Preposition
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Use
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Examples
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in
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in months
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in July; in September
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year
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in 1985; in 1999
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seasons
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in summer; in the summer of 69
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part of the day
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in the morning; in the afternoon; in the evening
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duration
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in a minute; in two weeks
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at
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part of the day
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at night
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time of day
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at 6 o'clock; at midnight
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celebrations
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at Christmas; at Easter
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fixed phrases
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at the same time
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on
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days of the week
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on Sunday; on Friday
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date
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on the 25th of December*
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special holidays
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on Good Friday; on Easter Sunday; on my birthday
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a special part of a day
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on the morning of September the 11th*
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after
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later than something
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after school
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ago
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how far something happened (in the past)
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6 years ago
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before
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earlier than something
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before Christmas
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between
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time that separates two points
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between Monday and Friday
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by
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not later than a special time
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by Thursday
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during
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through the whole of a period of time
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during the holidays
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for
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period of time
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for three weeks
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from ... to
from... till/until |
two points form a period
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from Monday to Wednesday
from Monday till Wednesday from Monday until Wednesday |
past
|
time of the day
|
23 minutes past 6 (6:23)
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since
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point of time
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since Monday
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till/until
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no later than a special time
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till tomorrow
until tomorrow |
to
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time of the day
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23 minutes to 6 (5:37)
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up to
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not more than a special time
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up to 6 hours a day
|
within
|
during a period of time
|
within a day
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Preposition
|
Use
|
Examples
|
above
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higher than something
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The picture hangs above my
bed.
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across
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from one side to the other side
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You mustn't go across this
road here.
There isn't a bridge across the river. |
after
|
one follows the other
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The cat ran after the
dog.
After you. |
against
|
directed towards something
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The bird flew against the
window.
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along
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in a line; from one point to another
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They're walking along the
beach.
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among
|
in a group
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I like being among people.
|
around
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in a circular way
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We're sitting around the
campfire.
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behind
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at the back of
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Our house is behind the
supermarket.
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below
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lower than something
|
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beside
|
next to
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Our house is beside the
supermarket.
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between
|
something/somebody is on each side
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Our house is between the
supermarket and the school.
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by
|
near
|
He lives in the house by the
river.
|
close to
|
near
|
Our house is close to the
supermarket.
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down
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from high to low
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He came down the
hill.
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from
|
the place where it starts
|
Do you come from
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in front of
|
the part that is in the direction it faces
|
Our house is in front of the
supermarket.
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inside
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opposite of outside
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You shouldn't stay inside the
castle.
|
into
|
entering something
|
You shouldn't go into the
castle.
|
near
|
close to
|
Our house is near the
supermarket.
|
next to
|
beside
|
Our house is next to the
supermarket.
|
off
|
away from something
|
The cat jumped off the
roof.
|
onto
|
moving to a place
|
The cat jumped onto the
roof.
|
opposite
|
on the other side
|
Our house is opposite the
supermarket.
|
out of
|
leaving something
|
The cat jumped out of the
window.
|
outside
|
opposite of inside
|
Can you wait outside?
|
over
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above something/somebody
|
The cat jumped over the
wall.
|
past
|
going near something/somebody
|
Go past the
post office.
|
round
|
in a circle
|
We're sitting round the
campfire.
|
through
|
going from one point to the other point
|
You shouldn't walk through the
forest.
|
to
|
towards something/somebody
|
I like going to
Can you come to me? I've never been to |
towards
|
in the direction of something
|
We ran towards the
castle.
|
under
|
below something
|
The cat is under the
table.
|
up
|
from low to high
|
He went up the
hill.
|
Preposition
|
Examples
|
in
|
We sit in the room.
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I see a house in the picture.
|
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There are trouts in the river.
|
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He lives in
|
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I found the picture in the paper.
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He sits in the corner of the room.
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He sits in the back of the car.
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We arrive in
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He gets in the car.
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She likes walking in the rain.
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My cousin lives in the country.
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There are kites in the sky.
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He plays in the street. (BE)
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She lives in a hotel.
|
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The boys stand in a line.
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There is a big tree in the middle of the garden.
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He is in town.
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I have to stay in bed.
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You mustn't park your car in front of
the school.
|
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The robber is in prison now.
|
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at
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She sits at the desk.
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Open your books at page 10.
|
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The bus stops at
|
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I stay at my grandmother's.
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I stand at the door.
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Look at the top of the page.
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The car stands at the end of the street.
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Can we meet at the corner of the street?
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I met John at a party.
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Pat wasn't at home yesterday.
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I study economics at university.
|
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The children are at grandmother's.
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He's looking at the park.
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He always arrives late at school.
|
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on
|
The map lies on the desk.
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The picture is on page 10.
|
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The photo hangs on the wall.
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He lives on a farm.
|
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Men's clothes are on the second floor.
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He lives on Heligoland.
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The shop is on the left.
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My friend is on the way to
|
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Write this information on the front of the letter.
|
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When she was a little girl people saw unrealistic cowboy
films on
television.
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Links to exercises:
