1. •in / at / on
•under / on top of
•above / over
•below / under
•along / through /
round (around)
•in front of / behind /
opposite / between
•by / beside / next to
•by / until
•in / during / for
3.
In general, prepositions:
◦ Are short words
◦ Always come before a noun or pronoun (prepositions)
◦ Show how the other words in the sentence are related
Why are they sometimes tricky?
◦ English has many prepositions
◦ A direct translation is usually not possible (or not correct)
◦ One preposition might have several translations
◦ Because there are many prepositions, there are many
rules.
◦ Sometimes there is no rule besides MEMORIZATION! (ex.:
for vebs that take a preposition)
4.
By reading (and listening) in English
By learning useful phrases by heart (memory)
◦ Learn the prepositions that go with certain vocabulary
words at the same time that you learn the word itself
By looking in a learner dictionary
◦ (for example: http://www.ldoceonline.com/ Longman Dictionary of Contempory English)
◦ Learner dictionaries usually provide the prepositions
commonly used with the word you are looking up, as
well as differences in meanings.
◦ Try this website:
http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/verb_prep
osition.html
5. Prepositions of Place and Time:
in / at / on
When do we use each of these?
He was born ___ the 20th century.
We rest ___ night.
You have a test ___ Tuesday.
My apartment is ___ the fifth floor.
The girls agreed to meet ___ the entrance to the
school.
◦ This product is not available ___ stores.
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Which is the most specific? Least?
6.
7.
8.
What is the difference in meaning between:
◦ “In the end” and “at the end”?
◦ Arriving “on time” and “in time”?
9.
Under and below?
On top of and above/over?
Which can we see in books?
◦ Please do the exercise ________.
◦ In the photo ________, …
10.
The course of the race begins at the city
centre. From there, runners will go _____ the
river, _____ the bridge, _____ the car park, and
finally, _____ the woods to the finish line.
•Along
•Over
•Round (around)
•Through
11.
What is the difference between
by, beside, and next to?
What is the difference between opposite and
in front of?
What is the opposite of in front of?
14.
In addition to at, on, and in…
Examples:
◦ Payment is due by 11 February.
Can you pay before 11 February? On that day? After 11
February?
◦ You have until 6 P.M. to pick up your tickets.
How can until be abbreviated?
Can you pick up tickets at 11 A.M.? 6 P.M.? 11 P.M.?
Do by and until mean the same thing?
◦ If not, what is the difference?
15.
Are both sentences correct?
◦ I plan to study a lot more in the next few months.
◦ I plan to study a lot more during the next few
months.
◦ The baby next to us was crying during the whole
flight.
◦ The baby next to us was crying in the whole flight.
Is there a difference between in and during…
◦ In meaning?
◦ In when each can be used?
16.
Which one answers the question “how long”?
◦ Example: How long do you usually study for an
exam?
Which one answers the question “how soon”?
◦ Example: How soon (or when) is the next book in
the series available?
