Basic of Prepositions

English as Second Language

Prepositions

The researchers have found a number of solutions of the problem. [solutions to]

All staff and students have great respect to Professor Greenberg. [respect for]

1. Prepositional combinations
You can use a preposition with a noun, a verb, and/or an adjective.

In Li’s view, some students are incapable of learning effectively in the absence of any form of assessment.

Due to the budget cut, the new committee consists of only ten members, six of whom will be engaged in this investigation.

Some commonly used combinations in academic communication are given below:

With nouns:	at a glance	in due course	solution to	on average	on the whole
With verbs:	comment on	account for	convince of	stem from	distinguish from
With adjectives:	confused by	related to	devoted to	aware of	satisfied with

2. No prepositions
Some verbs take a direct object and you should not use a preposition after them.

Eamples:

In the seminar, we discussed various issues related to the future development of robots.

Our department emphasises the excellence and applicability of industry-oriented research.

Instructions:

Fill in all the gaps with prepositions.

1. The students are given a week to prepare the test.
2. The researchers have found a number of solutions the problem
3. Hard work is the key success.
4. Jim apologised the lecturer missing the assessment.
5. No one can account the disappearance of the money.
6. The alleged murderer mentioned his financial difficulties the police investigation.
7. Students are encouraged to participate more activities during their university life.
8. You can distinguish sample A sample B by the size of the cells.
9. It is vital that you insure your house fire and other accidents.
10. The new virus presents a threat all PC users.

Basic Prepositions: Time and Place - at, in, on and to

Read the story below:

I was born in Seattle, Washington on the 19th of April in 1961. Seattle is in the State of Washington in the United States. That was many years ago... Now, I live in Leghorn in Italy. I work at the British School. I sometimes go to a movie on the weekend. I meet my friends at the movie theater at 8 o'clock or later. In the summer, usually in August, I go home to visit my family in America. My family and I go to the beach and relax in the sun in the morning and in the afternoon! In the evening, we often eat at a restaurant with our friends. Sometimes, we go to a bar at night.

Look at the chart below:

IN	We use in with months - in May seasons - in winter country - in Greece city or town names - in New York times of the day - in the morning, afternoon or evening BUT at night!
ON	We use "on" with specific days - on Friday, on New Year's Day, on April the 19th American English - "on the weekend OR on weekends"
AT	We use "at" with specific times - at 7 o'clock, at 6.15 at night specific places in a city - at school British English - "at the weekend OR at weekends"
TO	We use "to" with verbs which show movement such as go and come - He goes to school. She returned to the store. They are coming to the party tonight.

Fill in the gaps in this paragraph with the prepositions - in, on, at or to. Click on the arrow to see the answer.

Janet was born ______ Rochester ________December 22nd _____3 o'clock _____the morning. Rochester is the state of New York _____the United States. Now, she goes _____ classes ____the university. She usually arrives _____the morning ____8 o'clock. ______weekends, she likes driving her _____friend's house _____Canada. Her friend lives _____Toronto. She usually arrives_____ 9 the evening and leaves _____Sunday morning. _____Saturday, they often meet friends ____a restaurant. _____night, they sometimes go _____a motel. _____summer, ____July for example, they often go _____the countryside.

Prepared by:

Muhammad Kashif Iqbal