Omission of Prepositions

Cases where Prepositions are omitted

We do not normally use prepositions of time (on, in, at etc) before words like last, next or this.


I met him last Sunday. (NOT I met him on last Sunday.)
I met him on Sunday.
We may discuss it next time. (NOT We may discuss it at next time.)

The use of preposition is optional in the following sentences.

I was here (in) the December before last.
The visited us (on) the day before yesterday.
She came here (in) the previous summer.
We waited there (for) two hours.

Different prepositions
Some words which have slightly different form and meaning take different prepositions after them.

Examples are: desire for but desirous of; confidence in but confident of

I have no desire for name or fame.
She is desirous of finding a job.
I have no confidence in his ability to perform the task.
I am confident of success in the examination.

More examples are given below:

According to but in accordance with;
Sensible of but insensible to;
Affection for but affectionate to;
Ambition for but ambitious of;
Fond of but fondness for;
Neglectful of; not negligent in;
Dislike to not liking for;
The prepositions at / on / in are not normally used in expressions of time beginning with next, last, this, that, one, any, each, every, some and all.

See you next week. (NOT See you in the next week.)
I am free this evening. (NOT I am free in this evening.)
You can come any time. (NOT You can come at any time.)
I worked all day. (NOT I worked on all day.)
Let’s meet one day. (NOT Let’s meet on one day.)
These prepositions are not used before yesterday, the day before yesterday, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

She is coming tomorrow. (NOT She is coming on tomorrow.)
I met him yesterday. (NOT I met him on yesterday.)


Also note that prepositions are dropped in questions beginning with what / which + expression of time.

What time is she arriving? (NOT At what time is she arriving?)
What day is the conference? (NOT On what day is the conference?)
She grew up —————– Canada. (in/on)

2. It is very hot ——————- the center of the earth. (in/at)

3. Turn right ——————– the next corner. (in/at)

4. Let’s meet ——————— the club. (at/on)

5. She works —————– Life Insurance Corporation of India. (in/at)

6. He is a student —————— Oxford. (in/at)

7. London is ———————- the river Thames. (in/on)

8. There is a misprint ——————– line 9 on page 36. (on/in)

9. There is a big spider ———————– the ceiling. (in/on)

10. She is arriving —————— the 4.15th train. (in/on)

11. Are you still ——————– the same address? (at/on)

12. They live in a flat ——————– the fifth floor. (in/on)

Answers

1. In, 2. At, 3. At, 4. At, 5. At, 6. At, 7. On, 8. In, 9. On, 10. On, 11. At, 12. On