More on Prepositions

Preposition Use - in / at / on
prepositions of place

IN
Use 'in' with spaces:
* in a room / in a building
* in a garden / in a park

Use 'in' with bodies of water:
* in the water
* in the sea
* in a river

Use 'in' with lines:
* in a row / in a line
* in a queue

AT
Use 'at' with places:
* at the bus-stop
* at the door
* at the cinema
* at the end of the street

Use 'at' with places on a page:
* at the top of the page
* at the bottom of the page

Use 'at' in groups of people:
* at the back of the class
* at the front of the class

ON
Use 'on' with surfaces:
* on the ceiling / on the wall / on the floor
* on the table

Use 'on' with small islands:
* I stayed on Maui.

Use 'on' with directions:
* on the left
* on the right
* straight on

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'

In / at / on the front
* 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 'on the front / on the back' of a piece of paper


Preposition Use - in / at / to / nothing
prepositions of place and movement
IN
Use 'in' with static (non-movement) verbs and cities, countries, states, etc.:
* stay in the USA
* work in New York

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

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

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

Preposition Use - for / while / during
FOR
Use 'for' with a period of time to express the duration or 'how long' something has happened:
* for three weeks
* for many years

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

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


Preposition Use - in / at / on
prepositions of time and date
IN
Use 'in' months and years and periods of time:
* in January
* in 1978
* in the twenties

Use 'in' a period of time in the future:
* in a few weeks
* in a couple of days

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

ON
Use 'on' with days of the week:
* on Monday
* on Fridays

Use 'on' with specific calendar days:
* on Christmas day
* on October 22nd

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


Noun Prepositions
FOR
Use 'for' preceded by the following nouns:
* a check for (amount of money)
Example: She gave me a check for $50.

* a demand for something
Example: Unfortunately, there wasn't enough demand for our product.

* a need for something
Example: There is a real need for discipline in this class.

* a reason for something
Example: I have a reason for doing that!

IN
Use 'in' preceded by the following nouns:

* a rise in something
Example: There has been a rise in prices recently.

* an increase in something
Example: We have seen many increases in production levels.

* a fall in something
Example: There has been a fall in prices recently.

* a decrease in something
Example: We have seen many decreases in production levels.

OF
Use 'of' preceded by the following nouns:

* a cause of something
Example: She is the cause of all his problems.

* a photograph OR a picture of something or someone
Example: He took a photograph of the mountains.

TO
Use 'to' preceded by the following nouns:

* damage to something
Example: I did a lot of damage to my car the other day.

* an invitation to a celebration of some type
Example: We were invited to their wedding.

* reaction to something
Example: Her reaction to his behavior was quite funny.

* a solution to a problem
Example: He provided the solution to our financial situation.

* an attitude to something (or TOWARDS something)
Example: Your attitude to your problems doesn't help them get resolved.

WITH
Use 'with' preceded by the following nouns:

* a relationship with someone or something
Example: My relationship with Mary is wonderful.

* a connection with someone or something
Example: His connections with the CIA are very limited.

* a contact with someone or something
Example: Have you had any contact with Sarah?

BETWEEN
Use 'between' preceded by the following nouns:

* a connection between TWO things
Example: There is no connection between the two crimes.

* a relationship between TWO things
Example: The relationship between the two friends was very strong.

* a contact between TWO things
Example: There is little contact between the two parents.

* a difference between TWO things
Example: There is no difference between those two colors.


Prepositions Nouns
BY
Use 'by' with the following nouns:

* to pay by check (credit card)
Example: I paid the bill by check.

* to do something by accident
Example: I broke the vase by mistake.

* to do something by mistake
Example: I'm afraid I brought the wrong book by mistake.

* to do something by chance
Example: I saw Jack at the supermarket by chance.

* a play, song, book, etc. by someone
Example: The opera 'Otello' is by Giuseppe Verdi.

FOR
Use 'for' with the following nouns:

* (to go / come) for a walk
Example: Let's go for a walk.

* (to go / come) for a swim
Example: We went for a swim as soon as we arrived.

* (to go / come) for a drink
Example: Would you like to come over for a drink?

* (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)
Example: I had bacon and eggs for breakfast.

IN
Use 'in' with the following nouns:

* to be OR to fall in love with someone
Example: I fell in love with my wife at first sight.

* in my opinion
Example: In my opinion, we need to invest in some development.

* a need for something

ON
Use 'on' with the following nouns:

* (to be) on fire
Example: Help! The house is on fire!

* (to be) on the telephone / phone
Example: I think Tom is on the phone at the moment.

* on television
Example: There is a good film on television tonight.

* on the radio
Example: Mahler's fifth was on the radio last night.

* (to be / go) on a diet
Example: I really need to go on a diet.

* (to be / go) on strike
Example: The sanitary engineers have gone on strike again.

* (to be / go) on holiday (UK English) / vacation (American English)
Example: I really need to go on vacation soon.

* (to be / go) business
Example: He went away this weekend on business.

* (to be / go) on a trip
Example: We were on a trip this past weekend.

* (to be / go) a tour
Example: Have you ever been on a tour of the French countryside?

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

ABOUT
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
Example: I'm really angry about our losses on the stock market!

* excited about something
Example: He's excited about his birthday party next week.

* worried / upset about something
Example: He's worried about his upcoming examinations.

* sorry about something
Example: I'm very sorry about Losing your book.

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 / brillant at something OR at doing something
Example: They are excellent at planning fun parties.

* bad / hopeless at something OR at doing something
Example: Unfortunately, I'm hopeless at being on time.

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
Example: I was amazed at his stamina.

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
Example: I'm really angry with John for his total lack of responsibility.

* famous for something
Example: She's famous for her watercolor paintings.

* responsible for something
Example: You'll have to speak to John, he's responsible for customer complaints.

* sorry for doing something
Example: He says he's sorry for shouting at you.

* (to feel or be) sorry for someone
Example: I really feel sorry for Pam.

FROM
Use the following adjectives followed by 'from'.

* different from someone / something
Example: His photographs are very different from his paintings.


Adjective Preposition Combinations
'of / on / to / with'

OF
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)
Example: It was very nice of him to buy me a present.

* 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)
Example: I'm afraid it was stupid of me to come.

* intelligent / clever / sensible of someone (to do something)
Example: That was quite sensible of Tom.

* polite of someone (to do something)
Example: It was very polite of Peter to invite my sister to the party.

* 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)
Example: Don't be so hard on yourself! It's unreasonable of you to expect to understand everything immediately.

* proud of something or someone
Example: I'm very proud of my daughter's wonderful progress in school.

* ashamed of someone or something
Example: She's ashamed of her bad grades.

* jealous / envious of someone or something
Example: She's really envious of her sister's wealth.

* aware / conscious of something
Example: Teens are often overly conscious of skin blemishes.

* capable / incapable of something
Example: Peter is quite capable of conducting the meeting on his own.

* fond of someone or something
Example: She is so fond of her niece.

* short of something
Example: I'm afraid I'm short of cash tonight.

* tired of something
Example: I'm tired of your complaining!

ON
Use the following adjective followed by 'on'. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions.

* to be keen on something
Example: She is very keen on horses.

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
Example: Jack is engaged to Jill.

* 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
Example: How can you be so unfriendly to your neighbors?

* similar to something
Example: His painting is similar to Van Gough.

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
Example: I'm furious with my brother for having lied to me!

* delighted / pleased / satisfied with something
Example: He is quite satisfied with his results.

* disappointed with something
Example: She's really disappointed with her new car.

* bored / fed up with something
Example: Let's go. I'm fed up with this party.

* crowded with (people, tourists, etc.)
Example: Disneyland is crowded with tourists in July.


PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE REFERENCE
Reference sheet:
AT
at first; at least; at most; at times; at any rate; at last; at the latest; at once; at short notice; at an advantage; at a disadvantage; at risk; at a profit / loss

BY
by accident; by far; by all means; by heart; by chance; by and by; by the way; by the time; by no means; by name; by sight; by now; by then

FOR
for now; for instance; for example; for sale; for a while; for the moment; for ages; for a change; for better or worse

FROM
from now on; from then on; from bad to worse; from my point of view; from what I understand; from personal experience

UNDER
under age; under control; under the impression; under guarantee; under the influence of; under obligation; under no obligation; under suspicion; under his thumb; under discussion; under consideration

WITHOUT
without fail; without notice; without exception; without someone's consent; without success; without warning