PREPOSITION

We use on to:
I. To express a surface of something (places).
a. I put an egg on the kitchen table.
b. The bank is on the oxford street.

II. To specify days and dates.

a. The garbage truck comes on Wednesdays.
b. I was born on the 21th day of January 1995.

III. To indicate a device or machine.

a. He is on the phone right now.
IV. To indicate a part of the body.
a. She kissed me on the lips.
b. I wear a ring on my finger.

V. To indicate the state of something.

c. Everything in the store is on sale.
d. The building is on fire.
 We use in to:
I. To indicate a place.
a. She looked me directly in the eyes.
b. I am currently staying in a hotel.

II. To express an unspecific time (minute, month, year,

season, weeks, the morning, the evening, the afternoon).
c. She always reads newspapers in the morning.
d. In the summer, we have a rainy season for three
weeks.
III. Indicate a shape, color, or size.
a. This painting is mostly in blue.
b. The students stood in a circle.

IV. Indicate a belief, opinion, interest, or feeling).

a. I believe in the next life.
b. We are not interested in gambling.
 We use at to:
I. Point out specific time (Hour).
a. I will meet you at 12 pm.
b. The bus will stop here at 5:45 pm.

II. To indicate a place.

c. There is a party at the club house.
d. We saw a baseball game at the stadium.

III. To indicate an activity.

a. I am good at drawing.
 EXERCISE 1
Choose the correct tense.
1. It’s (on/in/at) the southeast.
2. Liverpool stands (on/in/at) the river Mersey.
3. It’s a small town (on/in/at) the east coast of Australia.
4. It’s about 50 kilometers (away/from/of) Mexico city.
5. It’s near the border (with/at/in) Turkey?
6. Look (on/in/at) that car.
7. The desk is(on/in/at) the office.
8. Don’t walk (on/in/at) grass.
9. They are (on/in/at) danger.
 EXERCISE 2
Choose the correct tense.
1. Do you have a knife which I could cut this string (on/in/to/with) ?
2. Is there someone my son could talk (on/in/to/with) about his
exams.
3. Have you got something we could open this bottle (on/in/to/with).
4. Angus needs a new diary he can write all his appointments
(on/in/to/with).
5. Holly would like a radio which she could listen (on/in/to/with)
while she’s in the bath.
6. Our office needs a photocopier we can do colored copies
(on/in/to/with)