UNIT 21
Prepositions
Prepositions are words or groups of words, normally used before a noun or
pronoun to express a relationship between one person/event etc. and another:
• She walked into the operating theatre, • He seemed strangely out of breath.
Prepositions may relate to space, time, cause, origin, purpose, source, agent,
instrument, possession, topic or abstract ideas:
• They arrived at midnight. • He's done it for his own reasons.
• The shirt is made of cotton. • We live in hope.
Refer to Section 8 of the Appendix for a list of expressions with above, over,
beneath, below, under, at, by, between, among, in, on, out of.
A Use an expression with 1 He’s too young to be allowed in this bar. He’s
above, over, under, below 2 Nobody would ever suspect her. She’s ______
or beneath to complete
3 There’ll be no trouble about repairing the television if it goes wrong.
each sentence.
It’s _____________ .
4 Don’t let those children get too wild! Keep them_____________ .
5 He’s taller than most people. He’s o f_____________ .
6 The main thing is, don’t hurt him._________ ., keep him safe.
7 That’s rather unfair. You’re hitting_____________ .
8 I’m afraid I can’t work for anyone else. You see, I’m
to my present employers for two years.
9 He whispered the answer. ‘Yes,’ he said,_________
10 Someone who robs an old lady of all her savings is _____________ ,
and deserves to be punished.
11 Use one of the_____________ prepositions to complete these
sentences.
12 It’s very frosty this morning. The temperature must have dropped
13 Shall we discuss the problem after lunch,
14 He’s a freelance film director, and travels all__________ making
his films.
15 The village is well_____________ , and at risk of being flooded if the
sea wall is breached by a particularly high tide.
16 Doctors think heart attacks are sometimes brought on by being
at home or at work.
17 You’ll have to tell me the truth. Stop trying to pull the wool
18 If you don’t bargain with the market traders, you’ll be paying
for their goods.
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, U n i t 21
B Match each expression 1 at a loss A unoccupied, with no purpose
with at on the left with its 2 at short notice B going very fast
approximate paraphrase. ^
at any rate C deep down inside (a person)
4 at present D no matter what it takes
5 at a loose end E without much advance warning
6 at once F fighting another country
7 at heart G immediately
8 at hand H unsure what to do
9 at first sight I taking the most hopeful view
10 at times J near, ready, available
11 at war K sailing, on a ship
12 at all costs L in danger
13 at sea M the first time (I) saw (her)
14 at best N anyway
15 at risk 0 occasionally
16 at high speed P now
C Complete the sentences 1 Bob’s been________ work for six months now.
with the correct 2 ________ you and me, Smith hasn’t got much of a future in the firm.
preposition, choosing from ^
That book’s too high up on the shelf. It’s ju st________ my reach.
between, among, out o f
and over. 4 She’s ________ jobs at the moment, so she’s struggling to make ends
meet.
5 Unfortunately the catering committee can never agree________
themselves.
I went on waving until the car w as________ sight.
7 We’ll discuss the affair_________ a cup of tea.
It’s no good trying that snack machine - it’s ________ order.
The boys were hidingthe bushes in the garden.
10 There’s a footpath________ the canal and the main road.
11 No, I certainly won’t give permission. It’s ________ the question!
12 I can only admire his conscientiousness. It’s ________ and above the
call of duty.
13 I’m afraid those sandals are________ stock at the moment, madam.
14 General Gibson settled in quite happily________ the Polynesian
natives.
15 I’m hoping to be reimbursed for my travelling expenses, otherwise I’ll
be rather________ pocket.
16 The lift wasn’t working, so she w as________ breath by the time she
reached the top floor.
17 A prize was awarded to Fawzia,________ others.
18 Children, put your coats on if you want to play__________ doors.
19 The photo’s ________ focus, unfortunately, but you can still make out
the figure in the doorway.
20 This information is rather________ date, so we can’t use it in our
new brochure.
70
Prepositions
Prepositions are words or groups of words, normally used before a noun or
pronoun to express a relationship between one person/event etc. and another:
• She walked into the operating theatre, • He seemed strangely out of breath.
Prepositions may relate to space, time, cause, origin, purpose, source, agent,
instrument, possession, topic or abstract ideas:
• They arrived at midnight. • He's done it for his own reasons.
• The shirt is made of cotton. • We live in hope.
Refer to Section 8 of the Appendix for a list of expressions with above, over,
beneath, below, under, at, by, between, among, in, on, out of.
A Use an expression with 1 He’s too young to be allowed in this bar. He’s
above, over, under, below 2 Nobody would ever suspect her. She’s ______
or beneath to complete
3 There’ll be no trouble about repairing the television if it goes wrong.
each sentence.
It’s _____________ .
4 Don’t let those children get too wild! Keep them_____________ .
5 He’s taller than most people. He’s o f_____________ .
6 The main thing is, don’t hurt him._________ ., keep him safe.
7 That’s rather unfair. You’re hitting_____________ .
8 I’m afraid I can’t work for anyone else. You see, I’m
to my present employers for two years.
9 He whispered the answer. ‘Yes,’ he said,_________
10 Someone who robs an old lady of all her savings is _____________ ,
and deserves to be punished.
11 Use one of the_____________ prepositions to complete these
sentences.
12 It’s very frosty this morning. The temperature must have dropped
13 Shall we discuss the problem after lunch,
14 He’s a freelance film director, and travels all__________ making
his films.
15 The village is well_____________ , and at risk of being flooded if the
sea wall is breached by a particularly high tide.
16 Doctors think heart attacks are sometimes brought on by being
at home or at work.
17 You’ll have to tell me the truth. Stop trying to pull the wool
18 If you don’t bargain with the market traders, you’ll be paying
for their goods.
69
, U n i t 21
B Match each expression 1 at a loss A unoccupied, with no purpose
with at on the left with its 2 at short notice B going very fast
approximate paraphrase. ^
at any rate C deep down inside (a person)
4 at present D no matter what it takes
5 at a loose end E without much advance warning
6 at once F fighting another country
7 at heart G immediately
8 at hand H unsure what to do
9 at first sight I taking the most hopeful view
10 at times J near, ready, available
11 at war K sailing, on a ship
12 at all costs L in danger
13 at sea M the first time (I) saw (her)
14 at best N anyway
15 at risk 0 occasionally
16 at high speed P now
C Complete the sentences 1 Bob’s been________ work for six months now.
with the correct 2 ________ you and me, Smith hasn’t got much of a future in the firm.
preposition, choosing from ^
That book’s too high up on the shelf. It’s ju st________ my reach.
between, among, out o f
and over. 4 She’s ________ jobs at the moment, so she’s struggling to make ends
meet.
5 Unfortunately the catering committee can never agree________
themselves.
I went on waving until the car w as________ sight.
7 We’ll discuss the affair_________ a cup of tea.
It’s no good trying that snack machine - it’s ________ order.
The boys were hidingthe bushes in the garden.
10 There’s a footpath________ the canal and the main road.
11 No, I certainly won’t give permission. It’s ________ the question!
12 I can only admire his conscientiousness. It’s ________ and above the
call of duty.
13 I’m afraid those sandals are________ stock at the moment, madam.
14 General Gibson settled in quite happily________ the Polynesian
natives.
15 I’m hoping to be reimbursed for my travelling expenses, otherwise I’ll
be rather________ pocket.
16 The lift wasn’t working, so she w as________ breath by the time she
reached the top floor.
17 A prize was awarded to Fawzia,________ others.
18 Children, put your coats on if you want to play__________ doors.
19 The photo’s ________ focus, unfortunately, but you can still make out
the figure in the doorway.
20 This information is rather________ date, so we can’t use it in our
new brochure.
70
