Preposition Summary
Diagnostic
Preposition Diagnostic : a tool to help you identify specific points that need review
Quiz 1: beginning – intermediate
Quiz 2: intermediate – advanced
Prepositional Phrases
Prepositions for Time: telling when an action happens
We went to San Francisco in 2009.
We went to San Francisco in June.
We went to San Francisco on June 19, 2009, at noon.
Prepositions for place: relating where
We stood in the street.
We stood on the sidewalk.
We stood at the corner.
Paragraph Practice: using preposition of time and place
- In/ On/ At
- Practice – multiple choice paragraph
Michael Phelps made sports history by winning eight gold medals ___ the 2008 Olympics ___ Beijing, China.
During/In: Is it and activity with duration or an exact time
Beg.–Int. ESL, Native Speakers
We are on vacation during July.
We went to the beach several times in our stay.
They are on vacation in July.
*They stayed there during July, not during May.
For/ Since: Indicating a quantity of time vs. a specific time
- For v. Since
- Quantity of Time Expressions
- For– Additional Meanings
- Since – Meanings
- Practice 1 – multiple choice
- Practice 2 – multiple choice
We have been coming to this beach for fifteen years.
We have been coming to this beach since July, 1995.
Participle & Prepositional Combinations
Participle Modifiers w/ Prepositions: describing emotional reactions
Int.–Adv. ESL
- Compare Word Forms
- Participle + Prep Complements
- Participle Modier & Prep List
- Common Mistakes
- Practice – multiple choice
Related Practice: Participle-Prep Prac, Gerund Objects, Verb + PP Prac 1, Verb + PP Prac 2, Verb + PP Prac 3
The children were interested in hearing his story.
The press was excited about the President's speech.
The President is pleased with the
response.
The President is pleased with how the people responded.
Celebrities are concerned ____ the activiites of the Paparazzi.
Verb + Preposition Combinations
Phrasal Verbs: using verbal expressions (verb + particle)
Beg.–Adv. ESL
He lets out a howl.
Look up.
Look up the word in the dictionary.
He took his coat off.
He took off his coat.
The airplane took off.
Ending wit a Preposition: placing a preposition at the end of a sentence
Int.–Adv. ESL, Native Speaker
Who did you give your number to?
To whom did you give your number? very formal
Can you tell me — what kind of person you are interested in?
Can you tell me — in what kind of person you are interested?
The word — that you looked up — is not in my dictionary.
The word — up which you looked — is not in my dictionary.
Verbs Followed by Prepositional Phrases: commenting on activities
Beg.–Adv. ESL
- Verbs + Prep Phrases
- Verb + Prep List
- Commonly Confused Expressions
- Common Mistakes
- Practice – multiple choice
Related pages: Verb + PP Prac 1, Verb + PP Prac 2, Verb + PP Prac 3
He talks about leaving.
He accused us of complaining.
He keeps on making trouble.
He worries about making deadlines.
Verb + Prepositional Phrase Practice 1: Stating attitudes, opinions, and intentions about activities
Beg.–Int. ESL
- Verbs + Preposition Phrases
- Practice – multiple choice
She dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer.
She dreamed about becoming a ballet dancer.
Verb + Prepositional Phrase Practice 2: commenting on activites and plans
Beg.–Int. ESL
- Verbs + Preposition Phrases
- Practice – multiple choice
I put off going to college.
Instead, I took care of raising my two children.
Verb + Prepositional Phrase Practice 3: commenting on activites and plans
Beg.–Int. ESL
- Verbs and Participles + Prepositions
- Practice – multiple choice
Most people aren't accustomed to working hard.
If you try you can succeed in doing anything you want.
Related Pages
Place adverbs: indicating movement in a direction
Beg.–Adv. ESL
He went inside.
He went inside the house.
He went there.
*He went to there.
Gerunds w/ Subjects: expressing attitudes about the activities of others
Int.–Adv. ESL, Native Speakers
- Gerunds w/ Subjects
- Object Pronoun vs. Possessive Determiner
- Verb List
- Grammar Notes
- Practice 1 – multiple choice
- Practice 2 – complete paragraph
- Practice 3 – complete paragraph
I thanked him for fixing my door.
I appreciate his fixing my door.
By / With: stating means and method
Beg.–Int. ESL
- By + Gerund vs. With + Noun
- Practice 1 – multiple choice
- Practice 2 – multiple choice
- Practice 3 – multiple choice
- Practice 4 – multiple choice
How do you stay in shape?
Arnold stays in shape by working out.
For + Gerund Clause: stating function
Beg.–Int. ESL
- For + Gerund
- Common Mistakes
- Function, Purpose, Means
- Practice – multiple choice
What's it for? for tying boxes.
Why do you use it? to tie boxes.
How do you close boxes? with string / by using string.
Preposition + Gerund: stating activities
Int.–Adv.. ESL
- Gerunds in Prep Phrases
- Preps + Gerund List
- Common Mistakes
- Practice – multiple choice
Jason read the manual before beginning the installation.
You can't turn it on without plugging it in.
Jane got it working by using a different cable.