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IYS - A Grammar A29 Parts of speech exercise 6 - PREPOSITIONS.doc RS/E3.2
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Parts of Speech 6.
PREPOSITIONS
See also A23 Parts of speech and constructing sentences and prepositions A11 - 19

PREPOSITIONS are words that tells us about the TIME, the

PLACE or the CIRCUMSTANCES.

Common PREPOSITIONS:
at, on, by, in, under, over, between, of, up
about, beneath, down, across, after.

If you are in doubt about

what preposition to use, Say the
say the sentence ALOUD sentence
and ask: ‘Does it SOUND ALOUD.
right?’

Examples of common prepositions of TIME in use.

1. My drama class starts at 7 o’clock.

2. I go to pottery classes on Tuesdays.

3. I have to finish this essay by the 13th of November.

4. The doctor asked Mary to come back in 2 weeks’ time.

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IYS - A Grammar A29 Parts of speech exercise 6 - PREPOSITIONS.doc RS/E3.2
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Write 5 new sentences of your own using at, on,

by, of and in as prepositions of TIME.

1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Examples of common prepositions of PLACE in use:

1. The tree is in the ground.

2. The leaves have fallen by its trunk.

3. The gardener is wearing a hat on his head.

4. The clouds are above.

5. The grass is beneath the leaves.

6. The gardener holds a rake between his fingers.

7. He is raking the leaves over the grass.

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R
IYS - A Grammar A29 Parts of speech exercise 6 - PREPOSITIONS.doc RS/E3.2
the learning centre

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Write 7 new sentences of your own using by in, on,

above, beneath, between and over as prepositions of
PLACE.

1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Underline all the prepostions of TIME and

PLACE in the following story about John
Lennon.
Put a T beside the prepositions of TIME.
Put a P beside the ones of PLACE
John Lennon was born in Liverpool in 1940. His father Fred was a

merchant seaman. He was away at sea most of the time. John’s mother,

Julia, found it hard to bring up the baby on her own. John spent a lot of

time at his Aunt Mimi’s house.

About the time of John’s fourth birthday, his parents split up. He was

taken over to Aunt Mimi’s and stayed with her for the rest of his

childhood. Answers overleaf

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IYS - A Grammar A29 Parts of speech exercise 6 - PREPOSITIONS.doc RS/E3.2
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John Lennon was born inP Liverpool in 1940. His father Fred was a
merchant seaman. He was away atP sea most ofT the time. John’s
mother, Julia, found it hard to bring up the baby on her own. John spent
a lot ofT time atP his Aunt Mimi’s house.

AboutT the time ofT John’s fourth birthday, his parents split up. He was
taken overP to Aunt Mimi’s and stayed with her forT the rest ofT his
childhood.

In the following sentences put an appropriate

preposition in the blank spaces.
• See page 1. for a list of common prepositions.
• Say the sentences ALOUD to check they
SOUND right.
1. ……………………….. 10 o’clock Joe arrived ……………………….. the City Lit.

2. It was the first day ………….. his philosophy course.

3. He squeezed …………………….. a group of chattering students and

went …………. the canteen for a cup of tea.

4. He had just put his tea ……… the table and when he looked ……….
there was his friend Tara standing ………… the queue.

5. He waved ………. her and signalled her to come …………….. to his table.

6. She said that she was doing a CV writing course …………. the study
skills area but it would be over ………….. 12.30 and suggested they
meet for lunch.

7. Joe’s course was ………………the roof studio, so he took the lift …….
to the fourth floor and walked ……… the last flight of stairs.

8. When he reached the roof and looked ………………… he saw London

stretched out ……………………. him.

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