Topic 7 Prepositions (U 39,40)


1. Compare:

1.  Let’s go to the cinema.                      vs. We were at the cinema at the weekend.

2.  We are going to a concert.                 vs. I was at a concert on Saturday.

3.  I usually go to work by train.            vs. I left the book on the train.

4.  I went to the station by taxi.                         vs. I left my bag in the taxi.

5.  We could see an eagle above us.       vs. She put a blanket over him.

6.  I went to school.                                vs. I went home.   vs.              I was (at)
home.

7.  I was born on April 5, 1979.              vs.    I was born in 1979.

8.  I am going away for a week.             vs. I will be back in a week.

9.  I have been here since 2 o’clock.       vs.  I have been here for two hours.

10.  I waited till/until 5 o’clock.             vs. I waited from 3 to 5 o’clock.

11.  I will work on it till Friday.             vs. I have to pay the bill by Friday.

12.  She sat down on the grass.              vs. I found the ring in the grass.

13.  There’s someone at the door.          vs. There is a notice on the door.  vs. The switch is by
the door.

14.  What’s in the bottle?                        vs. What’s written on the bottle?

15.  What’s written on the back of the photo?   vs. The garden is at the back of the house.    vs.
I was sitting in the back when we crashed into a tree.


2. Complete the sentences with the correct preposition, where necessary:

1.      I’m sorry, I can’t talk …. the moment. Can you call back ….. 10 minutes? – OK. I’ll give
you a ring …. 5 o’clock. Is that OK?

2.      We often meet …. Christmas or …. our birthdays. Actually, we are meeting …. Saturday
evening. We are going …. our favourite restaurant.

3.      If you do not have time …. the weekend, we can meet ….. Monday morning or we can talk ….
lunch. – Oh, I am going away and I won’t be back ….. Tuesday evening.

4.      When is she getting married? - ….. the end of this month, I think. Don’t worry, you will
learn the date …. time.

5.      She was lying …. the grass reading a book.

6.      Did you read the sign … the door? – No, what does it say? – Well, the meeting will be held
… next week, so we can go … home.

7.      Shall we meet … the station? – No, I will pick you up and take you there … my car.

8.      We spent our last holiday … the south of Italy, but this year we are going ….. west.

9.      I watched TV ….last night. I fell asleep ….. the film and then I woke up …. midnight.

10.  Children …. six travel free. – Oh, I didn’t know that.


3. Are the sentences correct?

1.      Her husband  is away on business this week.

2.      Please write your name in block capitals.

3.      I like swimming in the sea.

4.      Shall we go by car or by foot?

5.      Whenever I see her, she is talking to someone by her mobile.

6.      Have you ever been in Italy?

7.      Prague lies on the river Vltava.

8.      She will come later as she is at the doctor’s.

9.      What is the highest mountain on the world?

10.  Write your name on the top of the page.

11.  I couldn’t find the village in the map.

12.  My daughter is sleeping at her friend’s tonight.

13.  When he arrived, the children were in bed.

14.  I met him at the bus stop yesterday.

15.  Have you ever read a novel from Hemingway?


3. Supply the correct preposition:

1.      live …. an island                       9. live …. a farm

2.      go ….. a trip                             10. … the beach

3.      … my way home                      11. … page twenty-five

4.      ….. noon                                   12. …. night

5.      …. the right                              13. …. the night

6.      meet … the airport                   14. … the corner of the room

7.      … the sky                                  15. …. the corner of the street

8.      …. the coast                              16. write … pencil