Common Prepositional Phrase

Question 1

AT

Answer 1

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

Question 2

BY

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

FOR

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

FROM

Answer 4

from now on
from then on
from bad to worse
from my point of view
from what I understand
from personal experience

Question 5

UNDER

Answer 5

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

Question 6

WITHOUT

Answer 6

without fail
without notice
without exception
without someone’s consent
without success
without warning

Question 7

IN

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

ON

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

OF

Answer 9

• 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.

Question 10

TO

Answer 10

• 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.

Question 11

WITH

Answer 11

• 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?

Question 12

BETWEEN

Answer 12

• 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.