Choose the right preposition 10
✓ Useful for TOEIC
✓ Useful for Cambridge BEC
💡 Top tips
Common business collocations with 'in', 'on', and 'at'
'In' is used with companies and industries: 'She works in finance.' 'On' is used with committees and projects: 'He's on the board.' 'At' refers to specific organizations: 'I work at Google.'
Prepositions of time: 'in', 'on', 'by', 'until'
Use 'by' for deadlines (completed no later than): 'Please submit by Friday.' Use 'until' for duration (continuing up to a point): 'The offer is valid until Friday.' These are frequently confused in professional writing.
Avoid common preposition errors with verbs
Common correct collocations: 'agree on' (a decision), 'agree with' (a person), 'deal with' (a problem), 'result in' (a consequence), 'depend on' (a factor). These fixed combinations are best memorized as complete units.
Common business collocations with 'in', 'on', and 'at'
'In' is used with companies and industries: 'She works in finance.' 'On' is used with committees and projects: 'He's on the board.' 'At' refers to specific organizations: 'I work at Google.'
Prepositions of time: 'in', 'on', 'by', 'until'
Use 'by' for deadlines (completed no later than): 'Please submit by Friday.' Use 'until' for duration (continuing up to a point): 'The offer is valid until Friday.' These are frequently confused in professional writing.
Avoid common preposition errors with verbs
Common correct collocations: 'agree on' (a decision), 'agree with' (a person), 'deal with' (a problem), 'result in' (a consequence), 'depend on' (a factor). These fixed combinations are best memorized as complete units.
READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!
These exercises will help you to practice using prepositions in a Business English context and can be used to to prepare for the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) and the Business English Certificate (BEC). Choose the best response to complete each of the sentences below.
1. This company is __________________________ for sale. = This company is being sold.
Correct answer: B or C — Up for sale and NO PREPOSITION (for sale) are both correct.
2. __________________________ an emotional standpoint, this is a very difficult decision to make.
Correct answer: From — Fixed expression: from an emotional standpoint.
3. The CEO stepped __________________________ last month. = The CEO resigned last month.
Correct answer: aside — Fixed expression: step aside = resign from a position.
4. He didn't say anything prior __________________________ ( = before) the board's approval of the deal.
Correct answer: to — Fixed expression: prior to = before.
5. We made _______________________ $5,000,000 in profits last year.
Correct answer: A or B — About and around are both used with approximate figures.
6. _______________________ all the workers, Miguel works the hardest.
Correct answer: Out of — Fixed expression: out of all = among all.
7. We're focusing _______________________ long-term growth.
Correct answer: on — Focus on something is the correct collocation.
8. P1: Are you going to finish this on time? P2: Yes, the packages will be sent out __________________________ schedule. ( = on time)
Correct answer: on — Fixed expression: on time = by the deadline.
9. Customers will be allowed to pay __________________________ cash.
Correct answer: A or C — Pay by cash and pay NO PREPOSITION cash are both used.
10. It's been a tough week _________________________ work.
Correct answer: at — Fixed expression: at work = in the workplace.
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