Grammar for PET: Prepositions

•in / at / on•under / on top of•above / over•below / under •along / through / round (around)

•in front of / behind / opposite / between •by / beside / next to•by / until •in / during / for

What are some of the prepositions that you know?

What are prepositions?

In general, prepositions:◦ Are short words◦ Always come before a noun or pronoun (prepositions)◦ Show how the other words in the sentence are related

Why are they sometimes tricky?◦ English has many prepositions◦ A direct translation is usually not possible (or not

correct)◦ One preposition might have several translations◦ Because there are many prepositions, there are many

rules.◦ Sometimes there is no rule besides MEMORIZATION!

(ex.: for vebs that take a preposition)

Prepositions: What are they, and why are they so

tricky?

By reading (and listening) in English

By learning useful phrases by heart (memory)◦ Learn the prepositions that go with certain

vocabulary words at the same time that you learn the word itself

By looking in a learner dictionary ◦ (for example: http://www.ldoceonline.com/ -

Longman Dictionary of Contempory English)◦ Learner dictionaries usually provide the prepositions

commonly used with the word you are looking up, as well as differences in meanings.

◦ Try this website: http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/verb_preposition.html

How can you practice them?

When do we use each of these?

◦ He was born ___ the 20th century.◦ We rest ___ night.◦ You have a test ___ Tuesday.◦ My apartment is ___ the fifth floor.◦ The girls agreed to meet ___ the entrance to the

school.◦ This product is not available ___ stores.

Which is the most specific? Least?

Prepositions of Place and Time:in / at / on

Expressions with In, At, and On What is the difference in meaning between:

◦ “In the end” and “at the end”?

◦ Arriving “on time” and “in time”?

What is the difference between… Under and below?

On top of and above/over?

Which can we see in books?◦ Please do the exercise ________.◦ In the photo ________, …

Prepositions: Position and Movement

The course of the race begins at the city centre. From there, runners will go _____ the river, _____ the bridge, _____ the car park, and finally, _____ the woods to the finish line.

• Along

• Over

• Round (around)

• Through

Prepositions of Place What is the difference between by, beside,

and next to?

What is the difference between opposite and in front of?

What is the opposite of in front of?

http://graciousinteriors.blogspot.com.es/2010/05/above-below-over-under-and-beside.html

Describe using under/on top of, above/over, below/under, in/at/on…

Prepositions of Time In addition to at, on, and in…

Examples:◦ Payment is due by 11 February.

Can you pay before 11 February? On that day? After 11 February?

◦ You have until 6 P.M. to pick up your tickets. How can until be abbreviated? Can you pick up tickets at 11 A.M.? 6 P.M.? 11 P.M.?

Do by and until mean the same thing? ◦ If not, what is the difference?

In, During, and For Are both sentences correct?

◦ I plan to study a lot more in the next few months.◦ I plan to study a lot more during the next few

months.

◦ The baby next to us was crying during the whole flight.

◦ The baby next to us was crying in the whole flight.

Is there a difference between in and during…◦ In meaning?◦ In when each can be used?

In, During, and For Which one answers the question “how

long”?

◦ Example: How long do you usually study for an exam?

Which one answers the question “how soon”?

◦ Example: How soon (or when) is the next book in the series available?

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-place-at-in-on.htm

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepositions

http://eslus.com/LESSONS/GRAMMAR/POS/pos7.htm

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/thesaurus-category/british/Prepositions

http://www.douglas.bc.ca/__shared/assets/GR_577367.pdf

http://www.talkenglish.com/Grammar/prepositions-on-at-in.aspx

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/prepositions.htm