Prepositional Phases Flashcards
accident
by accident
I meant to call Helen, but I called Roger by accident.
addition
in addition (to)
In addition to all the food, we took some games to play.
age
at the age of
I left home at the age of eighteen.
air/etc
by air/sea/bus/car/etc
The best way to get there is by bus.
back
at the back (of)
Let’s go and sit at the back.
beginning
in the beginning
I found Chinese hard to learn in the beginning, but it’s easier now.
board
on board
The ship left as soon as all the passengers were on board.
bottom
at the bottom (of)
What’s it like at the bottom of the sea?
business
on business
* I travel a lot on business.*
cash
in cash
The woman paid for the car in cash, which was unusual.
CD/DVD/video
on CD/DVD/video
* I didn’t see it at the cinema, so I’m watching it on DVD tonight.*
chance
by chance
I met Venia by chance in the town centre.
charge
in charge (of)
I’d like to speak to the person in charge.
coast
on the coast:
We used to live on the coast.
common
in common (with)
I’ve got nothing in common with you!
comparison
in comparison to/with
* Germany is very small in comparison with Russia.*
conclusion
in conclusion
* In conclusion, I believe that television is a positive invention.*
condition
in good/bad condition
For sale: camping equipment, in good condition.
contact
in contact (with)
* I’m still in contact with several friends from school.*
corner
in the corner (of)
In the corner of the room there was a guitar.
credit card/cheque
by credit card/cheque
Can I pay by cheque?
danger
in danger (of)
That house is in danger of falling down.
debt
in debt
It can be very worrying to be in debt.
diet
on a diet
I’m on a diet at the moment so I’m not eating any fatty food.
distance
in the distance
* Is that a car I can see in the distance?*
duty
on/off duty
My dad’s a policeman and he’s often on duty at night.
e-mail/etc
by e-mail/phone/letter
* Get in touch by e-mail and I’ll send you my photos.*
end
in the end
I thought we would get there at three, but in the end we arrived at five.
end
at the end (of)
At the end of the film, everyone got married.
fact
in fact
Many people think Greece is hot in the winter but, in fact, it sometimes snows.
fashion/style
in fashion/style
Those shoes are really in fashion at the moment.
fashion/style
out of fashion/style
Things seem to go out of fashion very quickly these days.
favour
in favour (of)
Are you in favour of school uniforms?
first
at first
I didn’t like Mary at first, but then we became friends.
foot
on foot
Can we go from the hotel to the beach on foot, or is it better to take a bus?
front
in front (of)
* Don’t worry – you can park in front of our house.*
fun
for fun
* I sing in a band for fun.*
future
in the future
Will people live on other planets in the future?
general
in general
* In general, TV programmes are not educational.*
heart
by heart
I’ve learnt the song by heart.
holiday
on holiday
Isn’t it great to finally be on holiday?
instance
for instance
Many countries, for instance the UK, don’t have identity cards.
Internet
on the Internet
You can find a lot of information on the Internet.
last
at last
* At last, we’ve arrived!*
law
against the law
Stealing is against the law.
least
at least
It’s cold, but at least it’s not raining.
love
in love (with)
I’m in love with Chris.
mess
in a mess
Your room is in a mess. Go and tidy it!
middle
in the middle (of)
* In the middle of the stage, there was an elephant.*
mistake
by mistake
* I meant to call Helen, but I called Roger by mistake.*
moment
at the moment
* I’m busy at the moment.*
most
at most
The tickets should cost about €20 at most.
news
on the news
They mentioned the accident on the news.
night
at night
It usually gets dark at night.
opinion
in my opinion
* In my opinion, we shouldn’t go to school on Saturdays.*
order
out of order
This phone is out of order. We’ll have to find another one.
own
on your own
Did you go to the cinema on your own?
phone
on the phone
Come in and wait a second – I’m just on the phone.
pressure
under pressure
* My dad is under a lot of pressure at work at the moment.*
public
in public
Politicians can say things in private that they can’t say in public.
purpose
on purpose
I didn’t do it on purpose.
radio
on the radio
* I first heard that song on the radio.*
rent
for rent
Do you have any rooms for rent?
response
in response to
I am writing in response to your letter of 13th July.
risk
at risk
You’re at risk of failing the exam if you don’t work harder.
sale
for sale
I’m afraid the pictures on the wall aren’t for sale.
schedule
on schedule
Our train arrived on schedule.
secret
in secret
We planned a birthday party for Julie in secret.
shape
in shape
It’s important to me to stay in shape, so I go to the gym whenever I can.
spite
in spite of
* Tina seems to be happy, in spite of her recent problems.*
stage
on stage
There were three actors on stage.
strike
on strike
* We got a day off school because our teachers were on strike.*
tears
in tears
When I found Fiona, she was in tears.
teens/twenties/etc
in your teens/twenties/etc
Life isn’t always easy when you’re in your teens.
time
for a long time
* I haven’t seen George for a long time.*
time
in time (for)
We arrived at the cinema just in time for the start of the film.
time
on time
Make sure you are here on time tomorrow.
times
at times
I like studying French, but it can be hard work at times.
top
at the top (of)
What was it like at the top of Mount Everest?
top
on top (of)
* He sprinkled sugar on top of the cake.*
total
in total
In total, we made over €200 for charity.
touch
in touch (with)
* I’m still in touch with several friends from school.*
trouble
in trouble
We’ll be in trouble if the teacher catches us.
TV
on TV
Is there anything on TV tonight?
view
in my view
* In my view, we shouldn’t go to school on Saturdays.*
yourself
by yourself
Did you go to the cinema by yourself?
