10 Prepositions: other meanings

Question 1

We were talking about the weather.

Answer 1

About

Question 2

According to the BBC, the strike is over.

Answer 2

According to

Question 3

Most people are against these changes.

Answer 3

Against: contra

Question 4

We can have this pizza for tea. As for lunch, I’ll get a sandwich.

Answer 4

Podemos tener esta pizza para el té. En cuanto al almuerzo, conseguiré un sándwich.

Question 5

I’m reading a book by Iris Murdoch.

Answer 5

by

Question 6

You need a pullover, so I’m knitting one for you.

Answer 6

For:

Necesitas un jersey, así que te estoy tejiendo uno para ti.

Question 7

You’d do anything for the sake of peace and quiet.

Answer 7

For the sake of = In order to have

Question 8

Are you for the plan/in favor of the plan?

Answer 8

for the plan/in favor of

=supporting

Question 9

Mrs. Peterson is in charge of the department.

Answer 9

(In charge of = head of the department)

Question 10

Can I use a pencil instead of a pen?

Answer 10

Instead of

Question 11

I went to a lecture on Einstein.

Answer 11

Fui a una conferencia sobre Einstein.

Question 12

On behalf of everyone here, I’d like to say thank you.

Answer 12

On behalf of:

En nombre de todos aquí, me gustaría decir gracias.

Question 13

This car does at least fifty miles to the gallon.

Answer 13

to = Este carro hace al menos cincuenta millas por galón.

Question 14

It’s up to you to make your own decision.

Answer 14

to

Question 15

I went to the party with a friend.

Answer 15

(= We were together.)

Question 16

Pete is the man with long hair.

Answer 16

(= He has long hair.)

Question 17

I’ll cut the wood with my electric saw.

Answer 17

With

Question 18

They set to work with enthusiasm.

Answer 18

Se pusieron a trabajar con entusiasmo.

Question 19

With people watching, I felt embarrassed.

Answer 19

(= Because people were watching…)

Question 20

Who’s the man without any shoes on?

They set to work, but without enthusiasm.

Answer 20

Without is the opposite of with.

Question 21

Who’s the man without shoes on?

Answer 21

We can leave out any after without.

Question 22

the handle of the door
a tin of soup
some of my friends
our first sight of land

Answer 22

Of has a number of different meanings.

Question 23

She’s an actress of great ability.
These souvenirs are of no value.
He was a man of medium build.

Answer 23

We can also use “of” in the following pattern.

Estos recuerdos no tienen valor.
Él era un hombre de contextura mediana.

Question 24

We decided against a picnic in view of the weather.

Answer 24

(in view of = because the weather was bad)

Question 25

Some prepositions have the same meaning as a conjunction.

Answer 25

Such prepositions are: 
as well as, 
in addition to, 
besides, 
in spite of, 
despite, 
as a result of, 
in consequence of, 
because of, 
due to, 
in view of, 
on account of.

Question 26

I paid by credit card.
The motor is powered by electricity.
They broke the door down by force.

Answer 26

By is more abstract. It refers to the means in general rather than to a specific thing.

Question 27

They got in by breaking down the door.

Answer 27

We use “by” before a gerund.

Question 28

The door was broken down by two men/with a hammer.

Answer 28

Some passive sentences have by + agent.

Question 29

We say write in pen or write in pencil.

Answer 29

escribir en pluma

Question 30

I prefer to travel by train.

Answer 30

NOT travel by the train and NOT travel with the train.
We can say: by bike, by car, by road, by taxi, by bus, by coach, by train, by tube, by rail, by
boat, by ship, by ferry, by hovercraft, by sea, by plane, by air.

Question 31

I’ll go on my bike.

Answer 31

NOT: I’ll go by my bike.
We do not use by to mean a specific bike, car etc.
We can say on my bike, in the/my car, in a taxi, on the bus/train/boat/plane etc.

Question 32

I prefer to go on foot.

Answer 32

NOT: go by foot

Question 33

The passengers got into/out of the car.
Nancy got on/off her bike/the bus/the train.
We went on board the ship.

Answer 33

Expressing movement.

Question 34

I spoke to Andy by phone/on the phone.

I sent the information by post.

Answer 34

We can also use by for means of communication, e.g. by letter/post, by phone, by telegram/telex/fax.

Question 35

Maria has come along as our guide.

I’m having to use the sofa as my bed.

Answer 35

(She is our guide.)
(It is my bed.)

We use “as” to express a role or function.

Question 36

She slapped his face. The noise was like a pistol shot.

I think Louise looks a bit like Marilyn Monroe.

Answer 36

We use like to express a comparison.

Question 37

He speaks as an expert. He is, after all, a professor.

He talks like an expert, but really he knows nothing.

Answer 37

Compare “as” and “like”.

Question 38

Like everyone else, I have to pay my taxes.

Answer 38

“Like” can also come in front position.

Question 39

It’s unlike Fiona to be late. She’s usually very punctual.

Answer 39

“Unlike” is the opposite of “like”.

Question 40

Everyone was there except (for) Nigel, who was ill.
Everyone was there apart from Nigel, who was ill.
I hate fish. I can eat anything except fish.
I hate fish. I can eat anything but fish.

Answer 40

We use “except (for)”, “apart from” and “but” to talk about an exception.