How to use prepositions

TODAY we examine little words called prepositions. Small as they are misuse of any one of them results in wrong sentences. What ever you are trying to say makes no sense as long as these little words are misused.

There is no particular order in the discussion of these words. We use at with times. For example: at 6 o’clock, at 9:45, at midnight, at lunchtime. He leaves for work at six o’clock.

But we usually leave out at when we ask (At) what time . . .? — What time are you leaving for town today? We also use in these expressions: at night – She always leaves at night.

At the week-end/at week-ends. Will you be here at the week-end? (public holiday periods). At Christmas/at Easter — They give each other presents at Christmas. At the moment/at present. She is busy at the moment/ at present.

At the same time: James and Paul arrived at the same time. At the age of . . . Khumbulani left school at the age of 15 or you can say Khumbulani left school at 15.

On: We use on with dates and days: on 10 August, on Friday(s), on Christmas Day (but at Christmas). For example: The left for England on 10 August. We also say: on Friday morning (s) on Sunday afternoon(s), on Monday evening(s) on Saturday night(s). I usually go out on Monday evenings.

In: We use in for longer periods of time (for example: months/years/seasons): in January, in 1980, in (the) winter, in the 20th Century, in the 1960s, in the Middle Ages.

They got married in 1986. We also say: in the morning(s) in the afternoon(s): but I’ll see on Tuesday morning.

We do not use at/on/in before last and next: — I’ll see you next Friday. They got married last April. In + a period of time = a time in the future: The train will be leaving in a few minutes (= a few minutes from now).

Mandla’s gone away. He will be back in a week. (= a week from now). You can say “in six months’ time” “in a week’s time”. We also use in to say how long it takes to do something: I learnt to drive in four weeks (= it took me four weeks to learn).

Test yourself by doing the following exercise. The first has been done for you: The concert starts at 6:45. I learnt to drive in four weeks. The course begins – 7 January and ends – 15 March. I went to bed – midnight and got up – 6.30 in the next morning. Are you doing anything special – the week-end? Hurry up! We’ve got to go – five minutes. I’ll phone you – Tuesday morning –10 o’clock, okay?

Ben’s grandmother died – 1976 – the age of 80. The price of fuel is going up – November. Luke’s brother is an engineer but he’s out of work – the moment. I’ve been invited to a wedding – 14 December.

In/at/on (position)1. Examine the following examples: in a room, in a garden/in a park/ in a town/ in a country, in the water, in the sea, in a river, in a row, in a line, in a queue. There is no one in the room/in the building/ in the shop.

The children are playing in the garden/in the park. When we were in Zambia, we spent a few days in Lusaka not at Lusaka. Jack lives in a small village in the mountains. She keeps her money in her bag/in her purse. What have you got in your hand/in your mouth?

Note that we say (sit) in an armchair- (but “on a chair”, in the street, in a photograph/ in a picture/in a mirror, in the sky.

In/at/on (position 2) We say that someone is at an event. For example: at a party/at a concert/ at a conference/at a football match. For example: Were there many people at the meeting? I saw Pretty at the football match/at the concert on Saturday.

We say: at home, at university, at the seaside, in bed, on a farm, at work, at a station, at an airport, in hospital, in prison, on a farm. I’ll be at home all evening.

Ntando is studying agriculture at university. They will be arriving at 10.30. Can you meet them at the station? Jane’s mother is in hospital. His brother is working on a farm.

You can often use in or at with buildings. You can stay in a hotel or at a hotel; you can eat in a restaurant or at a restaurant. We usually say at when we say where an event takes place (for example a concert, a film, a meeting, a sports venue): We went to a concert at the Amphitheatre. The meeting took place in the head’s office. Last night she went to the cinema.

This exercise goes on and on. But for now, we leave it here.

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