Common Prepositional Phrases — English Grammar Exercises
Interactive exercises with instant feedback. Practice by chance, on time, in advance, out of date and confusable pairs.
Prepositional Phrases: Quick Reference
Fixed prepositional phrases must be memorized as chunks — the preposition doesn't follow a rule, it's part of the expression.
Common Phrases by Preposition
- BY: by chance, by accident, by mistake, by heart, by hand
- ON: on time, on purpose, on fire, on sale, on business
- IN: in advance, in charge of, in common, in danger, in a hurry
- OUT OF: out of date, out of order, out of work, out of stock
- AT: at first, at last, at least, at once
- FOR: for free, for good, for sale
Confusable Pairs
- on time (punctual) vs in time (not too late)
- for sale (available to buy) vs on sale (discounted)
- at the end (final point of something) vs in the end (eventually)
Common Mistakes
✗ She learned it on heart. → ✓ She learned it by heart.
✗ The lift is out from order. → ✓ The lift is out of order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a prepositional phrase in English?
A prepositional phrase is a fixed expression where the preposition doesn't follow a logical rule — it must be memorized as a chunk. Examples: 'by chance', 'on time', 'in advance', 'out of order'. Changing the preposition changes or destroys the meaning: 'on time' (punctual) vs 'in time' (not too late).
What is the difference between 'on time' and 'in time'?
'On time' means punctual, at the scheduled moment — 'The train arrived on time.' 'In time' means not too late, with some time to spare — 'We got to the airport in time for our flight.' These are among the most commonly confused prepositional phrases in English.
What is the difference between 'for sale' and 'on sale'?
'For sale' means available to buy — 'The house is for sale.' 'On sale' means available at a reduced price, discounted — 'These shoes are on sale this week.' Both involve buying, but 'on sale' specifically implies a discount.
Is it 'by mistake' or 'on mistake'?
Always 'by mistake', never 'on mistake'. Similarly: 'by chance', 'by accident', 'by heart', 'by hand'. The preposition 'by' is used in phrases about means and manner. This is a fixed collocation that must be memorized.