DAY 15

DAY 15

PREPOSITIONS

There is one very simple rule about prepositions. And, unlike most rules, this rule has no
exceptions.

Rule
A preposition is followed by a "noun". It is never followed by a verb.

By "noun" we include:

noun (dog, money, love)

proper noun (name) (Bangkok, Mary)
pronoun (you, him, us)
noun group (my first job)
gerund (swimming)

A preposition cannot be followed by a verb. If we want to follow a preposition by a verb,

we must use the "-ing" form which is really a gerund or verb in noun form.

Quick Quiz: In the following sentences, why is "to" followed by a verb? That should be
impossible, according to the above rule:

I would like to go now.

She used to smoke.

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Here are some examples:

Subject + verb preposition "noun"

The food is on the table. Pascal is used to English people.

She lives in Japan. She isn't used to working.

Tara is looking for you. I ate before coming.

The letter is under your blue book.

Prepositions - Time

Preposition Usage Example

on days of the week on Monday

in months / seasons in August / in winter

time of day in the morning
year in 2006
after a certain period of time (when?) in an hour

at for night at night

for weekend at the weekend
a certain point of time (when?) at half past nine

since from a certain point of time (past till now) since 1980

for over a certain period of time (past till for 2 years

now)

ago a certain time in the past 2 years ago

before earlier than a certain point of time before 2004

to telling the time ten to six (5:50)

past telling the time ten past six (6:10)

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Preposition Usage Example

to / till / marking the beginning and end of a from Monday to/till Friday
until period of time

till / until in the sense of how long something is He is on holiday until Friday.
going to last

by in the sense of at the latest I will be back by 6 oclock.

up to a certain time By 11 o'clock, I had read five
pages.

Practice: Put in the correct preposition (at, in, on, or no preposition)

1. There was a loud noise which woke us up ____ midnight.

2. Do you usually eat chocolate eggs ____ Easter?
3. What are you doing ____ the weekend?
4. ____ last week, I worked until 9pm ____ every night.
5. My father always reads the paper ____ breakfast time.
6. She plays tennis ____ Fridays.
7. The trees here are really beautiful ____ the spring.
8. Ill see you ____ Tuesday afternoon, then.
9. Shakespeare died ____ 1616.
10. She studies ____ every day.
11. John is going to buy the presents ____ today.
12. In my hometown the shops open early ____ the morning.
13. She met her husband ____ 1998.
14. The party is ____ next Saturday.
15. We are meeting ____ Friday morning.
16. I often get sleepy ____ the afternoon.
17. His daughter was born ____ the 24th of August.
18. Mobile phones became popular ____ the nineties.
19. The meeting will take place ____ this afternoon.
20. Luckily the weather was perfect ____ her wedding day.

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DAY 15

PREPOSITIONS | Prepositions of time (for, since, in)

Answer each question, filling in each blank with the correct preposition (for, since, or in)

1. Q: How long have you been studying German?

A: Ive been studying German ________ three years.

2. Q: How long have you been living here?

A: Ive been living here ________ 2004.

3. Q: How long is she going to stay in Italy?

A: Shes going to stay ________ two weeks.

4. Q: When is Thomas going back to school?

A: Thomas is going back to school ________ one month.

5. Q: How long have you guys known each other?

A: Weve known each other ________ high school.

6. Q: When are your parents coming back?

A: Theyre coming back ________ 20 minutes.

7. Q: Have you spoken to him recently?

A: No, I havent spoken to him ________ three months.

8. Q: Are you going to stay there long?

A: No, Im going there ________ two days.

9. Q: Have you spoken to him recently?

A: No, I havent spoken to him ________ the accident.

10. Q: When are you leaving?

A: Im leaving ________ a couple of months.

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