Unit 11: Prepositions
1. Prepositions of Time
Prepositions of time show the relationship between a noun anda moment, day, or date.
- AT: Used for specific times, holidays, and precise moments (e.g., at 9 o’clock, at noon, at midnight, at Christmas, at the weekend).
- ON: Used for days and dates (e.g., on Monday, on May 25th, on New Year’s Day, on Tuesday afternoon).
- IN: Used for months, years, seasons, and long periods (e.g., in June, in 1980, in winter, in the morning/afternoon/evening).
- BY: Indicates a deadline; meaning “not later than” (e.g., finish the report by Friday).
2. Prepositions of Place
These prepositions describe location or position.
- AT: A specific point or location (e.g., at the door, at school, at work, at the station).
- IN: Enclosed spaces or large areas (e.g., in the kitchen, in London, in the world, in a car).
- ON: Surfaces or lines (e.g., on the table, on the wall, on the second floor, on the left).
Advanced Topic: Final Prepositions & Verbs + Prepositions
Final Prepositions: In English, it is common to put a preposition at the end of a sentence, especially in:
- Questions: What are you looking at? Who is she talking to?
- Relative Clauses: This is the book that I told you about.
- Infinitive Clauses: I have no music to listen to.
Verbs + Prepositions: Many verbs require specific prepositions (e.g., listen to, wait for, depend on, believe in, succeed in).
Exercise 1: Time Prepositions Classification
Sort the following time expressions into the correct column: AT, ON, or IN.
- 1. ______ 2024
- 2. ______ midnight
- 3. ______ September 5th
- 4. ______ the afternoon
- 5. ______ Christmas Day
- 6. ______ the weekend
- 7. ______ summer
- 8. ______ 6:30 p.m.
Exercise 2: Prepositions of Place (In, On, At)
Complete the sentences with the correct preposition.
- Her classroom is ______ the third floorof that building.
- When I’m ______ school, my parents are ______ work.
- There is a beautiful picture ______ the wall.
- My sister usually has lunch ______ the canteen.
- I live ______ a small house near the river.
- The students are playing football ______ the playground.
- Is John ______ home right now?
- Meet me ______ the bus stop.
Exercise 3: Verbs + Prepositions Matching
Match the verb on the left with its correct dependent preposition on the right.
| 1. Listen | a. about |
| 2. Wait | b. on |
| 3. Depend | c. at |
| 4. Look | d. to |
| 5. Talk | e. for |
| 6. Succeed | f.in |
| 7. Belong | g. from |
| 8. Different | h. to |
Exercise 4: Multiple Choice Challenge
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
- We are going to visit the museum ______ January. (at / on / in)
- The train arrives ______ 4 p.m. (at / on / in)
- He is verygood ______ mathematics. (in / at / on)
- She is afraid ______ spiders. (of / with / for)
- I need to finish this report ______ Friday. (on / in / by)
- The cat is sleeping ______ the sofa. (in / at / on)
- They have lived here ______ 2010. (since/ for / in)
- Look ______ the stars in the sky! (to / at / on)
Exercise 5: Final Prepositions
Rewrite the questions or sentences putting the preposition at the end.
- At what are you looking? → What _____________________?
- To whom are you speaking? → Who _____________________?
- For what are you waiting? → What _____________________?
- About what is he complaining? → What _____________________?
- From where doyou come? → Where _____________________?
- In which house do you live? → Which house _____________________?
- With whom did you go to the cinema? → Who _____________________?
- Of what are you thinking? → What _____________________?
Exercise 6: Mixed Gap Fill
Fill in the blanks with the most suitable preposition (at, in, on, by, for, to).
Tom is a student (1) ______ a private school. He lives (2) ______ a small flat (3) ______ London. He usually studies (4) ______ the morning, but (5) ______ Saturdays he works (6) ______ a shop. He needs to pay (7) ______ his books. He hopes to graduate (8) ______ 2025.
