USE OF PREPOSITIONS AND COMMON COMBINATION AND PREPOSITIONS

A.   USE OF PREPOSITIONS:

A preposition is a word that links a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to some other part of the sentence

ON

Used to express a surface of something:

• I put an egg on the kitchen table.
• The paper is on my desk.

Used to specify days and dates:

• The garbage truck comes on Wednesdays.
• I was born on the 14th day of June in 1988.

Used to indicate a device or machine, such as a phone or computer:

• He is on the phone right now.
• She has been on the computer since this morning.
• My favorite movie will be on TV tonight.

Used to indicate a part of the body:

• The stick hit me on my shoulder.
• He kissed me on my cheek.
• I wear a ring on my finger.

Used to indicate the state of something:

• Everything in this store is on sale.
• The building is on fire.

IN

Used for unspecific times during a day, month, season, year:

• She always reads newspapers in the morning.
• In the summer, we have a rainy season for three weeks.
• The new semester will start in March.

Used to indicate a location or place:

• She looked me directly in the eyes.
• I am currently staying in a hotel.
• My hometown is Los Angeles, which is in California.

Used to indicate a shape, color, or size:

• This painting is mostly in blue.
• The students stood in a circle.
• This jacket comes in four different sizes.

Used to express while doing something:

• In preparing for the final report, we revised the tone three times.
• A catch phrase needs to be impressive in marketing a product.

Used to indicate a belief, opinion, interest, or feeling:

• I believe in the next life.
• We are not interested in gambling

AT

Used to point out specific time:

• I will meet you at 12 p.m.
• The bus will stop here at 5:45 p.m.

Used to indicate a place:

• There is a party at the club house.
• There were hundreds of people at the park.
• We saw a baseball game at the stadium.

Used to indicate an email address:

• Please email me at Ricofebrian456@yahoo.com

Used to indicate an activity:

• He laughed at my acting.
• I am good at drawing a portrait.

OF

Used for belonging to, relating to, or connected with:

• The secret of this game is that you can’t ever win.
• The highlight of the show is at the end.
• The first page of the book describes the author’s profile.
• Don’t touch it. That’s the bag of my friend’s sister.
• I always dreamed of being rich and famous.

Used to indicate reference:

• I got married in the summer of 2000.
• This is a picture of my family.
• I got a discount of 10 percent on the purchase.

Used to indicate an amount or number:

• I drank three cups of milk.
• A large number of people gathered to protest.
• I had only four hours of sleep during the last two days.
• He got a perfect score of 5 on his writing assignment.

TO

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward, or the direction of something:

• I am heading to the entrance of the building.
• The package was mailed to Mr. Kim yesterday.
• All of us went to the movie theater.
• Please send it back to me.

Used to indicate a limit or an ending point:

• The snow was piled up to the roof.
• The stock prices rose up to 100 dollars.

Used to indicate relationship:

• This letter is very important to your admission.
• My answer to your question is in this envelop.
• Do not respond to every little thing in your life.

Used to indicate a time or a period:

• I work nine to six, Monday to Friday.
• It is now 10 to five. (In other words, it is 4:50.)

FOR

Used to indicate the use of something:

• This place is for exhibitions and shows.
• I baked a cake for your birthday.
• I put a note on the door for privacy.
• She has been studying hard for the final exam.

Used to mean because of:

• I am so happy for you.
• We feel deeply sorry for your loss.
• For this reason, I’ve decided to quit this job.

Used to indicate time or duration:

• He’s been famous for many decades.
• I attended the university for one year only.
• This is all I have for today.

B.     COMMON COMBINATION AND PREPOSITIONS:

at – surprised at, angry at, good at, terrible at

• I’m surprised athow fast my students are learning.
• My mother is angry atme because I forgot her birthday.
• Jamila is good atsongwriting and painting.
• He’s terrible at math – he failed the class twice!

of  – proud of, afraid of, fond of, full of

• You practiced a lot and gave a great performance – I’m proud ofyou!
• Jewell is afraid ofswimming in the ocean.
• The kids are very fond ofthe puppy.
• The mall is always full of teenagers on the weekend.

with – satisfied with, busy with, fed up with, associated with

• I wasn’t satisfied withthe customer service at the bank.
• We’ve been working overtime lately because we’ve been busy witha new project.
• I was fed up with my boyfriend’s lies, so I ended the relationship.
• There are many health risks associated with 

in – disappointed in, skilled in, interested in, involved in

• The teacher was disappointed inthe behavior of the class.
• She was highly skilled inphysics and chemistry.
• Giovanni is interested inclassic English literature.
• Marlene is very involved involunteer work.

for – known for, good for, terrible for, excellent for

• Brazil is known forits wonderful music and friendly people.
• Chocolate and red wine are actually good foryour heart!
• Looking at screens all day is bad foryour eyesight.
• Playing memory games is excellent for improving your brain function.

to – married to, friendly to, similar to, rude to

• He’s married to an Australian woman.
• Everyone I met on the trip was friendly to
• The movie is very similar to the book.
• The little boy was punished after being rude to his grandfather.