PREPOSITIONAL

PHRASES
I Complete each sentence with one word or phrase from the box. Use each word or phrase once
only.

according to in common instead of apart from by means of in favour of

with

because of on behalf of as for in case of in front of regardless

of

1. I think I’d rather have coffee _______________ tea.

2. _______________ danger, Paul ran back into the burning house.
3. _______________ fire, smash the glass and push the button.
4. Personally, I’m _______________ banning cigarette smoking completely!
5. I would like to thank you, _______________ everyone who was rescued.
6. _______________ you, no-one else knows that I have escaped from prison.
7. _______________ Steve, he believes that we should stay where we are.
8. Jim managed to climb into the house _______________ a ladder he found.
9. _______________ the rain the football match was cancelled.
10. _______________ the timetable, the next train isn’t for two hours.
11. Julie has nothing _______________ Bill. They are quite different.
12. A large black car suddenly stopped _______________ the house.

II Choose the most suitable phrase.

1. I can’t disturb John now. He’s at bed / in bed.

2. Tony always arrives exactly in time / on time for his lesson.
3. Two pounds for each ticket, that makes 12 pounds in all/ with all.
4. I can’t pick that last apple. It’s out of hand / out of reach.
5. John and I met on the plane completely by chance / by surprise.
6. The children spent most of their time out of doors / out of place.
7. I’m sorry but Jane isn’t here at present / at a time.
8. How can Sam love Lucy? They have nothing in common / in general.
9. They should be here soon. They are in the way / on the way.
10. Terry isn’t here. He’s away in business / on business.
III Complete each sentence with a suitable word from the list. Use each word once only.

breath fail impression secret strike

costs hurry return stock words

1. This is important. You must catch the two men at all _______________.
2. He says he’s ill. Or in other _______________, he doesn’t want to come.
3. I was under thand in= he _______________ that you enjoyed working here.
4. Sorry, I can’t stop. I’m in a _______________.
5. Please hand in your work in on Tuesday, without _______________.
6. We can’t go by train. The train-drivers are on _______________.
7. Martin is supposed to have given up smoking, but he smokes in _______________.
8. I’m afraid we don’t have your size, we are out of _______________.
9. If I give you the information, what will you give me in _______________?
10. I ran for the bus, and now I’m out of _______________.

IV Complete each sentence by using a word from the list. Use each word once only.

at by for in on off out of to under without

1. Police officers don’t have to wear uniform when they are ________ duty.
2. I feel very tired. ________ times I consider giving up work.
3. The children were all upset, and some were ________ tears.
4. This factory needs modernizing. Everything here is ________ date.
5. Don’t worry, everything is ________ control.
6. Sorry, I seem to have taken the wrong umbrella ________ mistake.
7. Please hurry. We need these documents ________ delay.
8. That wasn’t an accident. You did it ________ purpose.
9. We thought the two films were very similar ________ a great extent.
10. We decided to take a holiday in Wales ________ a change.