Page 37 - English Vocabulary in Use Pre Intermediate

15 Preposition + noun

Common patterns

There are many expressions formed by a preposition + noun, and sometimes a preposition
is used with a particular meaning in a number of expressions, so they are very common.
A book by Stephen King, a film by Steven Spielberg, a song by Elton John.
You can go for a walk, for a drive, for a run, for a swim.
You can go in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening (butf E.
You can travel by car, by plane, by bus, by coach, by train, by taxi (but /
I heard it on the radio; I saw it on TV; I spoke to her on the phone (but I read it in the
newspaper, in a magazine).
The man in the dark suit (= wearing the dark suit); the woman in the red dress.

Fixed expressions
Sometimes it is difficult to know why a particular preposition is used, and you must learn
these as fixed expressions.

I took his pen by mistake. (= I thought it was my pen)
I did all the work by myself. (= on my own; without help from others)
The shoes are made by hand. ( = not by machine)
The workers are on strike. (= they refuse to work because of a problem over pay, hours,
etc.)
I met them by chance. (= it wasn’t planned — it was luck)
The children are on holiday. (= they are having a holiday)
He broke the plate by accident.
(= he did not want to do it — it was an error/mistake)

He broke the plate on purpose.
(= he wanted to do it and intended to do it)

There are two million out of work. (= without a job)
There were at least fifty people at the party. (= a minimum of 50)

In time or on time?
Sometimes two prepositions can be used with the same noun, but the meaning is different.
Lessons begin at 8.30 and I always arrive on time. (= at 8.30)
Lessons begin at 8.30 and I always get there in time. (= before 8.30; I’m not late)
In the end we went home. (= finally, after a long period)
At the end of the book they get married.
The two men are in business. (= they are businessmen)
The two men are in Germany on business. (= they are there for work and not for a holiday)
I'll see you in a moment. (= very soon)
I can’t speak to you at the moment. (= right now)

34 English Vocabulary in Use (pre-intermediate & intermediate)