Prepositions often cause problems. Can you use them correctly? Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition.
1I was waiting ............... the bus stop when I met Larry.
Wrong!
Use "at" for a specific point or place such as a bus stop.
2Is there any milk ............... the bottle?
Wrong!
Use "in" for something inside a container such as a bottle.
3I was ............... my way to work when I had an accident.
Wrong!
The fixed phrase is "on" my way to mean during the journey.
4Please don't stand in the doorway; you are ............... my way.
Wrong!
Use "in" my way when someone or something is blocking you.
5There is no way ............... proving that he was lying.
Wrong!
The natural pattern is no way "of" doing something.
6She has acted ............... several movies.
Wrong!
Use "in" for acting as a performer in movies, plays, or shows.
7Have you put the meat ............... the fridge?
Wrong!
Use "in" for putting something inside the fridge.
8She moved ............... Canada last year.
Wrong!
Use "to" for movement toward a country or place.
9Can you put the child ............... bed?
Wrong!
The fixed expression is put someone "to" bed.
10The President will appear ............... television tonight.
Wrong!
Use "on" with television, radio, and the internet as media platforms.
11We want the meeting to start exactly ............... time.
Wrong!
Use "on" time to mean at the planned or expected time.
12She decided to quit her job ............... several reasons.
Wrong!
Use "for" before the reason or reasons for an action.
Answers
- I was waiting at the bus stop when I met Larry.
- Is there any milk in the bottle?
- I was on my way to work when I had an accident.
- Please don’t stand in the doorway; you are in my way.
- There is no way of proving that he was lying.
- She has acted in several movies.
- Have you put the meat in the fridge?
- She moved to Canada last year.
- Can you put the child to bed?
- The President will appear on television tonight.
- We want the meeting to start exactly on time.
- She decided to quit her job for several reasons.