МЕСТО
– in с замкнутым пространством (room, building) ИЛИ ограниченной территорией (town, park, country, continent)
in my pocket, in her car, in Germany, in the photo
Who’s that man in the green sweater?
There was a man sitting in the waiting room.
НО
можем употреблять ‘at‘, если речь идёт о небольшом населённом пункте ИЛИ пункте на пути следования
You have to change trains at Birmingham.

– on с поверхностями (wall, floor, shelf):
on the grass, on the sea, on the third floor, on the platform
Don’t leave your glass on the floor.
There were lots of pictures on the walls.
ИЛИ линиями (path, coast, the equator, line)
You’ll pass Stratford on the way to Birmingham.
It’s just a small town on the river Avon.
The house is right on the main road, so it’s a bit noisy.
(American English) on Fifth Avenue, on Crawford Street
НО
(British English) in the street

– at c пунктом, местом (at the bus stop) ИЛИ зданием (не уточняя, внутри или снаружи):
I’m waiting for you at 52 Grove Road.
She’s at her desk – Она сидит за партой.
The car was waiting at the lights.
A: Let’s meet at the cinema.
B: OK. Shall we meet in the cinema itself or on the pavement outside?
There were shelves and a bookcase in the corner (в углу)
НО
There’s a newsagent’s at the corner (на углу). You turn left there.

– in(to), on(to), to когда речь идёт о движении куда-либо; ‘into’, ‘onto’ звучит более формально

ВРЕМЯ
– in со временем суток, месяцами, временем года, годом, веком…
in the morning, in May, in spring, in autumn, in 1987, in the 19th century
ВНИМАНИЕ
I woke up in the night (имеется в виду конкретная ночь)
I can’t sleep at night (вообще, ночью)
It happened on Monday night (ночью, в этот понедельник)
ИЛИ
I heard a noise in the night (среди ночи)
The windows are shut at night (ночью = по ночам)
+
‘через’
Your photos will be ready in an hour (… через час)
The theater will open in six weeks / in six weeks’ time.
‘за‘
I did the crossword in five minutes.
Could you walk thirty miles in a day?
Columbus crossed the Atlantic in seventy days.
Surely you can change a wheel in fifteen minutes.

– in если неделя и больше
in the Easter holiday, in the summer term
– at если два-три дня
at Easter, at Christmas, at the weekend (US: on the weekend)
– on если день недели ИЛИ часть конкретного дня ИЛИ дата
on Wednesday, on Easter, , on Easter Sunday, on Christmas Day (NOT on Christmas)
The meeting is on Monday morning, on Thursday evening
+
может означать ‘сразу после’
On his arrival, the President held a press conference.

– from когда указывается отправная временная точка
Tickets will be on sale from next Wednesday.
From seven in the morning, there’s constant traffic noise.
НЕ ПУТАТЬ с ‘since’
Tickets have been on sale since last Wednesday (действие началось в прошлом и продолжается до сиз пор)
+
The cricket season lasts from April to September.
The road will be closed from Friday evening till / until Monday morning.
NOTE
American English – ‘through’
from Friday through Monday

ЗДАНИЯ
– in просто для обозначения положения ‘внутри‘
There are 400 seats in the cinema.
It was raining, so we waited in the pub.

– at если пребывание внутри связано с использованием здания, заведения по его прямому назначению
We were at the pub (= having a drink)
I was at the cinema (= watching a film)
I bought these dishes at the supermarket.
ИЛИ
It was cold in the library (= inside the building)
We were at the library (= choosing a book)

WH-QUESTIONS (обычно, предлог уходит в конец предложения)
What are you looking for?
What are you worrying about?
Which warehouse were the goods stored in?
Who did you obtain the information from?
Who are we waiting for?
Who did you go out with last night?
Where are you from?
Where are you come from?
НО
в ФОРМАЛЬНОЙ речи предлог сохраняет своё место перед ‘wh-‘
About what are you worried?
From whom did you obtain the information?
In which warehouse were the goods stored?

What… for – зачем? для чего? (цель, предназначение)
What did you buy this computer magazine for? ~ To read about business software.
What are these bricks for? ~ We’re going to build a wall.
What are they digging the road up for? ~ They’re repairing a gas pipe.

What … like – какой? (НЕ о внешности )
What was the party like? ~ Oh, we had a great time.
What‘s the place like where you live? ~ It’s pretty quiet.
What‘s Sarah like? ~ She’s very nice (милая, славная – о характере)

What … look like – как выглядит?
What does your friend look like? ~ He’s very tall and blond.

How – о здоровье ИЛИ делах
How are you? ~ I’m OK, thanks. And you?
How are you getting on in your new job? ~ I’m really enjoying it.
How‘s Melanie? ~ Oh, she’s fine, thanks. (She is happy/in good health)

BY + транспортное средство (‘the‘ не употребляется)
‘by bike’, ‘by car/road’, ‘by taxi’, ‘by bus/coach’, ‘by train/tube/rail’, ‘by boat/ship/ ferry/hovercraft’, ‘by sea’, ‘by plane/air’ НО on foot – пешком
I prefer to travel by train.
НО
можно использовать ‘in‘ И ‘on‘, если с артиклем ИЛИ притяжательным местоимением
IN: ‘the/my/your car’, ‘a helicopter’, ‘a taxi’
It’ll be quicker to go in the car.
ON: ‘my bicycle/bike’, ‘the boat’, ‘the bus’, ‘the ferry’, ‘the hovercraft’, ‘the plane’, ‘the ship’, ‘the train’
Richard came on the train.
I’ll go on my bike (NOT I’ll go by my bike)
ЗАПОМНИТЬ
The passengers got into/out of the car/the taxi.
Nancy got on/off her bike/the bus/the train.
We went on board the ship.

BY + средство коммуникации (‘the’ не употребляется)
‘by letter/post’, ‘by phone’, ‘by telegram/telex/fax’
I spoke to Andy by phone/on the phone.
I sent the information by post.

– at трапеза, приём пищи
at dinner, at lunchtime, at teatime, at a party

РОСТ / СНИЖЕНИЕ
– in перед существительным
an increase / rise in the price
a reduction / fall in the number of unemployed
– of перед числительным
an increase / rise of $10
a reduction / fall of 20%

О СПОСОБНОСТЯХ
прилагательное + ‘at’
good at tennis, brilliant at crosswords, hopeless at cooking

О ПОВЕДЕНИИ
– по отношению к кому-либо
прилагательное + ‘to’
They have been good to me.
You were very rude to the waitress.
– с чьей-то стороны
прилагательное + ‘of’
It’s very kind of you (Это очень любезно с вашей стороны)
It’s mean of him (Это подло с его стороны)