Prepositions

In this topic of prepositions, we will be learning about the prepositions of:

• Direction 
• Position
• Manner
• Time

Prepositions

Tell us the relationship between two things in a sentence.

Example:

• She arrives before dinner.
• The apple in the box.
• We flew to Hawaii.
• They walked across the field.

The word itself can help you remember what it does: preposition.

English Concept: Part 1: Prepositions of Direction and Position

Read and understand the sentences to determine:

1. What is going on
2. Which preposition fits best
3. Direction - movement
4. Position - in space 

Question 1:

The girl walked __________ the playground to meet her friends there. 

1. above
2. under
3. over
4. towards

Hint: 

Can you imagine the path the girl is taking?

Answer: 

The correct answer is 4) towards. The girl is taking a path to meet her friends. It’s the preposition of direction. 

Question 2:

The young man apologised profusely for stepping __________ his friend’s foot by accident. 

1. on
2. against
3. over 
4. between 

Answer:

The correct answer is 1) on. If you visualise stepping and the friend’s foot, the only appropriate option is on. 
 

Question 3:

This is the only road __________ the abandoned town. 

(An abandoned town is a town that has been left empty. Nobody lives there anymore.)

1. through
2. on
3. above
4. between

Answer:

The correct answer is 1) through. Between is used when talking about connecting two objects/places. 

Question 4: 

Just place the ladder __________ the wall so it does not fall over. 

1. on
2. against
3. top
4. over

Answer: 

The correct answer is 2) against, so that it does not fall over. 

Question 5:

The old man suffered __________ arthritis. 

(Arthritis is a medical condition where a person’s joints become stiff and painful.)

1. by
2. from
3. on
4. in

Answer:

The correct answer is 2) from. 
 

Question 6: 

Obee-Wang arrived in Singapore __________ 3 o’clock this afternoon. 

1. at
2. on
3. around
4. in

Answer:

The correct answer is 1) at. Because we are talking about a specific time. 

Question 7: 

I love to make __________ stories about dragons and cats.

1. down
2. up
3. by
4. about 

Hint:

This phrasal verb means to “invent”.

Answer:

The correct answer is 2) up. As per the hint, the phrasal verb for invent is make-up.

English Concept: Bonus: What is a Phrasal Verb?

A phrasal verb is a verb + a preposition that you do not take literally.

Example:

1. If I want to look up a word in the dictionary, I’m not going to look to the sky!
2. “Slow down, I can’t catch up!”
3. “Wake up.” Did you realise that there is no “direction” when you wake?

Question 8:

I feel nauseous. I need to throw __________.

1. on
2. at
3. up
4. by

Answer:

The correct answer is up. This is a good example of a phrasal verb. 

Summarising today’s learnings:

Prepositions

• Tell us the relationship between two things in a sentence. For example:
  • She arrived before dinner.

• We looked at prepositions of:
  • Direction, position, manner and time. 

Bonus: Phrasal Verb

• A verb + a preposition that you do not take literally. For example:
  • If I want to look up a word in the dictionary, I’m not going to look to the sky!