Improve your knowledge of some of the most important and common combinations of prepositions used in English. These phrases are in standard usage and can not be altered. They are used to connect, explain and show the relationship between ideas and things. Each short phrase is used once.

according to / because of / in common with / instead of / apart from / by means of / in favour of / on behalf of / as for / in case of

I'd rather have tea …………………….. vodka. …………………………………….. bad weather, the trip will be postponed to next

week. …………………………………….my fellow employees, I would like to thank

management for all they have done to improve our situation. We finally solved our problema ……………………… a new device created by our

research and development department.  ……………………………… me, I will be happy to dedicate a few extra hours to the

cause. You will have to remember that, ……………………………. Hania, no one wants to

work on this problem. How can they be going out?! Joanna has nothing …………………… Peter. ……………………. Magda, they won't finish the project until the end of next week. I'm all ……………………………….. helping out the poor when in need. We will have to postpone our trip …………………………… the bad weather.

at the latest / at short notice / under control / for ages / at a profit – loss / by far / for better or worse / under her thumb / by heart / for a change / at most / by the time / at last / for instance

There are many things you can do to get in shape. …………………….., you can go to the local swimming pool.

………………………….he finishes the projections, we'll have done the necessary research to complete the project.

She's very pleased that they were able to sell their flat ……………….. The situation is horrible here. Things are going …………………………... He's been living in Poland …………………………….. You can trust Joanna to have everything ………………………………... Those customers are ……………………… the most demanding we've ever had. Unfortunately, I might have to leave for Boston ……………………………. ………………………….., you're just going to have to try and get along with your new boss. It'll cost Ł500 …………………………... I think we'll go to the mountains this year ……………………………... They learned all their lines for the play …………………………………… They should arrive by six o'clock ……………………………………………... You've arrived …………………………………….!

In this exercise, underline the prepositional phrase.

1. Both of the trolls lived under the bridge.

2. Some of the elves refused to help Santa make the toys.

3. One of the dragon's eggs cracked!

3. Two of the baby dragon's claws stuck through the shell.

4. Many of the ogres had blood dribbling down their chins.

5. Most of the knights who had come to slay the ogres had been devoured.

6. Either of the fairies could have been the one of evil repute.

7. None of the children had been switched at birth.

8. Most of the mothers hoped so, at least.

9. However, one of the babies had little wings.