Situational practice

I. Fill the gaps with the correct prepositions.

Sound and Stereo

20, Meadow Drive

Oxford OX2 1HP

Dear Sir,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction …..(1) reference …..(2) the stereo I bought …..(3) your shop just a week ago. Indeed, I am afraid that the equipment was faulty …..(4) several counts, which I would really like to let you know.

Firstly, the turntable does not rotate as it should, so that I am totally unable to play my records …..(5) it. And considering that it was the main reason why I bought this particular stereo, I think that it is completely unacceptable.

…..(6) the other hand, the tape deck is functional. However, the play button …..(7) deck A came …..(8), and in spite …..(9) the fact that it continues to work effectively, I am not willing to pay …..(10) shoddy workmanship.

I have already been …..(11) your shop to complain but I gained little satisfaction …..(12) your sale staff − besides they were not polite at all …..(13) me, which is a shame.

Consequently, I am writing this letter to you …..(14) the hope that you will be able to take necessary measures …..(15) either refunding my money or providing me …..(16) other equipment …..(17) the same or a different brand which, this time, would be fine.

If my desires are not fulfilled, I will be obliged to take further steps and even lead …..(18) court action, which I would really like to avoid.

I expect to hear …..(19) you concerning these matters and take my complaint very seriously.

I thank you …..(20) anticipation,

Yours faithfully,

P. W. Crosby

II. Fill the gaps with the correct prepositions.

Six years ago, when I was a student, I was short …..(1) money. So once a week I used to go home to see my parents and get a decent meal. Although I had a good relation with my mother, I never got …..(2) well …..(3) my father. I could never live …..(4) to his high expectations …..(5) me.

One day I did a terrible thing. I stole some money ….. (6) him. I first started …..(7) by asking him if he could lend me ten pounds. He refused saying he had already given me enough and it was time I became more responsible …..(8) money. You know what it is like to be a student. I'd run …..(9) of money and wanted to take a girl …..(10). When he refused, I accused him …..(11) being mean and we had a terrible row. He left the house and I was so angry that I stole a few pounds …..(12) his wallet.

When he found out that the money was gone, he understood who had taken it and banned me …..(13) the house. Since then I have returned but he has never really forgiven me and still looks …..(14) …..(15) me for what I did.

My mother is very upset and I really have to work towards creating a happy relationship with my father …..(16) her and our sakes. Half of me wants to say "Sorry, Dad" while the other half still thinks he is ridiculous …..(17) having kept his attitude …..(18) for so long. How can I bridge our endless misunderstanding?

III. Fill the gaps with the correct prepositions.

One afternoon just …..(1) Christmas an old gentleman was wandering through the town centre. The gaily-illuminated shops were packed ….(2) good things and crowded ….(3) cheerful shoppers. The children were gazing …..(4) wonder …..(5) all the toys …..(6) display in the windows. Suddenly the old gentleman spotted a dirty little boy sitting …..(7) the pavement, weeping bitterly. When the kind old gentleman asked him why he was crying, the little boy told him that he had lost a tenpenny piece that his uncle had given him. Thrusting his hand …..(8) his pocket the old gentleman pulled …..(9) a handful of coins. He picked …..(10) a shiny, new tenpenny piece coin and handed it to the child. "Thank you very much", said the little boy, and, drying his eyes, he cheered …..(11) at once.

An hour, or so later the old man was making his way back home …..(12) the same route. …..(13) his astonishment he saw the same dirty little boy …..(14) precisely the same spot, crying just as bitterly as before. He went …..(15) to the boy and asked him if he had lost the tenpenny he had given him as well. The little boy told him that actually he had not lost the second coin, but he still couldn’t find his first tenpence. ‘If I could find my own tenpence’, he said tearfully, ‘I’d have twenty pence now’.