119 In, on and at (place)

Emma is in the phone box. Nick's dog is on the rug. There's someone at the door.

IN ON AT

in the phone box sit on the floor sit at my desk

in the kitchen walk on the pavement wait at the bus stop
work in the garden a number on the door at the crossroads
swim in the pool egg on your shirt wait at the traffic lights
In a town/country On a floor (1st, 2nd, etc) At a place on a journey
Kate lives in York. on the first floor Does this train stop at York?
Atlanta is in Georgia.
In a street (GB) On a street (US) At a house/an address
in Shirley Road on Fifth Avenue at Mike's (house)
On a road or river at 65 Shirley Road
a village on this road At an event
Paris is on the Seine. at the party

B In and at with buildings

IN AT

There are 400 seats in the cinema. I was at the cinema. (= watching a film)
It was raining, so we waited in the pub. We were at the pub. (= having a drink)
We use in when we mean inside a building. But we normally use at when we are talking about
what happens there.

C Some common phrases

IN ON AT

in prison/hospital on the platform at the station/airport

in the lesson on the farm at home/work/school
in a book/newspaper on the page/map
in the photo/picture on the screen
in the country on the island/beach/coast at the seaside
in the middle drive on the right/left at the top/bottom of a hill
in the back/front of a car on the back of an envelope at the back of the room
in a queue/line/row at the end of a corridor

87 In bed, at home, etc 123C In the car, on the train, etc

 119 Exercises
1 Meanings (A)
Look at the pictures and write the sentences. Use in, on or at and these words:
the bath, the disco, the lights, the roof, the table

He's on the table.

1 . 3 ............................................................................
2 .......................................................................... 4 ..........................................................................

2 In and at with buildings (B)

Complete each sentence. Use in or at and these words:
the petrol station, the restaurant, the stadium, the station, the theatre, the zoo
There's a huge crowd in the stadium waiting for the Games to start.
1 Sarah's just rung. She's ..................................................... getting some petrol.
2 The children like wild animals. They'd love to spend an afternoon ....... ..
3 It was so hot ........................................................ that I didn't really enjoy the play.
4 We're quite a large group. There may not be enough room ........................ .for all of
us to sit together.
5 I saw Daniel while I was.......................................................... waiting for a train.

3 In, on and at (A, C)

Put in the preposition in, on or at.
We spent the whole holiday on the beach.
1 I read about the pop festival .a magazine.
2 My parents' flat is ................. the twenty-first floor.
3 Melanie was holding a small bird .............. her hands.
4 I'll meet you.................. the airport.
5 Natasha now lives .............32 The Avenue.
6 I was standing..................the counter in the baker's shop, waiting to be served.
7 London is ..............the Thames.
8 There weren't many books ..................the shelves.
9 The passengers had to stand ................. a queue.
10 The woman sitting next to me left the train ..............Chesterfield.
 120 In, on and at (time)

A Saying when
Look at these examples.
IN ON AT

We bought the flat in 1994. The race is on Saturday. The film starts at seven thirty.
In + year/month/season On + day/date At + clock time/meal time
in 1988 on Wednesday at three o'clock
in September on 15 April at lunch (-time)
in winter on that day at that time
in the 21st century at the moment
In + a week or more On + a single day At + two or three days
in the Easter holiday on Easter Monday at Easter/Christmas
in the summer term on Christmas Day at the weekend
(US: on the weekend)
In + part of day On + day + part of day
in the morning on Friday morning
in the evening on Tuesday evening
Look at these examples with night.
/ woke up in the night. I cant sleep at night.
(= in the middle of the night) It happened on Monday night. (= when it is night)

But we do not use in, on or at before every, last, next, this, tomorrow and yesterday.
We go to Greece every summer. My brother came home last Christmas. I'll see you
next Friday. I leave school this year. The party is tomorrow evening. The group
set off yesterday morning.

B In time or on time?
IN TIME ON TIME

In time means 'early enough'. On time means 'at the right time', 'on schedule'.
We'll have to hurry if we want to be in time for The plane took off on time.
the show. I hope the meeting starts on time.
We got to the airport in time to have a coffee Rachel is never on time. She's always late.
before checking in. I was about to close the
door when just in time I
remembered my key. (= at the last moment)

C Other uses of in
We can use in for the time it takes to complete something.
/ did the crossword in five minutes. Could you walk thirty miles in a day'?
We can also use in for a future time measured from the present.
Your photos will be ready in an hour. (= an hour from now)
The building will open in six weeks/in six weeks' time.

88 On Friday, etc without the

 120 Exercises

1 Saying when (A)

Read the information about John F. Kennedy and then answer the questions.
Begin each answer with in, on or at.
John F. Kennedy was born into a famous American family. His date of birth was 29 May 1917. The year
1961 saw him become the 35th President of the US. Kennedy was killed as he drove in an open car through
the streets of Dallas, Texas. Friday, 22 November 1963 was a sad day for America. It was 12.30 when a
gunman opened fire and shot the President dead.
When was John F. Kennedy born? On 29 May 1917.
1 When did he become President? ..................
2 When was he killed? .
3 What time was he shot? ..

2 Saying when (A)

Mark is arranging a business meeting. Decide if you need in, on or at.
If you do not need a preposition, put a cross (X).
Mark: I'm sorry I was out when you called ( )/ yesterday afternoon, Alice. Look, I'm free ( )o the
fifteenth of March. Can we meet then?
Alice: I'm pretty busy (1)next week, I'm afraid. I can't see you (2)Friday.
Mark: I'd like to have a meeting (3) ..............this month if possible.
I'll be very busy (4) ..April.
Alice: I'm going away (5) ............... Easter, so how about the week after?
Shall we meet (6)............... the twenty-seventh? That's a Wednesday.
Mark: I've got an appointment (7). ... the morning but nothing (8).. the afternoon.
Let's meet (9)..................Wednesday afternoon (10) .................. half past two.

3 In time or on time? (B)

Put in the right phrase: in time or on time.
If the plane is late, we won't get to Paris in time for our connecting flight.
1 We were up very early,....................................to see the sun rise.
2 How can the buses possibly run ..............................with all these traffic jams?
3 The post goes at five. I'm hoping to get this letter written ................
4 The coach will be here at 12.13 if it's .................................

4 In, on or at? (A-C)

Complete the conversations using in, on or at.
Andrew: You only bought that book on Saturday. Have you finished it already?
Jessica: I read it in about three hours yesterday evening.
1 Vicky: Will the bank be open ..................half past nine?
Daniel: Yes, it always opens absolutely ............ time.
2 Sarah: We're leaving.half past, and you haven't even changed.
Mark: It's OK. I can easily shower and change. ten minutes.
3 Laura: Your mother's birthday is ................. Monday, isn't it?
Trevor: Yes, I just hope this card gets there .................time.
4 Harriet: If we ever go camping again, it's going to be .. summer, not autumn.
Mike: Never mind. We'll be home .two days, and then we'll be dry again.
 124 Noun + preposition, e.g. trouble with

A Introduction
Read this true story about a prison escape.
Prisoners at a jail in Iowa in the US were trying to think of a way of escaping. At last they found an
answer to their problem. They told the governor about their interest in drama and their need for creative
activities. They put in a request for some tunnel-digging equipment for a play about coalminers. They
knew that the governor felt sympathy for his prisoners and wanted a good relationship with them, but
they weren't surprised when he said no. But later, when the prisoners mentioned the importance of
physical fitness, the governor agreed to let them use a trampoline. Their skill at trampolining was put to
good use when six prisoners bounced over the prison wall and escaped.
Some nouns can have a preposition after them, e.g. way of, answer to, interest in.
The preposition often has a phrase with a noun after it.
the answer to the problem their interest in drama And the
preposition can sometimes have an ing-form after it.
a way of escaping their skill at trampolining

B Noun + preposition
Here are some more examples.
your ability in maths an example of this your opinion of the film
a cheap alternative to leather some experience of selling the price of food
an attack on the government an expert on computers the reason for the delay
my attitude to/towards him no hope of winning respect for the environment
a belief in God an invitation to a party a student of chemistry
the cause of the accident some knowledge of Italian a substitute for meat
the cost of living a lack of money success at golf/in my search
some damage to the car something the matter with you a tax on alcohol
a difficulty over/with visas a new method of storing data having trouble with my teeth

C Connection, difference; increase, reduction, etc

One thing has a link with another. There is a link between two things.
a connection with another crime a connection between the two crimes
Matthew's relationship with Emma the relationship between Matthew and Emma
the contrast with yesterday's weather the contrast/difference between town and
country

Look at these words for increases and decreases. We use in before the thing that is
increasing or decreasing and of before the amount of the increase or decrease.
an increase/rise in the price an increase/rise of 10
a reduction/fall in the number of unemployed a reduction/fall of 3%

D Need, wish, etc

Nouns meaning 'need', 'wish' or 'request' can have for after them.
There's a need for more houses. There was no demand for the product.
Here are some examples: appetite for, application for, demand for, desire for, need for, order for,
preference for, request for, taste for, wish for
 124 Exercises

1 Noun + preposition (A-B)

2 Noun + preposition (A-B)

..............................................
................................................
..............................................
..............................................
.........................................
.................................................
................................................

3 Noun + preposition (B-C)

................................
.................................

..............................

4 Noun + preposition (A-D)

.................................................................................

.............................................................................

...............................................................................................

........................................................................
 125 Adjective + preposition, e.g. proud of

A Introduction
Matthew: Why are you angry with me, Emma?
Emma: I'm tired of talking to myself. You never listen. I get annoyed at the way you behave.
Matthew: Sorry, but I have to go now or I'll be late for the basketball game.
Emma: You aren't interested in us, are you? You never worry about our relationship, do you?
Some adjectives can have a preposition after them, e.g. angry with, tired of, late for.
The preposition often has a phrase with a noun or pronoun after it.
annoyed at the way you behave late for the game angry with me
The preposition can sometimes have an ing-form after it.
tired of talking to myself

B Feelings
Here are some examples of adjective + preposition which are to do with feelings.
afraid of the dark excited about the holiday proud of our work
amazed at/by the changes fed up with waiting satisfied with the result
ashamed of myself fond of my sister shocked at/by the violence
bored with doing nothing happy about/with the surprised at/by the reaction
disappointed with/about the arrangements tired of housework
poor figures keen on sport worried about money
eager for action nervous of flying

Compare these examples.

I'm sorry about the mistake. I feel sorry for poor Melanie.
We were angry at/about the delay. Sarah was angry with Henry.
We were annoyed at/about the delay. Emma was annoyed with Matthew.
I was pleased about winning. The winner was pleased with himself.
Vicky is anxious about her exam. People are anxious for news.

C Good, bad, etc

To talk about a person's ability, we use good at, bad at, etc.
good at tennis brilliant at crosswords bad at games hopeless at cooking To talk
about whether something makes you healthy or ill, we use good for and bad for.
Oranges are good for you. Smoking is bad for you. For behaviour towards another person,
we use good to, kind to, nice to, polite to and rude to.
My friends have been good to me. You were very rude to the waitress.

D Other adjectives
Here are some more expressions with other adjectives.
accustomed to the noise fit for work
full of water safe from attack
capable of looking after myself guilty of murder the same as before
different from our usual route involved in a project similar to my idea
(see page 381) prepared for action typical of David
famous for her film roles ready for the big day used to the traffic
71 Afraid, anxious, ashamed, interested, sorry 72 Used to
 125 Exercises

1 Feelings (A-B)
Say what these people's feelings are. Use the adjectives in brackets and a preposition.
The children are leaving on a trip to the zoo. (excited) They're excited about the
trip to the zoo.
1 Vicky doesn't like the dark, (afraid)
She's
2 Nick was watching a video, but he's going to switch it off. (bored)
He's .
3 Emma is reading about computers, (interested)
She's .............................................................................................................................................................
4 Mark has just heard some news that he didn't expect, (surprised)
He's ..............................................................................................................................................................
5 United have won a victory, (proud)
They're ........................................................................................................................................................
6 Olivia's children are being very silly, (annoyed)
She's .
7 The Zedco staff don't think their pay increase is big enough, (not satisfied)

Complete the conversation. Put in at, for or to.

Sarah: You were very rude ( ) to Henry when you said he needs to lose weight.
Claire: Well, it's true. Exercise would be good (1) . him. He started jogging and then gave it up.
Sarah: Yes, but we can't all be good (2)................ taking physical exercise.
Claire: Anyone can do a bit of jogging. You don't have to be brilliant (3) it.
And eating so much must be bad (4) ............... you.
Sarah: Well, you could have been more polite.
Claire: Sorry. I'm not very good (5)................. saying the right thing.
I'll try to be nice (6) .............him next time I see him.

3 Other adjectives (A, D)

.......

..............................................
.............................................

...................... .............