PREPOSITIONS and POSTPOSITIONS

* A preposition is generally used before a place, a moment, a person * A postposition modifies the original meaning of a verb.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with one of the following prepositions.

on in for from up with out behind off by at over about from to of

Verb + Preposition / Postposition

1) A plane appeared ..... the sky, then disappeared ... a cloud. 2) I often listen ..... the radio. 3) Bob Marley suffered ..... cancer. 4) He should apologise ..... speaking so violently. 5) I spent lot of money ... furniture. 6) The child threw a bone ..... the barking dog. 7) Its too hot. Take ..... the babys clothes. 8) He has applied ..... a visa. 9) Its dark here. Turn ..... the lights. 10) This car belongs ..... my father. 11) My pen priend is very kind ..... me. 12) This old player is thinking ..... stopping his career. 13) He threw a fruit ..... me. 14) Her father is satisfied ..... her progress. 15) My friend completely disagrees ..... me on this matter. 16) The teachers are complaining ..... the ministers decision. 17) He doesnt like smoking and I agree ..... him. 18) The football match may take place. It depends ... the polices presence. 19) Translate these sentences ... French. 20) He can never wait ..... ten minutes. 21) Lets go ..... for a walk. 22) I rely ..... you to solve that problem. 23) Fortunately the car didnt ran ..... the cat. 24) I lost my purse but I have found it ..... 25) Everybody got ..... the supermarket because there was a bomb scare. 26) Talla Sylla gave ..... politics because of illness. 27) If I see you ..... to the airport I may shed tears. 28) Turn ..... the TV set. Im learning my lessons. 29) At last, the policemen have found out the man they were looking .... 30) Take care ..... the children. 31) When I was a pupil, I usually learnt my lessons ..... heart. 32) ..... the end..... January 05th, we will have finished that work. 33) How did Louis Amstrong go .... the earth .... the moon ? 34) Will you go ... Popenguine pilgrimage ... car or ...... foot ? 35) The civil servants go ..... work ..... Monday . Friday. 36) Thank you. It was very kind ..... you to write to me that letter. 37) I take ..... my bonnet when I greet older people. 38) You have to speak ..... for him to better hear you. 39) I e-mailed her ..... November 30th . 40) I browsed the data ..... the internet yesterday night.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with one of the following prepositions.

in to with from at of by on

Adjective + Preposition
1) Im afraid ..... snakes. 2) You are good .... English but bad . Mathematics. 3) Im not very keen ..... Spanish. 4) Shes not interested ..... cinema. 5) The goalkeeper was surprised ..... the way Ronaldo scored the goal. 6) I think the minister is aware ..... the teachers hard working conditions. 7) During the holidays, the beach of Somone is full ... people. 8) There is something wrong ..... my motobike. 9) Im tired ..... hearing his complains. 10) Im similar ..... my father but very different ..... my brother.

Exercise 3: Fill in the blanks with one of the following prepositions.

for of in by on

Preposition + Noun
1. I saw ..... the TV a film ..... Tom Cruise. 1. They spoke ..... the phone. 2. I heard the news ... the radio and then read it .. a newspaper. 3. We went ..... a walk. 4. ..... the evening, they play football. 5. Last year, the pupils were ..... strike. 6. You won the match ... chance. 7. When we are ..... holiday, we often go to the beach. 8. Many young people are out ... work. 9. She fell ..... love with a handsome pop star. 10. The bush was ..... fire. 11. Hes always ..... a hurry when he goes to the bank. 12. I often go to school .. car but sometimes I go ... foot. 13. The demonstrators burnt many cars .... purpose. 14. The tables are made ..... wood. 15. I hit him .... accident.

Exercise 4: Fill in the blanks with the right prepositions.

1) The ship is now five miles ..... the port. 2) Heat changes ice .... water 3) I heard it ..... the radio. 4) Wait for us ..... the corner .. 25th street. 5) Ill meet you ..... front ... the building. 6) He arrived ..... five o clock .... the Aline Sitoe Diatta boat. 7) The paper blew ..... of the window. 8) He jumped ..... the fence. 9) .... first, I didnt like Dakar, but now I am accustomed ... it. 10) You must take .. consideration the fact that Demba was sick ...... the time. 11) We were prevented .... going by the bad weather. 12) Rokhaya was dressed ... a blouse and skirt. 13) He says that the building in the next block is ... fire. 14) The Gulf war has had a great effect ... foreign trade and many countries have been entirely cut off ..... Iraqi markets. 15) I should think he would be ashamed ... his poor work. 16) I went there ..... mistake. 17) The elevator is not running today. Its ... order. 18) She seems to be .....a hurry. 19) He took up the work ... enthousiasm.

He did it ..... purpose. It didnt happen ...accident. I mistook him ..... his brother. He graduated ... college .... 2001 ... highest honors. I will get ..... touch .... you soon. Let me have a look ... it. The police ran ..... the thief ... catching him. I was astonished .... their defeat. He makes many mistakes ... spelling, but few ... pronounciation. The students cannot study ... such difficulties. I see my parents ..... time .... time. The three men finally divided the money ... themselves after quarrelling ..... it ... serveral days. 31) They easily prevented him ..... entering the building. 32) It is dark here. Please turn ..... the light. 33) I have lived here ..... 1999. 34) They sat down ..... the table and began to eat. 35) There are not enough rooms ... all of us. 36) He insisted ..... coming with me. 37) I explained ... him what it meant. 38) I was surprised ..... her action. 39) Are you afraid .... animals? 40) He has worked here .... many years. 41) Do not write your exercises ..... ink. 42) It is not wise to bathe ..... the sea ... this time of the year. 43) The table is made ..... iron. 44) This is an exception ..... the rule. 45) His health is improving day ..... day. 46) I dont wish to argue ..... him .... the matter. 47) I will be back ..... an hour or two. 48) They laughed ..... me when I ran .... of the room. 49) This fashion is very old and is very much ouf ..... date. 50) It will be impossible .... me to go ... Astou . the dancing party. 51) The Joola boat was crowded ... people when it sank. 52) ..... first, we stayed ... the shade .. a large tree, but later we went swimming ... the river. 53) Many people ran ..... the thief ... catching him. 54) Whom do you wish to speak .....? 55) I wish to argue ... him ... the matter. 56) He fell ..... love ... his secretary. 57) They insisted ..... coming with me. 58) I see my grandmother ..... time ..... time. 59) He is expected to be back ... 8.00 p.m. 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30)

Exercise 5: Choose in, at or on

1. It can get extremely hot here Summer. in 2. Malik doesnt have a job the moment. at 3. Both cars stopped the same time. at 5. Rogers always tired. Hes bed now! in 6. Bye! Ill see you the morning. in 7. Were you Antas party last night? at 8. Ill see you three weeks time. in 9. Simon was born 1966. in 10. The dentist will see you 11:15. at ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on )

4. Would you like to go to the cinema Saturday night? on ( in / at / on )

( in / at / on )

11. the age of eight I wanted to be a train driver. at 13. The sugar is the shelf. on ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on )

( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on )

12. My boyfriend gave me a fantastic present my birthday. on 14. Your car keys are your pocket. in 16. My uncle lives St Louis. in

15. Ellenes gone to work. Shes probably ..working now. at ( in / at / on ) 17. my opinion you should buy the black polo shirt. in 18. second thought, the dark green one is nicer. on 19. Ill see you Wednesday. on ( in / at / on ) 20. Ill be taking my holiday Easter this year. at 21. Buy some biscuits your way home. on 22. What will you be doing New Years Eve? on 23. the end of a course students usually get drunk! at 24. That new bench your garden is very nice. in 25. There werent many cars the road today. on 27. I got up 11a.m. today! at 29. He lives this address. at ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on )

( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on )

( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on ) ( in / at / on )

( in / at / on )

26. Joe and Katy always go out to dinner their wedding aniversary. on 28. Are you doing anything the weekend? on

Exercise 6: What are the correct prepositions for each of these sentences? 1) The workers went strike because they thought their working hours were too long.
2) She warned her daughter the dangers going out alone night. 3) Although we had expected them to come on foot, they came car. 4) todays newspaper its stated that a new agreement will be signed Poland and Ukraine this week. 5) I learned to ride a bike the age four. 6) The favourite was beaten a very close race. 7) Will you please pick up some pierogi supper .. your way home this evening? 8) The price charged . that school their lessons is too high. 9) He submitted his CV June 13th, so he missed the closing date for applications. 10) Ela was desperately need more speaking practice.