Choose the right preposition 9
✓ 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. These cigars are hand-made __________________________ Cuba.
Correct answer: in — Made in a country is the standard collocation.
2. You'll never finish the report on time if you keep working __________________________ that speed!
Correct answer: at — Fixed expression: work at something = work intensely.
3. We have to find a new supplier __________________________ May 1.
Correct answer: A or C — Before and by are both correct when setting a deadline.
4. I don't want to make any concessions __________________________ them.
Correct answer: to — Make concessions to someone is the standard collocation.
5. Are we going to ship this cargo _______________________ air?
Correct answer: by — Fixed expression: ship by air = using the air transport method.
6. Don't send that email _______________________ Mark approves the proposal = Wait for Mark to approve the proposal before sending the email
Correct answer: until — Until = up to the point when a condition is met.
7. Don't send that email _______________________ Mark approves the proposal = Don't send that email if Mark doesn't approve the proposal
Correct answer: unless — Unless = except if the condition is met.
8. These types of products are usually exempt __________________________ taxes.
Correct answer: from — Exempt from something is the correct collocation.
9. __________________________ this treaty, companies are not allowed to engage in unfair trade practices.
Correct answer: Under — Under a treaty/rule = governed or regulated by it.
10. We have increased food imports _________________________ 20% in the last three years.
Correct answer: B or C — Increase by an amount (both NO PREPOSITION and by are common).
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