A preposition is a word or group of words used to link nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence. Some examples of prepositions are single words like in, at, on, of, to, by, with, or phrases like in front of, next to, instead of.
Exercise 1: Fill in the gaps with the right preposition.
in, on, at, from, with, by, for
Where do you come ………………………..?
My cousin lives ………………… Norway.
They are walking ………………… the bridge.
I don't like flying, so I went to Paris ……………… bus.
You can stay ……………………..me tonight.
My birthday is …………………… 29th February.
I'll see you ……………..Christmas.
Put the books …………………. the table, please.
I haven't seen you …………………….ages.
I like this house ……………………. the river.
Exercise 2. Complete each sentence with a suitable phrase!
IN CASE OF
IN FAVOUR OF
BY MEANS OF
REGARDLESS OF
BECAUSE OF
APART FROM
AS FOR
INSTEAD OF
ON BEHALF OF
ACCORDING TO
I think I'd rather have coffee ………………….. tea.
………………………….the danger , Paul ran back into the burning house
………………………..fire, smash the glass and push the emergency button.
Personally, I am ………………………….. banning cigarettes completely.
I would like to thank you …………………………… everybody who was rescued.
………………………..you, nobody else knows that I have escaped.
…………………… Steve, he believes that we should stay where we are.
Jim managed to climb the house ……………………………. the ladder he found.
…………………………..the rain, the match was postponed.
……………………………the timetable , the next train is due in two hours.
Exercise 3. Match the phrases in bold type with their meanings!
a) IN PUBLIC
b) IN THE END
c) IN THE BEGINNING
d) IN CHARGE OF
e) ON TIME
f) OUT OF DATE
g) ON PURPOSE
h) IN TIME
i) ON BUSINESS
1. Alice's new hairstyle really looks OLD-FASHIONED. ……………
2. Sonya made a good impression AT FIRST . ………………
3. Jerry didn't do it DELIBERATELY . …………………….
4. Teresa dismissed her personal assistant IN FRONT OF EVERYONE . ………
5. Gina finished the job WITH DAYS TO SPARE . ………
6. Maggie FINALLY threw out the old sofa. …………
7. Fiona broke her leg when she was travelling FOR WORK. ………………
8. Brian is RESPONSIBLE FOR about twenty people . ………………………
9. Jodie reached the coach AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME. …………………
Exercise 4: Fill in the gaps
in, to, on, at, from, off, about, with, for, of, up
He is not sure how to cope………………….. this problem.
Success may depend……………………. patience.
You must get used………………. working long hours.
The girls insisted ……………….. going out with Mark.
I'm looking forward ………………….. seeing you soon.
How can I prevent Kate………………….. working in this shop?
Unfortunately, this time he can't rely ……………… his closest friends.
You need to be pretty tough to succeed ………………. this cruel world.
The firm specialized ……………………….designing websites.
I stopped Andrew ………………….. smoking.
They often talk ……………………….. New Zealand.
The patient worries ……………………the check-up.
She apologised ………………….not introducing herself sooner.
He is always boasting …………………… something.
The suspect never confessed……………………. killing his wife.
Could you give ……………………. smoking?
Nick insisted ………………… calling an ambulance.
We laughed …………………. him a lot.
Residents object ……………….. the volume of traffic.
Did you put ……………… the meeting?
My sister is always talking ………………. her perfect hair.
Do you ever think ……………………….getting married and having children?
They were accused ………………….breaking into a shop.
I, absolutely, agree ……………….. him.
They apologize ………………… being late.
She doesn't believe…………………. what he usually says.
The reporter is blamed …………………..writing bad stories.
She complains ……………………….bullying.
Do you concentrate ……………………………. reading or writing?
I wanted to congratulate you ……………………making such a good speech.
We need to keep ……………………trying.
Exercise 5: Fill in the gaps
AT - BY - IN - NEAR - OF - ON - TO - OUT OF - THROUGH - UNDER - WITH
It's possible to get a children's ticket ………………. the age of 16.
He ran so quickly that when he reached the finish line, he was ……………… breath.
The shirt is made …………….. cotton, so you can't wash it at a high temperature.
There was a beautiful old castle ………………..the river.
She always stays …………….. her aunt when she is in Vienna.
Janet is married …………… a good friend of mine.
The skyscraper in Dubai is said to be the tallest…………….. Earth.
Britain became a major seapower ………………….. Queen Elizabeth I.
I always wake up ………………….night because I have been having stressful times at work-
The ministry will have more money to spend …………………. the near future.
11. Trains from Vienna to Salzburg always travel …………………. time.
There was an old wooden table ……………….. the corner.
Let's meet ………………….the corner in front of the new Starbuck's.
Do you know what that word means …………………. Spanish?
We told him to be ready ………………… 7 o’clock.
The Hudson River flows ……………….. New York.
Three ………………. five Americans are overweight.
I can't find that village ……………… the map. It must be so small.
She wrote her first musical ……………………. the age of 12.
Exercise 6: Choose the correct preposition from the box.
at, by, in, on, for, out
Julie and I met in the shopping mall ………………… chance.
It will take you ……………………..least an hour to get here.
You can't go on a holiday on your own. It's …………………… of the question.
I didn't break the vase ………………….purpose. It was an accident.
The team received the trophy ………………………. the end of the match.
We have to pay our bills ……………………. June 1 at the latest.
Erica fell ……………….. love with the new boy from next door.
Is all of this furniture …………………… sale?
This bus always leaves right ON time.
I'm sorry. I opened the letter ……………. mistake.
I'm leaving this job ………………… good, and I am not coming back.
In this hotel, we don't need to pay ……………………. advance.
Do you often travel ……………… business?
Those trousers you have on look really ……………. of date.
It was the first time I spoke …………………. public. But everything went well.
Exercise 7: Fill in the gaps
ABOVE - ACROSS - AGAINST - AT - FROM - IN - OF - ON - TO - TOWARDS - WITHIN
The rapist was sentenced and had to go ………………………….. prison for 4 years.
The general moved his troops ……………………………. the enemy lines.
If you order today you will get your books ……………………. two days.
I read about the sexual harassment charges …………………………. the Internet.
The new skiing resort lies 1200 metres ……………………… sea level.
The grades of the standardized test were all ……………………. average.
It's typical ……………….. him to carelessly cross the road without looking.
I can't be there ……………………… time. There are still two people ahead of me at the doctor's.
You can't always depend ……………………… your parents. You have to do things on your own.
Apart ………………… teaching at school, he is also the coach of a basketball team.
If we work as slowly as we do now we'll never find a solution ……………………. the problem.
The newspapers in the country are prejudiced ……………………. the new leader. It won't be easy for him to govern.
The office is ……………………. the first floor.
She drove through the town center…………………….. a speed of a hundred km an hour.
Have you heard the new commercial ……………………the radio?
She's too tired to swim ………………………… the lake.
……………………….. addition to getting 3 days off, he also got a nice pay rise.
The painting is similar……………………………. the one I have in my living room.
We were very surprised ………………. the price of food in the restaurants we visited on our holiday.
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol …………………. freedom and tolerance.
Exercise 8: Complete the following sentences with the correct prepositions from the box!
a) about
b) as
c) by
d) for
e) in
f) of
g) with
h) on
i) to
j) up
Many people were attracted ………………………………….. the shop's special offers.
The insurance company has agreed to meet our claim ………………………………full.
The shop repaired the clock completely free ………………………..charge.
The course was described …………………suitable……………… complete beginners.
……………………….. his return to England, he set about trying to find a job.
I didn't think his work was ……………………… to standard so I asked him to do it again.
He made a search of the cellar ……………………… the help of a torch.
The neighbours were always complaining …………………….. us …………………………our dog.