Choose the right preposition 2
✓ 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 correct response for each of the sentences.
1. The process __________________________ selecting candidates is a difficult one.
Correct answer: of — The process of — of links a noun to its content.
2. __________________________ a way, we're happy that we didn't get the contract.
Correct answer: In — Fixed expression: in a way.
3. Are you satisfied __________________________ this quarter's profits?
Correct answer: with — Satisfied with is the correct collocation.
4. We have three marketing specialists __________________________ staff. = We have three marketing specialists working at our company.
Correct answer: on — Fixed expression: on staff = employed here.
5. Which company do you work _________________?
Correct answer: for — Work for a company is the standard collocation.
6. We have to bring this _______________________ his attention. = We have to let him know about this.
Correct answer: to — Bring something to someone's attention is the fixed expression.
7. I think you should invest _______________________ this company.
Correct answer: in — Invest in something is the standard collocation.
8. I knew __________________________ the beginning that this wouldn't work.
Correct answer: from — Fixed expression: from the beginning.
9. We're looking for a partner we can rely __________________________. = We're looking for a dependable partner.
Correct answer: on — Rely on someone is the correct collocation.
10. It's best to take care of such issues _________________________ an early stage, before they become bigger problems.
Correct answer: at — Fixed expression: at an early stage.
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