English Prepositions. Exercises Part 3

Preface

Although the most important part of the English sentence is the verbal group, prepositions form its integral part. Incorrect usage of prepositions is like driving your car at night with the headlights off. You can’t find the way in darkness. The ebook English Prepositions - Exercises Part 2 illuminates the way by being the most definitive resource for English learners at all levels. With this self-study guide, you will be able to broaden and test your knowledge of such prepositions as: out of, off, on, onto, over, to, under, until, till.

A plethora of real-life sentences constitutes the biggest value of the ebook. The sentences come from such papers and magazines as The Washington Post, The Guardian, Newsweek, Time, Business English Magazine, as well as websites www.cnn.com, www.bbc.co.uk, or learnersdictionary.com, The Writer’s Guide to Prepositions by Charles Prieur and Elizabeth Champion Speyer has been an interesting reference book from which a lot of examples are derived. The biggest asset of the publication is a thorough and definitive presentation of English prepositions in a wide range of interesting and contrastive contexts.

The overriding aim of the ebook is a practical one: the more examples you have, the better chance of gaining a feel for preposition usage. The best way to learn which prepositions go with which words is to read as much as you can in English, and pay attention to which combinations sound right.

English Prepositions - Exercises Part 1, English Prepositions - Exercises Part 2, and English Prepositions - Test serve as perfect complements to the ebook.

Radosław Więckowski

[email protected]

An introductory note on the method for learning English prepositions

The basic question you can ask yourself is how to remember which preposition you should use with the given verb, adjective or noun. The ebook covers the most important prepositions in a variety of contexts which pose much difficulty to learners of English at different levels. In the exercises the following method for learning prepositions has been adopted. First you get to know contrastive and short examples of preposition usage above the horizontal line and then you can proceed to do exercises below and quickly check the correctness of your answers consulting a key. Prepositions given in brackets can be omitted: increase/decrease (by) 5%. The exercises consist in putting the correct preposition in blanks below:

1.

on the radio ; on a TV program ; in a book

___________________________________________________

1. I read it ___ a book and ___ my iPad.

2. I heard it ___ a song, ___ the radio, and ___ the podcast.

3. I saw it ___ a movie and ___ a TV program.

Key to 1:

1. I read it in a book and on my iPad.

2. I heard it in a song, on the radio, and on the podcast.

3. I saw it in a movie and on a TV program.

1. Adverb out of

1.

out of sth 

used to show the direction or movement of a person or thing from the inside to the outside of something

___________________________________________________

1. She walked out ___ the room.

2. Take your hands out ___ your pockets.

4. We've decided to move out ___ the country.

5. Don't get out ___ your chair.

6. It's time to get out ___ bed.

7. They're flying out ___ Washington this afternoon.

2.

out of sth 

used to say that a person or thing is not or no longer at a particular place

___________________________________________________

1. She's out ___ [=away from] the office at the moment

2. He just got out ___ the hospital

3. He just got out ___ prison/jail yesterday.

4. She's fresh out ___ college. [=she has recently graduated from college]

5. She's been out ___ town for two days.

3.

used to say that a person or thing is not or no longer in a particular state or situation

___________________________________________________

1. They woke him up out ___ a deep sleep

2. Try to stay out ___ trouble at school, okay?

3. Our favorite store's going out ___ business.

4. We're not out ___ danger yet.

5. He came out ___ retirement to play one more season.

6. He got kicked out ___ the game for playing too rough.

7. Disco dancing went out ___ fashion in the early 1980s.

8. All of the pictures are out ___ focus.

9. I think your guitar is out ___ tune.

4.

used to say that a person or thing is beyond the range or limits of something

___________________________________________________

1. Try to stay out ___ the sun.

2. We went inside to get out ___ the rain.

3. Keep all medicines out ___ (the) reach of children.

4. The train was soon out ___ sight

5. The situation has gotten completely out ___ hand. = Things are out ___ control.

5.

used to say that a person or thing is not in the usual or expected condition

___________________________________________________

1. If you're out ___ shape [=if you're not in shape], start exercising slowly.

2. I hadn't skated in five years, and I was really out ___ practice.

3. That big table seems out ___ place in their tiny kitchen.

6.

used to say what something is made from

___________________________________________________

1. She wore a necklace made out ___ gold and diamonds.

2. It’s a boat built out ___ small trees and rope.

3. Let's try to make the best out ___ a bad situation.

7.

used to say where a person or thing comes from

___________________________________________________

1. I got the idea out ___ [=from] the book.

2. He had to pay for it out ___ his own pocket.

3. That meeting was a complete waste of time. I got nothing out ___ it.

8.

used to say where an activity takes place

___________________________________________________

1. He runs his business out ___ [=from] his home.

9.

used to say what causes something

___________________________________________________

1. Most people watched the show out ___ curiosity.

2. Out ___ concern for her children, she decided to move to a safer neighborhood.

3. They became soldiers out ___ a sense of duty and honor.

10.

used to say that a person or thing no longer has something

___________________________________________________

1. The store's out ___ bread.

2. The car's almost out ___ gas.

3. I'm out ___ breath.

4. I ran out ___ time and didn't get to finish the test.

5. She's been out ___ [=without] a job for two months now.

11.

used to compare a small number to a larger number in order to say how many people or things are selected, do something, etc.

___________________________________________________

1. Only one out ___ four of our tomato plants survived.

2. Nine out ___ 10 dentists prefer this toothpaste.

3. The disease occurs in one out ___ a thousand people.

4. Out ___ a group of 20 students, only 10 passed the test.

12.

be out of it (1. to be sedate, confused, or disoriented; to be, feel, or seem disconnected from reality 2. to not be aware of or knowledgeable about sth 3. not be/feel part of a group, a conversation, an activity)

___________________________________________________

1. I had just woken up and was still pretty much out ___ it.

2. I felt completely out ___ it at the club.

3. My dad is so out ___ it. Doesn't he know that wearing socks with sandals looks ridiculous?

4. I didn’t know anybody at the party so I felt a bit out ___ it really.

2. Preposition off

1.

off the pitch ; sb’s eyes are off sth

___________________________________________________

1. The ball is ___ the football pitch.

2. My eyes were ___ the ball.

3. He gave me some tips on how to score a goal ___ the woodwork.

Key to 1:

1. The ball is off the football pitch.

2. My eyes were off the ball.

3. He gave me some tips on how to score a goal off the woodwork.

2.

a path off the main road

the bathroom off the bedroom

___________________________________________________

1. There is a path ___ the main road.

2. There is a street ___ the square.

3. He lives ___ Whitehall.

4. The bathroom’s ___ the bedroom.

5. It is an alley ___ 12th street.

Key to 2:

1. There is a path off the main road.

2. There is a street off the square.

3. He lives off Whitehall.

4. The bathroom’s off the bedroom.

5. It is an alley off 12th street.

3.

fall off/from the stairs ; fall off a cliff

___________________________________________________

1. The cat jumped down ___ the table.

2. He fell ___ the stairs.

3. He jumped ___ the wall.

4. Pick it up ___ the floor.

5. They were eating ___ a paper plate.

6. He got ___ the train.

7. Take it ___ the table.

8. He took the book ___ the shelf.

9. The car is ___ the road.

10. She has bungee jumped ___ a tower.

11. She came ___ stage to great applause.

12. Sales fell ___ a cliff.

13. He likes diving ___ the cliffs.

Key to 3:

1. The cat jumped down off/from the table.

2. He fell off/from the stairs.

3. He jumped off/from the wall.

4. Pick it up off/from the floor.

5. They were eating off a paper plate.

6. He got off the train.

7. Take it off/from the table.

8. He took the book off/from the shelf.

9. The car is off the road.

10. She has bungee jumped off/from a tower.

11. She came off stage to great applause.

12. Sales fell off a cliff.

13. He likes diving off/from the cliffs.

4.

live off/on sth ; live off sb ; live off tourism/off the land

make money off/from doing sth

___________________________________________________

1. It’s difficult to live ___ a small salary.

2. He is living ___ the sale of his own photos.

3. He is still living ___ his parents.

4. The family lives ___ welfare.

5. They live ___ the land.

6. They make their living ___ tourism.

7. He spent all the money he made ___ gambling.

Key to 4:

1. It’s difficult to live off/on a small salary.

2. He is living off/on the sale of his own photos.

3. He is still living off his parents.

4. The family lives off/on welfare.

5. They live off the land.

6. They make their living off tourism.

7. He spent all the money he made off/on gambling.

5.

take $5 off the price

take $5 off the product ; $5 off the product

cut 1% off inflation = cut inflation by 1%

___________________________________________________

1. They knocked 50 pounds ___ the price.

2. They knocked $500 ___ the car.

3. They docked me 15% ___ the pay for this week.

4. It is eliminated ___ the list.

5. There is 20 cent ___ all jackets.

6. They cut 5% ___ inflation. = They cut inflation ___ 5%.

7. They have cut 15% ___ their prices.

8. He cut 5 seconds ___ the world record.

9. It cut 15 minutes ___ the journey. = It cut the journey ___ 15 minutes.

10. My favorite dish has been taken ___ the menu.

Key to 5:

1. They knocked 50 pounds off the price.

2. They knocked $500 off the car.

3. They docked me 15% off the pay for this week.

4. It is eliminated off the list.

5. There is 20 cent off all jackets.

6. They cut 5% off inflation. = They cut inflation by 5%.

7. They have cut 15% off their prices.

8. He cut 5 seconds off the world record.

9. It cut 15 minutes off the journey. = It cut the journey off 15 minutes.

10. My favorite dish has been taken off the menu.

6.

off the bedroom = just off the bedroom 

off the road = just off the road (very near the road, e.g. a house) ; on the road (near the road, e.g. a house)

___________________________________________________

1. There’s a kitchen (just) ___ the dining room.

2. There’s a big house ___ the path.

3. There’s a big a house ___ the road.

4. We wanted to refuel (just) ___ the motorway.

Key to 6:

1. There’s a kitchen (just) off the dining room.

2. There’s a big house off the path.

3. There’s a big a house on the road.

4. We wanted to refuel (just) off the motorway.

7.

off the beach = away from the beach (space, distance)

off retirement (time)

___________________________________________________

1. Keep ___ the grass.

2. It’s two miles ___ the shore.

3. They were 100 metres ___ the summit.

4. Keep the dog ___ the grass.

5. three metres ___ the ground.

6. I am a long way ___ finishing it.

7. We are a long way ___ understanding this problem.

8. He’s only a year ___ retirement.

9. She is ___ retirement.

Key to 7:

1. Keep off the grass.

2. It’s two miles off the shore.

3. They were 100 metres off the summit.

4. Keep the dog off the grass.

5. three metres off the ground.

6. I am a long way off finishing it.

7. We are a long way off understanding this problem.

8. He’s only a year off retirement.

9. She is off retirement.

8.

off the coast = in the sea near the coast

___________________________________________________

1. There’s an island ___ the coast of France.

2. I sailed ___ Cape Horn.

Key to 8:

1. There’s an island off the coast of France.

2. I sailed off Cape Horn.

9.

crib sth off/from sb ; crib sth off/from sth

___________________________________________________

1. I borrowed a dollar ___ him.

2. He had his wallet stolen ___ him.

3. He copied it ___ me.

4. He copied it ___ my paper.

5. It’s easy to download music ___ the Internet.

6. She often cribs ___ him.

7. She often borrows money ___ him.

8. I got this car ___ my parents.

9. I heard it ___ my neighbour.

10. I bought it ___ a street vendor.

11. He got the info ___ me.

Key to 9:

1. I borrowed a dollar off/from him.

2. He had his wallet stolen off/from him.

3. He copied it off/from me.

4. He copied it off/from my paper.

5. It’s easy to download music off/from the Internet.

6. She often cribs off/from him.

7. She often borrows money off/from him.

8. I got this car off/from my parents.

9. I heard it off/from my neighbour.

10. I bought it off/from a street vendor.

11. He got the info off/from me.

10.

be off work ; be absent from work

___________________________________________________

1. He's had ten days ___ school.

2. He's been absent ___ school for ten days.

3. She is ___ work = She is absent ___ work.

4. He is ___ school

5. He is ___ duty.

Key to 10:

1. He's had ten days off school.

2. He's been absent off school for ten days.

3. She is off work. = She is absent from work.

4. He is off school.

5. He is off duty.

11.

be off sth (be no longer interested in sth) ; be into sth (be interested in sth)

be off sth (no longer drinking, eating, or taking sth) ; be on sth (eating, drinking, or taking sth)

___________________________________________________

1. I’m ___ (no longer interested in) extreme sport.

2. I’m ___ (interested in) football.

3. He’s ___ (no longer taking) the drugs.

4. The doctor took her ___ (no longer using) the pills.

5. He’s ___ (no longer drinking) alcohol.

6. He remains ___ (no longer smoking) cigarettes.

7. I’m ___ (no longer drinking) coffee these days.

8. I’m ___ (drink) much coffee these days.

9. She has recently gone ___ (no longer smoking) smoking.

10. He is ___ (no longer using) his diet but she is ___ (using) a diet.

Key to 11:

1. I’m off extreme sport.

2. I’m into football.

3. He’s off the drugs.

4. The doctor took her off the pills.

5. He’s off alcohol.

6. He remains off cigarettes.

7. I’m off coffee these days.

8. I’m on much coffee these days.

9. She has recently gone off smoking.

10. He is off his diet but she is on a diet.

12.

used to indicate separation, distance, or removal from someone or something:

be off the cuff ; be off the hinge ; be off the wall = fall off the wall

___________________________________________________

1. The door is ___ its hinges.

2. There’s a button ___ the cuff.

3. Take the top ___ the bottle.

4. The pictures are ___ the wall. = The pictures fell ___ the wall.

5. The book is ___ the shelf. = The book fell ___ the shelf.

6. I took the plate ___ the table.

Key to 12:

1. The door is off its hinges.

2. There’s a button off the cuff.

3. Take the top off the bottle.

4. The pictures are off the wall. = The pictures fell off the wall.

5. The book is off the shelf. = The book fell off the shelf.

6. I took the plate off the table.

13.

be off course ; be off topic

___________________________________________________

1. It is ___ the subject.

2. It is ___ my responsibilities.

3. The ship is ___ course.

4. The discussion got ___ the original subject.

Key to 13:

1. It is off the subject.

2. It is off my responsibilities.

3. The ship is off course.

4. The discussion got off the original subject.

14.

dine off/on sth (to eat something for dinner) ; have sth for dinner

chow down on sth (quickly eat something)

___________________________________________________

1. We dined ___ oysters.

2. We had oysters ___ dinner.

3. He lunched ___ cheese and fruit.

4. She breakfasted ___ sandwiches with eggs.

5. He chowed down ___ pizza after the game.

Key to 14:

1. We dined off/on oysters.

2. We had oysters for dinner.

3. He lunched off/on cheese and fruit.

4. She breakfasted off/on sandwiches with eggs.

5. He chowed down on pizza after the game.

15.

eat sth off/from a plate ; drink sth from/out of a cup

___________________________________________________

1. He ate all the cereal ___ the bowl.

2. He ate all the meal ___ the plate.

3. He drank all the wine ___ a glass.

4. Machines pick the fruit ___ the trees.

Key to 15:

1. He ate all the cereal off/from the bowl.

2. He ate all the meal off/from the plate.

3. He drank all the wine from/out of a glass.

4. Machines pick the fruit off/from the trees.

16.

carom off sth (to hit a surface and come off it fast at a different angle)

___________________________________________________

1. The ball bounced ___ the wall.

2. The puck caromed ___ the end boards.

3. The sun reflected ___ the water.

Key to 16:

1. The ball bounced off the wall.

2. The puck caromed off the end boards.

3. The sun reflected off the water.

17.

meet sb off the bus/the train = meet sb at the station (to go to a place and wait there for a particular person or thing to arrive) ; meet sb off the plane = meet sb at the airport (to go to a