 'at night'

22. 5 Noun Prepositions

23. FOR Use 'for' preceded by the following nouns: a check for (amount of money) a check for (amount of money) Example: She gave me a check for $50. a demand for something a demand for something Example: Unfortunately, there wasn't enough demand for our product. a need for something a need for something Example: There is a real need for discipline in this class. a reason for something a reason for something Example: I have a reason for doing that!

24. IN Use 'in' preceded by the following nouns: a rise in something a rise in something Example: There has been a rise in prices recently. an increase in something an increase in something Example: We have seen many increases in production levels. a fall in something a fall in something Example: There has been a fall in prices recently. a decrease in something a decrease in something Example: We have seen many decreases in production levels.

25. OF Use 'of' preceded by the following nouns: a cause of something a cause of something Example: She is the cause of all his problems. a photograph OR a picture of something or someone a photograph OR a picture of something or someone Example: He took a photograph of the mountains.

26. TO Use 'to' preceded by the following nouns: damage to something damage to something Example: I did a lot of damage to my car the other day. an invitation to a celebration of some type an invitation to a celebration of some type Example: We were invited to their wedding. reaction to something reaction to something Example: Her reaction to his behavior was quite funny. a solution to a problem a solution to a problem Example: He provided the solution to our financial situation. an attitude to something (or TOWARDS something) an attitude to something (or TOWARDS something) Example: Your attitude to your problems doesn't help them get resolved.

27. WITH Use 'with' preceded by the following nouns: a relationship with someone or something a relationship with someone or something Example: My relationship with Mary is wonderful. a connection with someone or something a connection with someone or something Example: His connections with the CIA are very limited. a contact with someone or something a contact with someone or something Example: Have you had any contact with Sarah?

28. BETWEEN Use 'between' preceded by the following nouns: a connection between TWO things a connection between TWO things Example: There is no connection between the two crimes. a relationship between TWO things a relationship between TWO things Example: The relationship between the two friends was very strong. a contact between TWO things a contact between TWO things Example: There is little contact between the two parents. a difference between TWO things a difference between TWO things Example: There is no difference between those two colors.

29. 6 Prepositions Nouns

30. BY Use 'by' with the following nouns: to pay by check (credit card) to pay by check (credit card) Example: I paid the bill by check. to do something by accident to do something by accident Example: I broke the vase by mistake. to do something by mistake to do something by mistake Example: I'm afraid I brought the wrong book by mistake. to do something by chance to do something by chance Example: I saw Jack at the supermarket by chance. a play, song, book, etc. by someone a play, song, book, etc. by someone Example: The opera 'Otello' is by Giuseppe Verdi.

31. FOR Use 'for' with the following nouns: (to go / come) for a walk (to go / come) for a walk Example: Let's go for a walk. (to go / come) for a swim (to go / come) for a swim Example: We went for a swim as soon as we arrived. (to go / come) for a drink (to go / come) for a drink Example: Would you like to come over for a drink? (to go / come) for a visit (to go / come) for a visit Example: I'd love to come for a visit sometime. (to have something) for breakfast / lunch / dinner / supper (US English) (to have something) for breakfast / lunch / dinner / supper (US English) Example: I had bacon and eggs for breakfast.

32. IN Use 'in' with the following nouns: to be OR to fall in love with someone to be OR to fall in love with someone Example: I fell in love with my wife at first sight. in my opinion in my opinion Example: In my opinion, we need to invest in some development. a need for something

33. ON Use 'on' with the following nouns: (to be) on fire (to be) on fire Example: Help! The house is on fire! (to be) on the telephone / phone (to be) on the telephone / phone Example: I think Tom is on the phone at the moment. on television on television Example: There is a good film on television tonight. on the radio on the radio Example: Mahler's fifth was on the radio last night. (to be / go) on a diet (to be / go) on a diet Example: I really need to go on a diet.

34. ON (to be / go) on strike (to be / go) on strike Example: The sanitary engineers have gone on strike again. (to be / go) on holiday (UK English) / vacation (American English) (to be / go) on holiday (UK English) / vacation (American English) Example: I really need to go on vacation soon. (to be / go) business (to be / go) business Example: He went away this weekend on business. (to be / go) on a trip (to be / go) on a trip Example: We were on a trip this past weekend. (to be / go) a tour (to be / go) a tour Example: Have you ever been on a tour of the French countryside?

35. ON (to be / go) on an excursion (to be / go) on an excursion Example: We went on an excursion to Versailles when we were in Paris.

36. Use the following adjectives followed by 'about'. Each group of adjectives have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions. angry / annoyed / furious about something angry / annoyed / furious about something Example: I'm really angry about our losses on the stock market! excited about something excited about something Example: He's excited about his birthday party next week. worried / upset about something worried / upset about something Example: He's worried about his upcoming examinations. sorry about something sorry about something Example: I'm very sorry about Losing your book.

37. 7 Adjective Preposition Combinations # 1 # 1 'at / by / for / from' 'at / by / for / from'

38. AT Use the following adjectives followed by 'at'. Each group of adjectives have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions. good / excellent / brilliant at something OR at doing something good / excellent / brilliant at something OR at doing something Example: They are excellent at planning fun parties. bad / hopeless at something OR at doing something bad / hopeless at something OR at doing something Example: Unfortunately, I'm hopeless at being on time.

39. AT / BY Use the following adjectives followed by 'at' or 'by'. Each group of adjectives have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions. amazed / astonished / shocked / surprised at OR by something amazed / astonished / shocked / surprised at OR by something Example: I was amazed at his stamina.

40. FOR Use the following adjectives followed by 'for'. Each group of adjectives have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions. angry with someone for something angry with someone for something Example: I'm really angry with John for his total lack of responsibility. famous for something famous for something Example: She's famous for her watercolor paintings. responsible for something responsible for something Example: You'll have to speak to John, he's responsible for customer complaints. sorry for doing something sorry for doing something Example: He says he's sorry for shouting at you. (to feel or be) sorry for someone (to feel or be) sorry for someone Example: I really feel sorry for Pam.

41. FROM Use the following adjectives followed by 'from'. different from somone / something different from somone / something Example: His photographs are very different from his paintings.

42. 8 Adjective Preposition Combinations # 2 # 2 'of / on / to / with' 'of / on / to / with'OF

43. Use the following adjectives followed by 'of'. Each group of adjectives have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions. nice / kind / good / generous of someone (to do something) nice / kind / good / generous of someone (to do something) Example: It was very nice of him to buy me a present. mean of someone (to do something) mean of someone (to do something) Example: It was very mean of Susan to say that to Tom. stupid / silly of someone (to do something) stupid / silly of someone (to do something) Example: I'm afraid it was stupid of me to come. intelligent / clever / sensible of someone (to do something) intelligent / clever / sensible of someone (to do something) Example: That was quite sensible of Tom. polite of someone (to do something) polite of someone (to do something) Example: It was very polite of Peter to invite my sister to the party.

44. impolite / rude of someone (to do something) impolite / rude of someone (to do something) Example: I can't believe how rude it was of Jack to shout at his daughter in front of all those people. unreasonable of someone (to do something) unreasonable of someone (to do something) Example: Don't be so hard on yourself! It's unreasonable of you to expect to understand everything immediately. proud of something or someone proud of something or someone Example: I'm very proud of my daughter's wonderful progress in school. ashamed of someone or something ashamed of someone or something Example: She's ashamed of her bad grades. jealous / envious of someone or something jealous / envious of someone or something Example: She's really envious of her sister's wealth.

45. aware / conscious of something aware / conscious of something Example: Teens are often overly conscious of skin blemishes. capable / incapable of something capable / incapable of something Example: Peter is quite capable of conducting the meeting on his own. fond of someone or something fond of someone or something Example: She is so fond of her niece. short of something short of something Example: I'm afraid I'm short of cash tonight. tired of something tired of something Example: I'm tired of your complaining!

46. ON Use the following adjective followed by 'on'. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions. to be keen on something to be keen on something Example: She is very keen on horses.

47. TO Use the following adjectives followed by 'to'. Each group of adjectives have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions. married / engaged to someone married / engaged to someone Example: Jack is engaged to Jill. nice / kind / good / generous to someone nice / kind / good / generous to someone Example: She was very generous to me when I was staying with her. mean / impolite / rude / unpleasant / unfriendly / cruel to someone mean / impolite / rude / unpleasant / unfriendly / cruel to someone Example: How can you be so unfriendly to your neighbors? similar to something similar to something Example: His painting is similar to Van Gough.

48. WITH Use the following adjectives followed by 'with'. Each group of adjectives have the same or related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions. angry / annoyed / furious with someone for something angry / annoyed / furious with someone for something Example: I'm furious with my brother for having lied to me! delighted / pleased / satisfied with something delighted / pleased / satisfied with something Example: He is quite satisfied with his results. disappointed with something disappointed with something Example: She's really disappointed with her new car. bored / fed up with something bored / fed up with something Example: Let's go. I'm fed up with this party. crowded with (people, tourists, etc.) crowded with (people, tourists, etc.) Example: Disneyland is crowded with tourists in July.

49. 9 Prepositions of Place and Direction

50. Look at this plan of the ground floor of a skyscraper: Here are a number of preposition combinations that can be used to describe the floor plan: at the bottom of at the top of behind between in the corner of in the middle of next to to the left of on the other side of to the right of on the side of on top of opposite

51. Example Sentences There is a large garden in the middle of the skyscraper. There is a large garden in the middle of the skyscraper. The smallest room is located to the left of the internal garden. The smallest room is located to the left of the internal garden. The entrance to room number three is opposite the entrance to room number two. The entrance to room number three is opposite the entrance to room number two.

52. 10 Prepositions of Direction

53. Here are a number of preposition that can be used to show direction and movement around the floor plan: across between into out of past round through towards across between into out of past round through towards

54. Example Sentences Walk through the exit of room two and enter into building number three. Walk through the exit of room two and enter into building number three. Walk across the indoor garden to reach room number five. Walk across the indoor garden to reach room number five. Walk past the side entrance to reach the main entrance. Walk past the side entrance to reach the main entrance.