about or on
1. Don’t take my textbook … Physics. 2. I like reading books … animals. 3. There is an interesting article … the Antarctic in this magazine. 4. Journals … History are over there.
according to or by
1. Our train leaves in half an hour … this timetable. 2. … Spengler civilizations die because they get old. 3. It’s 10 sharp … my watch.
across or over
1. Don’t try to swim … the river. 2. There’s a newsagent’s … the road. 3. There’s a pipeline … the Siberian territory. 4. We skated … the frozen lake.
across or through
1. Something is wrong. Water doesn’t flow … the pipe. 2. They managed to go … the desert. 3. He is brave enough to go … the jungle. 4. Never go … the park alone.
because or because of
1. We left the party … it was too noisy. 2. We left the party … the noise. 3. I couldn’t get to the university … I was ill. 4. I couldn’t get to the university … my illness.
before or in front of
1. I’ll wait for you … the bookstore. 2. She will be at home … 5. 3. He comes … me in the queue. 4. There is a garage … the house. 5. Come … lunch.
after or afterwards
1. They watch TV … supper. … they go to bed. 2. We tidied up. Our guests arrived soon …. 3. Come and see me … work.
is driving … 70 kms an hour. 4. We have plates … 10 roubles each.
behind, at the back (of) or back
1. There is a garden … the house. 2. Keep this umbrella. I don’t want it … 3. I met him 2 weeks …. 4. He isn’t in at the moment. Call him …, please.
beside or besides
1. Who is that man sitting … Helen? 2. What have you bought … milk? 3. This is a very nice coat. … it’s of the latest fashion.
between or among
1. Divide it … you both. 2. I saw him … the crowd. 3. There is a bank … the hotel and the museum. 4. Switzerland lies … four other countries.
by, near or on
1. We live … the post-office. 2. The hotel is right … the station. 3. The desk is close … the window. 4. There is a theatre … your left.
near or next to
1. Mary and Rita sit … each other at the same desk. 2. They don’t live … Bristol. 3. We live in the same neighborhood. Our houses are just … each other.
by, with or without
1. We are afraid of travelling … air. 2. You can improve the situation … telling the truth. 3. I’m paid … the hour. 4. You can open the jar … a bottle-opener. 5. It won’t open … a key. 6. … your desire we can’t help you. 7. I turned white … cold. 8. As an orphan, he grew … parents.
down, up, under or over
1. Let’s go … the street to the city centre. 2. He is sitting … the tree. 3. Did he manage to climb … the mountain? 4. We were flying … the Atlantic Ocean. 5. Go … the bridge to reach the Tower.
like or as
1. He works … a lawyer. 2. There is no one … Dick. 3. People … the Simpsons always disagree with us. 4. … it was raining, I took a taxi. 5. He spends money … a millionaire.
of, out of or from
1. The sweater is made … wool. 2. The cake is made … eggs and flour. 3. What city are you …? 4. Take the passport … the bag.
in or into
1. Put the money … the purse. 2. Is she … the office now? 3. They went … the house and closed the door. 4. Let me …, I’m cold.
from or out of
1. I have known about that … the newspaper. 2. Get … the bed and do the morning exercises. 3. He lives not far … the library. 4. He went … the café without paying.
of or off
1. They live north … the river. 2. Take the top …. 3. Take the cup … the child. 4. He is on the roof … the house.
over or above
1. Turn on the light … the sofa. 2. Her bedroom is … the kitchen. 3. I can’t understand. It’s … me. 4. Keep the kerchief … the head. 5. The text is on the next page. Turn the page …. 6. He is … 40.
under or below
1. She is … 17. 2. Put a mat … the frying-pan. 3. It’s 5 degrees … zero today. 4. Can you work … pressure? 5. The stone hit me … the knee.
in or of
1. Who is that girl … a red blouse? 2. She speaks … a pleasant voice. 3. He is a man … courage. 4. He is a man … 30.
during or for
1. Stop talking … the lesson! 2. She has lived in Smolensk … 15 years. 3. I’ll have to pass 3 exams … my session. 4. The film lasted … 2 hours.
since or from
1. It has been raining … morning. 2. The academic year starts … September. 3. He has played the violin … childhood. 4. He likes to paint … early morning till noon.
Ex.8. Fill in the prepositions of time at, in, on where necessary.
1. __ five o’clock; 2. __ the afternoon; 3. __ last month; 4. __ Christmas Day; 5. __ next Wednesday; 6. __ Friday; 7. __ Saturday evening; 8. __ a few minutes; 9. __ night; 10. __ the age of 18; 11. __ the weekend; 12. __ 1989; 13. __ 12 March; 14. __ October; 15. __ the moment; 16. __ the day off; 17. __ the morning; 18. late __ night.
Ex.9. Fill in the prepositions of position at, in, on.
1. __ a photo; 2.__ Italy; 3.__ the end of the street; 4.__ a farm; 5.__ the ceiling; 6.__ the sky; 7.__ the chair; 8.__ the bus-stop; 9.__ a mirror; 10.__ the right; 11.__ the bottom of the page; 12.__ the street; 13.__ the coast; 14.__ the dentist’s; 15.__ work; 16.__ a trip; 17.__ the phone; 18.__ TV; 19. __ the concert; 20.__ a bus; 21.__ the way home; 22.__ the top of the class; 23.__ the radio; 24.__ the countryside; 25.__ the armchair; 26. __ a queue; 27. __ the seaside; 28. __ the river Thames.
Ex.10. Complete the sentences with to, into, on, by, in where necessary.
1. I’m tired. I’m going __ bed. 2. You’re ill. Stay __ bed. 3. Tom usually goes __ work __ car. 4. What time are you going __ home? 5. Are you going __ foot or __ underground? 6. Let’s get __ the 4.30 train. 7. Don’t wait outside! Come __ the house! 8. Have you ever been __ America? 9. It takes me 25 minutes to get __ home __tram. 10. Put the purse __ the bag. 11. We returned __ the theatre __ a taxi, not__ the bus. 12. She’ll be there … 5 o’clock. 13. I stood … the window and watched.
Ex.11. Complete the sentences with for, since, during, while.
1. It rained __ three days. 2. He fell asleep __ the film. 3. I met Tom __ I was waiting for the bus. 4. They met a lot of people __ their holiday. 5. Ann is going away __ a week. 6. __ you were out, there was a phone call for you. 7. I worked hard __ the autumn lasted. 8. Let’s go out of town __ the week-end. 9. He has been in the police __ 1990. 10. She was translating the text __ I was looking though the mail. 11. __ the summer we had a few rainy days. 12. Has anybody called me __ the tea break, __ I was out?