Use of Prepositions

Prepositions
“Prepositions express a relation in space between two or more entities or a relation in time
between two events, or various other abstract relations such as instrument and cause.” (Cambridge
Grammar of English, Carter and McCarthy, 2006, p.462).
A preposition refers to the word or phrase which shows the relationship between one thing and
another, linking nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence.
For example:
(1). A relation in Place and Time:

We waited at the bus stop for ten minutes.
There is a telephone booth outside the bank.
What are you wearing underneath your coat?
She fell asleep during the lecture.
The police station is next to the shopping mall.
(2). Feelings:
Are you worried about your exam? I was
surprised at your remarks.
(3). Other relationships like Instrument and Cause:
The girl stabbed the burglar with a knife.
Without your support, I don’t think I can finish the project so smoothly.
Use of Prepositions
The use of prepositions is, without doubt, one of the most difficult areas of English grammar. There
are over 100 prepositions in English, with one word or more than one word.
One-word Prepositions
aboard along at besides down inside on round to up

about amid before between during into onto since towards/towards upon
above amidst behind beyond except like opposite than under via
across among below but for near outside through underneath with
after around beneath by from of over throughout unlike within
against as beside despite in off past till until without
Two- and three-word Prepositions

according as well as due to in exchange for inside of on account prior to
to
ahead of because of except for in favor of in spite of of
on top of subsequent to
apart from but for for lack of in front/back instead of out of such as
as for by means in addition to of line with
in near to outside of thanks to
as of of virtue of
by in aid of in place of next to owing to up to
Exercise 1a – Use of Prepositions

Read the following story and fill in each gap with the most suitable preposition in the box. Sometimes more
than one answer is possible. about above underneath for on in at toward(s) from
in front of instead of inside under according to thanks to up outside
about above underneath for on in at toward(s) from

in front of instead of inside under according to thanks to up outside
Christine’s cat was missing, and she started looking around the house (1) ____________ it. She opened
her closet and looked (2) ______________but the cat was not there. She went to the bedroom and
crawled (3) ____________ the floor to look (4) ____________ the bed. She searched the kitchen and
bathroom but found nothing. Since her cat could not be seen anywhere inside the house, Christine
decided to go (5) ____________ to give it a try. Just as she was (6) ____________to open the door,
the doorbell rang. It was her neighbor, Mrs. Chan. Mrs. Chan pointed (7) ____________the top of a
nearby tree. “Look, Christine! Your cat is (8) ____________the tree!” Mrs. Chan began to describe
how she found the cat. (9) ____________ her, she was cleaning the windows when she heard a noise
coming (10) ____________ the tree (11) ____________ her house. She looked (12) ____________ and
saw the cat (13) ____________ one of the branches high (14) ____________the ground. (15)
____________ignoring the cat, Mrs. Chan decided to tell Christine. (16) ____________Mrs. Chan’s
help, Christine was able to rescue it.
Suggested Answers:
(1) for (2) (3) (4) under/ (5) (6) (7) at/ (8) in
inside on underneath outside about toward/
towards
(9) (10) (11) (12) up (13) on (14) (15) (16)
According from in above Instead of Thanks
to front to
of
Exercise 1b – Use of Prepositions
Fill in each gap with a suitable preposition in the box.
in by for into after at as to from on
Inspiration: Being inspired is the key to success as a senior student.
This is what I concluded (1) completing the ABC program (2) __ The Chinese University
of Hong Kong. Life (3) _ a postgraduate student (4) the Department of ABC can be fun, or
a nightmare, depending (5) what approach you take. I am more than willing to share my
thoughts with you (6) this regard.
Comparing studying (7) travelling, I found many interesting parallels. Studying (8)
high school is like joining a group tour. So long (9) you don’t fall asleep (10) the
coach, and you listen to what the tour guide tells you, you shouldn’t fail. Studying (11) a
Bachelor’s degree is like going for a package tour. Many things have been prepared (12) you
but you still have to put extra effort (13) your study. Studying (14) a Master’s degree
is like backpacking. You have to plan the trip yourself and take the initiative to explore everything.
Sometimes you get help (15) experienced travelers, the lecturers. At the doctorate level,
you will explore new ground untouched (16) others.
Some Master’s students may get lost (17) first because they don’t realize that a different
approach (18) their earlier study experience is called (19) . They study hard reading
the lecture notes (20) they did before. They wonder why so little has been taught while the
scope for their assignments is so broad. They have not yet realized that the lecture notes show them
the directions, not destinations. However, once you realize this and adopt the attitude (21) a
backpacker, life is fun. The libraries here are treasure islands. The internet is your highway. And the
professors are black-belt masters. Challenge them. They welcome your questions. They don’t teach
you; they inspire. How many chances do you have (22) life to have your work assessed (23)
a world class scholar?
Adapted from and inspired by an original article by Ho Wai Man
(1) after (2) at (3) as (4) in (5) on (6) in (7) to (8) in

(9) as (10) in (11) for (12) for (13) into (14) for (15) from (16)
(17) at (18) from (19) for (20) as (21) of (22) in (23) by by

Use of Prepositions

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Prepositions

(1). A relation in Place and Time:

aboard along at besides down inside on round to up

Two- and three-word Prepositions

Exercise 1a – Use of Prepositions

about above underneath for on in at toward(s) from

in by for into after at as to from on

Inspiration: Being inspired is the key to success as a senior student.

Adapted from and inspired by an original article by Ho Wai Man

(1) after (2) at (3) as (4) in (5) on (6) in (7) to (8) in

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