Introduction
Prepositions are small but mighty words in English that show the relationship between different elements in a sentence. They are crucial for expressing time, place, direction, and more. In the TOEIC Listening & Reading test, understanding prepositions can help you comprehend texts and dialogues more effectively.
Explanation
Prepositions often indicate relationships in terms of time (e.g., "at," "on," "in"), place (e.g., "under," "over," "between"), and direction (e.g., "to," "from," "toward"). Here are some examples:
Time:
"The meeting is scheduled at 3 PM."
"We will start the project in June."
"He was born on a Monday."
Place:
"The report is on the desk."
"She lives in New York."
"The keys are under the mat."
Direction:
"She walked to the office."
"They are coming from the airport."
"He moved toward the door."
Common mistakes
Confusing "in" and "on" for time expressions. Remember: "in" is used for months and years ("in June," "in 2021"), while "on" is used for specific days and dates ("on Monday," "on July 4th").
Mixing up "to" and "from" when describing movement. Use "to" for the destination ("to the store") and "from" for the origin ("from the office").
Tips for the TOEIC test
Pay attention to prepositions in reading passages and listening sections. They often provide clues about timing and location.
Practice identifying prepositions in sentences and understand their function to improve comprehension and accuracy.
Mini practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition: "at," "on," or "in."
The conference will be held ___ Monday.
She will arrive ___ the airport ___ 5 PM.
We will complete the project ___ December.
Answers
on
at, at
in