Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 111 · A2

on, at, by, with, about

Fixed uses: on holiday, on TV, on the radio, on the phone, on fire, on time; at an age, a speed or a temperature; by car, by train, but on foot; a book by an author; with and without; a man with a beard; talk, know or a programme about something.

Start the lesson

19Steps · about 34 minutes

In this lesson

onA1 screen of questions
atB1 screen of questions
byC1 screen of questions
with, withoutD1 screen of questions
aboutE1 screen of questions
Put it together+7 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 5

on

on holiday, on TV, on the radio, on the phone, on fire, on time (= punctual).

  • Omar isn't at work this week. He's on holiday.
  • We watched the match on television.
  • I heard the news on the radio.
  • I spoke to my brother on the phone last night.
  • The barn is on fire! Ring the fire brigade.
  • "Was the bus late?" "No, it was on time."

Point A · Exercise 111.1

Complete the sentences. Use on + one of these: holiday, the phone, the radio, television, time.

Use these

holidaythe phonethe radiotelevisiontime

  1. Example

    I heard the news on the radio.

    AnswerI heard the news on the radio.

  2. Please don't be late tomorrow. Try to be here .

  3. I won't be at work next week. I'm going .

  4. "Did you see Jo at the weekend?" "No, but I spoke to her ."

  5. "What's tonight?" "There's a good documentary at eight."

Point B of 5

at

at (the age of) 30, at 60 miles an hour, at 100 degrees.

  • My mum learnt to drive at 40. (or ... at the age of 40.)
  • The van was doing 70 miles an hour when the police stopped it.
  • Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.

Point B · Extra practice

Put in at.

  1. My dad retired 60.

  2. The train was going 100 miles an hour.

  3. Water boils 100 degrees.

Point C of 5

by

Transport takes by: by car / by coach / by train / by plane (or by air) / by bike. Walking is the exception: on foot.

a novel by ... / a painting by ... / a song by ... names whoever created it.

by also follows a passive verb.

  • Do you enjoy travelling by coach?
  • Ruth usually gets to college by bike.
  • She gets to college on foot. (= she walks)
  • Have you read any novels by Jane Austen?
  • Who's this painting by? Van Gogh?
  • I was stung by a wasp.

Point C · Extra practice

Put in by or on.

  1. I usually go to work bus.

  2. We went into town foot.

  3. Have you read anything Charles Dickens?

Point D of 5

with, without

with / without = together with, or not together with. Also for the tool you use.

a man with a beard, a woman with glasses = the man who has a beard, the woman who wears glasses.

  • Did you stay in a hotel or with friends?
  • Hang on. Please don't leave without me.
  • Do you take your tea with or without sugar?
  • I opened the tin with a knife.
  • Do you know that man with the moustache?
  • I'd love a flat with a balcony.

Point D · Extra practice

Put in with or without.

  1. Do you take your coffee milk?

  2. Don't go me. I'm nearly ready.

  3. Who's the woman the red hat?

Point E of 5

about

talk / speak / think / hear / know about ...

a book / a question / a programme (etc.) about ...

  • Some people talk about money all the time.
  • I don't know much about gardening.
  • Did you see the documentary about whales last night?

Point E · Extra practice

Put in about.

  1. What are you talking ?

  2. I watched a programme sharks last night.

  3. I don't know much cars.

Put it together · Exercise 111.2 · part 1 of 3

Read each scene and complete the sentence with a preposition (at, by etc.).

  1. Example

    A woman slitting open a parcel. She holds a kitchen knife.

    She opened the parcel with a knife.

    AnswerShe opened the parcel with a knife.

  2. A woman getting into her car outside her house at 8 am, work bag in hand.

    She usually goes to work car.

  3. A group of people. One woman has very short hair.

    Who's the woman short hair?

  4. Two neighbours chatting over the fence, pointing up at the rain clouds.

    They're talking the weather.

  5. Flames and smoke pouring out of a car's bonnet.

    The car is fire.

Put it together · Exercise 111.2 · part 2 of 3

Read each scene and complete the sentence with a preposition (at, by etc.).

  1. A girl with headphones. The screen shows: Beethoven, Symphony No. 5.

    She's listening to some music Beethoven.

  2. A high-speed train. The display reads 120 miles an hour.

    The train is travelling 120 miles an hour.

  3. A family lying on sunbeds by a hotel pool.

    They're holiday.

  4. A man in dark glasses standing near the door.

    Do you know the man sunglasses?

Put it together · Exercise 111.2 · part 3 of 3

Read each scene and complete the sentence with a preposition (at, by etc.).

  1. A boy reading a book. The cover says: Easy Spelling, Ann Wright.

    He's reading a book spelling Ann Wright.

Put it together · Exercise 111.3 · part 1 of 4

Complete the sentences with a preposition (at, by, with etc.).

  1. In badminton, you hit the shuttlecock a racket.

  2. It's freezing today. Don't go out a scarf.

  3. Pride and Prejudice and Emma are novels Jane Austen.

  4. Do you know anything plumbing?

Put it together · Exercise 111.3 · part 2 of 4

Complete the sentences with a preposition (at, by, with etc.).

  1. My great-grandfather died the age of 101.

  2. How long does it take to get from London to Edinburgh train?

  3. I didn't go to the final, but I watched it TV.

  4. Our house is the one the blue gate.

Put it together · Exercise 111.3 · part 3 of 4

Complete the sentences with a preposition (at, by, with etc.).

  1. These new trains can travel incredible speeds.

  2. I hardly ever drive. I'd rather go bike.

  3. Could you give me some information campsites in the area?

  4. The thief was caught a security guard.

Put it together · Exercise 111.3 · part 4 of 4

Complete the sentences with a preposition (at, by, with etc.).

  1. The trams here are excellent. They're almost always time.

  2. What would you like to drink your dinner?

  3. We travelled from Rome to Venice train.

  4. My favourite song of all time is Yesterday The Beatles.

Lesson 111 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: afraid of ..., good at ... etc. of/at/for etc. (prepositions) + -ingBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. on–Not checkedB. at–Not checkedC. by–Not checkedD. with, without–Not checkedE. about–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked

Practise the words

PrepositionsEvery entry, with examples you can hearExercise setsPrepositions, beginner to advanced