Preposition exercises:

A. Place or Position or Direction

1. Do you live (at, on) Bay Street (in, on) Newport? PLACE
2. I hung the picture (above, on) the fireplace. POSITION
3. She walked (in, into) the kitchen and put her packages (on, over) the table.
DIRECTION
4. Is Jane (at, in) home? No, she is (on, at) the library. PLACE
5. Mary is sitting (in, on) the sofa (at, in) the living room. PLACE
6. Michigan is situated (in, between) Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. PLACE
7. While waiting for my train, I took a walk (around, across) the station.
POSITION
8. A formation of twelve airplanes flew (over, on top of) our house. DIRECTION
9. The artist spends many hours (in, on) his studio (on, at) 50 Charles Street.
PLACE
10. John found a note pinned (in, on) his door which said: “Meet me (at, in) the
corner of Pine and Fifth Streets.” POSITION (on) PLACE (at)
11. The Blake family lives (at, on) Third Street (in, on) Cleveland, Ohio. PLACE
12. Don’t forget to put your return address (in, on) the envelope. POSITION
13. He sat (near, against) the campfire. POSITION
14. Mr. Flanagan, who is (from, of) Ireland, is staying (at, to) his sister’s home in
Boston. PLACE
15. Someone has spilled ink (in, on) this rug and has burned a hole (in, on) that
one. POSITION
16. The door was locked; so, I shoved the letter (under, around) the door.
DIRECTION
17. He piled the books (above, on top of) the table. POSITION
18. He arrived (in, at) Switzerland last week. PLACE
19. You are ahead of me. Your name is (above, at the top of) the list. POSITION
20. Your score on the examination is well (above, over) average. POSITION
B. Time
1. Does the movie begin (at, on) 6:30? No, it will not begin (until, for) 9:00; so
do not arrive (before, by) that time.
2. He asked me to come (at, in) noon.
3. We will go to Florida (since, during) the month of January.
4. The stores stay open (on, in) Mondays (until, for) 9:00p.m.
5. Mary has been in the United States (for, during) a year.
6. John has lived in France (for, since) two years.
7. I read (for, during) three hours, (at, from) 9:00p.m. (until, by) 12:00.
8. Did you meet Mr. Green (at, during) your stay in Savannah?
9. No, I did not see him because I was there (for, during) only two hours.
10. The train is (on, in) time. It will arrive (in, by) three hours.
11. Is your birthday (in, on) April? Mine is (in, on) April 7.
12. Come (by, on) 8:00 if you can; no one will be seated at the theater (after,
since) 8:30.
13. I try to get to school (in, on) time to have a cup of coffee before my first
class.
14. He will leave for Thailand (at, in) the end of August. There will be a farewell
party for him (in, on) the twentieth of August.
15. Columbus discovered America (in, on) 1492.
16. The projector broke down twice (for, during) the showing of the film.
17. He had been waiting here (during, since) noon.
18. I received my bill (to, in) the middle of the month.
19. Can you be ready (by, on) six o’clock?
20. We plan to finish this project (around, until) the first of the year.
C. Other Prepositions
1. We accept your kind invitation (by, with) pleasure.
2. I should like to read that book (by, of) Ernest Hemingway.
3. These oranges are sold (of, by) the dozen.
4. The door (of, at) the house is painted red.
5. He says he can communicate (by, of) mental telepathy.
6. Always sign important papers (by, in) ink.
7. Would you rather write (by, with) a pen or pencil?
8. Over one-third (of, in) the oranges are spoiled.
9. The first speech will be given (by, of) Mr. Steele.
10. Do you like to travel (by, in) bus?
11. He toured the country (in, by) a station wagon.
12. How would you like to go (by, with) us (by, in) our car?
13. These liquid smells (like, as) turpentine.
14. This cake is (for, to) lunch.
15. We always buy olive oil (of, by) the gallon.
16. The sound (of, by) rain lulls me to sleep.
17. It looks (like, as) a nice day.
18. It will take four yards (of, by) material to make this dress.
19. He always speaks (in, by) a loud voice.
20. Stanley took a temporary job (as, like) a chauffeur.
D. Insert an appropriate preposition in the blanks in the following
sentences:
1. They arrived _in___ Bombay ___at_ 8:00p.m._on___ July 30.
2. Charles lives __on__ College Avenue _in___ an apartment.
3. Phoenix is located __in__ the state _of___ Arizona.
4. John asked me to go __with__ him to buy a pair _of___ shoes.
5. Put a pad _under___ the hot dish to protect the table.
6. Mr. Walker has __on__ a grey suit today.
7. This story was written __by__ Conan Doyle.
8. My aunt stayed at our house __for__ two weeks.
9. Mary is a good housekeeper; she always sweeps _under___ the bed.
10. They had to drive __around__ the block four times before they found a
parking place.
11. There is an ink spot _on___ the collar __of__ your shirt.
12. Please write __in__ ink, and don’t forget to write _on___ every other line.
13. Did you receive a letter __from__ your brother yesterday?
14. The bus will not leave _for___ fifteen minutes.
15. Elections are held _on___ the first Tuesday _in___ November.
16. Maximo always entertains us _with___ stories of his experiences.
17. Does this bus go _to___ Central City?
18. Mr. And Mrs. Simpson have lived ___on_ Chesnut Street __for__ six years.
19. Dr. Parks has been living _in___ Mobile _since___ October. His home is
there.
20. He dived _into___ the lake and swam _to___ the boat.
E. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate prepositions
1. This shop doesn’t have the toys I was looking for (up/for)
2. The teacher divided the sweets among all the children. (between/among)
3. Bruce did not fare well in his examination. (in/at)
4. The dog is grateful to its owner. (to/for)
5. My brother’s anniversary is on __5th November. (on/in)
6. The boy at the store is quite young. (at/on)
7. Mahatma Gandhi was born __ on __2nd October. (on/in)
8. Rupert is fond of muffins. (of/off)
9. The dog jumped on the sofa. (on/in)
10. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. (on/at)
11. The police officer is at the station. (at/on)
12. The Sun will not rise before 6 o’clock. (before/since)
13. I know Jack since he was a little boy. (for/since)
14. Priya’s house is next to mine. (next to/after)
15. The opponents sat behind to each other. (opposite/behind)
16. The scientist looked through the microscope. (through/in)
17. I met Suhani when I was in college. (in/on)
18. I will have completed my task by Friday. (till/by)
19. There’s a rift between these two kids. (between/among)
20. The soldiers are at war. (in/at)