Common Prepositional Phrase Flashcards
AT
at first
at least
at most
at time__s
at any rate
at last
at the latest
at once
at short notice
at an advantage
at a disadvantage
at risk
at a profit / loss
BY
by accident
by far
by all means
by heart
by chance
by and by
by the way
by the time
by no means
by name
by sight
by now
by then
Use ‘by’ with the following nouns:
- to pay by check (credit card)
Example: I paid the bill by check.
- to do something by accident
Example: I broke the vase by mistake.
- to do something by mistake
Example: I’m afraid I brought the wrong book by mistake.
- to do something by chance
Example: I saw Jack at the supermarket by chance.
- a play, song, book, etc. by someone
Example: The opera ‘Otello’ is by Giuseppe Verdi.
FOR
for now
for instance
for example
for sale
for a while
for the moment
for ages
for a change
for better or worse
Use ‘for’ preceded by the following nouns:
- a check for (amount of money)
Example: She gave me a check for $50.
- a demand for something
Example: Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough demand for our product.
- a need for something
Example: There is a real need for discipline in this class.
- a reason for something
Example: I have a reason for doing that!
Use ‘for’ with the following nouns:
- (to go / come) for a walk
Example: Let’s go for a walk.
- (to go / come) for a swim
Example: We went for a swim as soon as we arrived.
- (to go / come) for a drink
Example: Would you like to come over for a drink?
- (to go / come) for a visit
Example: I’d love to come for a visit sometime.
- (to have something) for breakfast / lunch / dinner / supper (US English)
Example: I had bacon and eggs for breakfast.
FROM
from now on
from then on
from bad to worse
from my point of view
from what I understand
from personal experience
UNDER
under age
under control
under the impression
under guarantee
under the influence of
under obligation
under no obligation
under suspicion
under his thumb
under discussion
under consideration
WITHOUT
without fail
without notice
without exception
without someone’s consent
without success
without warning
IN
- Use ‘in’ preceded by the following nouns:
- a rise in something
Example: There has been a rise in prices recently.
- an increase in something
Example: We have seen many increases in production levels.
- a fall in something
Example: There has been a fall in prices recently.
- a decrease in something
Example: We have seen many decreases in production levels.
Use ‘in’ with the following nouns:
- to be OR to fall in love with someone
Example: I fell in love with my wife at first sight.
- in my opinion
Example: In my opinion, we need to invest in some development.
- a need for something
ON
Use ‘on’ with the following nouns:
- (to be) on fire
Example: Help! The house is on fire!
- (to be) on the telephone / phone
Example: I think Tom is on the phone at the moment.
- on television
Example: There is a good film on television tonight.
- on the radio
Example: Mahler’s fifth was on the radio last night.
- (to be / go) on a diet
Example: I really need to go on a diet.
- (to be / go) on strike
Example: The sanitary engineers have gone on strike again.
- (to be / go) on holiday (UK English) / vacation (American English)
Example: I really need to go on vacation soon.
- (to be / go) business
Example: He went away this weekend on business.
- (to be / go) on a trip
Example: We were on a trip this past weekend.
- (to be / go) a tour
Example: Have you ever been on a tour of the French countryside?
- (to be / go) on an excursion
Example: We went on an excursion to Versailles when we were in Paris.
OF
- Use ‘of’ preceded by the following nouns:
- a cause of something
Example: She is the cause of all his problems.
- a photograph OR a picture of something or someone
Example: He took a photograph of the mountains.
TO
- Use ‘to’ preceded by the following nouns:
- damage to something
Example: I did a lot of damage to my car the other day.
- an invitation to a celebration of some type
Example: We were invited to their wedding.
- reaction to something
Example: Her reaction to his behavior was quite funny.
- a solution to a problem
Example: He provided the solution to our financial situation.
- an attitude to something (or TOWARDS something)
Example: Your attitude to your problems doesn’t help them get resolved.
WITH
- Use ‘with’ preceded by the following nouns:
- a relationship with someone or something
Example: My relationship with Mary is wonderful.
- a connection with someone or something
Example: His connections with the CIA are very limited.
- a contact with someone or something
Example: Have you had any contact with Sarah?
BETWEEN
- Use ‘between’ preceded by the following nouns:
- a connection between TWO things
Example: There is no connection between the two crimes.
- a relationship between TWO things
Example: The relationship between the two friends was very strong.
- a contact between TWO things
Example: There is little contact between the two parents.
- a difference between TWO things
Example: There is no difference between those two colors.
