There are not very many rules for using prepositions of place in the English language, which is why remembering them is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. I propose to understand the intricacies of using prepositions at, in, on, which indicate the location of objects.

Let's start with a small table in which we set out a very general rule for where and when to put each preposition:

The preposition at in English

So let's start with the preposition at. It is translated into Russian in different ways - “at”, “about”, “on”, “in”, “at”. The translation will depend on the place with which the preposition is used. Let's look at some rules and examples.

1. Pretext at in English, as a rule, it is used when we are talking about a specific place, point or landmark, and not about the territory or area as a whole:
   

   There were a lot of people at a conference. – There were a lot of people at the conference.

   I met him at Jack's party. “I met him at Jack’s at a party.”

   In these sentences at a conference And at Jack's party refer to specific places.

   We can use this preposition with the names of cities, implying the names of institutions or events taking place in this city. Let's look at a few pairs of proposals:

   There were a lot of artistic people at Dublin Theater Festival. – There were a lot of creative people at the festival in Dublin.

   There are a lot of artistic people in Dublin. – There are a lot of creative people in Dublin.

   As you can see, the difference in meaning is obvious: in the first example Dublin refers to the name of the festival ( Dublin Theater Festival), in the second example we are already talking about the city itself. Such an insignificant detail as a preposition can change the meaning of an entire sentence! Here's another example to think about:

   I study at Edinburgh. – I study at the University of Edinburgh.

   I study in Edinburgh. – I study in Edinburgh.

   Using a preposition at in the first sentence allows us to use the name of the city, although we mean the educational institution whose full name The University of Edinburgh. Using a preposition in in the second example, we are talking only about the city.

2. Use a preposition at when talking about buildings as specific points or landmarks: at the dentist's, at the supermarket, at school, at the shop etc. Use a preposition in, if you want to emphasize the fact that someone or something is inside the building:
   

   I stopped at the shop on my way home. – I stopped at the store on the way home. (here the store is just a stop on the way home)

   It was raining, so I decided to shelter in the shop. – It was raining, so I decided to take shelter in the store. (what is important here is the fact that I entered the building itself)

3. Often at used before the names of buildings in cases where what is important to us is not the building itself, but the action that takes place in it:
   

   I was at the cinema yesterday. – Yesterday I was at the cinema.

   I eat at KFC on Mondays. – I eat at KFC on Mondays.

4. Use a preposition at before addresses:
   

   Their shop is at 35 Park Road. – Their store is at 35 Park Road.

   But do not forget that the preposition is used immediately before the name of the road on or in:

   The shop is on/in Park Road. – The store is located on Park Road.

5. Pretext at also used with the verb arrive:
   

   We arrived at the airport in time. – We arrived at the airport on time.

   But when talking about arriving in any big city, use the preposition in:

   The train arrives in New York at 10.30. – The train arrives in New York at 10:30.

As you can see, the largest number of rules concern the use of the preposition at in English, but we also looked at individual cases of using prepositions in And on, since the difference in their use is visible precisely when comparing several sentences, it remains to study very few rules for using these prepositions.

The preposition on in English

Pretext on should be used when the item is in contact with a flat surface ( on the ceiling- on the ceiling, on the wall- on the wall, on the floor- on the floor). By the way, the Internet phenomenon for foreigners is a surface, so it’s correct on the Internet. Although for Russians it is correct “on the Internet”, because for us this is space.

When we perceive space as a straight line, for example, when we talk about a river or a road, we take on.

They built the house on the Humber River. “They built a house on the Humber River.

Also a pretext on in English it is used when talking about traveling by bus, train, or plane. When talking about traveling by taxi or car, use the preposition in. You can also use the preposition in, if you want to emphasize the fact that someone or something is inside the vehicle (in this case, the preposition can be used with any type of vehicle). Compare these offers:

He always looks through his papers in the taxi. – He always looks through documents in a taxi.

English people read newspapers everywhere, even on the bus. – The British read newspapers everywhere, even on the bus.

The preposition in in English

Pretext in in English it is used when we want to indicate that an object is inside another, larger object. This is the case when the preposition has an equivalent in Russian - “in”.

Let's go for a walk in the woods. - Let's go for a walk in the forest.

My keys are in my bag. - My keys are in my bag.

At the end, we invite you to watch a video from the teacher Alex. You can look at this topic from the point of view of a native speaker, so be sure to pay attention to the video:

Well, we hope you have learned the main differences in the use of prepositions of place in English. Try to test your knowledge with a small quiz! And don't forget to download our sign.

(*.pdf, 183 Kb)

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Test

Prepositions of place in English: at, in, on

Surely, in your practice of learning English, there was such a thing that just yesterday you saw a word in a book with one preposition, and today - in the same book, but with a completely different one. For example, it was arrive in , but became arrive at .

English prepositions are a topic full of mysteries and surprises. We sometimes make a preposition without understanding why, relying on intuition. Or we translate from our native language, “as we feel.”

Particularly often, difficulties arise with verbs of motion, since you especially want to add to, on, at or in to them. In English there is no single rule and different verbs of movement are combined with different ones, which do not at all correspond to prepositions in Russian.

For example, in Russian we approach something, but follow AFTER someone, and in English we can approach and follow without a preposition.

In this material we will look at the main verbs of motion: I will explain to you how prepositions change and give examples.

APPROACH- approach, approach. In Russian we say “to approach”, which causes frequent mistakes. In English this verb is used without a preposition:

To approach the house - to approach the house
To approach the river bank - approach the river bank

ARRIVE- to arrive, to arrive. In Russian, this verb is accompanied by prepositions to, in, on and others. There are only two options in English, and the preposition will depend on where you are visiting.

To arrive in a city or country - preposition IN, to arrive, to come to a specific place, to an event - preposition AT:

To arrive in Moscow - arrive in Moscow
To arrive in the USA - arrive in the USA
To arrive at the station - arrive at the station
To arrive at the conference - arrive at the conference
To arrive at work - arrive at work

Another point is to come from somewhere. We use the preposition FROM:

To arrive from Tokio - arrive from Tokyo
To arrive from abroad - arrive from abroad

Exception: to arrive, to come home - without a pretext: to arrive home.

CLIMB- climb, climb. As for the verb climb, let's start with the pronunciation: the letter b is not read and the verb is pronounced. We are used to this verb with the preposition na (to climb on something). But in English the verb itself is used without a preposition:

To climb a tree - climb a tree
To climb a hill - climb a hill

Since the verb climb can also mean “to climb,” other prepositions UP, DOWN, OUT OF, INTO can be used to indicate the direction of movement. For example: climbing and dismounting, climbing and getting out:

To climb up a tree - climb a tree
To climb down a tree - get off a tree
To climb out of the well - get out of the well
To climb into the tree house - climb into the tree house

COME- come, approach. The verb come deserves a separate article - the number of its different meanings is so great (more than 50!) and combinations, phrasal verbs with it (incredibly many!). Today we will limit ourselves to prepositions of movement.

With the verb come, the preposition TO is used - to come somewhere:

To come to work - come to work
To come to school - come to school
To come to your friend’s house - to come to your friend’s house

Exception: to come home - without an excuse: come home.

To come, to come from, from, with is a preposition FROM:

To come from school - to come from school
To come from a party - to come from a party
To come from Poland - to come from Poland

With the preposition BACK, the verb come means “to return”:

To come back home - return home
To come back to school - return to school
To come back from a business trip - return from a business trip

You can find many other prepositions with the verb come, but these will be phrasal verbs (phrasal verbs) or collocations (stable combinations).

DEPART- depart, depart. With this verb everything is simple: to go somewhere is the preposition FOR. To go from somewhere is the preposition FROM. We do not touch the preposition TO, only two prepositions starting with the letter F:

To depart for Rome - go to Rome
To depart for Turkey - go to Turkey
To depart from Rome - arrive from Rome
To depart from Turkey - arrive from Turkey

ENTER- enter. It is very difficult to overcome the temptation to say the preposition IN , but enter in the meaning of “enter, enter” is used without a preposition:

To enter a room - enter the room
To enter a cave - enter the cave

FOLLOW- follow, move behind. The most common mistake is follow after (following is logical!). However, the English language simplifies the task for us, and the preposition is not needed at all:

Follow me! - Follow me!
To follow the map - follow the map
To follow the tour guide - follow the guide

If you want to indicate direction (where to follow someone), use the preposition TO:

I followed my mother to the kitchen. - I followed my mother into the kitchen.
The group followed the guide to the museum. - The group followed the guide to the museum.

LEAD- to lead. The verb lead is the antonym of the verb follow we considered. And it is used in a similar way: without a preposition:

Lead a group - lead a group
lead a child home - lead a child home

And if you want to indicate the direction (where to lead), then different prepositions may be needed:

To lead tourists through the wood - lead tourists through the forest
To lead tourists out of the wood - lead tourists out of the forest
To lead guests to the kitchen - lead guests to the kitchen

LEAVE- leave, leave, leave, leave. To leave some space - without an excuse:

To leave home - leave home
To leave the country - leave the country

If you are leaving, leaving somewhere, then the preposition FOR is used (as in the case of the verb depart):

To leave for work - leave for work
To leave for London - leave for London

MOVE- move, move. If you move somewhere, the preposition is TO, and if from somewhere, then FROM:

To move from a small village - move from a small village
To move to the city center - move to the city center
To move house - move (literally: move house)

REACH- to reach, to reach. The verb reach is used without a preposition. Name the place immediately:

To reach the top of the mountain - reach the top of the mountain
To reach the destination - reach the destination

RETURN- come back. This is the same as come back, and when you name a place, you should use the preposition TO:

To return to the office - return to the office
To return to Madrid - return to Madrid

Exception: to return home - without an excuse: to return home.

And if you want to say “return from somewhere,” then the preposition FROM:

To return from a holiday - return from vacation

TURN- turn. The verb turn combines the words left and right, and they can be used without a preposition. But if we take the preposition TO, then it will appear:

To turn left / To turn to the left - turn left
To turn right / To turn to the right - turn right

And if you are turning a corner, you will need the preposition ROUND :

To turn round the corner - turn around the corner

These are the most commonly used verbs of motion. I decided not to include the verb go in this material - it is worthy of a separate article. By the way, the site also has synonyms for go. I recommend checking it out!

And finally, four rules that will help you master the topic of prepositions:

1.Do not translate from Russian - check the usage in the dictionary. While you are agonizing over which preposition will suit your translation best, it may turn out that the verb is used without any preposition at all.

2. If you have already spent time and looked into the dictionary, memorize the phrase - an example of how a verb is used. Not just approach, but approach something (approach the house).

3.Draw, say it out loud, make up your own examples. If you draw a diagram where the word arrive has three arrows (in, at, from), and write down three sentences from your experience, you will remember the material much better than after simply reading the rule.

4. Practice and work on your mistakes. If it’s difficult for you to do this on your own, and it’s not interesting to talk to a mirror, then individual conversation classes via Skype in ENGINFORM are what you need. 90% of the lesson is your speaking. We don’t just speak English, we analyze, discuss and work through mistakes. It’s easy to start - choose a convenient lesson time and improve your English.

If you have your own effective way of memorizing English prepositions, share your recipe in the comments.

Good luck to you and see you on the blog pages and in classes at ENGINFORM!

In addition to large groups of certain phrasal verbs, our beloved English language has a wide range of other specific combinations of verbs with prepositions that have become firmly established in speech. As you probably already assumed, there are absolutely no rules for their construction, and, of course, you just have to learn them by heart. Bravo, you are absolutely right, it’s immediately clear that this is not the first day of English! So, for today our granite of science is verbs with prepositions in English, the table of which ( and not alone!) will be given below. Well, let's gather our will and start studying?

Since this topic is very voluminous and difficult to understand, we tried to group such English words according to a common feature, which in this case is a preposition. Agree, learning large volumes of new words in parts is much more convenient than trying to cover all the material at once. In addition, phrases with the construction to be are included in a separate list, requiring some kind of preposition after them. Let's take a closer look at how such combinations are used and what role prepositions play in the English construction of set expressions.

Preposition group for

The following verbs with prepositions for in English belong to this group.

So, we have already studied one of the most numerous groups of stable combinations of prepositions and verbs in English. These are frequently used expressions, so knowing their meanings will help you not get confused when a similar compound combination appears in the text or in the speech of your interlocutor.

Preposition group on

This is a very small section containing only a dozen phrases. Despite their small number, designs with on are used quite active.

Preposition group about

Let's continue to study fixed expressions with prepositions in English. Let's see how used in phrases the preposition about.

Preposition group of

The last numerous representative of phrasal constructions of the form “ verb+preposition ».

United Group

Some prepositions combine with only a few verbs, so we have combined them into one general group. So, verbs with prepositions in English - summary table.

Use without pretext

There are also several opposite cases. The following verbs will almost always be used without prepositions.

1. to enter - to enter, cross the threshold, penetrate. I entered her room.
2. tofollow – Follow, accompany, monitor. Don't follow me.
3. tojoin – To join, join, enter service. Join our club!
4. to discuss ( something) – Discuss something. We discuss the article.

Such non-prepositional constructions are often found in English speech.

Verbs with prepositions in English table with to be

We have already learned how the English love to use English verbs with and without different prepositions in set expressions. But don't forget about the design. tobe, phrases from which occupy a huge layer of the English language. Of course, it is almost impossible to learn all verbs with such a combination, so we will limit ourselves to only the most commonly used phrases.

Verb + to

talk / speak TO somebody ( with also possible, but used less often)

• Who was that man you were talking to?
  WITH who are you talked? (verbatim: who was that person/man, With which you talked?)

listen TO ...

• We spent the evening listening to music. ( not listening music)
  We spent the evening listening music.

write(a letter) TO ...

• I wrote to the hotel complaining about the poor service we had received.
  I wrote to hotel to complain about the poor service we received.

apologise TO somebody (for ...)

• They apologized to me for what happened. ( not They apologized me)
  They apologized to me for what happened.

explain something TO somebody

• Can you explain this word to me? (not explain me this word)
  Can explain to me this word?

explain / describe (to somebody) what/how/why ...

• I explained to them why I was worried. ( not I explained them)
  I explained to them, why I was worried.
• Let me describe to you what I saw. ( not Let me describe you)
  Let me I'll describe it to you what I saw.

We don't use to with these verbs:

phone / telephone / call somebody

• Did you phone your father yesterday? ( not phone to your father)
  You called yesterday to his father?

answer somebody/something

• He refused to answer my question. (not answer to my question)
  He refused reply on my question.

ask somebody

• Can I ask you a question? ( not ask to you)
  May I ask you question?

thank you somebody (for something)

• He thanked me for helping him. ( not He thanked to me)
  He thanked me because I helped him.

Verb + at

look / stare / glance AT ... , have a look / take a look AT ...

• Why are you looking at do I like that?
  Why do you on I'm so look?

laugh AT ...

• I look stupid with this haircut. Everybody will laugh at me.
  I look stupid with this hairstyle. All we must laugh me.

aim/point(something) AT ... , shoot / fire(a gun) AT ...

• Don't point that knife at me. It's dangerous.
  Not guide this knife on me. Is it dangerous.
• We saw someone with a gun shooting at birds, but he didn’t hit any.
  We saw someone with a gun shooting at birds/ V birds, but he didn’t hit any.

Some verbs may be followed by at or to, the meaning changes. For example:

shout AT somebody (when you're angry)

• He got very angry and started shouting at me.
  He got very angry and started scream at me.

shout TO somebody (so that you can be heard)

• He shouted to me from the other side of the street.
  He shouted to me on the other side of the street.

throw something AT somebody/something (to hit them)

• Somebody threw an egg at the minister.
  Somebody quit egg V minister.

throw something TO somebody (in order for someone to catch)

• Lisa shouted ‘Catch!’ and threw the keys to me from the window.
  Lisa shouted ‘Catch!’ and gave up give me the keys from the window.

Exercises

1. You ask someone to explain to you something you don't understand. Write questions starting with Can you explain...?

1. (I don’t understand this word.)
   
2. (I don’t understand what you mean.)
   
3. (I don't understand this question.)
   
4. (I don’t understand the problem.)
   
5. (I don’t understand how this machine works.)
   
6. (I don’t understand what I have to do.)
   

2. Select to where necessary, or leave it blank if the sentence is already complete.

The verb get is one of the most commonly used words in the English language. When we turn it into a phrasal verb, that is, we add small words - prepositions, then its use becomes even wider.

Therefore it is necessary to know it.

In this article I have collected 17 of the most used expressions with the verb get.

17 meanings of the phrasal verb get in English

Let's look at what combinations the verb get forms.

1. Phrasal verb get away

Translation: 1. To escape, to avoid, to run away, to escape 2. To go on vacation

Meaning:

1. To leave or run away from somewhere or someone. Especially when it is difficult to do so.

2. Travel or go on vacation somewhere

We tried to getaway from the crowds.
We tried to avoid the crowd.

I just need to get away for a few days.
I just need to get out and relax for a few days.

2. Phrasal verb get along

Translation: To get along, to be on good terms

Meaning: Like each other and be friends with each other

She gets along with children.
She gets along with children.

I get along with my boss.
I'm on good terms with my boss.

3. Phrasal verb get across

Translation: Convey to the listener, clearly state

Meaning: Successfully convey information to others

He got his idea across.
He got his idea across.

She could get her point across to the audience.
She was able to convey her point of view to the audience.

4. Phrasal verb get ahead

Translation: Succeed, move forward

Meaning: Be successful in the work you do

They want to get ahead in life.
They want to succeed in life.

He wants to get ahead in his work.
He wants to succeed at work.

5. Phrasal verb get back

Translation: Come back

Meaning: Return to somewhere after you've been somewhere else

We must get back.
We must go back.

I want to get back home.
I want to go home.

6. Phrasal verb get back to

Translation: Call someone back, contact them later

Meaning: Call someone to give information they asked for or because you couldn't talk the last time they called

I will get back to you.
I'll call you back.

She will get back to you later.
She will contact you later.

7. Phrasal verb get behind

Translation: To fall behind, to be late

Meaning: Not doing as much work or not paying as much money as you owed by a certain date

He got behind his study.
He fell behind in his studies.

I don't want to get behind with my work.
I don't want to overstay my job.

8. Phrasal verb get by

Translation: Survive, get by

Meaning: Be able to live or cope with a difficult situation using what you have

I can get by without your help.
I can do without your help.

I don't know how he gets by on so little money.
I don't know how he gets by with such little money.

9. Phrasal verb get down

Translation: Grieve

Meaning: Making someone feel unhappy

He is really getting me down.
He really upset me.

Don't let it get you down.
You shouldn't get upset about this.

10. Phrasal verb get in

Translation: to arrive, to arrive

Meaning: Reach a certain place

What time did you get in?
When will you come?

Our train is getting in later.
Our train arrives later.

11. Phrasal verb get on

Translation: Get along, get along (with people)

Meaning: Be on good terms with someone

I get on with my sister.
My sister and I get along well.

She gets on with her mother-in-law.
They get along with their mother-in-law.

12. Phrasal verb get off

Translation: 1. Get out of the vehicle 2. Finish work

Meaning:

1. Leave the bus, train, plane or boat

2. Leave the place where you work

Let's get off the bus.
Let's get off the bus.

When do you usually get off work?
What time do you usually leave work?

13. Phrasal verb get out

Translation: Get out (rough form)

Meaning: Leave some place

Get out of my room.
Get out of my room.

Get out of our house.
Get out of our house.

14. Phrasal verb get over

Translation: recover, survive

Meaning: Feel better after being sick or sad

We got over many difficulties.
We have experienced many difficulties.

She will get over the shock soon.
She will soon recover from the shock.

15. Phrasal verb get round to

Translation: Get to something, find time for something

Meaning: Take your time to finally do something

I will get round to call you.
I'll find time to call you.

She got round to sport.
She found time for sports.

16. Phrasal verb get together

Translation: Come together

Meaning: Informal meeting or party

Let's get together.
Let's get together.

We get together once a year.
We get together once a year.

17. Phrasal verb get up

Translation: Get up

Meaning: Get to your feet, take a standing position

You have to get up early.
You must get up early.

I usually getup at 8.
I usually get up at eight.

So, we have looked at the use of the phrasal verb get. Now let's practice using it.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments below the article.

1. He gets along with his parents.
2. He wants to return to Russia.
3. She brought her idea to her boss.
4. The train arrives at 8 pm.
5. We get together every weekend.