Master English Prepositions: In, On, At & All Types
Complete collection of 13 interactive exercises with 260 practice questions covering time, place, and dependent prepositions from A2 to B2
Welcome to the most comprehensive prepositions exercises collection online. Prepositions are ranked as the #2 most difficult grammar topic for English learners (after articles). Whether you're struggling with in on at exercises or wondering about dependent prepositions, our systematic approach will help you master this challenging topic. Each exercise provides instant feedback with clear explanations.
Our English prepositions practice exercises cover everything: time prepositions (in/on/at, for/since/by), place prepositions (in the room, on the bus, at the door), movement prepositions (to/into/through), and verb preposition combinations (depend on, good at, solution to). All exercises are completely free with no login required. Perfect for ESL/EFL learners from elementary (A2) to upper-intermediate (B2) levels!
13
Exercises
260
Questions
4h
Total Time
0/13
Completed
📚 The 13 Prepositions Exercises
In, On, At for Time
easyLearn basic time prepositions: in January, on Monday, at 3pm
For, Since, By, Until (Duration)
easyMaster duration vs deadline: for 3 hours, since 2020, by Friday
In, On, At for Place
easyMaster place prepositions: in the room, on the table, at the door
Movement & Place Idioms
mediumLearn to/into/through and at home vs in the house
Verb + Preposition Part 1
mediumCommon combinations: depend on, listen to, wait for
Verb + Preposition Part 2
mediumAdvanced combinations: consist of, suffer from, approve of
Adjective + Preposition
mediumLearn good at, interested in, afraid of
Noun + Preposition
mediumMaster reason for, solution to, difference between
By, With, Without
mediumLearn agent, instrument, and method: by Shakespeare, with a knife
About, Of, From
mediumMaster topic, material, origin: about history, of wood, from Canada
Mixed Prepositions Practice
mediumCombine all preposition types in realistic contexts
Common Preposition Exceptions
mediumMaster tricky exceptions: at night, go home, on fire
Prepositions Final Test
hardComprehensive assessment with progressive difficulty A2-B2
🎯 Why Are Prepositions So Challenging?
Prepositions are consistently ranked as one of the most difficult aspects of English grammar. Here's why:
1. No Logical Rules
Why "in the morning" but "at night"? Why "depend on" not "depend of"? Most prepositions are idiomatic - they don't follow logical patterns and must be memorized.
2. Different in Every Language
Your native language uses prepositions completely differently. Direct translation doesn't work. What's "in" in one language might be "on" or "at" in English.
3. Context-Dependent
"In" can mean time (in March), place (in London), or state (in love). The same small word has dozens of uses - you need context to choose correctly.
4. Dependent Combinations
Hundreds of verb+preposition, adjective+preposition, and noun+preposition combinations exist. Each must be learned individually: "good AT" (not good in), "solution TO" (not solution of).
📋 Preposition Rules Quick Reference
| Preposition | Time Usage | Place Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| in | months, years, seasons | enclosed spaces, cities | "in March", "in Paris" |
| on | days, dates | surfaces, public transport | "on Monday", "on the bus" |
| at | specific times | specific points, activities | "at 3pm", "at school" |
| for | duration | purpose | "for 3 hours", "for you" |
| since | starting point | - | "since 2020" |
| by | deadline | method | "by Friday", "by car" |
Remember: These are basic patterns. Many exceptions exist (like "at night" instead of "in the night"). Our exercises help you learn both the rules AND the exceptions through practice.
🎯 Recommended Learning Path
- 1. In/On/At for Time - Start with basic time prepositions (12 min)
- 2. For/Since/By/Until - Learn duration vs deadline (15 min)
- 3. In/On/At for Place - Master basic place prepositions (12 min)
- 4. Movement & Place Idioms - Learn to/into/through patterns (18 min)
- 5. Verb + Preposition Part 1 - Common combinations (15 min)
- 6. Verb + Preposition Part 2 - Advanced combinations (18 min)
- 7. Adjective + Preposition - Learn good at, interested in (15 min)
- 8. Noun + Preposition - Master reason for, solution to (18 min)
- 9. By/With/Without - Agent, instrument, method (15 min)
- 10. About/Of/From - Topic, material, origin (18 min)
- 11. Mixed Practice - Combine all types (20 min)
- 12. Common Exceptions - Tricky cases (18 min)
- 13. Final Test - Assess your mastery (25 min)
⚠️ Common Preposition Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
1. Using "in the night" instead of "at night"
❌ "I work in the night."
✅ "I work at night."
Exception to the time rule - always use "at night".
2. Adding preposition to "go home"
❌ "I go to home every day."
✅ "I go home every day."
"Home" is special - no preposition needed. But: "go to the house".
3. Using wrong dependent preposition
❌ "I'm good in math. It depends of you."
✅ "I'm good at math. It depends on you."
No logic - must memorize these combinations.
4. Confusing "for" and "since"
❌ "I live here since 3 years."
✅ "I've lived here for 3 years." (duration)
✅ "I've lived here since 2021." (starting point)
"For" = how long, "Since" = from when.
5. Wrong preposition with transportation
❌ "I go in the bus. I sit in a bike."
✅ "I go on the bus. I sit on a bike."
Private vehicles (car, taxi) = "in". Public transport/bikes = "on".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about English Prepositions
💡 Tips for Mastering English Prepositions
Learning Strategy
- • Start with time prepositions - most commonly used
- • Practice 15-20 minutes daily for consistency
- • Learn one type at a time - don't mix everything
- • Notice prepositions when reading English texts
- • Create flashcards for dependent prepositions
Memory Tricks
- • IN = enclosed (in a box, in March, in 2024)
- • ON = surface/contact (on the table, on Monday)
- • AT = specific point (at 3pm, at the door)
- • FOR = duration (how long?)
- • SINCE = starting point (from when?)
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