B1–B2
Functional Prepositions — English Grammar Exercises
Interactive exercises with instant feedback. Practice by, with, for, about, of, as, like and their collocations.
Functional Prepositions: Quick Reference
These prepositions describe means, tools, purpose, topics, relations, and roles — not place, time, or movement.
Key Prepositions
- by — means/method: by bus, by email, by hand, by mistake
- with / without — tool/companion: with scissors, with a friend, without help
- for — purpose/reason: for cutting, famous for, responsible for
- about — topic: talk about, worried about, a book about
- of — relation/material: afraid of, made of, a cup of, proud of
As vs Like
- as = role: "She works as a nurse" (she IS a nurse)
- like = comparison: "He runs like a professional" (similar to, but isn't one)
Common Mistakes
✗ She works like a teacher. → ✓ She works as a teacher.
✗ The team consists from five members. → ✓ The team consists of five members.
✗ He wrote the essay by a pencil. → ✓ He wrote the essay with a pencil.
✗ The team consists from five members. → ✓ The team consists of five members.
✗ He wrote the essay by a pencil. → ✓ He wrote the essay with a pencil.