PREPOSITIONS

AND PHRASAL VERBS

On,in,at,about,between,for,over.
Pick up,count on,hang around.

1. ON

PREPOSITION

USE ON WITH THE NAMES OF DAYS OR DATES

on thusday
on the weekend

on Monday morning
on sundays

on new years Day

on on a weekday

Her birthday ison20 November.

USE ON WITH THE NAMES OF STREETS AND PHYSICAL LOCATIONS
on Main Street

on Smith Avenue

on the Street

on the right

Your book is on the table.

on the corner
on the left

2. IN

PREPOSITION

USE IN WITH PERIODS OF TIME (BUT NOT WITH NAMES OF DAYS)

In 2016
In the morning

In July
In an hour

In (the) spring
In the 1950s

The new semester will start in March.

USE IN WITH THE NAMES OF CITIES,COUNTRIES,OTHER LARGE LOCATIONS
in the neighborhood
in the center town

in lima
in Africa

in the ocean
in Japan

My hometown is Los Angeles, which is in California.

3. AT

PREPOSITION

USE AT WITH SPECIFIC MOMENTS IN TIME

at 9:00

at dawn

at noon

at sunrise

at dusk

at midnight

The bus will stop here at 5:45 p.m.

USE AT FOR BUILDINGS AND ADDRESSES
at the theater

at the center of town

at 10 Main Street
There is a party at the club house.

at the train station

RESUME OF IN,ON,AT

4. ABOUT

PREPOSITION

USE ABOUT TO IDENTIFIES A TOPIC

this book is about prepositions.
Pattern: noun+be+about+noun
USE ABOUT TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF AN EMOTION OR CONDITION
we are excited about our vacation
Pattern: adjective+about+noun
ABOUT CAN MEAN APPROXIMATELY
it is about nine oclock
Pattern: about+number

4. ABOUT

PREPOSITION

ABOUT CAN MEAN IN ALL DIRECTIONS

we wandered about town for a few hours.
Pattern: motion verb+about+noun
ABOUT CAN DESCRIBE A NOUN
There is something adorable about her.
Pattern: somenthig/nothing+adjective+about+noun
ABOUT CAN MEAN IN ALL PARTS OF
there is a lot of excitement about town.
Pattern: be+noun+about+noun

5. BETWEEN

PREPOSITION

BETWEEN INDICATES SEPARATION OF TWO THINGS

my neighbor and i built a fence between our bbackyards

Pattern: noun+between+noun
BETWEEN CAN SHOW CONNECTION OF TWO PLACES

the bus goes between New York and Washington

BETWEEN CAN INDICATES A CHOICE OF

you can have only one dessert,so please decide between cake and
ice
cream.
Pattern: verb+between+noun+and+noun

6. FOR

PREPOSITION

FOR (CONCERNING SOMEBODY/SOMETHIG)

they are anxious for her safety

fortunately for us,the weather changed.
FOR (AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF)

I am speaking for everyone in this deparment.

FOR(USED TO SHOW A REASON OR CAUSE)

The town is famous for its catedral

He didnt answer for fear of hurting her.

6. FOR

PREPOSITION

FOR (USED TO SHOW WHERE SOMEBODY/SOMETHING IS

GOING)
she knew she was destined for a great future.
FOR (USED TO SHOW WHO CAN OR SHOULD DO
SOMETHING)
how to spend the money is for you to decite.
FOR(IN EXCHANGE FOR SOMETHING)
copies are available for two dollars each.

7. OVER

PREPOSITION

OVER (ON THE FAR OR OPPOSITE SIDE OF SOMETHING )

He lives over the road.
OVER (MORE THAN A PARTICULAR TIME,AMOUNT,COST,ETC)
She stayed in Lagos for over a month.
OVER (USED TO SHOW THAT SOMEBODY HAS CONTROL OR
AUTHORITY)
She has editorial control over what is included.
OVER(BECAUSE OF OR CONCERNING SOMETHING;ABOUT
SOMETHING)
A disagreement over the best way to proceed.

8. PICK UP

PHASAL VERB

PICK UP (to get better, stronger, etc.; to improve)

Trade usually picks up in the spring.
PICK UP (INFORMAL) to start again; to continue
Let'spick up where we left offyesterday
pick up somebody,pick up something,pick somebody up,
pick something up
to take hold of somebody/something and lift them/it up.
it She went over to the crying child and picked her
up.

8. PICK UP

PHASAL VERB

pick something up
1. to get information or a skill by chance rather than by
making a deliberate effort.
Here's a tip I picked up from my mother.
2.

to identify or recognize something

Scientists can now pick up early signs of the disease.

3. to collect something from a place

I picked up my coat from the cleaners.
4. to find and follow a route
We can pick up the motorway in a few miles.

9. COUNT ON

PHASAL VERB

count on somebody ,count on something

1. to trust somebody to do something or to be sure that
something will happen
I'm counting on you to help me.
Few people can count on having a job for life.
We can't count on this warm weather lasting.

10. HANG AROUND

PHASAL VERB

(informal)to wait or stay near a place, not doing very

much
You hang around here in case he comes, and I'll go on
ahead.
I dont think we need to hang around here until he
returns.