Oh, Prepositions Again!

BASIC MEANINGS OF SOME PREPOSITIONS
The following diagram will give you a general idea of how prepositions work. Often, however,
the diagram will not help you to understand certain expressions containing prepositions. For the
following expressions which are not self-explanatory, a definition is given in parentheses.
Study the example sentences to understand the meaning of each expression.
ABOVE, OVER
TO FROM
THROUGH

INTO OUT OF
BELOW, UNDER
******
DURING
This preposition should be distinguished from since and for.
During is usually followed by a noun indicating time. It indicates duration of time.
- During our vacation, we visited many relatives across the country.
- During the summer, we do not have to study.
FROM
This preposition generally means the opposite of to (see diagram).
- He came from Miami last night. (opposite of to: He went to Miami.)
1. (a time / of a time ]
I. Common usage of from: from (a place / to a pJace).
- He lived in Germany from 1972 to 1978. We drove from Atlanta to New York in one day.
2. Common expressions with from: from time to time (occasionally).
- We visit the art museum from time to time.
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OUT OF
This preposition generally means the opposite of INTO (see the diagram).
- He walked out of the room angrily when John admonished him.
1. Common usage of OUT OF: OUT OF + noun (to lack, to be without).
- Maria went to the store because she was out of milk.

2. Common expressions with OUT OF:
a. out of town (away).
- Mr. Adams cannot see you this week because he is out of town.
b. out of date (old).
- Don't use that dictionary. It is out of date. Find one that is up to date.
c. out of work (jobless, unemployed).
- Henry has been very unhappy since he has been out of work.
d. out of the question (impossible).
- Your request for an extension of credit is out of the question.
e. out of order (not functioning).
- We had to use our neighbor's telephone because ours was out of order.
BY
This preposition generally means to go past a place or to be situated near a place.
- We walked by the library on the way home. Your books are by the window.
1. Common usage of BY:
a. to indicate the agent in passive sentences.
- Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare.
b. by + specific time (before).
- We usually eat supper by six o'clock in the evening.
c. by bus/plane/train/ship/car/bike (indicates mode of travel)
- We travelled to Boston by train.
2. Common expressions with BY:
a. by then (before a time in the past or future).
- I will graduate from the university in 1983. By then, I hope to have found a job.
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b. by way of (via).
- We are driving to Atlanta by way of Baton Rouge.
c. by the way (incidentally).
- By the way, I've got two tickets for Saturday's game. Would you like to go with me?
d. by far (considerably).

- This book is by far the best on the subject.
e. by accident/by mistake (not intentionally, opposite of on purpose).
- Nobody will receive a check on Friday because the wrong cards were put into the computer by
accident.
This preposition generally means inside a place or enclosure. It is the opposite of out.
- Dr. Jones is in his office.
1. Common usage of IN:
a. in a room/building/drawer/closet (inside).
- Your socks are in the drawer.
b. in + month/year.
- His birthday is in January. Peter will begin class in 1997.
c. in time (not late, early enough)
- We arrived at the airport in time to eat before the plane left.
d. in the street.
- The children were warned not to play in the street.
e. in the morning/afternoon/evening.
- I have a dental appointment in the morning, but I will be free in the afternoon.
f. in the past/future.
- In the past, attendance at school was not compulsory, but it is today.
g. in the beginning/end.
- Everyone seemed unfriendly in the beginning, but in the end everyone made friends.
h. in the way (obstructing).
- He could not park his car in the driveway because another car was in the way.
i. once in a while (occasionally).
- Once in a while, we eat dinner in a Chinese restaurant.
j . in no time at all (in a very short time).
- George finished his assignment in no time at all.
k. in the meantime (at the same time, meanwhile).
- We start school in several weeks, but in the meantime, we can take a trip.
1. in the middle.

- Grace stood in the middle of the room looking for her friend, m. in the army/air force/navy.
- My brother was in the army for ten years.
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n. in a row.
- We are going to sit in the tenth row of the auditorium.
o. in the event that (if ).
- In the event that you win the prize, you will be notified by mail.
p. in case (if).
- I will give you the key to the house so you'll have it in case I arrive a little late,
q. (get) in touch with, (get) in contact with.
- It's very difficult to get in touch with Jenny because she works all day.
ON
This preposition generally means a position above, but in contact with an object.
- The records are on the table.
1. Common usage of ON:
a. on a day/date.
- I will call you on Thursday. His birthday is on January 28.
b. on the bus/plane/train/ship/bike
- It's too late to see Jane; she's already on the plane. I came to school this morning on the bus.
c. on a street (situation of a building)
- George lives on 16th Avenue.
d. on the floor of a building.
- Henry lives on the fifteenth floor of that building.
2. Common expressions with ON:
a. on time (punctual, used for a scheduled event or appointment, more specific than in time).
- Despite the bad weather, our plane left on time.
b. on the corner (of two streets).
- Thuân Kiêu Plaza is on the corner of Nguyên Huê Avenue and Le Loi Street.
c. on the sidewalk. Don't walk in the street. Walk on the sidewalk.
d. on the way (enroute).

- We can stop at the x grocery store on the way to their house.
e. on the right/left.
- Paul sits on the left side of the room and Dave sits on the right.
f. on television/(the) radio.
- The president's address will be on television and on the radio tonight.
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g. on the telephone.
- Janet will be here soon; she is on the telephone.
h. on the whole (in general, all things considered).
- On the whole, the rescue mission was well executed.
i. on the other hand (however, nevertheless).
- The present perfect aspect is never used to indicate a specific time; on the other hand, the
simple past tense is.
k. on sale (offered for sale).
- The house will go on sale this weekend (offered at a lower than normal price).
- The regular price of the radio is £39.95, but today it's on sale for £25.
l. on foot (walking).
- My car would not start so I came on foot.
AT
This preposition generally is used to indicate a general location. It is not as specific as in. Jane
is at the bank.
1. Common usage of at:
a. at + an address (see on, 1. a). George lives at 712 16th Avenue.
b. at + a specific time. The class begins at 3:10.
2. Common expressions with at:
a. at home/school/work. From nine to five, Charles is at work and his roommate is at school. At
night, they are usually at home.
b. at night.
- We never go out at night because we live too far from town.
c. at least (at the minimum). We will have to spend at least two weeks doing the experiments.

d. at once (immediately.) Please come home at once.
e. at present/the moment (now). She is studying at the moment.
f. at times (occasionally). At times, it is difficult to understand him because he speaks too fast.
g. at first (initially). Jane was nervous at first, but later she felt more relaxed.
MISCELLANEOUS EXPRESSIONS WITH PREPOSITIONS
1. on the beach.
- We walked on the beach for several hours last night.
2. in place of (instead of).
- Mai Bình is going to the meeting in place of his brother, who has to work.
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