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Definition/ position of prepositions
Prepositions can also be followed by the gerund form. He is talking of emigrating. They succeeded in escaping. But there are some other possible alternative positions. Certain nouns, adjectives and verbs can be followed by a preposition (advantage over smb., proud of smth., interfere with smth., etc.). In two constructions it is possible to move the preposition to the end of the sentence: 1) In questions beginning with a prepositions + whom/ which/what/ whose/ where: To whom were you talking? (formal ) Who were you talking to? (informal ). 2) In relative clauses a preposition placed before whom/ which can be moved to the end of the clause. The relative pronoun is then often omitted: the people with whom I was travelling (formal); the people I was travelling with (informal). In phrasal verbs the preposition remains after its verb: The plane took off (left the ground) He came round (recovered consciousness).
Prepositions/ adverbs, conjunctions
Many words used mainly as prepositions can be used as adverbs or conjunctions: They were here before 6 o'clock (preposition). I've seen him somewhere before (adverb). Read this document properly before you sign it (conjunction).
Types of prepositions
English prepositions are classified as follows: 1) prepositions of time: I left school in 1980. The train starts at 6.30 2) prepositions of place: They live in Spain. There's a car-park in front of the hotel. 3) prepositions of movement: When are you coming back to England? They climbed into the lorry. 4) word and preposition combinations: a) noun + preposition: I got an invitation to dinner yesterday. Our company has a good relationship with the bank. b) adjective + preposition: It was very nice of you to help me. The city was crowded with tourists. c) verb + preposition: The book is divided into 3 parts. The bus collided with a car.
Problems of using
1. Russian and English prepositions can differ. That is why the student has to know: a) whether a preposition is required or not: influence smb. (влиять на кого-либо), say to smb. (говорить кому-либо); b) which preposition to use: medicine for smth. (лекарство от чего-либо), work at smth (работать над чем-либо). (see the list of differences between Russian and English prepositions in Supplement) 2. There are few rules governing the use of prepositions. Learning to use the correct preposition is a matter of developing a good sense of what sounds right. Yet there are some aspects of preposition use that can be formalized and they are presented in the Units below. UNIT 2 PREPOSITIONS OF TIME AT/ ON/ IN (TIME)
At: 1) for the time of day: at 5 o’clock, at midnight, at lunchtime, etc.; 2) in these expressions: at night, at the weekend/ at weekends, at Christ-mas/ at Easter (but on Christmas Day), at the moment/ at present, at the same time On: for days and dates: on Friday, on 12 March 1991, on my birthday; In: 1) for longer periods (months, years, seasons ): in October, in winter, in 1980, in the past, etc. Compare: in the morning(s), in the afternoon(s), in the evening(s) but on Friday morning(s), on Sunday afternoon(s). 2) to say how long it takes to do smth: I learnt to drive in four weeks (it took me four weeks to learn.) also in a few minutes / in six months, etc. (in six months’ time, in a week’s time, etc.)= a time in the future Do not use at/ on/ in before last/ next/ this/ every.
E x e r c i s e s
2.1. Write at/on/in.
2.2.Write at/on/in. 1) I like looking at the stars in the sky at night. 2) I often go away ….. the weekend. 3) The company started ….. 2000. 4) ….. autumn the leaves fall from the trees. 5) I will send you the parcel ….. the end of this month. 6) Jane’s birthday is ….. May. 7) Tom isn’t here ….. the moment. 8) I’m starting my new job ….. 1 September. 9) Let’s meet ….. 5.30 tomorrow evening. 10) Do they often go out ….. the evenings? 11) Did she go out ….. Saturday evenings? 12) Did you go out ….. Sunday? 13) We got up ….. 7 o’clock this morning. 14) Goodbye! See you ….. lunch-time.
2.3.Write at/on/in if necessary. 1) What does he usually do at the weekend? 2) They went to England ….. last summer. 3) Will you be at work ….. this morning. 4) I always feel tired ….. the evening. 5) I’m leaving ….. 2 days..... Monday. 6) I don’t like going out alone ….. night. 7) I go to bed late ….. every night. 8) Can you play golf ….. next Sunday?
2.4. Compete the sentences. Each time use at, on or in + one of the following. Sundays, the Middle Ages, 10 seconds, night, the same time, the 1920s, 12 April 1961, the moment, Christmas, 1989, about 15 minutes, the evening 1) John is a very fast runner. He can run 100 metres in 10 seconds. 2) Many of Europe’s great cathedrals were built …... 3) In Europe people send each other cards …... 4) “Can I speak to Ann?” “I’m afraid she’s not here …...” 5) We are just going out to the shop. We’ll be back …... 6) Jazz became popular in the United States …... 7) It’s difficult to listen if everyone is speaking …... 8) The first man flew into outer space …... 9) After a long working day I like to relax …... 10) If the sky is clear, you can see the stars …... 11) In Belarus most people do not work …... 12) The Berlin Wall came down......
2.5. Two business people are arranging a meeting. Use at, on or in. Write your own dialogue. Act it out.
2.6. Translate into English. Use the prepositions at, on, in. 1) Я не видел Кэт несколько дней. В последний раз я видел ее во вторник. 2) Цена на электричество возрастет в следующем году. 3) Я был приглашен на свадьбу 14 февраля. 4) Поторопись. Мы должны выйти через 5 минут. 5) Брат Джемми – инженер, но он сейчас (в данный момент) не работает 6) Надеюсь, что погода будет хорошая на выходные. 7) Я не люблю путешествовать зимой. 8) Это была тонкая книга, и я прочитал ее за день. 9) Моя машина ремонтируется в гараже. Она будет готова через 2 часа. 10) Телефон и дверной звонок зазвонили одновременно (в одно и то же время).   Живите по правилу: МАЛО ЛИ ЧТО НА СВЕТЕ СУЩЕСТВУЕТ? Я неслучайно подчеркиваю, что место в голове ограничено, а информации вокруг много, и что ваше право...  Что способствует осуществлению желаний? Стопроцентная, непоколебимая уверенность в своем...  Что вызывает тренды на фондовых и товарных рынках Объяснение теории грузового поезда Первые 17 лет моих рыночных исследований сводились к попыткам вычислить, когда этот...  Что делать, если нет взаимности? А теперь спустимся с небес на землю. Приземлились? Продолжаем разговор... Не нашли то, что искали? Воспользуйтесь поиском гугл на сайте:
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Prepositions are words or a group of words (e.g. in, for, to, in front of, etc.) used to show the relationship of one word to another. The word " preposition " means " placed before" as prepositions are normally placed before nouns or pronouns to show place, time, direction, etc.
