Prepositions. Phrasal Verbs

1. Supply the missing prepositions.

"THE PROPHECY"

People who live ... California have every reason to be afraid of earthquakes. No one has ever forgotten the great quake that de­stroyed San Francisco ... 1906. ... May, 1988, the people of Los Angeles panicked. According to a prophecy made ... the 16th century by a prophet called Nostradamus, the city would be de­stroyed early ... 1988. During this panic, parents didn't send their children ... school and people didn't go ... work. No one stayed ... home, either. The airlines did great business carrying people who fled ... their "doomed city". Which is more puzzling: how Nos­tradamus knew that a city which didn't even exist ... his time would be destroyed ... the 20th century, or the behaviour of the people who believed "the prophecy"?

2. Can you put in the right prepositions?

1. The Phoenicians travelled right round Africa ... small boats. 2. The journey was planned ... Necho ... 600 BC. 3. He was interested ... finding a sea route ... the Red Sea ... the Mediterranean. 4. ... those days, nobody knew how big Africa was. 5. The Phoenicians lived ... the eastern end ... the Mediter­ranean. 6. They set off ... the beginning of winter. 7. Month ... month went by; they were amazed to see that the sun was now ... the north ... midday. 8. ... six months the coast turned west. 9. While they were sailing ... the west coast of Africa they ran out ... food. 10. It took eighteen months ... them to reach Morocco. 11. They had been away ... over two years. 12. Nicolo and Maffeo Polo stayed in China ... a long time. 13. Marco kept a diary ... his experiences. 14. They landed ... the Turkish coast. 15. They rode ... Iran, Afghanistan and Mongolia. 16. Marco's illness delayed them ... a year. 17. ... the way they saw wonderful things which were un­known ... Europe. 18. They saw a liquid that came ...... the ground and could

be used ... fuel. 19. ... 1275 they arrived ... China. 20. Marco was amazed to find a country that was far more civilised ... Italy. 21. ... his diary he described cities ... Hahgzhou. 22. There were bridges high enough ... ship to go ... . 23. The emperor took a special interest ... Marco.

24. When they arrived back ... Italy, they told their friends ... their experiences. 25. Nobody would believe their stories ... the strange coun­tries ... the east.

3. Put in the right prepositions.

A.: How long have you been waiting in this queue?

В.: .... ten o'clock. How about you?

A.: ... about 45 minutes.

C.: Next please. May I see your paper? Thank you. Oh dear, you haven't got your birth certificate. You'll have to come back. Can you be here ... 3.45 p.m. ... Monday?

В.: That's very difficult. I work ... the afternoon. Could we possibly make it ... the morning?

C.: How about 10.15 ... Tuesday?

В.: I can't manage Tuesday. Suppose I could get my birth certificate to you before you close this morning? When do you close?

C.: We'll be closing for lunch ... about 45 minutes. But we're open this afternoon ... 2.00 ... 5.30.

B. I'll try to get back ... one.

C. Fine, just come straight up to this window.

B. Thank you.

C. Not at all. Next please.

hasn't got another goalkeeper. (Combine the last three sentences only.)

A. I've come to get a certificate for my mother. I think her records are here.

C: When was she born?

A: ... 1916. August 16th.

C: Oh, that's all right then. You see, we have the files up to 1950, but all of the files ... 1950 have been computerised.

A: That's a relief. I've got off work specially to come down and sort this out.

C: Just fill in this form and I'll have your certificate ready ... about 15 minutes.

A.: Thank you very much.

4. Fill in the blanks.

1. Drive ... Cirencester, but turn off before you get there; watch for the sigh that says "Lepton & "The Lamberts", to the left. 2. Let's just climb ... the wall — otherwise we'll have to walk miles.

3. I'm always a bit afraid of falling ... these stairs ... they're really not very safe. 4. You can see ... the hedge now, but in the summer it makes a solid green wall. 5. Everyone else in the compartment got ... the tram at Dundee, so I was alone for the last part of the journey.

6. We carried out cameras and binoculars all the way ... the mountain, and then it was so misty we couldn't see a thing. 7. You remember I was telling you about my old school friend Chris last week? Well, I saw him walk ... one of the build­ings across the street from my office today! He noticed me at the same time and crossed the street to say hello.

8. It will be easier to sweep and mop in here if we put the chairs ... the tables first.

9. I didn't know which door she would be coming out of, so I walked ... the building several times.

5. Insert suitable prepositions in the following.

1. Could I speak ... Tom, please? ~ I'm afraid Tom's ... work. But Jack's ... . Would you like to speak ... him? 2. How do I get ... the air terminal? ~ Turn right ... the end of this street and you'll see it ... front of you. 3. He started going ... school ... the age of five So now he's been ... school for ten years. He's 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. I'd 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.

8. Our train arrived ... York ... 6.30. Paul met us ... the sta­tion. 9. Have you been ... the theatre recently? ~ Yes, I was .. the Old Vic last night. 10. I'm returning ... France ... the end of this term. ~ Are you coming back ... England after the holidays? 11. He isn't living ... home now, but if you write ... his home they'll forward the letter ... his new address. 12. I went ... bed early but I couldn't get ... sleep because the people ... the next room were talking so loudly. 13. ... first I found the work very tiring, but ... a few weeks I got used ... it. 14. There was an accident ... the cross-roads ... midnight last night. Two men were taken ... hospital. I believe one of them is still . . hospital. 15. ... the daytime the streets are crowded but ... night they are quite deserted.

16. ... first her father refused to allow her to go back ... work; but .. the end he agreed. 17. ... the beginning of a textbook there is a preface, and ... the end there is an index. 18. He went ... sea ... 18, and spent all his working life ... sea. He retired ... 56 and went to live ... the country. 19 I saw Tom ... the bus stop this morning but couldn't speak .. him because we were standing ... a queue and he was ... the front of it and I was ... the back. 20 I'll leave some sandwiches ... the fridge in case you are hungry when you come in. 21. We'd better start ... six, because climbing up ... the gallery takes some time. I hope you don't mind sitting ... the gallery No, of course not. When I go ... the opera I always go ... the gallery. 22. He is always ... a hurry. He drives ... a tremendous speed. 23. When he began speaking ... English, she looked ... him .. amazement. 24. Write ... ink and put your name ... the top of the page. 25. We start serving breakfast ... 7.30. Shall I send yours up ... your room, or will you have it ... the restaurant? 26. He's always ... a bad temper ... breakfast time. 27. According ... the guidebook there are three hotels ... the town. 28. The pilot climbed ... 5,000 metres and flew ... that height till he got ... the coast. Then he came down ... 1,000 metres and began to take photographs.

29. I'm interested ... chess but I'm not very good ... it. 30. Who is the girl ... the blue dress, sitting ... the head of the table? 31. I couldn't offer him a room ... my flat because ... that time my mother-in-law was staying with us. 32. The train stopped ... all the stations, and long before we got ... London every seat was taken and people were standing ... the corridors.

33. Shall we discuss it ... my room, or shall I come ... your office? 34. ... my astonishment I was the only person ... the bar. Everyone else had gone ... the Casino. 35. The Loch Ness Monster is supposed to live ... the bottom of the Loch and come ... the surface from time ... time.

36. You can't say that he lives ... luxury. There's hardly any furniture ... his room. He hasn't even got a desk to write ... .

6. Fill the gaps in the following sentences, use the following at, by, in, into, of, off, on, out (of), to, under, with.

1. I'm going to Bath ... Monday ... Tom. Would you like to come ... us? ~ Are you going ... bus? ~ No, we're going ... Tom's car. 2. I saw him standing ... the queue but I don't know whether he got ... the bus or not. 3. How do you go ... school? ~ It depends ... the weather. ... wet days I go ... tube; ... fine .' weather I go ... foot. 4. The car stopped ... the traffic lights and wouldn't start '' again, so the driver got ... and pushed it ... the side ... the road. 5 Someone threw a stone ... the speaker. It hit him ... the |head and knocked his glasses ... . 6. I want to post this ... a friend ... Italy. Will he have to pay |duty ... it? 7. According ... Tom, it is impossible to live ... Paris ... less than £10,000 a year. 8. Are you ... your own (alone)'? ~ No, I'm ... a friend ... mine.

9. You ought to be ashamed ... yourself for coming ... my nice clean kitchen ... muddy boots.

10 Children get presents ... Christmas and ... their birthdays. 11. How would we get ... (escape from) this room if the ho­tel were ... fire? 12. He arrived ... London ... 6 p.m. ... a foggy November day. We often have fogs ... November. 13. The man ... his back ... the camera is the Minister ... Ag­riculture. 14. How do I get ... the Public Library? ~ Go ... the end ... this street and turn right; turn left ... the next traffic lights and then take the second turning ... your right. This will bring you ... Brook Street, and you'll find the library ... your left. 15. Alternatively you could get a 14 bus ... this stop and ask the conductor to tell you where to get ... (alight). 16. The boy was leaning against the wall ... his hands ... his pockets. "Take your hands ...... your pockets," said his father sharply. 17. As she was getting ...... the car one ... her buttons fell ... . Although we were ... a hurry she insisted ... stopping to look for it. 18. Mr Jones is very keen ... punctuality. His lessons start dead ... time and you get ... terrible trouble if you're late. 19. The man ... the pipe and red hair is the brother ... the girl ... blue. 20. Don't leave your luggage ... the corridor. It'll be ... every­one's way. Bring it ... the compartment and put it ... the rack.

21. He sits ... his desk all day ... his head ... his hands. It gets ... my nerves. 22. ... mistake I opened Mary's letter instead ... my own. She was very angry ... me and said that I'd done it ... purpose. 23. I buy a newspaper ... my way ... the station and read it ... the train. By the time I get ... London I've read most ... it. 24. He was charged ... driving while ... the influence ... alco­hol. 25. People who drop litter ... the pavements are liable ... a fine ... £50. 26. He accused me ... selling secret information ... the en­emy. 27. You look worried. Are you ... some sort ... trouble? ~ Yes, ... a way. I'm ... debt and my creditors want to be paid ... the end ... of month, and ... the moment I haven't any money ... the bank. 28. The car skidded ... the tree, the windscreen was smashed and the driver was cut ... the face ... splinters ... glass. 29. Four people were injured ... the demonstration. Three ... them are students ... the university, the fourth is here ... holiday. That's him over there ... his arm ... plaster. 30. This picture was painted ... Picasso; and there's another Picasso ... the opposite wall. 31. The horse stopped suddenly and the rider fell ... . He couldn't get ... again without help and there was no one ... sight. 32. The children hastily changed ... bathing things and jumped ... the river ... shouts of delight. 33. We'll have to go ... car; we can't go ... bus ... account ... the bus strike.

34. Divers breathing a mixture ... helium and oxygen can work ... a depth ... 100 metres.

35 I'm tired ... working ... the suburbs and I've asked to be transferred ... our central branch.

36. Can I have Monday ... ? or Can I have a holiday ... Mon­day? I want to go ... my grandson's wedding.

7. Insert suitable words, use the following at, by, dur­ing, for, from, in, of, on, over, since, till, under, with.

1. I've lived ... this street ... ten years. 2. He has lived ... 101 Cornwall Gardens ... 1966. 3. ... the age ... 18 he was sent to prison ... theft. 4. He was ... prison ... two years. ... that time he became in­terested ... pigeons. 5. There is a parcel of books ... you ... the table ... the hall. ~

Oh, they must be ... my brother. He always sends me books ... my birthday. 6. We heard that Bill wasn't ... arrest but was helping the police ... their enquiries. The police are interested ... a bank rob­bery which took place ... Bill's last holidays. 7. Much Ado About Nothing is ... Shakespeare, and you'll find more ... his plays ... the bookcase ... the corner. 8. As the child was too young to travel ... herself, they ar­ranged ... her to travel ... the care ... a friend of the family. 9. Have you head ... John ... his return? ~ Yes, I had a letter ... Monday. He's thinking ... going back ... America. 10. He was ill ... a week and ... that week his wife never left his side.

11. Aren't you coming ... us? ~ No, I'm waiting ... Tom. ~ But he won't be ready ... some time. ~ I'm not ... a hurry. I'll wait till he's ready. 12. I'm very sorry ... being late. It was good ... you to wait ... me. 13. Passengers may leave bulky articles ... the stairs ... the conductor's permission, but the bus company will not be respon­sible ... such articles. 14. Remember to be ... good time ... the opera because if you're late they won't let you ......the end ... the act. 15 I want two seats ... Romeo and Juliet ... Friday night. 16. ... spite ... the heat he refused to take ... his coat.

17. He was wounded ... the shoulder ... a bullet fired ... an upstairs window. 18. While ... their way from the coast ... the mountains they were attacked ... a jaguar. 19. What platform does the train ... York leave ...? ~ Platform 8, and you'd better hurry. It'll be leaving ... a min­ute.

20. He invited me to dinner ... his club and ... the meal he asked me ... advice about his investments. 21. He's not independent ... any means. He depends ... his fa­ther ... everything.

22. He has a picture ... Picasso (Picasso painted the pic­ture) and he can't decide whether to hang it ... the hall ... the right as you come ... or ... the sitting room ... the fireplace. 23. I'm tired ... hearing about Tom and his Picasso. He can hang it ... his garage ... all I care! 24. He said he was ... debt and asked me ... a loan ... £50. 25. What's the cheapest way ... getting ... London ... Edin­burgh? ~ Well, you could hitch hike there ... next ... nothing, or you could go ... coach ... about £20. 26. I was horrified ... his appearance. He looked as if he hadn't slept ... weeks.

27. When he gets back ... the office he expects his wife to meet him ... the door ... his slippers, and have a hot meal waiting ... him. 28. Yesterday the children went ... a walk and didn't get back ... 10 p.m. Their mother was furious ... them ... coming in so late. 29. Passengers who get ... or ... a bus (i.e. who board or leave it) except ... the official stops do so ... their own risk.

30. The rows are lettered ... A to T, beginning ... the row nearest the stage. So if Tom is sitting ... B26, and Jack is sitting ... C26, Tom will be directly ... front ... Jack. 31. What's the best way ... cooking a lobster? ~ Cook it ... boiling salted water, and serve it cold ... mayon­naise. 32. He was fined ... parking his car ... a no-parking area. 33. He opened the door ... a rusty key and went down the steps ... the cellar, followed by Bill ... a torch. 34. The adults worked ... 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., ... an hour ... lunch. Boys ... 18 were not supposed to start ... 8 a.m. (earlier than 8 a.m.) 35. He died ... heart failure ... Tuesday night. His wife is still suffering ... shock. 36. The house is ... fire! Send ... the Fire Brigade!

8. Insert a suitable word in the following sentences.

1. He insisted ... seeing the documents. 2. They succeeded ... escaping ... the burning house.

3. I am not interested ... anything that happened ... the very remote past. 4. The children are very fond ... swimming. ... summer they spend most ... their time ... the water. 5. How are you getting ... at school? ~ I'm getting ... all right except ... English. I'm very bad ... English; I'll have to work harder ... it, and spend more time ... it. 6. Paul goes ... school ... you, doesn't he? How's he getting ...... his English? or How's his English getting ... ? ~ 7. I don't know. We're not ... the same class. But he gets ... ... the other students all right. He has heaps ... friends. 8. There is no point ... going ... car if we can't park near the theatre. 9. She made a point ... coming late so that everyone would look ... her. 10. It never occurred ... me to ask him ... proof ... his identity.

11. ... first, driving on the left is confusing, but you'll soon get used ... it. 12. I've heard such a lot ... him that I'm looking forward ... seeing him very much. 13. He was so absorbed ... his work that when I came ..., he didn't even look ... (raise his head} 14. I'm sorry ... Tom. (/ pity him.) He was worked ... Brown and Company ... ten years and now the firm has been taken ... by Jones Ltd, and they're going to dismiss him. 15 I'm sorry ... being late ... Monday. Or I'm sorry ... Mon­day. 16. The complete set ... books can be ordered ... £10 ... Jones and Company. (Jones and Company will send them to you if you write enclosing £10.) 17. I'm waiting ... my friend. He'll be here ... a moment. 18. I see ... today's paper that you need a secretary ... a knowledge of French. I should like to apply ... the post. 19. You can't rely ... him. He's almost always late ... ap­pointments. 20. If you do not comply ... the traffic regulations you will get ... trouble ... the police. 21. Wine is good ... you, but it is expensive ... England be­cause there is a fairy high tax ... it. 22. ... fairy stories, stepmothers are always unkind ... their stepchildren; but my stepmother has always been very good ... me. 23. He was so infuriated ... the play that he walked ... (left the theatre) ... the middle ... the first act. 24. My au pair girl takes car ... my little boys (looks ... them) ... the afternoons. She's very good ... children. (She can manage them well.) 25. He threw stones ... his attackers, trying to drive them ... . 26. I threw the ball ... Peter, but instead ... throwing it back ... me, he ran ... and hit it. 27. I object ... being kept waiting. Why can't you be ... time. 28. "... accordance ... the wishes ... my people," the president said, "I am retiring ... public life." 29. This regulation doesn't apply ... you. You are ... (less than) 18.

30. I'm not exactly keen ... cooking; but I prefer it ... washing up.(Washing up is worse than cooking.) 31. I was so afraid ... missing the train that I took a taxi ... the station. 32. What ... taking the day ... and spending it ... the seaside? 33. I don't object ... lending you my pen, but wouldn't it be better if you had a pen ... your own? 34. Don't ask the office ... information. I will provide you ... all the information you need. 35. I disapprove ... people who make all sorts ... promises which they have no intention ... keeping. 36. I was ... the impression that I had paid you ... the work you did ... me.

9. 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. 3. I thought he would offer ... Ann the job, but he offered it ... me. 4. Keep ... me a place, and keep a place ... Ann too. 5. They showed ... us photographs ... their baby. 6. Buying presents ... children is sometimes very difficult. ... the end I bought a kite ... Tom and a torch ... Ann. 7. Pass the salt ... your father, Peter, and pass ... me the pepper, please. 8. When you have lunch ... a restaurant, who pays ... the bill? ~ Oh, each ... us pays ... what he has had. 9. Paul's a pianist. He sometimes plays ... us ... the evening. Last night he played some Chopin. 10. I think I'll be able to find ... Ann a job. ~ Could you find a job ... me, too? 11. He sold the picture ... an American dealer ... £5,000. 12. He promised ... us a share ... the profits. 13. He built a very nice house ... Jack ... only £50,000. I wonder what sort ... house he would build ... me ... £30,000. 14. She is knitting socks ... refugees. I wish she'd knit ... me some socks. 15. Sitting ... the floor isn't exactly comfortable. Throw ... me a cushion, please, Ann. 16. If you are going ... the Post Office, could you buy ... me a book ... stamps? 17. If you write ... me a song I'll sing it ... the school concert. .I'll get Paul to accompany ... me ... the guitar. 18. Could you lend ... us your lawnmower, please? ~ I'm afraid you'll have to ask ... someone else to lend ... you one. We've lent ours ... Mr Jones and he always keeps it ... ages. 19. I thought you'd be late ... dinner, so I ordered some sandwiches ... you; they're ... the bar. I haven't paid ... them: you can pay ... the barman. 20. I explained ... him that it was the custom ... England to wash one's car at the weekend. 21. I described the machine ... him and asked ... him if he could make ... me one like it. 22. Shejold ... 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. 23. He told ... them to wait ... him ... the bridge. 24. I cannot repeat ... you what she said ... me ... confidence. 25. The headmaster warned ... me to work harder. What did he say ... you, Jack? 26. He advised ... the strikers to go back ... work. They re­ceived his advice ... shouts ... contempt. 27. They don't allow ... you to smoke ... cinemas ... France. 28. He told lies ... the police. ~ I'm not surprised. He told ... me a pack ... lies yesterday. 29. This film reminds ... me ... my childhood.

30. I rely ... you to remind ... me to pay Jack ... the books he bought ... me. 31. We must try to get ... home ... time ... tea. 32. We didn't reach Berlin ... after dark, and had some diffi­culty ... finding our hotel. 33. If we say "The manager showed ... us to our room," we mean that he led .. us ... the door. If we say, "He showed ... us the room," we mean that he entered ... the room ... us. 34. I read ... him the report. He listened ... me ... amaze­ment. 35. He ordered ... us to give ... him all the maps ... our pos­session. 36. He suggested ... me that we should offer to pay .. her .. dollars.

10. 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. I'm going to wait . . it stops raining.

6. You'll have to stay in bed ... your temperature goes down. 7. The library is open from 10 ... 4 o'clock. 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 for you. 11. I'm not going for a walk, I'm only going ... the bank. ~ Then you'd better wait ... the bank opens. 12. If you're going ... the Post Office would you post a letter for me? ~ Yes, of course; but it won't go ... tomorrow.

11. Insert for or since.

1. It's a long time ... I had a good meal. Or I haven't had a good meal ... ages. 2. I've been waiting for Tom ... 6.00; I wonder if he's lost his way. 3. Ever ... his accident he's been afraid of flying. 4. I haven't 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. I've had this toothache ... the last week. 8. Her husband died last year, and ... then she has been sup­porting the family. Or She's been supporting the family ... the last year. 9. It's three years ... I did any skiing. Or I haven't done any skiing ... three years. 10. The windows haven't been cleaned ... weeks.

11. He has been missing ... 48 hours. 12. ... last year we haven't been allowed to park here.

12. Insert then, after, or afterwards.

1. We had tea and ... went for a walk. Or ... tea we went for a walk. 2. We'll 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 hadn't 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 "Put your toys away," said his mother, "and ... we'll have tea "

9 In the story, the Princess married the Prince and they lived happily ever ... . 10. He wound up the clock, set the alarm for 5.00, ... got into bed and fell asleep. 11. He poured the brandy into a glass, warmed it in his hands a little, ... drank it slowly. 12. L covered the pudding with cream and decorated it with cherries. ~And ... ? ~ . . we are it, of course. 13. For years ... people remembered that terrible night. 14. I spoke angrily; ... (some time later) I regretted my words. 15. He looked round to see that nobody was watching; ... he took a piece of bent wire and began trying to open door. 16. First you say "Yes", and ... you say "No". You're an im­possible person to make plans with.