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.
A 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."
B 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.
C 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.
D 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.
E 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?
Exercises
111.1 Complete the sentences. Use on + one of these: holiday, the phone, the radio, television, time.
holidaythe phonethe radiotelevisiontime
I heard the news on the radio.
I heard the news on the radio.
Please don't be late tomorrow. Try to be here .
Please don't be late tomorrow. Try to be here on time.
I won't be at work next week. I'm going .
I won't be at work next week. I'm going on holiday.
"Did you see Jo at the weekend?" "No, but I spoke to her ."
"Did you see Jo at the weekend?" "No, but I spoke to her on the phone."
"What's tonight?" "There's a good documentary at eight."
"What's on television tonight?" "There's a good documentary at eight."
111.2 Read each scene and complete the sentence with a preposition (at, by etc.).
A woman slitting open a parcel. She holds a kitchen knife.
She opened the parcel with a knife.
She opened the parcel with a knife.
A woman getting into her car outside her house at 8 am, work bag in hand.
She usually goes to work car.
She usually goes to work by car.
A group of people. One woman has very short hair.
Who's the woman short hair?
Who's the woman with short hair?
Two neighbours chatting over the fence, pointing up at the rain clouds.
They're talking the weather.
They're talking about the weather.
Flames and smoke pouring out of a car's bonnet.
The car is fire.
The car is on fire.
A girl with headphones. The screen shows: Beethoven, Symphony No. 5.
She's listening to some music Beethoven.
She's listening to some music by Beethoven.
A high-speed train. The display reads 120 miles an hour.
The train is travelling 120 miles an hour.
The train is travelling at 120 miles an hour.
A family lying on sunbeds by a hotel pool.
They're holiday.
They're on holiday.
A man in dark glasses standing near the door.
Do you know the man sunglasses?
Do you know the man with sunglasses?
A boy reading a book. The cover says: Easy Spelling, Ann Wright.
He's reading a book spelling Ann Wright.
He's reading a book about spelling by Ann Wright.
111.3 Complete the sentences with a preposition (at, by, with etc.).
In badminton, you hit the shuttlecock a racket.
In badminton, you hit the shuttlecock with a racket.
It's freezing today. Don't go out a scarf.
It's freezing today. Don't go out without a scarf.
Pride and Prejudice and Emma are novels Jane Austen.
Pride and Prejudice and Emma are novels by Jane Austen.
Do you know anything plumbing?
Do you know anything about plumbing?
My great-grandfather died the age of 101.
My great-grandfather died at the age of 101.
How long does it take to get from London to Edinburgh train?
How long does it take to get from London to Edinburgh by train?
I didn't go to the final, but I watched it TV.
I didn't go to the final, but I watched it on TV.
Our house is the one the blue gate.
Our house is the one with the blue gate.
These new trains can travel incredible speeds.
These new trains can travel at incredible speeds.
I hardly ever drive. I'd rather go bike.
I hardly ever drive. I'd rather go by bike.
Could you give me some information campsites in the area?
Could you give me some information about campsites in the area?
The thief was caught a security guard.
The thief was caught by a security guard.
The trams here are excellent. They're almost always time.
The trams here are excellent. They're almost always on time.
What would you like to drink your dinner?
What would you like to drink with your dinner?
We travelled from Rome to Venice train.
We travelled from Rome to Venice by train.
My favourite song of all time is Yesterday The Beatles.
My favourite song of all time is Yesterday by The Beatles.