Pay special attention to the following cases, in which prepositions are not used, or can be left out.
- to discuss: We ought to discuss your holiday dates. But: a discussion about
12. to marry: She married a friend of her sisters. But: to get married to.
13. to lack: Hes clever, but he lacks experience. But: a lack of; to be lacking in...
14. expressions of time beginning with next, last, this, one, every, each, some, any, all
See you next Monday.
We are having the meeting this Thursday afternoon.
You can come any day you like.
The party lasted all night.
Note also tomorrow morning, yesterday afternoon......
- in conversation on is often dropped before the names of days of the week. This is particularly common in American English.
Why dont you come round (on) Monday evening?
- In expressions like three times a day, sixty miles an hour, eighty pence a pound, forty hours a week, the article a is used instead of a preposition. In a more formal style the word per is sometimes used (e.g. eighty pence per pound)
- At is generally dropped (especially in spoken English) in the expression (At) what time....?
- Expressions containing words like height, length, size, shape, age, colour, volume, area are generally connected to the subject of the sentence by the verb to be without a preposition.
Hes just the right height to be a policeman.
What colour are her eyes?
Shes the same a ge as me.
Youre a very nice shape.
Im the same weight as I was when I was fourteen.
What shoe size are you?
It is also possible to use descriptive phrases like of medium height, of great length, immediately after a noun.
He was a rather fat man of medium height, with a grey beard.
- In is often dropped (particularly in spoken English) in the expressions (in) the same way, (in) this way, (in) another way......
They plant the corn the same way their ancestors used to,500 years ago.
- To is not used before the word home.
Id like to go home.
At is also sometimes dropped before home, especially in American English.
Is anybody (at) home?
PRACTICE
1. Prepositions: at, to; preposition/adverb: in
1. Insert suitable prepositions in the following. 1.Could I speak....Tom, please?
-Im afraid Toms..... work. But Jacks........ Would you like to speak.....him?
2. How do I get... the air terminal
-Turn right.... the end of the street and youll see it....front of you.
3. He started going.... school.... the age of five. So now hes been.... school for ten years. Hes leaving.... the end of this year.
4. He goes... his office every day except Sunday. On Sundays he stays...home and works...the garden.
5. I think I left my umbrella...the bus. Id better write...the Lost Property Office.
6. We arrived... the airport... good time for the plane.
7. can I look up a word....your dictionary? I left mine...home.
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8. Our train arrived....York...6.30. Paul met me... the station.
9. I went...bed early but I couldnt get... sleep because the people... the next room were talking so loudly.
10....first I found the work very tiring, but... a few weeks I got used...it.
11....the daytime the streets are crowded but... night they are quite deserted.
12....first her father refused to allow her to go back...work; but... the end he agreed.
13....the beginning of a textbook there is a preface, and...the end there is an index.
14. He went...sea...18, and spent all his working life... sea. He retired...56 and went to live...the country.
15. He is always... a hurry. He drives... a tremendous speed.
16. When he began speaking....English, she looked...him... amazement.
17. Write....ink and put your name... the top of the page.
18. He s always...a bad temper... breakfast time.
19. Im interested... chess but Im not very good...it.
20. The train stopped... all the stations, and long before we got... London every seat was taken and people were standing... the corridors.
2. Use and omission of prepositions
Insert a preposition if necessary. Choose from at, by, for, in, of, on, past, till/until, to, with
1.He asked....his father.... money.
2. They paid....me the books.
2. I thought he would offer...Ann the job, but he offered it.... me.
3. Keep....me a place, and keep a place.... Ann too.
4. They showed... us photographs... their baby.
5. Pass the salt.... your father, Peter, and pass... me the pepper, please.
6. When you have lunch... a restaurant, who pays.. the bill? Oh, each... us pays... what he has had.
7. Pauls a pianist. He sometimes plays...us...the evening. Last night he played some Chopin.
8. He sold the picture... an American dealer...$5,000.
9. He promised... us a share... the profits.
10. He built a very nice house... Jack... only $50,000. I wonder what sort... house he would build... me...$30,000.
11. She is knitting socks... refugees. I wish shed knit... me some socks.
12. Sitting...the floor isnt exactly comfortable. Throw... me a cushion, please, Ann.
13. If you are going... Post Office, could you buy.... me a book... stamps?
14. I explained... him that it was a custom... England to wash ones car at the weekend.
15. I described the machine... him and asked... him if he could make... me one like it.
16. She told... us that she d been attacked... the street. We asked... her to describe her attacker and she said he was a tall man... a limp.
17. If you write... me a song Ill sing it... the school concert. Ill get Paul to accompany... me... the guitar.
18. He told... them to wait... him... the bridge.
19. I cannot repeat... you what she said... me... confidence.
3. Insert till, until, to where appropriate.
1.Go on... the crossroads.
2. Go on... you see a church on your right.
3. We work from 9 a.m....... 6 p.m.
4. Start now and go on.... I tell you to stop.
5. Im going to wait... it stops raining.
6. Youll have to stay in bed... your temperature goes down.
7. The library is open from 10....4 oclock.
8. This train goes....York.
9. We have lunch from 12.00.... 1.00. Then we start again and go on...5.30.
10. Go back... the hotel and wait there.....I call you.
11. Im not going for a walk. Im only going... bank. Then youd better wait... bank opens.
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12. If you are going... the Post Office, would you post a letter for me? Yes, of course; but it wont go... tomorrow.
4. Insert for or since.
1.Its a long time... I had a good meal. Or I havent had a good meal... ages
2. Ive been waiting for Tom...6.00; I wonder if hes lost his way.
3. Ever... his accident hes afraid of flying.
4. I havent seen Tom... we left school.
5. The astronauts have already been in orbit... two days.
6....last year the noise has become very much worse.
7. Ive had this toothache... the last week.
8. Her husband died last year, and.... then she has been supporting the family.
9. Its three years... I did my skiing.
10. The windows havent been cleaned... weeks.
11. He has been missing.... 48 hours.
12...... last year we havent been allowed to park here.
5. Insert then, after or afterwards.
1. We had tea and... went for a walk.
2. Well have watercress soup to start with. What would you like.... that?
3.....waiting for half an hour he went home in disgust. Later on he was sorry he hadnt waited longer.
4. I give all the guests breakfast;... I have my own.
5. First you loosen the nuts,.... you jack up the car,.... you take the wheel off.
6. He listened at the keyhole for a minute;.... he opened the door cautiously.
7. University administrators sometimes appear more important than scholars; but the administrators will not be remembered.... their death.
8. In the story, the Princess married the Prince and they lived happily ever......
9. He wound up the clock, set the alarm for 5.00..... got into bed and fell asleep.
10. He poured the brandy into a glass, warmed it in his hands a little,,,, drank it slowly.
11. For years... people remembered that terrible night.
12. I spoke angrily;..... I regretted my words.
13. He looked round to see that nobody was watching;.... he took a piece of bent wire and began trying to open the door.
14. First you say Yes and.... you say No. Youre an impossible person to make plans with.
