PREPOSITIONS: giới từ

1. Giới từ chỉ thời gian.

after, at, before, by, during, for, from, in, on, since, throughout, until, within

2. Giới từ chỉ địa điểm / nơi chốn.

above, across, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, beyond, by, in, on, over, through, to, toward,
under, within.

* Một số giới từ thông thường:

a. AT, IN, ON

- AT: dùng trước thời gian ngắn: giờ, phút giây…

At 10 o’clock; at thí moment; at 10 a.m

- ON: dùng trước thời gian chỉ: ngày, thứ ngày (trong lịch…)

On Sunday, on this day…

- IN: dùng trước thời gian dài: tháng, mùa, năm,…

In June; in July; in Spring; in 2015

b. IN, INTO, OUT OF

- IN: dùng chỉ vị trí (địa ddiiemr – không chuyển hướng)

In the classroom; in the concert hall; in the box…

- INTO: dùng chỉ sự chuyển động từ ngoài vào trong.

I go into the classroom.

- OUT OF: dùng chỉ sự chuyển động từ trong ra ngoài.

I go out of the classroom.

c. FOR, DURING, SINCE:

- FOR: dùng để chỉ khoảng thời gian.

For two months, for four weeks, for the last few years…

- DURING: dùng để chỉ hành động xảy ra trong suốt thời gian của sự vật, sự kiện:

During Christmas time; During the film; During the play…

- SINCE: dùng để đánh dấu thời gian

since last Saturday, since yesterday

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d. AT, TO

- AT: dùng để chỉ sự cố định ở một vị trí nào đó tương đối nhỏ, vì nếu diện tích nơi đó lớn hơn ta dùng “in”.

At the door; AT home; At school

In Hanoi, In the world

- TO: dùng chỉ sự chuyển động tới một nơi nào đó.

Go to the window; go to the market

e. ON, OVER, ABOVE

- ON: dùng chỉ vị trí đứng liền ngay ở trên

on the table; on the desk …

- OVER, ABOVE: chỉ vị trí trên có khoảng cách

Ví dụ: The plane is flying over my city

There is a clock above the door.

f. TILL, UNTIL (tới, cho tới khi)

- TILL: dùng cho thời gian và không gian.

Wait for me till next Friday (thời gian)

They walked till the end of the road. (không gian)

- UNTIL: dùng với thời gian.

He did not come back until 11.pm yesterday. (thời gian)

g. between (ở giữa 2 vật / người), among (giữa đám đông)

From =từ >< to= đến

Out of + noun = hết, không còn

Out of town = đi vắng

Out of date=cũ, lạc hậu >< up to date = mới, cập nhật

Out of work = thất nghiệp, mất việc

Out of the question = không thể trả lời

Out of order = hỏng, không hoạt động

By:

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động từ chỉ chuyển động + by = đi ngang qua (walk by the library)

động từ tĩnh + by = ở gần (your books are by the window)

by + thời gian cụ thể = trước lúc, cho đến lúc (hành động cho đến lúc đó phải xảy ra.)

by + phương tiện giao thông = đi bằng

by far + so sánh (thường là so sánh bật nhất) => dùng để nhấn mạnh

by accident = by mistake = tình cờ, ngẫu nhiên >< on purose

In the street = dưới lòng đường

In the morning / afternoon / evening

In the past / future = trước kia, trong quá khứ / trong tương lai

In future = from now on = từ nay trở nay

In the beginning / end = at first / last = thoạt đầu / rốt cuộc

In the middle of (địa điểm) = ở giữa

In + the + STT + row = hàng thứ

In the event that = trong trường hợp mà

On + a / the + phương tiện giao thông = trên chuyến / đã lên chuyến …

On the + STT + floor = ở tầng thứ …

On time = vừa đúng giờ (bất chấp điều kiện bên ngoài, nghĩa mạnh hơn in time)

On the sidewalk = pavement = trên vỉa hè

On the right / left

On T.V / on the radio

On the phone / telephone = gọi điện thoại, nói chuyện điện thoại

On the phone = nhà có mắc điện thoại (Are you on the phone?)

On the whole = nói chung, về đại thể

On the other hand = tuy nhiên = however

on foot = đi bộ

At + số nhà

At home / school / work

At night / noon

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At least = chí ít, tối thiểu >< at most = tối đa

At once = ngay lập tức

At present / the moment = now

At times = đôi khi, thỉnh thoảng

At first = thoạt đầu >< at last = cuối cùng

At the beginning of / at the end of… = ở đầu / ở cuối (dùng cho thời gian và địa điểm)

At + tên các ngày lễ + day = on Christmas day…

At / on / in thường được không dùng trong các thành ngữ chỉ thời gian khi có mặt: next, last, this, that, one,
any, each, every, some, all

* Tính từ đi với giới từ:

- TO: acceptable, accustomed, agreeable, contrary, harmful, kind, likely, lucky, important, open, pleasant,
similar, angry …

- OF: afraid, ahead, aware, capable, full, centre, confident, tired, fond…

- FOR: difficult, late, perfect, sorry, useful, famous, ready…

- AT: clever, good, bad, quick, present, amused…

- WITH: acquainted, crowded, popular, fed up, bored, wondered, wrong,…

- IN: interested, rich, successful…

-FROM: absent, safe, different …

- ABOUT: confused, sad, serious, excited, worried…

I. Put in the correct preposition: at, on or in.

1. The course begins ______ 7 January and ends ______ 10 March.

2. I went to bed _____ midnight and got up _____ 6.00 the next morning.

3. Mozart was born ____ Salzburg _____ 1756.

4. There are usually a lot of parties _____ New Year’s Eve.

5. Mary and Henry always go out for a meal ______ their wedding anniversary.

6. The price of electricity is going up _____ October.

7. I might not be at home _____ the morning. Can you phone ______ afternoon.

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8. Tom doesn’t see his parents very often these days – usually only _____ Christmas and sometimes ____ the
summer for a few days.

9. Tom’s grandfather died _______ 1977 ______ the age of 79.

10. I’m going out to do some shopping. I’ll be back _____ half an hour.

11. The doorbell and the telephone rang _____ the same time.

12. Do you fancy going to the cinema _____ Friday night?

13. Hurry up. We’ve got to go ______ five minutes.

14. Are you doing anything special ________ the weekend?

15. Carol got married _____ 17, which is rather young to get married.

II. Complete the sentences with in, at or on.

1. Turn left ______ the traffic lights.

2. You’ll find the cups _____ the top shelf.

3. It can be dangerous when children play football ______ the street.

4. We got stuck in a traffic jam _____ the way on the airport.

5. Ann’s brother lives _____ a small village _____ the south coast of England.

6. Paris is _____ the river Seine.

7. Do you take sugar _____ your coffee?

8. Mr Brown’s office is _____ the first floor. When you come out of the lift, it’s the third door _____ your left.

9. Look at those beautiful horses _____ that field.

10. I’ll meet you _____ the corner of the street ______ 10 o’clock.

11. I can’t find Tom _____ this photograph. Is he ____ it?

12. You’ll find the sports results ______ the back page of the newspaper.

13. I didn’t see you ______ the party ______ on Saturday. Where were you?

14. Tom’s ill. He wasn’t ____ work today. He was _____ home ______ bed.

15. I haven’t seen Ken for some time. I last saw him ______ Dave’s wedding.

16. Paul is a student _____ London University.

17. The exhibition ______ the art gallery finished ______ Saturday afternoon.

18. What time did you arrrive ______ London.

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19. When we arrived _____ London Station, there was a long queue outside.

20. He speaks quite good French. He studied _____ Paris for a year.

III. Supply the correct prepositions.

1. It’s very nice ____ you to let me use your car. Thank you very much.

2. Why are you always so rude ________ your parents? Can you be nice ______ them?

3. It wasn’t polite _____ him to leave without saying thank you.

4. I don’t understand people who are cruel ______ animals.

5. Why do you always get so annoyed ______ little things?

6. The people next door are annoyed ______ us ______ making so much noise last night.

7. We enjoyed our holiday but we were rather disappointed _______ the hotel.

8. I was surprised _______ the way he behaved. It was quite out of character.

9. She doesn’t often go out at night. She’s afraid _______ the dark.

10. I’ve been trying to learn Spanish but I’m not satisfied _______ my progress.

11. Jill starts her new job on Monday. She’s quite excited _____ it.

12. I was shocked ______ what you said. You should be ashamed _______ yourself.

13. Did you know that Linda is engaged ______ a friend of mine.

14. I had never seen so many people before. I was astonished _______ the crowds.

15. Bill has been doing the same job for too long. He’s bored ______ it.

16. These days everybody is aware ______ the dangers of smoking.

17. Are you still upset ______ what I said to you yesterday?

18. She’s quite nice but I wouldn’t like to be married _____ her.

19. I’m hopeless ______ repairing things.

20. I’m not very good ______tennis.

21. I’d rather not go to an Indian restaurant. I’m not very keen ______ Indian food.

22. I’m sorry ______ the smell in this room. It’s just been painted.

23. The police are responsible ______ maintaining law and order.

24. Ann is very fond ______ her younger brother.

25. Britain certainly isn’t famous _______ its food.

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26. This place is always very lively at night. It’s usually crowded _______ people.

27. That man’s very honest. He isn’t capable ______ telling a lie.

28. Our house is similar ______ theirs – I think ours is a bit larger.

29. I felt sorry ________ the cildren when we went on holiday. It rained very hard and we had to spend most of
the time indoors.

30. Bill and I come from the same town but my accent is different _______ his.

IV. Underline one correct preposition in each sentence.

1. Your father is very kind (with for / to / in) David.

2. His book is different (about / from / for / between) mine.

3. Your plan is similar (with / to / of / for) his.

4. The boy is afraid (of / on / in / about) snakes.

5. She is accustome (with / to / on / of getting up early.

6. That student is very quick (with / at / for / about) mathematics.

7. He has been absent (from / of / to / with) school lately.

8. They are interested (in / on / about / with) buying a new house.

9. Smoking is harmful (for / with / to / about) our health.

10. He is accustomed (to / with / for / in) driving fast like this.

11. This theatre is often crowded (with / to / on / about) viewers.

12. It was very nice (to / of / in / for) him to give me a lift.

13. Contrary (to / with / for / about) his doctor’s orders, he has gone back to work.

14. Don’t worry (about / with / to / for) the money! I’ll lend you.

15. They have been waiting (for / with / to / at) the bus for half an hour.

16. Ken prefers Chinese food (about / to / over / with) French food.

17. I have been looking (after / for / into / at) my dog for two days but I haven’t seen it yet.

18. Don’t make noise! I’m concerning (to / on / in / at) the question.

19. I usually regard him (with / in / as / at) my close friend.

20. Congratulate you (in / to / on / with) winning the game.

21. I feel very hot because the electricity has gone (off / out / along / after).

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22. The book is divided (to / in / into / for) three parts.

23. I wrote to the company asking them (to / for / about / with) more information about the job.

24. Her children are very quick (with / about / at / for) computer games.

25. This kind of music is popular (for / to / with / about) the young.

26. Boys are fond (in / of / on /at) playing football.

27. She’s very worried (for / with / at / about) her mother’s health.

28. Henry was born (on / in / at / to) 1992.

29. Lisa is very good (at / with / in / about) chemistry.

30. The forest fire went (after / off / out / along) after two days.

31. I always find it hard to keep pace (up / with / for / on) Nam, one of the best students in my class.

32. What do you often do (in / on / at / of) the evening?

33. Smoking is not good (for / at / about / of) our health.

34. The future of a country depends (in / at / on / from) the youth.

35. There is a great difference (from / between / about / for) these two things.

36. My father insisted (in / on / of / at) building a new house.

37. We are looking forward (in / at / for / to) seeing you again.