English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 127: In/on/at (other uses)

In

in the rain / in the sun / in the shade / in the dark / in bad weather etc.
  • We sat in the shade. It was too hot to sit in the sun.
  • Don't go out in the rain. Wait until it stops.

(write) in ink / in pen / in pencil
  • When you do the exam, you're not allowed to write in pencil.

Also (write) in words / in figures / in capital letters etc.
  • Please write your name in capital letters.
  • Write the story in your own words. (= don't copy somebody else)

(be/fall) in love (with somebody)
  • They're very happy together. They're in love.

in (my) opinion
  • In my opinion, the movie wasn't very good.

On

on TV / on television / on the radio
  • I didn't watch the news on television, but I heard it on the radio.

on the phone
  • I've never met her, but I've spoken to her on the phone a few times.

(be/go) on strike
  • There are no trains today. The drivers are on strike.

(be/go) on a diet
  • I've put on a lot of weight. I'll have to go on a diet.

(be) on fire
  • Look! That car is on fire.

on the whole (= in general)
  • Sometimes I have problems at work, but on the whole I enjoy my job.

on purpose (= intentionally)
  • I'm sorry. I didn't mean to annoy you. I didn't do it on purpose.

On holiday / on a trip etc.

We say: (be/go) on holiday / on business / on a trip / on a tour / on a cruise etc.
  • I'm going on holiday next week.
  • Emma's away on business at the moment.
  • One day I'd like to go on a world tour.

You can also say 'go to a place for a holiday / for my holiday(s)':
  • Steve has gone to France for a holiday.

At the age of ... etc.

We say at the age of 16 / at 120 miles an hour / at 100 degrees etc. :
  • Tracy left school at 16. or ... at the age of 16.
  • The train was travelling at 120 miles an hour.
  • Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

127.1 Complete the sentences using in + the following:

  • capital letters
  • cold weather
  • love
  • my opinion
  • pencil
  • the rain
  • the shade
  1. Don't go out . Wait until it stops.
  2. Matt likes to keep warm, so he doesn't go out much __________ .
  3. If you write __________ and make a mistake, you can rub it out and correct it.
  4. They fell __________ almost immediately and were married in a few weeks.
  5. Please write your address clearly, preferably __________ .
  6. It's too hot in the sun. I'm going to sit __________ .
  7. Amanda thought the restaurant was OK, but __________ it wasn't very good.

127.2 Complete the sentences using on + the following:

  • business
  • a diet
  • fire
  • holiday
  • the phone
  • purpose
  • strike
  • TV
  • a tour
  • the whole
  1. Look! That car is ! Somebody call the fire brigade.
  2. Workers at the factory have gone __________ for better pay and conditions.
  3. Soon after we arrived, we were taken __________ of the city.
  4. I feel lazy this evening. Is there anything worth watching __________ ?
  5. I'm sorry. It was an accident. I didn't do it __________ .
  6. Richard has put on a lot of weight recently. I think he should go __________ .
  7. Jane's job involves a lot of travelling. She often has to go away __________ .
  8. A: I'm going __________ next week.
    B: Where are you going? Somewhere nice?
  9. A: Is Sarah here?
    B: Yes, but she's __________ at the moment. She won't be long.
  10. A: How was your exam?
    B: Well, there were some difficult questions, but __________ it was OK.

127.3 Complete the sentences with in, on or at.

  1. Water boils (1) 100 degrees Celsius.
  2. When I was 14, I went (2) __________ a trip to France organised by my school.
  3. There was panic when people realised that the building was (3) __________ fire.
  4. Julia's grandmother died recently (4) __________ the age of 79.
  5. Can you turn the light on, please? I don't want to sit (5) __________ the dark.
  6. We didn't go (6) __________ holiday last year. We stayed at home.
  7. I hate driving (7) __________ fog. You can't see anything.
  8. I won't be here next week. I'll be (8) __________ holiday.
  9. Technology has developed (9) __________ great speed.
  10. Alan got married (10) __________ 17, which is rather young to get married.
  11. I heard an interesting programme (11) __________ the radio this morning.
  12. (12) __________ my opinion, violent films should not be shown (13) __________ television.
  13. I wouldn't like to go (14) __________ a cruise. I think I'd get bored.
  14. I shouldn't eat too much. I'm supposed to be (15) __________ a diet.
  15. I wouldn't like his job. He spends most of his time talking (16) __________ the phone.
  16. The earth travels round the sun (17) __________ 107,000 kilometres an hour.
  17. 'Did you enjoy your holiday?' 'Not every minute, but (18) __________ the whole, yes.'
  18. A lot of houses were damaged (19) __________ the storm last week.

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