International University – HCMC

Department of English

GRAMMAR 13 KEY
A. TIME PREPOSITION (AT, IN, ON, FOR, DURING…)
Practice 1. Complete the sentences. Each time use at, on, or in with one of the phrases from the
box.

the 1920s 1917 the 15th century about five minutes the same time
1. Saturdays night the age of five July, 21st , 1969 the moment
Columbus discovered America in the 15th century.
2. The first man landed on the moon on July, 1st, 1969.
3. In Britain soccer matches are usually played on Saturdays.
4. You can see the stars at night if the sky is clear.
5. In many countries, children have to start school at the age of five.
6. Jazz became popular in the United States in the 1920s.
7. It's difficult to listen when everyone is speaking at the same time.
8. The Russian Revolution took place in 1917.
9. Tom isn't here at the moment. He'll be back in about five minutes.

Practice 2. Put in the correct prepositions: at, on, or in.

1. The course begins on January 7th and ends on March10th.
2. I went to bed at midnight and got up at 6:30 the next morning.
3. We traveled overnight to Paris and arrived at 5:00 in the morning.
4. Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756.
5. Are you doing anything special at/on the weekend?
6. Hurry up! We've got to go in five minutes.
7. I haven't seen Ann for a few days. I last saw her on Tuesday.
8. I'll call you on Tuesday morning at about 10:00, okay?
9. I might not be home at the morning. Can you call in the afternoon instead?
10. Tom's grandmother died in 1977 at the age of 79.
11. I get paid at the end of the month.
12. Jack's brother is an engineer, but he's unemployed at the moment.
13. The price of electricity is going up in October.
14. On Sunday afternoons I usually go for a walk in the park.
15. There are usually a lot of parties on New Year's Eve.
16. I like walking around town at night. It's always so peaceful.
17. Tom doesn't see his parents very often these days - usually only at Christmas and sometimes in
the summer for a few days.
 International University – HCMC
Department of English
18. At the end of a course, the students usually have a party.
19. I've been invited to a wedding on February 14th.
20. I'm just going out to do some shopping. I'll be back __________________half an hour.

Practice 3. Put in for or during.

1. I waited for you for half an hour and then decided that you weren't coming.
2. He hasn't lived in Haiti all his life. He lived in France for four years.
3. Production at the factory was seriously affected during the strike.
4. I felt really sick last week. I couldn't eat anything for three days.
5. When we were at the theater last night, we met Ann during intermission.
6. Sue was very angry after our argument. She didn't speak to me for a week.
7. We usually go out on weekends, but we don't often go out during the week.
8. Jack started a new job a few weeks ago. Before that he was out of work for six months.

Practice 4. Put in by or until

1. I've been offered a job. I haven't decided yet whether to accept it or not. I have to decide by
Thursday.
2. I think I’ll wait until Thursday before making a decision.
3. A: I hear you're writing a book. Have you finished it yet?
B: Not quite, but I hope to finish it by the end of this month.
4. A: I'm going out now. I’ll be back at 4:30. Will you still be here?
B: I don't think so. I’ll probably have gone by then.
5. I'm moving into my new apartment next week. I'm staying with a friend until then.
6. A: Do you think I’ll still be unemployed this time next year?
B: No, of course not. I'm sure you'll have found a job by that time.

B. POSITION PREPOSITIONS (IN/AT/ON)

Practice 1. Answer questions about the pictures. Use in, at, or on with the words in parentheses.
 International University – HCMC
Department of English

1. Where's the label? It’s on the bottle.

2. Where's the man standing? (gate) He’s standing at the gate.
3. Where's Tom sitting? (armchair) He’s sitting on an armchair.
Where's the picture? (wall) It’s on the wall.
4. Where's Ann standing? (top / stairs) She’s at the top of the stairs.
And where's the cat? (bottom / stairs) It’s at the bottom of the stairs.
5. What's George doing? (looking / mirror) He’s looking at the mirror.
6. Tom lives in this building. Where's his apartment? (third floor) It’s on the third floor.
7. Where are the children? (back / car) They are at the back of the car.
8. Tom is at the movies. Where's he sitting? (back) He’s sitting in the back.
9. Where's the post office? (left) It’s on the left. And the bank? (right) It’s on the right.
10. Where's the notice? (door) It’s on the door.
11. Where is the woman standing? (corner) She’s standing at the corner.
12. Where is the man standing? (corner) He’s standing in the corner.

Practice 2. Complete the sentences. Each time use in, at, or on with one of the phrase from the box.
the front row my way to work the west coast
the third floor the right the Swiss Alps
the front page of the newspaper New York the window
the back of the envelope the back of the class

1. The headquarters of the United Nations is in New York.

2. In most countries people drive on the right.
3. I usually buy a newspaper on my way to work in the morning.
 International University – HCMC
Department of English
4. Last year we had a great skiing vacation on the Swiss Alps.
5. San Francisco is on the west coast of the United States.
6. She spends all day sitting at the window and watching what is happening outside.
7. I have to walk up a lot of stairs every day. My apartment is on the third floor and there is no
elevator.
8. I read about the accident. There was a story on the front page of the newspaper.
9. We went to the theater last night. We had seats in the front row.
10. I couldn't hear the teacher very well. She had a soft voice, and I was sitting at/in the back of the
class.
11. When you send a letter, it is a good idea to write your name and address on the back of the
envelope.

Practice 3. Complete the sentences with in, at, or on.

1. I'll meet you at the corner (of the street) at 10:00.
2. We got stuck in a traffic jam on the way to the airport.
3. There was an accident at the intersection this morning.
4. Look at those beautiful horses on that field!
5. I can't find Tom in this photograph. Is he in it?
6. At the end of the road there is a path leading to the river.
7. I wouldn't like an office job. I couldn't spend the whole day sitting at a desk.
8. Do you take sugar in your coffee?
9. Ann's brother lives in a small town on the coast of Maine.
10. You'll find the sports results on the back page of the newspaper.
11. Sue and Dave got married in Denver four years ago.
12. Paris is on the river Seine.
13. Mr. Black's office is on the fifth floor. When you get off the elevator, it's the third door on your left.
14. We normally use the front entrance to the building, but there's another entrance at/in the back.
15. If you want to get away from modern life, you should go and live on a small island in the middle of
the ocean.