English Grammar Exercises for B1 B2 – Prepositions of place, movement and time

A. Complete the mind maps for at, in and on using the words in the box.

B. Match the sentence beginnings to the correct endings.

a   home.

b   up the hill.

c   down the stairs.

d   over the mountains.

e   after him.

f   along the road to school.

g   around his waist.

h   through the window by accident.

C. Underline the correct prepositions in this police officer’s report.

‘It’s usually quiet (1) at / on the motorway (2) at / in four (3) during / in the morning. But not today. A gang had stolen money from a truck parked (4) at the side of / at the back of the motorway. Now they were going north. We waited (5) in / at junction 14 (6) during / for ten minutes. When we saw the car, we immediately followed it. The gang knew we were (7) between / behind them.

‘More police cars joined the chase and the gang began to get frightened. They threw the bag of money (8) off / out of the window. They were now driving very fast and moving from one side of the motorway (9) to / until the other. One of the police cars managed to get (10) in front of / opposite the gang, and soon there were police cars all (11) around / outside them

‘As the car slowed down, one member of the gang escaped and ran away. He was running (12) in / into a small wood (13) from / on our left. We ran after him with the police dog and soon caught him. We asked him to lie (14) on / at the ground. It was a successful chase. Nobody was hurt and nobody got away. Some other officers found the bag of money (15) by / at the motorway. There was about £20,000 (16) in / into the bag.’

D. Circle the correct option(s). Sometimes more than one option is possible.

1   She walked …………… me without saying a word.

      a at     b past     c by

2   The holidays start …………… a week’s time.

      a in     b on     c at

3   If you look very carefully, you can see the deer …………… the trees.

      a across     b between     c among

4   I met him …………… the holidays.

      a during     b for     c within

5   The gardens are open from April …………… October.

      a in     b to     c until

6   The bus stop is …………… the entrance to the zoo.

      a between     b opposite     c below

7   She threw her coat …………… the floor.

      a above     b in     c on

8   I heard a noise coming from the corner of the room. Slowly I walked …………… it.

      a for     b at     c towards

9   The dog swam …………… the river to the other side.

      a across     b along     c around

10   You must give me your homework …………… Monday morning.

        a at     b on     c by

E. Complete the sentences.

1    I just need to speak to John. I’ll be back in ……five minutes…… .

2    Doctors hope to have a cure for this type of cancer within ……………………………… .

3    I’ve been waiting to see the doctor for ……………………………… .

4    Her father lived in Greece until ……………………………… .

5    Please give me the homework by ……………………………… .

6    In History we are finding out about life during ……………………………… .

7    I went to primary school between ……………………………… .

8    I usually have a meal with all my family at ……………………………… .

F. Answer the questions using prepositions from this unit.

1    Where do oranges grow?   ……in Spain / on a tree……

2    Where can you see a goat?   ……………………………………

3    Where do we usually put adjectives in English?   ……………………………………

4    When do you blow out candles on a cake?   ……………………………………

5    Where does the sun rise?   ……………………………………

6    Where can you find buttons?   ……………………………………

7    Where can you watch an actor?   ……………………………………

8    When do you have your Maths class?   ……………………………………

9    Where can you see clouds?   ……………………………………

10   Where can you look up a word?   ……………………………………

G. Imagine that something unusual happened on your journey to school this morning. Write at least eight sentences and include as many prepositions as you can. Use the beginning given below.

In the morning, I always walk the same way to school and I always see the same people. But not today. Today was different …

……………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………..

H. Circle the correct option.

1   The street is very noisy …………… night.

      a at     b at the     c in the

2    Let’s ……………!

      a run to home

      b run at home

      c run home

3    He arrived …………… the party …………… a taxi.

      a at, in     b in, by     c at, onto

4   Were you at Gary’s party …………… last night?

      a on     b in     c – (no preposition)

5    I’ve only known him …………… a short time.

      a for     b during     c at