Welcome to Your Guide on Prepositions!
In Part 5 of the TOEIC (Incomplete Sentences), you will often see questions that look simple but are designed to trick you. Many of these questions focus on Prepositions. Choosing the right preposition is essential because it shows the examiner you understand the logic and structure of business English. Even though prepositions are usually small words like in, at, or for, getting them right can significantly boost your score in the Sentence Structure section. Don't worry if these feel confusing right now; by the end of these notes, you will have a clear map of how to use them correctly.
1. Prepositions of Time: Getting Your Schedule Right
TOEIC Part 5 frequently uses business schedules, deadlines, and meeting times. To earn marks here, you must know the difference between general and specific time.
The "Pyramid" Rule
Think of time as an upside-down pyramid:
IN (General/Large): Use this for centuries, years, months, and seasons.
Example: The company was founded in 1995.
Example: We expect a profit increase in the summer.
ON (Specific Days/Dates): Use this for days of the week and specific dates.
Example: The board meeting is on Tuesday.
Example: Please submit the invoice on October 15th.
AT (Very Specific/Precise): Use this for exact times and specific points in the day.
Example: The seminar starts at 9:30 AM.
Example: I usually have a break at noon.
TOEIC Trap: "Until" vs. "By"
This is one of the most common mistakes in the exam. Examiners use these to see if you understand duration versus deadlines.
Weak (Incorrect): The report must be finished until Friday.
Improved (Correct): The report must be finished by Friday.
Explanation: Use By for a deadline (at that time or earlier). Use Until for an action that continues up to a certain point (e.g., I will stay in the office until 7:00 PM).
Key Takeaway:
Use in for long periods, on for days, and at for exact times. Watch out for by when a deadline is mentioned!
2. Prepositions of Place: Navigating the Office
In the TOEIC context, place prepositions usually describe where a person works, where a document is located, or where a conference is held.
Common Usage Patterns
AT (A Point/Specific Location): Use this when you think of a place as a specific point on a map or a destination.
Example: He is waiting at the bus stop.
Example: Meet me at the main entrance.
IN (Inside/Enclosed Space): Use this when something is inside a building, a room, or a container.
Example: The files are in the cabinet.
Example: There are twenty people in the conference room.
ON (Surfaces and Floors): In TOEIC, this is very common for office locations.
Example: The printer is on the desk.
Example: Our office is on the tenth floor.
Did you know?
When talking about a workplace in general, we usually say at work. If you are specifically talking about the physical building, you might say in the office.
Quick Review:
1. At the front desk (point)
2. In the envelope (enclosed)
3. On the wall (surface)
3. Prepositions of Purpose and Reason
These prepositions help you explain why something is happening. In Part 5, these are often tested alongside vocabulary related to "due to" or "because of."
For vs. To (Infinitive)
FOR + Noun: Used to show the purpose of an object or an action.
Example: This department is responsible for marketing.
Example: I went to the store for some paper.
TO + Verb: Used to show the intention of the person doing the action.
Example: I went to the store to buy some paper.
Expressing Reason: "Due to" and "Because of"
These phrases are high-value for TOEIC. They are always followed by a noun phrase, never a full sentence (subject + verb).
Weak: The flight was delayed due to it was snowing. (Incorrect grammar)
Improved: The flight was delayed due to the heavy snow. (Correct use of noun phrase)
Key Takeaway:
If you see a verb after the blank, the answer might be to. If you see a noun, it might be for, due to, or because of.
4. Common Collocations (Words that "Stick" Together)
In Part 5, the exam board often tests "fixed phrases." You don't necessarily need to learn a rule; you just need to remember which preposition goes with which word. These are "easy marks" if you memorize them!
High-Value TOEIC Phrases:
- Interested in: Are you interested in applying for the job?
- Participate in: Please participate in the survey.
- Depend on: The budget depends on the final sales figures.
- Comply with: All employees must comply with safety regulations.
- Apologize for: We apologize for the delay.
5. Strategy and Timing for Part 5
Part 5 has 30 questions, and you should aim to spend no more than 20-30 seconds per question. Preposition questions are meant to be solved quickly.
The "Look Around" Strategy:
1. Look at the blank: What is immediately after it? (A time? A place? A verb? A noun?)
2. Check for "Deadlines": If you see a time, ask yourself: is this a continuing action or a limit? (Choose until or by).
3. Identify Nouns vs. Verbs: If the sentence explains a reason, look for "to" (before verbs) or "for/due to" (before nouns).
4. Don't over-analyze: Often, the preposition that "sounds right" in business English is the correct one. If you have studied your collocations, trust your first instinct.
Final Checklist for Success
Before you move to the next chapter, make sure you can answer "yes" to these:
- Do I know the difference between at, in, and on for time?
- Can I correctly use by and until?
- Do I know that due to must be followed by a noun?
- Have I memorized common phrases like comply with and interested in?
Keep practicing! Prepositions might seem small, but they are the "glue" that holds your English sentences together. Mastering them is a big step toward a high TOEIC score.