Usages and Rules of Prepositions

Rules for Prepositions in, on, at, to

Basic Rules for Time
A. at a time
B. on a day
C. in a month (season, year, decade, century)

Basic Rules for Place
D. at an address
E. on a street
F. in an area (neighborhood, town, borough, state, country, continent, ocean, world, universe)


Special Rules
1. look at and listen to
2. to with verbs of desire, necessity, expectation
love to, like to, hate to, want to, need to, have to, hope to, expect to
3. at night
in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening
4. on transportation
on the bus, on the train, on the subway, on a plane, on a jet, on a ship, on a bicycle, on a motorcycle, on a surfboard, on a skateboard
BUT
in a car, in a taxi, in a small boat, in an elevator, in a helicopter
5. at an intersection (where two streets cross)
at Broadway and 42nd Street, at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street
6. on an island, on a farm, on a college campus, on earth, on a planet
7. expressions that mean sometimes use different prepositions:
from time to time, on occasion, once in a while
8. in a park, in a yard, at a playground
9. on anything flat
on a plate, on the wall, on the floor, on a shelf, on the blackboard,
on a table, on a desk, on the door, on the stove, on your face
10. in a room or anything smaller
in the closet, in a drawer, in a cup, in a bowl, in a glass, in your mouth, ideas in your head (BUT a hat on your head), a look in your eye
11. to when moving from point A to point B
go to school, drive to work, take a trip to Boston, take your kids to school, fly to London, walk to the library, bring your dog to the vet
12. on a/an [adjective] morning, afternoon, evening, night, day
on a cold afternoon, on a sunny morning, on a rainy evening,
on a Saturday night, on a spring day, on a special night
13. on vacation, on the weekend, on a trip, on a picnic, on your break,
on a leave of absence, on your lunch hour
14. in the water swimming, on the water boating
15. at the beach, on the sand getting a suntan, in the sand playing
16. on anything like a line
on the coast, stand on line, on the border, on the side of the room
17. on forms of communication
on TV, on the radio, on the phone, on the fax machine, on the computer, on a disk, on a CD, on a hard drive, on a channel, on a screen, a report on/about the economy, an article on/about the election campaign
18. on time, on time for something, in time to do something (Come on time. Come in time to get a seat.)

A Lot of Luggage-Reading Activity

Here is a short reading and a few questions about the activity:
A LOT OF LUGGAGE

Kevin and Sharon Fox are on holiday with their three children. Their car is small, and there's a lot of luggage.

Kevin : Oh dear. There are six cases, and the boot isn't very big.
Sharon : Well, come on! Where's the big grey suitcase?
Kevin : It's here.
Sharon : Put in the car first.
Kevin : OK. It's very heavy.
Sharon : There are a lot of clothes in it.
Kevin : Give me the blue suitcase.
Sharon : Here you are.
Kevin : Good, and the red suitcase.
Sharon : Here it is.
Kevin : They're on top of the big case. Whose bag is this?
Sharon : It's Jimmy's. Put it there, next to the blue case.
Kevin : Right. And the two small cases. . .
Sharon : Here they are.
Kevin : That's OK. They're in the boot.
Sharon : Now close the boot.
Kevin : Phew! Where are my keys? They aren't in my pocket.
Sharon : Are they in your jacket?
Kevin : Oh , yes. Yes, they are. Where is my jacket?
Sharon : Is it in the car?
Kevin : In the car?
Sharon : Yes. Is it on the seat?
Kevin : No, no, it isn't. Oh, no! It's in he big suitcase.
Sharon : Oh, no!
Kevin : Oh yes. And the big suitcase is in the boot, under the other cases.
Sharon : Kevin . . open the boot!

Now read the questions carefully!

A LOT OF LUGGAGE

1. How many cases are there?
2. How many children are there?
3. How much luggage is there?
4. Are the keys in his pocket?
5. Where are they?
6. Where's his jacket?
7. Where's the big suitcase?

At the end, if you find these difficult, go back and read it again.