Prepositions of movement and position. Prepositions of time

8.2A 'At a point', “in an area' and 'on a surface' [>LEG8.6-9, Apps 21-23]

1 We use to / from and into/out of to show direction with movement:

- to/from: She has gone to Paris. She has just come home from Paris.

- into/out of: I went into the shop. I came out of the shop.

2 We use at, in, on to show position after movement: at a point, in an area, on a surface. We can use at with some nouns to mean 'a (meeting) point' or in to mean 'inside': I’ll meet you at the airport. (= that's the meeting point) I'll meet you in the airport. (= inside the building) Typical nouns like this are: the cinema, the office, the bank, the library, (the) school.

3 We use at mainly with:

- public places/buildings: at the airport, the bus stop, the Grand Hotel, the butcher's;

- addresses: at his sister's, 24 Cedar Avenue.

- nouns with zero article: at home, church, college, school, university [> 3.6B]

- events: at a concert, a dance, a dinner, a funeral, a meeting, a party, a wedding. He's gone to a party. He is at a party. He's been to a party. He was at a party. [>10.2C]

4 We use in mainly with:

- large areas: in Europe, Asia, the Antarctic [æn'ta:ktɪk] Антарктика, the Andes, the Sahara, Texas, the Pacific.

- towns/parts of towns: in Canterbury, Chelsea, Dallas, Manhattan, New York, Paris.

- outside areas: in the garden, the park, Hyde Park, the street, the old town, the desert.

- rooms: in the bathroom, his bedroom, the garage, the kitchen, the waiting room.

- nouns with zero article: in bed, chapel, church, hospital, prison. [> 3.6B] He's gone to Texas. He is in Texas. He's been to Texas. He was in Texas. [> 10.2C]

Write: Supply at or in.

1 He's gone to the station. He's probably... the station now. 2 She's gone to school. She's probably... school now. 3 He flew from London. He's probably... Paris now. 4 He's gone into the garden. He's... the garden now. 5 She's gone to bed. She's... bed now. 6 He's gone to a dinner party. He's probably... the dinner now. 7 She's gone to a wedding. She's probably... the wedding now.8 He's gone to the kitchen. He's probably... the kitchen now. 9 They've come out of the desert. They're probably... the jungle now.10 They've gone to New York. They're probably... New York now. 11 She's gone to the waiting room. She's probably... the waiting room now. 12 He's been sent to prison. He's probably... prison now. 13 She's gone to the doctor's. She's probably... the doctor's now. 14 He's gone home. He's probably... home now. 15 She's gone to the old town. She's probably... the old town now. 16 They've sailed to the Pacific. They're probably... the Pacific now. 17 We live... 14 Woodland Avenue. 18 She was taken to hospital. She's... hospital now.

 

8.2B Prepositions of time: 'at', 'on' and 'in' [> LEG 8.10-14]

1 We use at for:

exact time: at 10 o'clock;

meal times: at lunch time;

points of time: at night [>3,6A]

festivals: at Christmas;

age: at the age of 14;

+ 'time': at this/that time.

2 We use on for:

days of the week: on Monday,

on Mondays;

parts of the day: on Monday morning;

dates: on June 1st,

particular occasions: on that day,

anniversaries: on your birthday,

festivals: on New Year's Day.

3 We use in for [> 7.3C]:

parts of the day: in the evening;

months: in May,

years: in 2050;

seasons: in (the) spring;

centuries: in the 20th century;

periods: in Ramadan, in two years' time.

Write: Supply at, on or in.

1 I'll meet you... 10.30... Monday, June 14. 2 We're taking our holiday... July. 3 I always finish work early... Fridays. 4 Who knows what the world will be like... the year 2030? 5 You don't want anything to go wrong... your wedding day. 6... the 19th century many children died before they were a year old. 7 We got up... dawn and reached the summit... noon. 8... the age of 14 I realized I would never become a brain surgeon. 9 The birds don't find much to eat in our garden... winter. 10 What will you be doing... the holidays?11 What will you be doing... New Year's Day? 12 The year was 1986... that time I was working as a waiter. 13 We try to get away... Christmas time. 14 I'll see you... ten days' time. 15 They prepared a surprise for me at the office... my birthday.

 

8.2C Write: Supply the missing prepositions. 'THE PROPHECY'

People who live 1... California have every reason to be afraid of earthquakes. No one has ever forgotten the great quake that destroyed San Francisco2...1906.3... May,1988, the people of Los Angeles panicked. According to a prophecy made4... the 16^th century by a prophet called Nostradamus, the city would be destroyed early5... 1988. During the panic, parents didn't send their children6... school and people didn't go7... work. No one stayed8... home, either. The airlines did great business carrying people who fled 9... their 'doomed city'. Which is more puzzling: how Nostradamus knew that a city which didn't even exist(!)10... his time would be destroyed 11... the 20th century, or the behaviour of the people who believed 'the prophecy'?

 

8.3 Particular prepositions, particles: contrasts (1)

8.3A Prepositions, particles, etc. often confused and misused [> LEG App 25.1-11 ]

1 about and on - We can use about and on to mean 'concerning'. We use on in a formal way, e.g. to describe a textbook: a textbook on physics; about is informal: a book about animals.

2 according to and by - We use according to to refer to information coming from other people or sources: according to him, according to this guide book. When we refer to ourselves, we say in my opinion (Not 'according to me*). We can use by or according to when we refer to a clock or a timetable: By or According to my watch, it's 3.15.

3 across and over - We can use both these prepositions to mean 'from one side to the other 1: My house is across/over the road/the river. We cannot use over for large areas: They're laying a pipeline across Siberia. (Not "over’) We use over after verbs like wander to mean 'here and there'. We use across to describe movement through water: She swam across the Channel. (Not "over the Channel') But we say over a wall/a fence. (Not 'across")

4 across and through - Through, meaning 'from one side to the other', refers to something like a tunnel (through a pipe) or something dense (through the forest); across refers to a large area (across the desert). With some nouns, like park, we can use either across or through.

5 after and afterwards - We generally use a noun or pronoun with after - after lunch [> 8.1 A]. We use afterwards on its own: We had a swim in the sea. Afterwards we lay on the beach. (Not "After*)

6 around and about - We use both words to refer to 'lack of purpose': We didn't have anything to do, so we started fooling around / about. But we say He lives (a) round here. (= near)(Not "about")

7 at, to and against - We use at after adjectives like good, clever. After verbs like throw at often means 'taking aim'. Compare: throw at (to hit) and throw to (for someone to catch). When there is no idea of 'taking aim’, we use against: throw the ball against the wall. And note: fight against. We use at for speed or price: at 100 miles an hour, at $2 each.

8 away - Away [> 8.1 B] combines with far (far away) and from (away from) and with verbs which give the idea of 'distance': e.g. live, work: I live 5 miles away. (Not "I live 5 miles far away")

9 because and because of - We use because to give a reason: We left the party because it was noisy. [> 1.9] We use a noun or pronoun after because of. We left the party because of the noise.

10 before or in front of - We often use before to refer to time (before 7); in front or (and its opposite, behind) refers to position. We can use either before or in front of after the verbs come and go.

11 behind, at the back (of) and back - We can put a noun or pronoun after behind (behind this house) or we can use it on its own (there's a garden behind). Or we can say: at the back of this house, it's at the back. Do not confuse back with again: invite them back means 'return their hospitality 1. Don't use back after return: We returned early. (Not 'returned back") Note: 3 years back (= ago).

Write: Supply suitable words. Refer to the notes only when you have to.

about or on? 1 Read this article... the Antarctic. 2 I've read a lot of books... animals.

according to or by? 3... Dr Pim, the sea is rising. 4... the timetable, the train leaves at 8.27. 5 It's 10.15... my watch.

across or over? 6 There's a newsagent's... the road.7 No one wants a pipeline... Alaska. 8 We skated... the frozen lake.9 I'm going to swim... the river.

across or through? 10 Nothing can flow... this pipe. 11 We managed to get... the jungle. 12 I've never walked... the park.

after or afterwards? 20 Come and see me... work. 21 We tidied up. Our guests arrived soon... 22 We had a swim and... we sunbathed.

around or about? 23 We stood... waiting. 24 I wish you'd stop fooling... 25 Let me show you... the house. 26 He lives somewhere... Manchester.

at, to or against? 27 I'm not very good... figures. 28 Throw it... me so that I can catch it. 29 Jim is always throwing stones... birds. 30 We fought... the enemy. 31 Ron is driving... 100 miles an hour. 32 We have combs... $2 each.

away (add far where possible)13 I see storm clouds... in the distance. 14 London is 15 miles... from here.

because or because of? 15 I couldn't get to work... I was ill.16 I couldn't get to work... my illness.

before or in front of? 17 Make sure you're there... 7. 18 I'll wait for you... the shop. 19 You come... me in the queue.

behind, at the back (of) or back? 33 There's a garden in front and one...34 Keep this book. I don't want it...35 There's a garden... the house.36 I saw him four years...37 They invited us. We must invite them...38 We had to go... early after the party.39 Put it... in its place.40 I've fallen... in my work.41 I tried to lift it out of the hole but it fell...

8.3B Write: Put in about, according to, across, after, at, away, because, before, behind, in front of, on. A GOOD EYE FOR A LEFT EAR. My friend Jonathan, who lives 1 across the road, develops and prints films. 2... Jonathan most of us take awful pictures. Usually, we fail to aim 3... the subject so that the subject is not even in the picture. Sometimes the subject is too far 4...; sometimes too near. Some photos are spoilt because the sun is 5... us, when of course, it should always be6... us. Some of us take blank pictures7... we take the lens cover off8... we have taken our shots. We take most of our pictures when we are on holiday and like to catch our friends when they are fooling 9... It's a pity we don't practise using our cameras 10... we go on holiday. A good book 11... photography would make us better12... taking pictures, but most of us are too lazy to bother. I asked Jonathan what was the worst film he had ever seen. He didn't have to think very hard 13... the question. At once he answered, Twenty-four shots of the photographer's left ear!'

 

8.4 Particular prepositions, particles: contrasts (2)

8.4A Prepositions, particles, etc. often confused and misused [> LEG App 25.12-19, 25.25]

1 beaside and besides - Beside + noun/pronoun means 'next to': Sit beside me. Besides with or without an object means 'in addition to' or 'as well as': There were many people there besides (us).

2 between and among - We commonly use between to show a division between two people, things, or times: Devide this between you both. We use among + plural noun to refer to a mass of people, etc.: Were you among the people present? We sometimes use between to refer to more than two, if these can be viewed separately: Don't smoke between courses.

3 but (for) and except (for) - But (for)/except (for) mean 'with the exception of: Everyone has helped but (for)/except (for) you. We can use except and but without for, but not to begin a sentence: Except for/But for you, everyone has helped. (Not *Except you/But you everyone....*) Except for/but for can mean 'if not’: We'd've been on time except for/but for the snow.

4 by, near and on - By can mean 'right next to': Sit by me. We often use the words right or close in front of by. The hotel is right by/close by the station. Near (or not far from) usually suggests 'a short way from: We live near/not far from London. On means 'right next to' or 'beside' when we refer to 'a line': Our house is right on the road. I can't see what is on my left.

5 by and past - We use either word after verbs of motion (go, run, walk, etc.) to mean 'beyond in space or time: He went right by/past me without speaking. A few days went by/past.

6 by, with and without [compare > 8.5Ap.7] - We often use by in fixed phrases: by bus, by car, by post. We also use it to refer to 'method': You can open it by moving the catch. By can refer to time and rate: I'm paid by the hour. With / without refer to things (especially tools or instruments) which we need to use: You can't open it with/ without a bottle-opener.

7 down, up, under and over - Down is the opposite of up and shows direction towards a lower level, especially with 'movement verbs': Let's climb up/down. We can also use up and down to show position: He lives up/down the street. Under suggests 'being covered': Let's sit under a tree. Over can have the meaning 'covering': Keep this blanket over you.

8 due to and owing to - We often use either one or the other. However, due to is related to a noun + be: Our delay (noun) was (+ be) due to/caused by the heavy traffic. Owing to (= because of) is related to the verb: The broadcast was cancelled (verb) owing to/because of the strike.

9 like and as - Like (= to compare with) is followed by a noun or pronoun: There's no one like John/you. We can also use it to mean 'such as': Invite people like the Frys. Like can also mean 'similar to’ in the same way as: It was like a dream. He acts like a king. We use as (Not "like") + object to mean 'in the capacity of: I work as a receptionist We also use as to give a reason [> 1.9]: As the last bus had left, we walked home. We use like informally to introduce a clause, especially in American English: Like I told you, it's an offer I can't refuse. A lot of native speakers of English think this is wrong.

 

Write: Supply suitable words. Refer to the notes only when you have to:

beside or besides? 1 Who was sitting beside you? 2 Who's invited... us? 3 It's a fast car... it's got four-wheel drive.

between or among? 4 Divide it equally... the two of you. 5 Switzerland lies... four other countries. 6 I saw you... the crowd.

but (for) or except (for)? 7 The plane would've landed... the fog. 8 Everyone sent flowers... you. 9... you, everyone sent flowers. 10 Everyone's here... John. 11 Who... John would do a thing like that?

by, near or on? - 12 I sat... the phone all morning. 13 We live... Manchester.14 Our house is right... the river. 15... my right I have Frank Milligan.

past and by 16 The ball went right... my head! 17 Several days went... before I had news. 18 Stop... here on your next visit. 19 Something flew... my ear. 20 It's... your bedtime.

by, with or without? - 21 Our dog was hit... a bus. 22 You can open it... pulling this lever. 23 Dentists are paid... the hour. 24 It won't open... a bottle-opener.

down, up, under and over? - 25 My mother lives... the street. 26 The bus got stuck... the bridge. 27 Put this blanket... your knees.

due to or owing to? 28 Our success was... luck. 29 Flights were delayed... the strike. 30 He lost his job... bad health.

Like or as? 31 There's no business... show business. 32... a lawyer, I would advise caution. 33 I once worked... a bus conductor. 34 This motorway is... a car park! 35 People... the Joneses always copy us.36... it was raining, I took a taxi. 37... I explained, it's a public holiday today. 38 He's more... his mother than his father. 39 Who's used this knife... a screw-driver? 40 You're just... your brother. 41 He spends money... a millionaire.