Gramática+inglesa

**Special uses of some prepositions **

**In and at **

Both **at** and **in** can be used with the names of cities, towns and villages. We use **in** when we are talking about the place as an area; we use **at** when we see it as a point. Compare:
 * My sister lives **in Tokyo.**
 * Our plane stopped **at Tokyo** on the way to Iran. (Tokyo = Tokyo airport)

We use **at** to talk about group activities and shops/workplaces.
 * I first met him **at a party.** (NOT …in a party.)
 * There weren’t many people **at the meeting.**
 * I saw him **at the baker’s.** (= baker’s shop)

We use **in** with the names of streets and **at** when we give the house number.
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He lives **in MG Street.**
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He lives **at 128 MG Street.**

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We use **on** when we think of a place as a surface.
 * <span style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The cat is lying **on the floor.**
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hang this picture **on the wall.**

**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Till and until ** <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Both **till** and **until** are used of time.
 * <span style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We waited till / until 12 o’ clock.
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He slept till / until 11 am.

**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Since ** **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Since **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> is used before a noun or phrase denoting some point of time. It is preceded by a verb in the perfect tenses.
 * <span style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He hasn’t eaten anything **since yesterday.**
 * <span style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He has been ill **since last Monday.**
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It has been raining **since yesterday.**

**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In ** **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> is used before a noun denoting a period of time. It means ‘at the end of’. **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Within **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">means ‘before the end of’.
 * <span style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo7; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I shall return **in an hour**. (= at the end of one hour)
 * <span style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo7; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I shall return **within an hour**. (= before the end of one hour)