POINTS TO STUDY
Grammar review: Prepositions of Location and Direction
VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0-Y7-tnDK0
SCRIPT, LISTENING TIPS, & GRAMMAR
In this lesson, we’re looking at words to answer the question where. This is part 2 and we’ll continue to focus on prepositions of location.
Now some prepositions / mean the same thing. They are different words, but they have the same meaning. For example, to say that someone or something is close and not far, we can use near or by. To say that someone or something is at our side, we can use next to or beside. To say that someone or something is facing us, we can use across from or opposite. OK, let’s practice this first group of prepositions. I want you to complete the following sentences using each pair / only once so you complete the sentences with / near or by, next to or beside, across from or opposite.
Here is the number on. Read the sentence to yourself and I’ll tell you the answer: [see screen and listen] now I chose beside which also mean we can say next to a garden of flowers. And I want to explain why I chose that. If you see, I’m sitting side by side. My arm is actually touching the garden. So the best here to say that I’m sitting beside the garden of flowers, next to a garden of flowers. Let’s go on to number 2. [see screen and listen] I chose by which mean we could also say near the road. It’s not incorrect to say next to or beside because it is quite close, but do you see the difference? Here I was beside the garden, I was actually touching side by side, but with the garden and road, you have a garden, part of the side walk and then the road, so it’s close, not exactly side by side. So the best answer again is / near or by. The garden is by the road. The garden is near the road.
[see screen and listen] I chose opposite which means we could also say across from, both are correct. And again it’s not incorrect to use other prepositions, which mean we could say near a bus stop, by a bus stop, or possibly even next to a bus stop, too. But the hint in the sentence is crossing, you have to cross the street. So yes it’s close, but the best choice in this exercise is across from a bus stop or opposite a bus stop.
Some prepositions are similar, but different, for example, below and under. [see screen and listen] let’s pause for another exercise. This time, I want you to complete sentences using under below, above or over. [see screen and listen] if you’re curious the word below the sign is ‘caution’, which means be careful. [see screen and listen]
Now let’s look at other prepositions of location. Between, it means in the middle of 2 people. For example, the girl is between her father and brother. Don’t confuse between with among. Among means in the middle of 3 or more people. For example, the woman is among co-workers. The man is among friends. We got lost among other shoppers.
In front of and behind: if you’ve never seen such a form of transportation, this is called a rickshaw. There is a passenger here, actually two passengers and a driver on a bicycle. The driver is in front of the passengers. The passengers are behind the driver. The cat is on the left of the dog. The dog is on the right of the cat. I think most of us have ridden a ferris wheel in our lives in one time or another. So this is a good example to explain at the top of the ferris wheel, you have a great view, and at the bottom of the ferris wheel is where people get on and get off. [see screen and listen] so for example, look at this picture of father and son and we say that they are at the top of the stairs because they are at the highest point of the stairs. Over here with boxes, the boxes are on top of each other. Understand? [see screen and listen] that’s because again inside means something is contained. You have to have limits, inside a box, inside a bag, inside a suitcase, inside a container. In has a more general usage. [see screen and listen]
So let’s try one more exercise to review the last group of prepositions. In the following sentences, I’ll give you a choice of two prepositions. Listen to my questions and choose the correct preposition to complete the statement. [see screen and listen] Is the lion in front of me or behind me? Is the alligator inside or outside the cage? Am I in front or behind the trees? Am I on the right or left of the gorilla? Am I among or between the two flower beds?
All right that’s the end of the part two. Be sure to check out part three because we have yet to talk about prepositions of direction. See you then.
TODAY’S PRONUNCIATION
Daily Pronunciation #55 - English Lesson – DESPOT