Advanced Prepositional Phrases 1. Look at the prepositions and adverbs in italics in the first paragraph. Then fill the gaps with a suitable preposition or adverb. In the crisp, heady weather the family spent most of its time on the veranda, eating, sleeping or just simply arguing. It was here, once a week, that we used to congregate to read our mail which Spiro had brought to us. As we browsed through our letters we would frequently pass remarks to one another. "Aunt Mabel's moved (1) ………………….. Sussex. She says Henry's passed all his exams and is going to work (2) ………………….. a bank. At least, I think it's a bank. Her writing is really awful, (3) ………………….. spite of that expensive education she's always boasting (4) ………………….. Uncle Stephen's broken his leg, poor old dear, and done something (5) ………………….. his bladder? Oh, no, I see. Really, this writing - he broke his leg falling (6) ………………….. a ladder. You'd think he'd have more sense than to go (7) ………………….. a ladder (8) ………………….. his age. Ridiculous. Tom's married one (9 ………………….. the Garnet girls." Mother always left a fat letter (10) ………………….. last, addressed (11) ………………….. large, firm, well-rounded handwriting, which was the monthly instalment (12) ………………….. Great-aunt Hermione. Her letters invariably created an indignant uproar (13) ………………….. the family, so we all put (14) ………………….. our mail and concentrated when Mother, (15) ………………….. a sigh (16) ………………….. resignation, unfurled the twenty odd pages, sealed herself comfortably and began to read. 2. Complete the story with appropriate prepositions. Sometimes no preposition is needed. a) On vacation in Kenya, a buyer with IBM heard ……… a small new factory and called ……… a salesman. b) She asked ……… the salesman if his components conformed ……… American norms. c) She insisted ……… seeing the workshop and commented ……… the poor working conditions. d) Nevertheless, the salesman succeeded convincing ……… her to consent ……… a trial order. e) He told ……… the buyer that she could rely ……… him to organize everything. f) She returned to the US, looking forward ……… receiving the components, but after several weeks she had heard nothing ……… Kenya. g) Eventually she rang ……… the factory and complained ……… the manager. h) The manager apologized politely ……… the delay, but explained that he was still waiting ……… a report on the new customer's creditworthiness. 3. Complete the sentences below with the following prepositional phrases. (Use each phrase once only.) on the grounds in the region of on the brink / verge in vain in keeping with on edge in lieu of on the fringe of a) The judge closed the club ……………………… that there was too much noise being made. b) The paintings were given to the state by the millionaire ……………………… taxes. c) The class ……………………… were the morning before they took the exam. d) The local council believe the new development isn't ……………………… the rest of the town. e) The journalist reported that the city was ……………………… a crisis. f) My brother has always been ……………………… the Labour party, never at the centre. g) The staff pay rise was ……………………… 3%. h) Tom looked ……………………… for the photos he had put away in the attic. 4. Fill the gaps in these sentences with a suitable prepositional phrase from the list below. in accordance with in advance in bulk in charge of in confidence in consultation with [DEL: in contact with :DEL] in debt in progress in transit according to in touch underway on the way a) Could you please remain in contact with the head office until the negotiations are completed? b) As long as the talks are ……………………… the negotiating committee will say nothing to the press. c) We are forwarding all the items on the list ……………………… your request. d) Most companies only deliver such items ………………………, as it is cheaper in the long run e) We have to request payment ……………………… for all orders under $100. f) We must ask you to take full responsibility for the goods, as long as they are ……………………… g) Our local agent will then make a final decision ……………………… the regional director. h) We must ask you to treat this information ……………………… until the report is finally published. i) Ms Andreotti has been ……………………… our Rome sales office since last year. j) Although the partners were ………………………, they succeeded in paying our bill. Revision 1. Read the article and fill the gaps with a suitable preposition. I was (1) …………. one (2) …………. those sports 'superstores' the other day, hoping to find a pair of trainers. As I faced the giant wall of shoes, each model categorised (3) …………. either sports affiliation, basketball star, economic class, racial heritage or consumer niche, I noticed a boy (4) …………. to me (5) …………. even greater awe (6) …………. the towering selection of footwear. He was slack-jawed and his eyes were glazed (7) …………. - a psycho-physical response (8) …………. the overwhelming sensory data. It's a phenomenon known (9) …………. retail architects as 'Gruen Transfer', named (10) …………. the man who invented the shopping mall, where this mental paralysis is most commonly observed. Having finished several years (11) …………. research (12) …………. this exact state (13) …………. mind, I knew to proceed (14) …………. caution. I slowly made my way (15) …………. the boy's side and gently asked him, 'What is going (16) …………. your mind right now?' He responded (17) …………. hesitation, 'I don't know which (18) …………. these trainers is me.' 5. Fill the gaps in these sentences with a suitable prepositional phrase from the list below. in accordance with in advance in bulk in charge of in confidence in consultation with [DEL: in contact with :DEL] in debt in progress in transit according to in touch underway on the way 2. Could you please remain in contact with the head office until the negotiations are completed? 3. As long as the talks are ……………………… the negotiating committee will say nothing to the press. 4. We are forwarding all the items on the list ……………………… your request. 5. Most companies only deliver such items ………………………, as it is cheaper in the long run 6. We have to request payment ……………………… for all orders under $100. 7. We must ask you to take full responsibility for the goods, as long as they are ……………………… 8. Our local agent will then make a final decision ……………………… the regional director. 9. We must ask you to treat this information ……………………… until the report is finally published. 10. Ms Andreotti has been ……………………… our Rome sales office since last year. 11. Although the partners were ………………………, they succeeded in paying our bill. 6. Complete the sentences below with the following prepositional phrases. (Use each phrase once only.) on the grounds in the region of on the brink / verge in vain in keeping with on edge in lieu of on the fringe of i) The judge closed the club ……………………… that there was too much noise being made. j) The paintings were given to the state by the millionaire ……………………… taxes. k) The class ……………………… were the morning before they took the exam. l) The local council believe the new development isn't ……………………… the rest of the town. m) The journalist reported that the city was ……………………… a crisis. n) My brother has always been ……………………… the Labour party, never at the centre. o) The staff pay rise was ……………………… 3%. p) Tom looked ……………………… for the photos he had put away in the attic.