Prepositions - at / in / on & verb + preposition (A2 Vocabulary)

A2 VOCABULARY · PREPOSITIONS

Little Words, Big Jobs

PICTURE

(you add this)

"See you on Friday at a quarter to ten."

at / in / on for time & place; verb + preposition

Listening

Speaking

LEAD-IN

True for you

Tick the sentences that are true for you, then compare.

• I am usually in bed at 11 p.m.

• I was born in winter.

• I never work at the weekend.

• My birthday is in the first half of the year.

• I am happiest in the morning.

What do the little words in / on / at do in these sentences?

BEFORE YOU LISTEN

Ben's voicemail

You'll hear a voicemail from Ben. He's visiting his friend Sara in Valencia this weekend.

PREDICT

In what context do you think Ben will mention these things?

- the train station

- pizza

- concert tickets

- camping

PICTURE

(you add this)

LISTEN

Audioscript: "Ben's voicemail"

BEN Hi Sara, it's Ben. Quick message about the weekend. I arrive in Valencia on Friday night - the train gets to the station at 9.45, so can you wait for me at the cafe outside? Don't worry about dinner - I want to pay for a pizza, to say thank you.

On Saturday morning I need to speak to your brother about the concert tickets - I think they belong to his friend? Then in the afternoon, maybe the beach - but it depends on the weather.

Oh, and I know you don't agree with me about camping, but listen to this idea: one night at that campsite by the lake. I asked for information at the tourist office, and in March it's really cheap. I don't want to spend much money on hotels. Think about it! OK - see you on Friday at a quarter to ten. Bye!

UNDERSTANDING

Three of these sentences are false. Find them and correct them.

1. Ben is arriving on Saturday night.

2. Sara should wait at the cafe outside the station.

3. Ben wants Sara to pay for the pizza.

4. The beach plan depends on the weather.

5. Ben thinks hotels are a good idea.

QUICK TALK

Visitors

Discuss in pairs.

1. What do you think of Ben's voice? Does he sound friendly, aggressive or something else?

2. Is his offer to buy pizza generous or a bit cheap?

3. In the 2020s, is it still necessary to meet friends at train stations / airports?

PICTURE

(you add this)

FIND THE WORDS

Complete the phrases from the voicemail

Listen again if you need to.

arrive ____ Valencia

____ Friday night

____ 9.45

wait ____ me

worry ____ dinner

pay ____ a pizza

speak ____ your brother ____ the tickets

belong ____ his friend

depend ____ the weather

agree ____ me

listen ____ this

asked ____ information

spend money ____ hotels

HOW IT WORKS

at / in / on

in

+ countries & cities, rooms, closed spaces (in Spain, in the kitchen, in a car); months, seasons, years, parts of the day (in June, in winter, in 2018, in the morning)

on

+ transport, surfaces (on a bus, on the table); dates & days (on 1st March, on Tuesday, on New Year's Day)

at

+ points / places seen as points (at school, at home, at work, at the station); clock times, night, the weekend, festivals (at 6 o'clock, at night, at Christmas)

Verb + preposition (learn as one word): wait for · worry about · pay for · speak to sb about sth · belong to · depend on · agree with · listen to · ask for · spend money on · believe in.

HOW IT WORKS

arrive in / arrive at

TWO KINDS OF ARRIVE

arrive IN + a city or country · arrive AT + a building or station

I arrive in Valencia... the train gets to the station, so wait at the cafe.

MORE VERB + PREPOSITION

think about / of something · talk to somebody · look for something · wait for a bus · worry about the future · believe in yourself · ask for help · depend on the weather.

PRACTICE

A - at, in or on?

1. I'll see you ____ Tuesday ____ half past two.

2. My keys are ____ the kitchen, ____ the table.

3. We always visit my grandparents ____ Christmas.

4. She was born ____ 2004, ____ the winter.

5. He's ____ work - call him ____ night? No - call ____ the evening.

PRACTICE

B - Complete, then ask a partner

1. Do you spend more money ____ clothes or ____ food?

2. If you're worried ____ something, who do you talk ____?

3. Do you believe ____ love at first sight?

4. Do you belong ____ any clubs or teams?

5. Who should pay ____ dinner on a first date?

FREER

The reply voicemail

You are Sara. Leave Ben a 30-second voicemail answering everything:

• where you will wait

• your answer about camping

• one change to his plan

• one question for Ben

PICTURE

(you add this)

Notes only - no full sentences. Your partner listens with the audioscript and counts your correct prepositions. Then switch roles.

TEACHER'S REFERENCE · HIDE OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key

Understanding (false ones). 1 Friday night 3 Ben pays 5 he does not want to spend much on hotels.

Find the words. in · on · at · for · about · for · to / about · to · on · with · to · for · on

A. 1 on, at 2 in, on 3 at 4 in, in 5 at, - , in

B. 1 on, on 2 about, to 3 in 4 to 5 for