Ibn Khaldoun University of Tiaret
Department of English Handout 6
English Language First Year LMD Students
G RAMMAR
L ESSON SIX : P REPOSITIONS
Prepositions are used to link nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in the
sentence. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the object of
preposition. A preposition is a word which opens up the possibilities of saying more about
a thing or an action, because you can choose any appropriate noun group after it as its
object. Most prepositions are single words. Although there are some that consist of more
than one word, such as ‘out of’ and ‘in between’.
Here is a list of common one-word prepositions which are used to talk about place or
destination: : about, above, across, along, among, alongside, among, around, at, before,
behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, down, from, in, inside, into, near, off,
on, onto, opposite, out, outside, over, past, round, through, throughout, to, towards, under,
underneath, up, upon, with, within.
Here is a list of prepositions which consist of more than one word and which are used to
talk about place or destination: Ahead of, all over, away from, close by, close to, in between,
in front of, near to, next to, on top of, out of.
The common adverbs of place, such as ‘in’ and ‘up’, which are used as adverbs and as
prepositions are sometimes called adverb particles or adverbial particles. The following
words are used as adverbs to indicate position, and can also be used as prepositions:
abroad, about, above, alongside, below, beneath, beside, beyond, close by, down, in, in
between, inside, near, off, opposite, outside, over, round, throughout, underneath, up.
Here is a list of the most common prepositions: after, against, along, among, but (after no,
all, nobody, who, where, etc.), despite, during, except, for, like, near, of, off, since, till, until,
and without.
Exercise 1: List each preposition and/or adverb in the following sentences.
1. The profession of teaching involves hard work and demands a keen interest in
children.
2. The cake with the fancy decorations came from a bakery located just near the
clearner’s.
3. We are fond of hiking in the forest. We spend most of our time there.
4. John has been living at 40, Piccadilly Street since 1960.
5. My neighbor was in prison for ten years; he became interested in reading at
that time.
6. I explained to him that it was a custom in Algeria to visit the cemetery on
Friday.
7. Peter told them to wait for him on the bridge.
8. We could not reach London till dark, we had some difficulty in finding a hotel.
9. I read a story to the child. He listened to me with amazement.
10. He searched under the desk, on the shelves and behind the cupboard for his lost
ring.
11. Their house is hidden …………the trees. (among=amongst)
Exercise 2: Insert a suitable preposition in each gap
1. I am waiting…………………..the guests. They will arrive …………….a moment.
2. the teacher asked him ………….the homework. 1
3. He sold the picture……………Picasso……………..an American millionaire
…….$ 8,000.
4. I threw the ball……………John, but instead ……………returning it
back………..me, he ran ……………..and hit it.
5. I disagree ……………….people who make promises which they have no
intention………keeping.
6. Yacine was born ……………..six o’clock………..April 7.
7. We arrived …………….time………………..the ceremony.
8. We will have finished the work…………………..the end ……………the week.
9. When you get……………..the tube station and walk ……………..Boston Street
till you come …………the Windsor theatre, you will find the bank
……………your right ………..the bookshop.
10. I don’t object……………lending you my umbrella, but you’d better have
one……….your own.
11. I will arrive ………..breakfast.
12. The rain beats ……..the window pane.
13. We walked ……………..the road
14. We brought our boat ……………..
15. There is no one here……me.
16. We are all here…………..Mary.
17. The window is never opened …………in summer.
18. Where……………in Francisco?
19. Who ………………..John would say that?
20. He came to the meeting …………his illness.
21. He swims every day ………….the summer.
22. He died …………...the night.
23. He answered all the questions ……………the last one.
24. We bought some new chairs …………..the office
25. When the car is painting, it will look ……..new.
26. Don’t go too ……..the edge of the cliffs.
27. The leg ………….the table is broken.
28. That dress …………….silk is costly.
29. “Keep………….the grass”, says the notice.
30. It is a long time …………….our last vacation.
31. Wait ……………tomorrow.
32. We could not do that ………
