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PREPOSITIONS

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What is a Preposition?

A word that is used before a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun, connecting it to another word, for e.g.:

  • The book is on the table. The cat is under the table.
  • He sat on the chair.
  • There is some milk in the fridge.
  • She was hiding under the table.
  • The cat jumped off the counter.
  • He drove over the bridge.
  • She lost her ring at the beach.
  • The book belongs to Anthony.
  • They were sitting by the tree.

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�Types of Prepositions:�

There are three types of prepositions, including,

  • prepositions of time,
  • prepositions of place
  • prepositions of directions

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1. Basic Prepositions of Time:�

Preposition

Time Categories

at

clock times, exact times of day, night, holiday periods

in

months, years, morning/afternoon/evening, seasons, centuries, eras

on

days, dates, holidays, weekends, days/ morning/afternoon/evening

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1.1 Functional Time Preposition��

The following time prepositions have a more functional usage and show how two or more events relate to each other in time.

  • For example, Lisa jogs before dinner means Lisa jogs first and eats dinner second.

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Preposition

Use

Examples

before

earlier than

Before work, Tony eats breakfast.

from... to

start time... end time

Tony works from 9 AM to 5 PM.

from... until/till

start time... end time

Tony works from 9 AM until 5 PM.

in

within an amount of time

Tony eats four times in twelve hours.

during

within a time

During the day, Tony eats a small snack and lunch.

by

before a point of time

By 5 PM, Tony is quite hungry again.

after

later than

After work, Tony goes home and eats dinner.

for

amount of time

Tony works for eight hours.

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  • are used to show the position or location of one thing with another such as; at, in, on, Under/ Below, between and Above/ Over
  • In general we use: at for a POINT
  • at the corner , at the bus stop
  • at the door
  • at the top of the page
  • in for an ENCLOSED SPACE
  • on for a SURFACE
  • On means that something is in a position that is physically touching, covering or attached to something.
  • E.g.: The clock on the wall is slow.

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2. Prepositions of Place:�

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Complete the sentences below with prepositions of time (in, on, at). Remember the rules before deciding which one to use.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

  1. George visits us …. Christmas every year.
  2. They got married …. June the 12th.
  3. Ali doesn't go to work …. Wednesday and Friday.
  4. I will meet you in town 12.30 for coffee.
  5. I am going to London …. April.
  6. She always goes jogging …. the weekend.
  7. Some people rest …. the afternoon.
  8. They had lunch …. noon.

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Complete the sentences below with prepositions of time (in, on, at). Remember the rules before deciding which one to use.

  1. We celebrate Halloween …. October.
  2. I always get flowers …. my birthday.
  3. This program is on only …. Saturday.
  4. Children go to school …. weekdays.
  5. This school was built …. 2002.
  6. The weather is usually cold …. January.
  7. We eat lots of chocolate …. Easter.
  8. The course starts …. Tuesday afternoon.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

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Complete the sentences below with prepositions of time (in, on, at). Remember the rules before deciding which one to use.

  1. School starts …. 8.45 a.m. every day.
  2. I can meet you and the boys …. Monday afternoon.
  3. You have an appointment …. January 14th.
  4. I do not work …. night.
  5. They left …. Saturday morning.
  6. She was born …. 12 September 2018.
  7. This club was opened …., 2000.

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CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

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  • Between: refers to something in the middle of two objects or things (or places).

E.g.: There is an underground tunnel between England and

France.

  • Above / Over: Above and Over have a similar meaning. They both mean "at a higher position than X"but above normally refers to being directly (vertically) above you.

E.g.: Planes normally fly above the clouds.

  • Under / Below: Under and Below have a similar meaning. They mean at a lower level. (Something is above it).

E.g.: Your legs are under the table.

2. Prepositions of Place:�

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CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Complete the sentences using the following prepositions based on the picture given.

down

past

along

across

under

next to

between

up

over

opposite

behind

round

above

in front of

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  1. Mario's restaurant is … a travel agency.
  2. There's a person … of Mario's restaurant.
  3. There's a dog … the ladder.
  4. A painter is climbing … a ladder.
  5. Mario's restaurant is … a hotel called The Red Lion.
  6. Someone is running … the hotel.
  7. There's a beautiful garden … the hotel.
  8. There is a bus stop the hotel.
  9. Mario's restaurant is … the hotel and the launderette.
  10. There's a hairdresser’s … the launderette.
  11. Someone is coming … the steps from the hairdresser’s.
  12. There are a few people walking along the road.
  13. Someone is pushing a pram … the road.
  14. There's a car coming … the corner.
  15. There's a plane flying … the town.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

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  1. Mario's restaurant is below a travel agency.
  2. There's a person in front of of Mario's restaurant.
  3. There's a dog under the ladder.
  4. A painter is climbing up a ladder.
  5. Mario's restaurant is next to a hotel called The Red Lion.
  6. Someone is running in front of the hotel.
  7. There's a beautiful garden behind the hotel.
  8. There is a bus stop opposite the hotel.
  9. Mario's restaurant is between the hotel and the launderette.
  10. There's a hairdresser’s above the launderette.
  11. Someone is coming down the steps from the hairdresser’s.
  12. There are a few people walking along the road.
  13. Someone is pushing a pram across the road.
  14. There's a car coming round the corner.
  15. There's a plane flying over the town.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING: ANSWERS

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3. Prepositions of Directions/ Movements:�

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CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

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Common Prepositions

Place/ Location

Time

Other Relationships

Above Beyond Outside

Across By Over

Against Down Past

Along From Through

Among In To

Around Inside Toward

At Into Under

Behind Near Underneath

Below Off Up

Beside On Within

Between Out

After

As

Before

During

Since

Until

About

Despite

Except

For

Like

Of

Per

Than

With

Without

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Prepositions

  • A preposition comes before a noun or pronoun and relates that noun or pronoun to another word in the sentence.

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Common prepositions are about, above, across, after, around, at, before, behind, by, down, during, for, from, in, into, near, of, on, over, to, under, and with.

Marianne’s dog walked down the stairs.

The bird flew above the clouds.

The cat ran behind the counter.

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Object of a preposition

  • The object of a preposition is the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition. When a pronoun follows a preposition, it should be an object pronoun, such as me, you, him, her, it, us, or them.

The dog stood near the counter.

Laurie’s dog stood behind me.

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End of Session