Vrije Universiteit Brussel
EBE: Final Vocabulary & Grammar Check
Grammar
1 Prepositions & phrasal verbs
1.1 Prepositions
Small, but important words to link phrases and to contribute to the sentence’s meaning
The meeting will take place in the CEO’s o6ice. (place)
The meeting will take place at 4 PM. (time)
Her o6ice is on the fourth floor of the building. (possession (≈ bezit))
She dealt with the issue with great tact. (manner)
1.1.1 Prepositions of place
AT IN
• Shows a general location • Used with the name of a container,
• About the position of something place or area to show that
• About the place where something someone/something is inside it
happens
• There’s someone at the door. • There’s plenty of paper in the
(position) photocopier.
• I’ll see you at the meeting. (where • She’s in the next room.
something happens) • Our o6ice is in Paris/in the north.
I'll see you at the airport. (the place in general)
I'll see you in the airport terminal. (inside the building)
I had a hard day at the o6ice. (perhaps I spent some time out of the building)
I'll be back in the o6ice at three. (inside the building)
There are some fixed expressions with prepositions of place:
e.g. at home/work/school/the VUB
in hospital/prison
on the plane/bus/tram (vs. in a car/taxi)
e.g. at the start/end
in the middle
on the left/right
Academiejaar 2025-2026 1
, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
1.2 Phrasal verbs
Verbs that occur together with a preposition
I believe in letting all employees have a say in our policy.
She depends on her team for support in the meeting.
The preposition often no longer has its original meaning, and some verbs can occur with
more than one preposition (→ other meaning)
To agree with something → say ‘yes’ to something
To agree to something → reach a compromise
To look for something → to search for something
To look after something → to take care of something
1.2.1 Formal versus informal
Phrasal verbs: sometimes formal, sometimes informal
→ it softens sentences (more diplomatic and polite)
The direction in which the new CEO is taking the company departs from the
strategy which previous top executives have adhered to.
Informal phrasal verbs can often be changed by a single verb with the same meaning
Informal: When we got to the hotel, we looked at the map.
Formal: When we reached the hotel, we consulted the map.
Academiejaar 2025-2026 2
EBE: Final Vocabulary & Grammar Check
Grammar
1 Prepositions & phrasal verbs
1.1 Prepositions
Small, but important words to link phrases and to contribute to the sentence’s meaning
The meeting will take place in the CEO’s o6ice. (place)
The meeting will take place at 4 PM. (time)
Her o6ice is on the fourth floor of the building. (possession (≈ bezit))
She dealt with the issue with great tact. (manner)
1.1.1 Prepositions of place
AT IN
• Shows a general location • Used with the name of a container,
• About the position of something place or area to show that
• About the place where something someone/something is inside it
happens
• There’s someone at the door. • There’s plenty of paper in the
(position) photocopier.
• I’ll see you at the meeting. (where • She’s in the next room.
something happens) • Our o6ice is in Paris/in the north.
I'll see you at the airport. (the place in general)
I'll see you in the airport terminal. (inside the building)
I had a hard day at the o6ice. (perhaps I spent some time out of the building)
I'll be back in the o6ice at three. (inside the building)
There are some fixed expressions with prepositions of place:
e.g. at home/work/school/the VUB
in hospital/prison
on the plane/bus/tram (vs. in a car/taxi)
e.g. at the start/end
in the middle
on the left/right
Academiejaar 2025-2026 1
, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
1.2 Phrasal verbs
Verbs that occur together with a preposition
I believe in letting all employees have a say in our policy.
She depends on her team for support in the meeting.
The preposition often no longer has its original meaning, and some verbs can occur with
more than one preposition (→ other meaning)
To agree with something → say ‘yes’ to something
To agree to something → reach a compromise
To look for something → to search for something
To look after something → to take care of something
1.2.1 Formal versus informal
Phrasal verbs: sometimes formal, sometimes informal
→ it softens sentences (more diplomatic and polite)
The direction in which the new CEO is taking the company departs from the
strategy which previous top executives have adhered to.
Informal phrasal verbs can often be changed by a single verb with the same meaning
Informal: When we got to the hotel, we looked at the map.
Formal: When we reached the hotel, we consulted the map.
Academiejaar 2025-2026 2
