Choose the right preposition 8
✓ 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. We will have to cut production __________________________ 50,000 units.
Correct answer: by — Cut by an amount = reduce by that margin.
2. Which office do you work __________________________?
Correct answer: at — Work at an office (specific location/building).
3. We need to determine which factors are __________________________ the slowdown. ( = are causing the slowdown)
Correct answer: behind — Fixed expression: the factors behind something = the causes.
4. We have to divide the work load evenly __________________________ all the employees.
Correct answer: among — Among three or more; between for two. Both are sometimes accepted.
5. Net profits = Gross profits _________________ all the expenses involved in running a business
Correct answer: minus — Net profits = Gross profits minus expenses.
6. We are committed _________________ retaining our status as market-leader.
Correct answer: to — Committed to doing something is the correct collocation.
7. You'll be working _______________________ our other office.
Correct answer: B or C — Work out of and work at an office are both correct.
8. I wanted to speak to you __________________________ your recent behavior.
Correct answer: A or C — Regarding and about both introduce a topic.
9. I need to speak to you __________________________ ( = about) the McAlister account.
Correct answer: concerning — Concerning = regarding/about (more formal).
10. We're the world's leading supplier _________________________ mangos.
Correct answer: of — Supplier of something — of links to the supplied item.
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