Prepositions

Prepositions are very difficult for learners of English. Often, learners try to translate from their
language, but this is not possible. You need to learn and remember which prepositions are used
in different situations.

Perhaps in your language, you say "in" Monday. In English, we say "on Monday". Here are some
other common time prepositions:

Examples:

 They got married in 1988.

 They would like to go to Paris in the summer.
 I can't sleep at night. It's too hot.
 I will see you in three hours. Bye!
 He worked as a pilot for fourteen years.

Other very important prepositions are prepositions of place - to describe where something is.
Sometimes the differences in these prepositions are very small. Think of the difference between
these sentences:

 He put the bottle near the table.

 He put the bottle next to the table.
 He put the bottle in front of the table.
 He put the bottle on the table.
 He put the bottle under the table.
 He put the bottle in the table. (Is this one possible? In the desk, perhaps....)

The other important thing when learning prepositions is to learn which ones go with new verbs
when you learn them. For example, let's take the verb "to rise" (to go up). Do prices "rise in
10%", "rise at 10%", "rise by 10%" or "rise on 10%"? The answer? We say, for example, "prices
have risen by 10%". Here are some other verb+preposition examples:
  That cat belongs to me.
 We asked for some water.
 What are you thinking about, John?
 I'm very worried about Teresa. It's so late!

You also need to learn adjectives in the same way:

 That car is identical to that one, isn't it?

 Are you really afraid of the dark?
 My parents were very impressed by my exam results.
 Sharon is angry with Clara for telling everyone her secret.

And finally, even many nouns also come with prepositions.

 What is the alternative to this plan?

 Police said there is no connection between the two cases.
 This medicine can have a negative effect on you.
 Do you have a strong opinion about this, Carol?

Articles
In English, there is the definite article "the" and the indefinite articles "a" and "an".
The difference between "a" and "an" is simple. We put "an" in front of words with vowels.
Examples:
 He lives in an old house.
 She always wears an orange hat.
Careful - we use "an" also in front of words that begin with a silent "h" such as an hour and in
front of abbreviations that start with a vowel sound such as an M.P. (which starts with an /em/
sound).

We use "a" in front of words that are spelt with a vowel but start with a consonant sound. This is
seen often with words that are spelt with a "u" but begin with a "y" sound such as a university
or a united family.
How to use articles.

We use the indefinite article when we talk about something for the first time.

 I walked down Smith Street where I saw a man repairing a bicycle.

We use the definite article when we talk about something on further occasions - not for the first
time.

 The man was old and the bicycle was in terrible condition.

We use no article when we are talking about things in general and not one specific example.

 Cows eat grass and produce milk.

 Love is the best!
 Teachers are not paid enough money.

Now,compare these pairs of sentences:

Children in America must go to school until they are 16.

but
The children are playing in the garden, Hamza.

Shops stay open late in Britain on Thursday evenings.

but
The shops in this street are all so expensive.

Other rules of article use.

We don't use articles with the time, days of the week or months of the year.

 He comes to this house in August.

  At six o'clock, we have to leave.
 On Monday, I start my new job.

We don't use articles for names of streets, languages, meals, airports, mountains, stations, cities
and countries.

 London is the capital of England.

 Grand Station can be found in Walter Street.
 Christchurch Airport is near Mount Wilson.
 French is spoken in Luxembourg.
 Breakfast is at eight and lunch at one in the afternoon.

We use the definite article for names of rivers, seas, hotels and newspapers.

 The Thames is England's most famous river.

 We stayed at The Morrison when we visited Chicago.
 The Pacific Ocean is bigger than the Mediterranean Sea.
 The Straits Times is Singapore's English language newspaper.

We use the indefinite article for names of jobs.

 My father is an engineer.
 I want to be a doctor.

We use the indefinite article in certain expressions.

 She smokes ten cigarettes a day.

 I have a lot of friends in this school.
 I just want a little milk, thank you.
We use the definite article in superlative sentences.

 Mexico City is the biggest city in the world.

Important! In many languages, the article is used before plural nouns even when talking about
things in general. This is not true in English.

Example:

I like potatoes and tomatoes.

NOT I like the potatoes and the tomatoes.