Table of Contents
Choose
the correct preposition for each blank. 6
Choose the
correct preposition for each blank. 7
Sentence Stems:
Complete each sentence. 8
Sentence Stems:
Complete each sentence. 9
Error Correction:
Rewrite each sentence correctly. 10
Error Correction:
Rewrite each sentence correctly. 11
Choose the
correct preposition for each blank. 12
Choose the
correct preposition for each blank. 13
Choose the
correct preposition for each blank. 14
Write an appropriate preposition in each blank. 15
Answer Key 16
Quick and
Handy Grammar Review: Prepositions
You are probably not surprised to learn that many
professors consider prepositions to be the most difficult part of speech to
use. Why? Because they are always abstract. You can’t see, feel, taste, smell,
or hear prepositions. That is because they express relationships between or
among things, but they do not express or describe things themselves.
The following is a list of common
prepositions, some notes on their use, and examples.
Preposition
|
Notes
|
Examples
|
About
|
Meanings:
on (the subject of) and around (a place)
|
I read a book about the war.
The
speech was about causes of cancer.
You can now move freely about the
cabin.
|
Above
|
Meaning:
on top of
|
I
placed the painting above the
table. The blue sky was above us
all afternoon.
|
Across
|
Meaning:
on the other side
|
The
theater is across the street from
the bank. Columbus traveled across the
ocean in 1492.
|
After
|
Meaning:
later in time
|
After the game, the players went to
dinner.
After lunch, I studied in the library.
The
students were very tired after the
exam.
|
Against
|
Meanings:
opposed to and in contact with
|
Mr.
Jones ran against Ms. Adams for
treasurer. The umbrella is leaning against
the wall.
|
Along
|
Meaning:
on the side of
|
We
strolled along the bank of the
river. There are many hotels along the
Danube.
|
Among
|
Meaning:
in the midst of
|
There is a cat sitting among the flowers.
He was found among the dead after the battle.
|
Around
|
Meanings:
in a circle and turning a corner
|
The
teacher walked around the room.
Ken lives around the block.
|
At
|
Meanings:
to state time and to state a place
|
The game starts at 9:00.
Maya
studies at the University of
Nebraska. Leslie works at Apple
Computers.
|
Before
|
Meaning:
earlier in time
|
Before breakfast, I took a walk.
I would
like to finish before noon. The
movie ended before 10:00.
|
Behind
|
Meaning:
in back of
|
I
hid the bag behind the couch.
Nestor was standing right behind me.
|
Below
|
Meaning:
under or underneath
|
The bag is below the desk.
The
temperature is 11 degrees below zero.
|
Beneath
|
Meaning:
under and lower in status
|
The
dog was sleeping beneath the
table.
Do you think that working for
that company is
beneath you?
|
Common prepositions chart continued...
Preposition
|
Notes
|
Examples
|
Beside
|
Meaning:
next to
|
I
stood beside Mr. Johnson. The
chair is beside the table.
|
Besides
|
Meaning:
in addition to
|
Besides John, Jane and Alicia are going.
|
Between
|
Meaning:
in the middle of (two things or people)
|
The blue
car is between the red and the
white ones.
I was sitting between Toshiko and Nabuko.
|
Beyond
|
Meanings:
more than and farther than
|
Ines
became rich beyond her wildest
dreams. Xavier looked beyond the
blue horizon.
|
By
|
Meanings:
near, ownership, and how something was done
|
Patrick lives by the sea.
That
book was written by Harlan Cobin.
I sent the letter by mail.
|
Despite
|
Meaning:
contrast
|
Despite the rain, we still had a picnic.
|
Down
|
Meaning:
opposite of “up”
|
She ran down the hill.
The cat
went down the stairs.
|
During
|
Meaning:
something is in progress
|
There
was a terrible storm during the
night. During the movie, Carl ate
two bags of popcorn.
|
For
|
Meanings:
to show the intended recipient and purpose
|
This gift is for Helga.
I’m
taking this course for my degree.
|
From
|
Meanings:
to show the origin and to show the start time or place
|
This
package is from my brother. This
shop is open from 9:00 to 5:00.
|
In
|
Meaning:
inside
|
The
check is in my pocket.
|
Into
|
Meaning:
put inside
|
I
put the change into my wallet.
|
Like
|
Meaning:
similarity
|
Vicki
looks just like her mother.
|
Near
|
Meaning:
close to
|
Paul
lives near his school.
|
Of
|
Meaning:
possession and materials
|
The
wines of France are excellent.
Diana’s shirt is made of silk.
|
Off
|
Meaning:
opposite of “on”
|
Keep
your books off the table. Iris
fell off her bicycle.
|
Common prepositions chart continued...
Preposition
|
Notes
|
Examples
|
On
|
Meanings:
on top of and about
|
The bag is on the table.
I read a
book on the election of 2008.
|
Out
|
Meanings:
to go outside and opposite of “in”
|
Kris went out the door at six o’clock.
Victor
jumped out the window and ran
away.
|
Over
|
Meaning:
above
|
The
airplane is flying over the house.
|
Since
|
Meaning:
a start time
|
Wes
has worked for Target since 1999.
|
Through
|
Meaning:
to go from one side to the other
|
I walked
through the park.
|
Throughout
|
Meaning:
for the term of
|
Throughout his life, he was always kind and gentle.
|
Till
|
Meaning:
up to the time
|
I
worked till 10:00 last night.
|
To
|
Meaning:
direction
|
Ashley
is going to Colombia next fall.
Lon gave a ring to his girlfriend.
|
Toward(s)
|
Meaning:
in the direction of
|
The
truck was coming directly toward(s) us.
|
Under
|
Meaning:
below
|
The
cat hid under the couch.
|
Until
|
Meaning:
up to the time
|
Ziggy will work until 2018.
Walter
will stay in China until July.
|
Up
|
Meaning:
above
|
Kristin hiked up the mountain.
The
bathroom is up the stairs to your
right.
|
Upon
|
Meaning:
when (poetic use)
|
Once
upon a time, there was a noble
queen.
|
With
|
Meaning:
together
|
I
had dinner with Arnold yesterday.
Are you with me or against me?
|
Within
|
Meaning:
inside
|
Hal tried to live within his income.
Within these walls are
many treasures.
|
Without
|
Meaning:
lacking
|
People
cannot live without water. I
cannot live without you.
|
One
of the most common constructions in the English language is the prepositional
phrase. You can find prepositional phrases in almost every sentence. Sometimes
there are even two or three prepositional phrases used in the same sentence.
The basic
prepositional phrase has three words: preposition, article, noun. This is the
most common construction.
Other
words, such as adjectives, may be added. The article is not used in some
phrases, and the noun may be replaced by a pronoun. Analyze the following
examples:
In the closet (preposition, article, noun) Over the
chair (preposition, article, noun) To the woman (preposition, article, noun)
From the mall (preposition, article,
noun)
To India (preposition, noun) Near Syria (preposition, noun) After lunch (preposition, noun)
Toward me (preposition, pronoun) With them (preposition,
pronoun)
Phrasal Verbs
Many
verbs are followed by prepositions. These prepositions often change the meaning
of the verb. Analyze the differences among the following phrasal verbs:
John threw away his old notebook. (meaning: to get rid of)
Harold threw up after he drank too much beer.
(meaning: to vomit)
Patricia
looked up the word in the
dictionary. (meaning: to check)
George looked into becoming a nurse.
(meaning: to research) David looked up to his boss. (meaning: to admire)
Sally looks out for her little brother. (meaning: to take care of)
Cindy wanted to try on the new dress. (meaning: to put on for the first time)
Sam is going to try out the new high speed internet
service for one month. (meaning: to
try for the first time)
Exercise 1:
Choose
the correct preposition for each blank.
1.
Henrietta met her boyfriend the bus from Washington to Miami.
a. in b. at c. on d. between
2.
I have never seen such a gigantic nose my whole life.
a. in b. at c. on d. between
3.
Chita Rodriguez comes Cuba.
a. in b. from c. on d. until
4.
We will go dancing midnight.
a. in b. at c. on d. from
5.
Anesha usually goes .
a. in the summer
India b.
to India in the summer
c. to India on the summer d.
over the summer to India
6.
Hank made many mistakes the past.
a. in b. at c. on d. from
7.
Joseph, Won
Min and Adytya are also going.
a. beside b. besides c. addition to d. in addition
8.
love, life is very difficult.
a. with b. without c. within d. in
9.
The whole family goes out to breakfast Sunday mornings.
a. in b. at c. on d. from
10. I think that
Horace’s father was arrested the fall.
a. in b. at c. on d. from
Exercise
2:
Choose
the correct preposition for each blank.
1.
Little Rosita is afraid dogs.
a. in b. at c. on d. of
2. Mamma found Sergio
hiding the bed.
a. in b. at c. on d. under
3.
Some little children do not like to go school.
a. to the b. to c. at the d. from
4. My two brothers
really love to go the
mall.
a. for b. to c. at d. from
5.
Daniel’s father looked him right and knew he was lying.
a. in the eye b. on the eye c. from the eye d. into the eyes
6. The thief stole
the handbag the
woman Fifth Avenue.
a. in / on b. from / in c. from / on d. with / on
7.
Silvia traveled the
world. She went Asia,
South America, and Africa.
a. around / on b. around / to c. across / to d. in / to
8. The rug the
coffee table is Iran.
a. beneath / from b. beneath / to c. under / to d.
underneath / to
9. Nick sat his wife the party.
a. besides / at b. besides / in c. beside / from d. beside / at
10. Mahmoud read a
book the Russian
revolution.
a. from b. at c. on d. to
Exercise 3:
Sentence stems: Complete each sentence.
1. After the
storm,
2. Down by the river,
3. Among the
survivors,
4. Near the town of Roxbury,
5. Before
breakfast,
6. In my heart, _____________________________________________________________________
7. Around the corner,
________________________________________________________________
8. Between you and me,
9. For the past three years, _____________________________________________________________
10. Besides Charlie and Mohammed,
Exercise 4:
Sentence Stems: Complete each sentence.
1. throughout my life.
2. toward the exit.
3. in my dreams.
4. across the ocean.
5. under the bed.
6. in the winter.
7. far from the one she loves.
8. at
7:30 pm.
9. on Thursday
afternoon.
10. with dolls.
Exercise 5:
Error Correction: Correct the mistakes in the following
sentences. Then rewrite each sentence correctly.
1.
I didn’t stay up late. I was asleep on midnight.
.
2.
She met her best friend on September, 1999 at Seoul.
.
3.
Anita moved of Rome at 2006.
.
4.
The plane finally arrived on 5:46 pm.
.
5.
Bob met his future wife in a bus, not on a taxi.
.
6.
In this moment, Ushbek is studying from Bunker Hill
Community College.
.
7.
Don’t pay attention at that fortune-teller. She has
no idea about events on the future.
.
8.
My mother and father don’t drive on the dark, so
they stay home at the night.
.
9.
I think that Tom is
in a date with Sally. I think she is
separated to her husband.
.
10.
That woman is staring to the man on the other table.
He is looking off the window.
.
Exercise 6:
Error Correction: Correct the mistakes in the following
sentences. Then rewrite each sentence correctly.
1.
On Sunday, Jong
goes to the church for to pray.
.
2.
At the summer, my family goes to beach to swim.
.
3.
On her living room, there is an end table next the
couch.
.
4.
Barbara found her purse under chair on the family
room.
.
5.
Bobby read a book across the Second World War.
.
6.
The bakery is next the diner.
.
7.
The children walked for the park to get home quickly.
.
8.
My mother cannot live with her iPod. She always
listens music.
.
9.
I saw the plane moving to the airport, but I did not
see it land.
.
10.
Before breakfast, Sidney jogged on the park.
.
Exercise
7:
Choose
the correct preposition for each blank.
1.
Can you tell me a little bit your experience?
a. in b. about c. on d. of
2.
I think I left my laptop the couch.
a. in b. at c. on d. down
3.
Some little children are afraid animals.
a. to the b. to c. of d. of the
4. We had a picnic the tall elm tree.
a. beneath b. on c. on top of d. next
5.
The crowd cheered continuously the game.
a. beside b. near c. during d. by
6.
I am not completely you. I just don’t share all your opinions.
a. for b. against c. near d. beside
7.
John’s father was standing right him at the concert.
a. in front b. next c. behind d. on
8.
Don’t forget to turn the television off before you go bed.
a. to b. to c. to the d. to
9. the rain, the game was not canceled.
a. despite b. in spite c. despite from d. because of
10. the class, the students walked slowly the room.
a. before / out to b. after / out of c. during / in of d. after from / out
Exercise
8:
Choose
the correct preposition for each blank.
1. Can you tell me
how to get library?
a. to b. to the c. toward the d. from the
2.
I think you left your book the table over there.
a. in b. at c. on d. down
3.
the walls of the ancient city, there are many secrets.
a. Without b. Within c. Above d. Through
4.
John had a discussion his advisor
yesterday.
a. from b. on c. with d. to
5. I took a walk the river. It was so peaceful.
a. after b. along c. during d. through
6.
Quentin has lived in Texas July.
a. for b. since c. from d. at
7.
John’s father said that
he will work 9:00 tonight.
a. until b. without c. over d. for
8.
I found your old love letter some
papers that I had left in my desk drawer.
a. around b. against c. after d. among
9.
My best friend lives right the street me.
a. across / to b. across / from c. across / for d. across / on
10. The temperature
was 11 degrees zero yesterday.
a. below b. from c. to d. above
Exercise
9:
Choose
the correct preposition for each blank.
1.
The Rodriguez family goes church every Sunday.
a. to b. to the c. toward the d. from the
2.
I will always stand you, thick
and thin.
a. besides / in b. beside / through c. besides / through d. on / through
3.
the blue skies me, I felt like a new man.
a. with / below b. with / above c. without / above d. with / toward
4.
Joshua lives a
bakery and a bagel shop.
a. from b. on c. with d. between
5.
Calculus III is way me.
I don’t understand anything in the class.
a. after b. along c. beyond d. through
6.
Omar always stays his
room to relax before a big exam.
a. on b. for c. in d. under
7.
I will love you I
die. I promise.
a. till b. during c. when d. without
8.
Once a
time, an old man was living a
bridge.
a. upon / under b. upon / next c. upon / through d. on / below
9.
When I saw the ball coming me,
I didn’t know what to do.
a. across b. about c. toward d. from
10. I have always
tried to be honest and sincere my
life.
a. until b. across c. to d. throughout
Exercise
10:
Write
an appropriate preposition in each blank. Note: You will also need to write
“to” for all infinitive verbs.
Hidden in Plain
Sight
They say that when you want (1)
hide something, one (2)
the best places (3)
hide it is (4) plain
sight. (5) a story
written (6) Edgar
Allan Poe called “The Purloined
Letter”, a cunning man, known as Mr. X,
stole a secret letter (7) an important woman. He
threatened to show the letter to everyone if she did not pay him a great deal (8) money. She went (9)
the police, and they secretly searched Mr.
X’s apartment. They started by looking
(10) the rugs and (11)
the books (12) the
bookshelves. Nothing. Then they
looked (13) the bed
and (14) all the
closets, but they could not find it. They thought
that Mr. X was carrying the letter (15) his pocket or (16) his wallet, so they followed him
(17) a park, but they were
unsuccessful in finding the letter.
The police called the famous detective Auguste Dupin, and asked him (18) investigate the case. Dupin wore dark
sunglasses and went (19)
Mr. X’s house. While he was sitting (20) the table drinking a cup (21) tea, he looked (22) the whole room. He
looked at the paintings
(23) the wall, the books (24) the desk, and even the
cat sleeping (25)
the rug. Finally, he looked (26) a bowl (27) some letters in it. He
noticed that one (28)
the letters looked familiar. Dupin knew that this one was the stolen letter.
When Mr. X heard a shout from
(29) the front window, he ran (30)
see what was happening. In the meantime, Dupin
took the stolen letter and replaced it (31)
a similar one that he had (32)
his pocket. He thanked Mr. X (33)
the coffee and hurried out. This is how the detective found the stolen letter. It was
hidden in plain sight, right (34)
the table.
Exercise 1: Choose the correct preposition.
1. c 2. a 3. b 4.
b
5. b 6. a 7. b 8.
b
9. c 10. a
Exercise 2: Choose the correct preposition.
1. d 2. d 3. b 4.
b
5. a 6. c 7. b 8.
a
9. d 10. c
Exercise 3: Sentence Stems: Complete each sentence.
Answers will vary. Examples:
1.
After the storm, the sun came out.
2.
Down by the river, six fishermen were having their lunch.
3.
Among the survivors, there were two children and one woman.
4.
Near the town of Roxbury, there is a large mall.
5.
Before breakfast, I took a walk around the block.
6.
In my heart, I know that I am right.
7.
Around the corner, there is a large green house.
8.
Between you and me, I don’t trust Larry.
9.
For the past three years, my sister has lived in Winnipeg.
Exercise 7: Choose the correct preposition.
1. b 2. c 3. c
4. a 5. c 6. b
7. c 8. d
9. a 10. b
Exercise 8: Choose the correct preposition.
1. b 2. c 3. b
4. c 5. b 6. b
7. a 8. d
9.
b 10. a
Exercise 9: Choose the correct preposition.
1. a 2. b 3. b
4. d 5. c 6. c
7. a 8. a
9. c 10. d
10. Besides Charlie and Mohammed, Aisha and Hee Jung are also coming to the
party.
Exercise 4: Sentence Stems: Complete each sentence.
Answers will vary. Examples:.
1. I have loved music throughout my life.
Exercise 10: Write an appropriate preposition in each
blank. (Answers may vary.)
2. The satisfied concertgoers
headed toward the exit.
3. I am the best soccer
player in the league in my dreams.
4. Hal’s brother lives across the ocean.
5. The dog was hiding under the bed.
6. We go skiing in the winter.
7. Thelma lives far from the one she loves.
8. The movie will start at 7:30 pm.
9. Teresa has Spanish class on Thursday afternoon.
10. My little sister loves to
play with dolls.
Exercise 5: Error Correction.
1.
I didn’t stay up late. I was
asleep at midnight.
2.
She met her best friend in September, 1999 in Seoul.
1. to
2. of
3. to
4. in
5. In
6. by
7. from
8. of
9. to
10. under
11. behind
12. on
13. under
14. in
15. in
16. in
17. into
18. to
19. to
20. at
21. of
22. around
23. on
24. on
25. on
26. in
27. with
28. of
29. outside
30. to
31. with
32. in
33. for
34. out
35. on
3. Anita moved to Rome in 2006.
4. The plane finally arrived at 5:46
pm.
5. Bob met his future wife on a
bus, not in a taxi.
6. At this moment, Ushbek is studying at
Bunker Hill Community College.
7. Don’t pay attention to that
fortune-teller. She has no idea about events in the future.
8. My mother and father don’t drive in the dark so they stay home at night.
9. I think that Tom is on a date with Sally. I think she is separated from her husband.
10. That woman is staring at the
man at the other table. He is
looking out the window.
Exercise 6: Error Correction.
1.
On Sunday, Jong goes to church
to pray.
2.
In (the) summer, my family goes to the beach to swim.
Spelling Note: This lesson shows the American
spelling of the words Theater (p. 2),
Traveled (p. 2 & 7), and Canceled (p. 12). Most other
English-speaking countries spell these words this way: Theatre, Travelled, and Cancelled. Make it a challenge for your
students to find these words in the text and see if they know the alternate
spellings.
3.
In her living room, there is an end
table next to the couch.
4.
Barbara found her purse under the chair in the family room.
5.
Bobby read a book about (on) the Second World War.
6.
The bakery is next to the diner.
7.
The children walked through the park to get home quickly.
8.
My mother cannot live without her iPod. She always listens to music.
9.
I saw the plane moving toward the airport, but I did not see
it land.
10.
Before breakfast, Sidney jogged
in (around) (through) the park.
The History of Christmas Trees 
