Prepositions

For specific times:

at

times
night

He came at four oclock.

Theres a lot of noise from the caf at

festivals
the weekend

Im going away at Eid.

She goes to the beach at the weekend.

days
dates
the weekend (Am.)

I have a meeting on Tuesday.

They were married on 6th September.
She goes to the beach on the

years
months
parts of the day
future

He was born in 1989.

Half term is in March.
Her piano lessons are in the afternoon.
Im leaving in three days.

night.

on

weekend.

in

For lengths of time:

from to

The lesson lasts from four to six oclock.

since

He has been here since this morning.

for

He has been here for three hours.

ago

He arrived three hours ago.

between

He lived in Kuwait between 1999 and 2003.

until

He was in Kuwait until 2003.

during

I fell asleep during the lesson.

within

I must pay the bill within a month.

No preposition used:
next

Hes going to Riyadh next Tuesday.

last

Last year I didnt have a holiday.

tomorrow / today / tonight

Come to dinner tomorrow evening.

yesterday

They flew to Paris yesterday afternoon.

this

I want to watch the match this evening.

Exercise 1
Choose the correct preposition (on, at, in) to fill the gaps:

1.

I have to work . the weekend.

2.

There was nobody at the beach . Monday.

3.

Are you going to their party . the 26th?

4.

I wasnt late. I arrived . exactly eight oclock.

5.

Ahmed said he was coming . the afternoon.

6.

Sara will be here . Wednesday morning.

7.

Where were you living . 2010?

8.

It gets very cold . night.

9.

It is difficult to book a flight . Eid.

10.

Are you going to be here . March?

11.

Did you go out . Saturday evening?

12.

What do you do . the evenings?

Exercise 2

Fill the gaps with the correct prepositions or nothing:

1.

. the week, he wakes up . 7 oclock.

2.
Im going to Dammam . three days, but Ill be back . 7 th
March.
3.

Ive been here . noon and he arrived two hours . .

4.
I had breakfast . this morning, but I havent eaten .
hours.
5.

He worked in Kuwait . 1982 and 1990, but he was in Egypt

. the Gulf War.

6.

They are having a party . next Tuesday, but I dont like going
out . night.

7.

I went out . Friday night, but I didnt go out . last night.

8.

He arrived in Saudi Arabia six years . and has been working

for this company . 2012.

9.

He worked for Aramco . 2009 . 2011.

10.

Im staying here . 8 oclock, but then Im going home.

At.

used to show the place or event where something happens

There is a caf on the corner.
The plane landed at Riyadh Airport.
I left my glasses at home.
The President lives at the White House.

used with a verb to show direction

Dont shout at me.
Look at your book, not out of the window.
She waved at him as she left.

used with adjectives to show quality

He is very good at football.
Im awful at speaking French.

used with many places and events

at
at
at
at

the airport, at university, at home, at work

the bank, at the office, at the doctors, at the hospital, at Saras (house)
a party, at a wedding, at a meeting
breakfast, at lunch, at dinner

used in some fixed expressions

at least, at last, at once, at the moment, at all

Exercise 3
Put at in the correct place in the following sentences:

1.

Hes not here. Hes the doctors.

2.

The film started 9 oclock and finished 11.30.

3.

He cant come to the phone the moment, hes lunch.

4.

Lets meet tomorrow the corner of Sari Street and Madinah Road.

5.

Stop that noise once!

6.

There are planes arriving Jeddah Airport every few minutes.

7.

Is the car your office or home?

8.

Now you have to stop the traffic lights if youre turning right.

9.

We cant accept any more orders the moment.

10.

Its better if you start the bottom and work up.

On.
used to show position
Its on the table.

Shes on the phone.

London is on the River Thames.

used to say what is talked about

comment on, agree on, advise on, disagree on, vote on

used with some adjectives

keen on, based on, tough on, soft on, dependent on

used to show what is ongoing

carry on, go on, keep on, hold on

used with many nouns

on foot, on board, on time, on business, on duty, on holiday, on strike
on purpose, on track, on sale, on loan, on fire, on tap, on ice, on a diet
on the phone, on television, on the radio

Examples of collocation with prepositions

Adjectives often used with prepositions
amazed, astonished, awful, bad, good, clever, skilled, useless

at

disappointed, interested

in

worried, annoyed concerned, depressed, excited, upset, anxious

about
frightened, scared, terrified, typical

of

kind, generous, cruel, polite, rude, unkind, nice

to

surprised, bored, impressed, inspired, disturbed

by

Verbs often used with prepositions

care, hear, know, learn, think, wonder, worry, complain

about

decide, choose, distinguish, differentiate

between

for

hope, long, prepare, wait, search, apply, apologise, aim, forgive

prevent, learn, stop,

from

count, depend, insist, rely, concentrate

on

Nouns often used with prepositions

reason, excuse, explanation, need, responsibility

for

knowledge, understanding, experience

of

change, decrease, rise, fall, experience

in

information, something, discussion, anything

about

Exercises
Put a suitable word in the gap to complete the sentences:
1.

There is no need . shouting!

2.

Do you have any experience . market research?

3.

I think its cruel . keep birds in a cage.

4.

Im upset . the news from Syria.

5.

They couldnt distinguish . an American and a Canadian

accent.

6.

How do we prevent the dog . digging in the garden?

7.

She worries too much . the future.

8.

There is no excuse . that kind of behavior.

9.

Hes terrified . snakes.

10.

Im going to apply . a new job.

Put a suitable preposition in the gaps in the letter.

Dear Mr. Smith,

Thank you for your letter.I was very disturbed . your
story of
what happened in our restaurant last week. I am writing to
apologise
.. the rudeness of the waiter who served you. I
understand why you
were upset .. the way he spoke to you and you
complained .. the
situation.
Our restaurant has a reputation for good service and care
for our
customers, and I am very sorry that your experience ..
our service
did not confirm this. I would like to assure you that this
behavior
is not typical .. our staff. The waiter concerned has
since been
dismissed and further training will be given to all our staff.
I accept that I am responsible . all our staff, so please
accept my

apologies. Please visit us again as our guest and I can

assure you
of a much more pleasant experience.
Yours sincerely,