How to use the different prepositions...

[sanny]

I have a very big difficulty with prepositoins. So I don't know when I use the words: in, at, after, on, with, to, by, into, over of, until, before, during, since, about and so on.

Can anyone help me with my difficulties?

Like the sentences:
1. My brother is an authority ......... cricket. ( on, about, with )
2. Columbus discovered America ........ the 15th century. ( during, at, in )
3. Have you ever worked ........ a farm? ( in, on, at )

I know the correct answers, they are:
1. on
2. in
3. on

But can anyone explain why these answers are correct and the others are not correct? :?

 

[Casiopea]

I have a hard time with prepositions. I don't know when to use the words: in, at, after, on, with, to, by, into, over of, until, before, during, since, about and so on. Can anyone help me with this?

1. My brother is an authority on cricket.

=> authority on is a set pair (a phrasal verb), so 'about' is not used; 'authority on X' expresses 'concerning X'. 'authority with' means together with or inside, as in She is an authority with the police or She is an authority within the field of Science.

2. Columbus discovered America in the 15th century.

=> in(side of) the 15th century; in(side of) the year 2004, in(side of) this week, etc. 'during' means while, at the time of, whereas 'at' means an exact point or location. 'on' is used for exact dates.

3. Have you ever worked on a farm? ( in, on, at )

=> 'on' refers to the (top of) the land; 'in' refers to the inside of a building; 'at' refers to a location.

All the best,

 

[Lini]

I have a bit the same problem here... and I know you, so I think we maybe can help each other. Is it a good idea???

Kiss kiss

 

[sanny]

Thanks Casiopea for your help, but you said:

3. Have you ever worked on a farm? ( in, on, at )

=> 'on' refers to the (top of) the land

I don't think I understand that part...

 

[Lini]

I agree... but we'll try to make the best of it...

 

[sanny]

Thanks Lini, that you share my problem...

 

[Tdol]

Thanks Casiopea for your help, but you said:

3. Have you ever worked on a farm? ( in, on, at )

=> 'on' refers to the (top of) the land

I don't think I understand that part...

We'd say 'in a field' because a field has a clear limit, the hedge or wall that runs around it. When we say 'farm' we aren't thinking of its boundaries, so we use 'on'. ;-)

 

[Casiopea]

Thanks Casiopea for your help, but you said:

3. Have you ever worked on a farm? ( in, on, at )

=> 'on' refers to the (top of) the land

I don't think I understand that part...

Surface
She works on Mars.
He works on a scaffold.
They work on a ranch.
We work on a farm.

All the best,

 

[Lini]

This helps me a little bit too... so I'll be here more than once.

 

[Tdol]

Welcome :hi:

 

[sanny]

Thanks everybody, it really helps talking about this kind of stuff!

 

[Tdol]

He works in a factory\office. ;-)

 

[sanny]

Thanks, do you have more examples?
Also from other prepositions?
Like from and of?

 

[RonBee]

from:

• He came home from work all sweaty.

 

[sanny]

from:

• He came home from work all sweaty.

Okay, I get that!

But when do I use 'of' and when do I write it with one 'f' or with two?

 

[Tdol]

'off' is the opposite on 'on'.

'of' is a word that simply connects with little or no meaning.

;-)

 

[sanny]

So if I would say:

Put that radio off.
and
It's a word of great importance .

(importancy or important or something else?)

Are these sentences correct?

 

[Lini]

I don't know what the last one has to be, but it sounds good to me! maybe someone has more examples for me and sanny so we can practise some more and learn.
Thanks!

kisskiss

 

[Tdol]

I would say 'turn that radio off', but they're correct in terms of prepositions. ;-)

 

[sanny]

Is the importance also correct?
In this kind of sentence?