prepositions

Question 1

When do we use “on” with transportation?

Answer 1

Use “on” for large, shared public vehicles:

Examples: on the train, on the bus, on the plane, on the boat

These are large and used by many people, so you are on them like on a surface.

Question 2

What are exceptions to using “on”?

Answer 2

Small boats (like rowboats or fishing boats): use “in” — I’m in a boat.

Bicycle: Even though it’s small, say “on a bicycle” — because you sit on it.

Question 3

When do we use “in” for transportation

Answer 3

Use “in” for cars and taxis, which are usually private and small.

Ex: I’m in a car, I’m in a taxi

You own the car or pay for the taxi, so it’s like your personal space.

Question 4

When do we use “by” for transportation?

Answer 4

Use “by” to describe how you traveled.

Ex: I came by car, by train, by bus, by plane

It answers the question: “How did you get there?”

Question 5

When do we use “at” for location?

Answer 5

Use “at” for specific locations or addresses.

Ex: Meet me at my house, at 51 Eglington

Think of it as a dot on a map: very specific.

Question 6

When do we use “on” for location?

Answer 6

Use “on” when talking about a surface or an area.

Ex: The book is on the table, He is on the floor

On a bus/train/plane also fits this, as these are big areas where people sit or stand.

Question 7

When do we use “in” for location?

Answer 7

Use “in” when something is inside a space surrounded by boundaries (walls, container, etc.)

Ex: I’m in a room, in a box, in the car

It means fully inside an enclosed area.

Question 8

When do we use “by” for location?

Answer 8

Use “by” to mean near or close to something.

Ex: I live by the park, The store is by the river

Similar to: close, near, or next to

Question 9

When do we use “at” for time?

Answer 9

Use “at” for exact time (hours and minutes).

Ex: at 10:30, at 9:15, at 12:00

Very specific point in time

Question 10

When do we use “on” for time?

Answer 10

Use “on” for days and dates.

Ex: on Monday, on my birthday, on Christmas Day

If the word has “day” in it, you usually use “on”.

Question 11

When do we use “in” for time?

Answer 11

Use “in” for longer periods like months, years, and weeks.

Ex: in September, in 1992, in three weeks

It’s a general but longer time frame.

Question 12

When do we use “by” for time?

Answer 12

Use “by” to show the end or deadline of a time.

Ex: Finish it by 5 p.m., I need it done by tonight

It means no later than that time.

Question 13

Use of “in” for Time

Answer 13

In the future / past / present

Years: in 1994, in the 90s

Decades/Centuries: in the 19th century

Seasons: in summer, in autumn

Months/Weeks: in June, in five weeks

Parts of the day: in the morning, in the evening

✅ In the evening, I like to relax and play board games.

Question 14

Use of “on” for Time

Answer 14

Dates: on the 10th of June

Days of the week: on Monday, on Saturday morning

Holidays with “day”: on Christmas Day, on New Year’s Day

Phrases: on his birthday, on bank holiday

Miscellaneous: on time = punctual

Question 15

Use of “at” for Time

Answer 15

Specific times: at 10 AM, at lunchtime, at sunset

Phrases: at the moment (atm), at sunrise, at night

Holidays without “day”: at Christmas, at Easter

Question 16

Use of “in” for Place

Answer 16

Countries/Cities/Areas: in Morocco, in Agadir, in Adrar.

Enclosed spaces: in a taxi, in a car, in a classroom, in the house

Media: in a book, in the newspaper, in the Times

Question 17

Use of “on” for Place

Answer 17

Streets/Roads: on Fleet Street, on Fifth Avenue

Surfaces: on the floor, on the table, on the ceiling

Floors of buildings: on the first floor

Public Transport: on a bus, on a train, on a plane

Media/Communication: on the TV, on the radio, on the internet

Question 18

Use of “at” for Place

Answer 18

Addresses: at 10 High Street, at The Red House, Bedford

Specific locations: at the bus stop, at the museum

Shops: at the coffee shop, at the bakery

Group activities: at a concert, at a party

Institutions: at school, at work, at home

Top/Bottom/End: at the top of the page, at the bottom of the stairs

Question 19

Special Case – Desk/Table

Answer 19

On the table = item is on the surface

At the table = you are sitting next to it

✅ You sit at a desk, but you place things on it.

Question 20

When do we say “on the table”?

Answer 20

When something is on top of the table (e.g., books, plates).

Question 21

When do we say “at the table”?

Answer 21

When someone is sitting next to it (e.g., eating at the table).

Question 22

Can we say “in the table”?

Answer 22

Very rarely—only if something is inside it, like a drawer. Usually, we don’t use “in” with a table.

Question 23

What does “at the door” mean?

Answer 23

Someone is standing near or next to the door.

Question 24

When do we use “on the door”?

Answer 24

When something is attached to the surface of the door (e.g., a poster or knock).

Question 25

Do we say “in the door”?

Answer 25

No, it's incorrect.

Question 26

What’s the correct preposition for food inside the fridge?

Answer 26

In the fridge.”

Question 27

What about magnets or stickers on the fridge?

Answer 27

On the fridge

Question 28

When do we say “on the street”?

Answer 28

Walking on the sidewalk or pavement (normal use).

Question 29

What does “in the street” mean?

Answer 29

Walking in the middle of the street—possibly dangerous.

Question 30

Do we use “at the street”?

Answer 30

No, that’s not correct

Question 31

What’s the difference between “at a hotel” and “in a hotel”?

Answer 31

“At a hotel”: general location. “In a hotel”: physically inside the building.

Question 32

Can we say “on a hotel”?

Answer 32

No, it’s incorrect.

Question 33

Which preposition do we use with “room”?

Answer 33

“In” – e.g., “I’m in my room.”

Question 34

What do we say for waiting area in a hotel?

Answer 34

“I’m in the lobby.”

Question 35

What does “at the elevator” mean?

Answer 35

Standing just outside, waiting.

Question 36

What does “in the elevator” mean?

Answer 36

Inside the elevator car.

Question 37

Can we say “on the elevator”?

Answer 37

No—unless it's in an action movie and you're on top of it!

Question 38

List common fixed expressions using “at.”

Answer 38

At home At work At school At college/university At a party At an event 🧠 Tip: These never change—don’t use “in home” or “on school.”

Question 39

List some common expressions using “in.”

Answer 39

Fish in the sea Clouds in the sky In a swimming pool In the newspaper In a movie In a car or boat

Question 40

When do we use “on” with places or things?

Answer 40

On the couch On the floor On the table On the roof On the TV / on the radio On a train, bus, or plane

Question 41

Why “on TV” but “in the newspaper”?

Answer 41

It’s just the way English evolved—fixed expressions you must memorize.

Question 42

When do we say “in” a vehicle vs. “on”?

Answer 42

“In” for small vehicles: car, taxi, small boat. “On” for big/shared ones: train, bus, plane.

Question 43

I was born ___ 1994.

Answer 43

in

Question 44

He arrived ___ 10:30 sharp.

Answer 44

at

Question 45

We’ll go on holiday ___ August.

Answer 45

in

Question 46

My grandfather was born ___ the 19th century.

Answer 46

in

Question 47

I love watching movies ___ the evening.

Answer 47

in

Question 48

___ Christmas Day, we open our gifts.

Answer 48

on

Question 49

We usually have dinner together ___ Christmas.

Answer 49

at

Question 50

I’ll finish the project ___ Friday.

Answer 50

on Both "on Friday" and "by Friday" are grammatically correct, but they have different meanings: --- ✅ "I’ll finish the project on Friday." Means you will complete it specifically on that day, Friday. Example: You're planning to work and finish it that day. --- ✅ "I’ll finish the project by Friday." Means you will finish it any time before or on Friday, but not after. Could be Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday morning—just before the deadline. --- ✔ Summary: Use “on Friday” when the task is done that day. Use “by Friday” when it’s done at any time before or up to Friday. --- In your flashcard, "on Friday" is correct if you mean you'll finish it specifically on that day. If you're talking about a deadline, "by Friday" would be more natural.

Question 51

I’ll finish the project ___ the end of the week.

Answer 51

at

Question 52

I hope to graduate ___ two years.

Answer 52

in

Question 53

I was born ___ the 10th of June.

Answer 53

on

Question 54

We’ll have a meeting ___ the morning.

Answer 54

in

Question 55

We’re going to the countryside ___ the weekend.

Answer 55

at

Question 56

___ night, I like to read quietly.

Answer 56

at

Question 57

She started her business ___ 2020.

Answer 57

in

Question 58

He lives ___ London.

Answer 58

in

Question 59

I stayed ___ a hotel near the beach.

Answer 59

at

Question 60

He’s waiting ___ the bus stop.

Answer 60

at

Question 61

We had coffee ___ a small café downtown.

Answer 61

at

Question 62

My keys are ___ the drawer.

Answer 62

in

Question 63

There’s a crack ___ the wall.

Answer 63

on

Question 64

I met her ___ the university library.

Answer 64

in

Question 65

She sat ___ the chair and started reading.

Answer 65

on

Question 66

We were all sitting ___ the table for dinner.

Answer 66

at

Question 67

There’s a strange poster ___ the door.

Answer 67

on

Question 68

He lives ___ Fifth Avenue.

Answer 68

on

Question 69

There are some beautiful pictures ___ the ceiling.

Answer 69

on

Question 70

I saw your photo ___ the newspaper.

Answer 70

in

Question 71

She’s lying ___ the couch watching TV.

Answer 71

on

Question 72

We watched a documentary ___ TV last night.

Answer 72

on

Question 73

He’s ___ the elevator right now.

Answer 73

in

Question 74

She’s waiting ___ the elevator.

Answer 74

at

Question 75

I got ___ a taxi outside the airport.

Answer 75

in

Question 76

She’s ___ a plane and can’t talk now.

Answer 76

on

Question 77

We travelled ___ a boat across the lake.

Answer 77

in

Question 78

He was ___ the train when he texted me.

Answer 78

on

Question 79

I came here ___ car.

Answer 79

By

Question 80

They escaped ___ a car after robbing the bank.

Answer 80

in

Question 81

I got ___ the bus at Main Street.

Answer 81

on

Question 82

We were stuck ___ traffic for an hour.

Answer 82

in

Question 83

She works ___ home most days.

Answer 83

at

Question 84

He studies ___ university in Paris.

Answer 84

at

Question 85

Are you ___ school today?

Answer 85

at

Question 86

He’s ___ a party tonight.

Answer 86

at

Question 87

They met each other ___ work.

Answer 87

at

Question 88

He waited for me ___ the top of the stairs.

Answer 88

at

Question 89

There’s a summary ___ the bottom of the page.

Answer 89

at

Question 90

My pen is ___ the desk, but I’m sitting ___ the desk.

Answer 90

on / at

Question 91

✅ "At" + Time Refers to a specific point in time. Think of it like an exact appointment. Example: > I will finish the project at 05:00. ✅ = I will finish it exactly at 5:00, not before or after. --- ✅ "By" + Time Refers to any time before or up to that point, but not later. It gives a deadline. Example: > I will finish the project by 05:00. ✅ = I will finish it before or no later than 5:00. Could be 4:00, 4:30, or exactly 5:00. --- 🔁 Side-by-side: Sentence Meaning I will finish it at 5:00. I will finish exactly at 5:00. I will finish it by 5:00. I will finish before or at 5:00 (not after). --- 🧠 Simple Trick to Remember: "At" = exact time ⏰ "By" = before or until that time ⏳

Question 92

Part of the day prepositions :

Answer 92

Part of the day prepositions : In the morning In the afternoon In the evening At night At noon

Question 93

We want to invest the money . . . . . the stock market. A. on B. at C. in

Answer 93

C. in (The checkmark indicates this is the correct answer)

Question 94

We go to school ........ foot. Options: A) BY B) ON C) IN

Answer 94

ON