Prepositional phrases

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES WITH 'AT':

I. Fill the gaps with the appropriate words.

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1. Don't expect to be able to solve the problem at a(n) ……………….. . It will certainly take you some time to work it out.

2. At a(n) ……………. I could finish this report by Friday, but not earlier, for sure.

3. Miss Wilson makes an impression of a very kind and generous person, but at …………………… she's rather mean and selfish.

4. The testimony that he gave in court is at …………………. with his previous statement that he made for the press. They're totally different.

5. In case your guests ask to be shown around the city, the company car is at your ………………….. .You may use it without asking anyone for permission.

6. 'Fire at …………………..!', ordered the captain and his soldiers unleashed an attack on the enemy.

7. If you go on a business trip, you travel at the company's ………………… except for the meals that you take in fast food restaurants.

8. The two neighbours have been at ………………… drawn with each other ever since they quarrelled about this small plot of land.

9. The criminals who escaped from prison this morning are still at ………………. but the police report to be very close to discovering their whereabouts.

10. The fire brigade were at full ……………….. to prevent the fire from spreading to the neighbouring buildings.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES WITH 'BY':

II. Fill the gaps with the appropriate words.

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1. By …………………. of her marriage to the millionaire, Lena has become the lawful heiress to his great wealth.

2. The situation is improving by ………………. but it will take months before it reaches stability.

3. I'd rather the information was written than passed by …………………… .

4. The secretary has told me she can arrange a meeting with the councillor by …………………… but he will not be accessible earlier than next month.

5. Judging people only by their …………………. may result in getting prejudiced against them.

6. I only know Alan Parker by …………………. .We have never been introduced to each other.

7. You arrived by the ………………. of your teeth. The meeting was just about to begin.

8. The crooked official was determined to retain his position by ….………. or foul.

9. By all …………………, the manager has a love affair with his secretary. That’s at least what people say.

10. I've read the candidates' profiles so many times that I know their personal details by ………………. .

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES WITH 'FOR':

III. Fill the gaps with the appropriate words.

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1. 'I've just heard Bono and U2 are going to give a concert in our city.' 'For ………………… I'd love to see it!'

2. The peace negotiations have been broken for an unknown ………………. . There's been no official report on that yet.

3. I don't remember what aunt Lisa looks like. I haven't seen her for ………..….. .

4. 'Why are you painting the graffiti on the wall?' 'Just for ………………. . It's real fun, believe me.'

5. The other rooms in the office are just being renovated, so for ………………. we are all working in the conference room.

6. You never take my suggestions and ideas seriously. I hate it when you take me for ………………… like that.

7. We go to the seaside with our children twice a year. It's for the ………………. of their good health.

8. 'Do I have to bring these brochures back?' 'No, you don't. They're for ………………….. .

9. I wonder how Sally ever managed to pass her driving test. She can't drive for …………………….. .

10. The other day, Fran and I went bargain hunting downtown and we did find some very attractive clothes that we bought for a …………………. .

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES WITH 'IN':

IV. Fill the gaps with the appropriate words.

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1. We spent too much time talking about some vague matters, and so we didn't manage to discuss the really important ones in ………………….. .

2. Bridget's sewing machine is in ………………… . She hasn't used it for years.

3. These two Romanian twin sisters are amazing. They look the same, dress the same and they even talk in ………………… .

4. Peter will tell you everything about the project. He's the one in the …………… . He's one of its originators.

5. I'm a bit in a ………………… about my boss's proposition. I don't know whether to accept it or not.

6. During the trial it turned out that the methods the police investigators used were not in ………………….. with the law. No wonder the case was dismissed.

7. My letter is in ……………..… . Before I send it, I'm going to check the spelling and write it clean.

8. I had known everything about Janet's plans. She had told me in ………………. that she was going to ask her husband for a divorce.

9. Eileen hasn't made a decision yet. She's still in ………………….. whether to emigrate with her boyfriend or stay with her parents in the country.

10. The concert organizers had printed only five hundred tickets for the performance and so they were in real trouble when the fans of the rock band turned out in ………………… . There were more than three thousands of them.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES WITH 'ON':

V. Fill the gaps with the appropriate words.

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1. Is Damon on the …………………..? Can one trust him?

2. From the time he started working for the department, we all considered Rick to be very conscientious and loyal officer. We had no idea he was passing information to the mafia on the …………………… .

3. 'People say it's on the ………………… that the parliament will be dissolved.' 'Indeed, it's quite likely to happen.'

4. 'How long have you been on the ………, Mr Graham?' 'I was laid off in May last year and I have been living on the unemployment benefit ever since.'

5. It's rather unlikely that your plane will take off on ……………….. . There's a strike at the airport, so the flights may be seriously delayed or even cancelled.

6. The minister handed in his resignation on …………………. of the mounting accusations and severe criticism of his policies.

7. They have been making nothing but losses for the last several months. No wonder their business is on the …………………. .

8. On ……………….. I don't lend money to anyone, but I can make an exception this time.

9. Celine is on …………………. . She's just been informed that she's been accepted by the university. I've never seen her happier before.

   10. The criminals who robbed the bank have been caught and are now on …………………. . The trial is to start next month.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES WITH 'OFF':

VI. Fill the gaps with the appropriate words.

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1. Frankly speaking, you've surprised me with your proposition. I can't give you a definite answer to it off the ……………….. . I need some time to consider it.

2. Nobody asked me to repair the alarm system. I did it off my own ……………… and I don't expect to be paid for it.

3. Sarah doesn't need to be explained twice. She’s rather quick off the …………... contrary to Eva who never understands anything.

4. I usually buy clothes off the ……………… . They are not so expensive as tailored ones.

5. Yesterday, Mickey felt fine but today he's feeling off ……………… . I think he should go to a doctor.

6. I've heard our branch in Newcastle is going to be closed down, but it's off the ………………… . We must still wait for an official confirmation.

7. I'm sorry to say that but your remarks are off the …………………, Jim. What you've just said has nothing to do with the case under discussion.

8. The military area is off …………………. for civilians. You cannot enter it unless you have a special pass.

9. You don't look good and it worries me that you're off your ……………….. . You must eat to be strong and healthy.

10. I dream of living somewhere off the ………………. far away from the noise of the big city and inquisitive neighbours.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES WITH 'UNDER':

VII. Fill the gaps with the appropriate words.

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1. Robbie's under the ………………… . He's got a sore throat and his temperature is high. He must stay in bed for a few days.

2. The question of lay-offs is still under …………………. . No definite decisions have been made as yet.

3. The young man asked for financial support under ………………. . He claimed to collect the money for charity, but in fact he spent it on drugs.

4. Not a long time ago, this counterfeiter was caught and placed under …………………… . He's being tried this month.

5. For over two decades, the country has been under the ………………. of the merciless dictator who has oppressed the citizens and violated the human rights.

6. Few people have heard about the controversial project of the Institute of Genetics. It's kept under …………..…. for fear of causing anxiety and protest.

7. The bank clerk said something under his ………………… but I couldn't hear him well as I was standing a few metres from the counter.

8. The burning wounds won't heal easily. The patient will stay under hospital …………………… for at least two months.

9. Under ………………. of night, the prisoners met in one of the barracks to devise a plan of an escape from the Nazi camp.

10. I cannot concentrate if I am under ………………….. . Give me more time to do the task and I will certainly do it well.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES