Question 1
A: When is his birthday?
B: It's _____ January 19th.
We use on with dates: on January 19th. Not in, which is for months only: in January.
Question 2
Look at the helicopter _____ the air! It is pink!
We say in the air for things that fly. Up alone is wrong here, but up in the air is also fine.
Question 3
Sally met John _____ the new cinema in Brooklyn, not _____ Ivy Street.
We use at for a place like a building where people meet: at the cinema. We use on with street names: on Ivy Street.
Question 4
Marcy usually worked _____ the weekend _____ the past.
In British English we say at the weekend. We say in the past for an earlier time.
Question 5
I was _____ Paris for a business trip _____ Christmas.
We use in with cities: in Paris. We use at with holiday periods: at Christmas.
Question 6
Ryan often goes to bed _____ midnight _____ Sundays.
We use at with clock times: at midnight. We use on with days: on Sundays.
Question 7
Nelson always sits _____ Margaret in the classroom, and their desk is _____ Clara and Mandy's.
Next to means very close, at the side: Nelson sits next to Margaret. Behind means at the back of: their desk is behind Clara and Mandy's desk.
Question 8
The man is sitting at his desk _____ the middle of the room and a light bulb is hanging _____ his head.
We say in the middle of a room. Over means higher than something: the light bulb hangs over his head.
Question 9
Stacy travelled _____ one continent to another _____ bicycle last year.
We say from one place to another. We use by for ways of travelling: by bicycle, by bus.
Question 10
I am travelling to India _____ two weeks and I am going to stay there _____ the winter, too.
In two weeks means two weeks from now. We use in with seasons: in the winter.
Question 11
A: Where is the vacuum cleaner? I can't find it.
B: It is _____ the door, but you need to take it _____ its box.
Behind the door means at the back of the door. We take something out of a box when we remove it.
Question 12
The cock jumped _____ the fence _____ the farm and began crowing.
Onto shows movement to the top of something: the cock jumped onto the fence. The fence goes around the farm, on every side of it.
Question 13
Eric visited his aunt at the hospital _____ the morning and called one of his neighbours _____ noon.
We say in the morning. We use at with times of the day: at noon. Not on, which is for days and dates.
Question 14
A: Some Indians have a red mark _____ their two eyebrows.
B: Yes, it is called a "bindi".
Between means in the space in the middle of two things: the mark is between the two eyebrows.
Question 15
In the Arabic love story, Layla and Majnun, Majnun walks _____ the desert to find Layla.
Across means from one side to the other side: Majnun walks across the desert to find Layla.
Question 16
Her great-grandfather wrote a special dictionary _____ the 20th century and you can find it in some libraries _____ present.
We use in with centuries: in the 20th century. At present means now.
Question 17
A: The black van _____ the bank transports money.
B: And there is a man _____ it. He is wearing a uniform. It must be the driver.
In front of means facing something, before it: the van is in front of the bank. Beside means next to: the man is beside the van.
Question 18
He first walked _____ the street when the traffic light turned green and then started to walk _____ the pavement.
Across means from one side to the other: he walked across the street. Along means following the length of something: he walked along the pavement.
Question 19
A: When did your cousins visit you?
B: _____ Christmas Day _____ dawn.
We use on with special days: on Christmas Day. We use at with times of the day: at dawn.
Question 20
A: Can you see the turtle _____ the flowers?
B: Yes, it is coming _____ its shell. It is not afraid of us!
Among means in the middle of many things: the turtle is among the flowers. It is coming out of its shell, so it is leaving the inside.
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