Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.

B2 Grammar • 12 Mins

Fixed Prepositional Phrases

Learn six fixed phrases and practise them in sentences about rescue work.

🚁

🧑‍🏫

Teacher Note

Guide students through this 12-minute activity to practice four groups of fixed prepositional phrases. Let learners complete tasks individually, then check answers together with instant feedback.

🎯

Learner Guide

First, read the rule table carefully and study the underlined examples. Next, work through the 12 practice exercises from easy to hard to test your knowledge.

Rules Fixed Prepositional Phrases Guide

on time vs in time

Use on time for something that happens at the planned time, not early and not late. Use in time for something that happens early enough to do or catch something else.

Search & Rescue Examples

• The boat reached the island in time for the last flight home.

• The lifeboat arrived in time to save the trapped sailors before the storm hit.

at the end vs in the end

Use at the end of + noun for the last point or part of something. Use in the end on its own to mean finally or after a long time.

Search & Rescue Examples

• In the end, the missing walkers came down the hill safely.

• The search team reached the deep gorge at the end of the valley.

by accident vs on purpose

Use by accident for something that happens without planning. Use on purpose for something a person does deliberately. Do not say in accident or with purpose.

Search & Rescue Examples

• She pressed the alarm button by accident when she reached for her bag.

• He dropped a red flare into the water on purpose to mark the spot.

in charge, out of reach, under control

These are fixed phrases with no article before charge, reach, or control. Use in charge of when someone manages something, out of reach when something cannot be reached, and under control when a situation is managed.

Search & Rescue Examples

• The medicine was kept out of reach of the children.

• The lead medic was in charge of the rescue, and the fire was soon under control.

Pattern Model Observe phrase structures

"The coastguard was in charge of the radio, and the fire was soon under control."

Why this works: Fixed prepositional phrases do not add extra words like "the" or "a" inside them. They connect directly to the manager or describe the state of an emergency situation.

Practice Test Your Understanding (12 Questions)

Part 1 • Choose the correct sentence

Select the sentence that uses the fixed phrase correctly.

1. Context: Flight scheduling of the rescue team (planned)

____ a. The helicopter landed on time according to the flight schedule. ____ b. The helicopter landed in the time according to the flight schedule.

2. Context: Completing a long search in the canyon (last)

____ a. In the end of the day, the team located the missing hikers near the gorge. ____ b. At the end of the day, the team located the missing hikers near the gorge.

3. Context: Handling emergency gear (unintentional)

____ a. The survivor dropped the flare by accident while climbing up the steep rocks. ____ b. The survivor dropped the flare in accident while climbing up the steep rocks.

Part 2 • Rewrite the sentence

Rewrite each sentence using the designated fixed phrase, keeping the original meaning.

4. Rewrite using on time: "The lifeboat left the port at the planned time." (planned)

____

5. Rewrite using in charge of: "The coastguard captain manages the rescue operation in the gorge." (manages)

____

6. Rewrite using on purpose: "The pilot switched on the emergency beacon deliberately." (deliberate)

____

Part 3 • Fill in the gaps

Complete the rescue log sentences with the correct fixed phrase.

7. Rescue Log: "The medical team reached the cliff edge ____ to place the survivor safely onto the stretcher." (early)

8. Rescue Log: "Search operations in the thick fog were delayed, but ____ the trapped group was brought home safely." (finally)

9. Rescue Log: "Deep inside the narrow gorge, radio signals were completely ____ of the command center." (unreachable)

Part 4 • Correct the error in a short message

Identify and type the correct fixed phrase to replace the underlined error in each team text message.

💬 Message from Rescue Leader: "Good news! The fire near the base camp is now under the control." (managed)

Correct phrase: ____

💬 Message from Coastguard Officer: "Don't worry about the false alarm. The hiker fired the flare with accident." (unintentional)

Correct phrase: ____

💬 Message from Lifeboat Pilot: "We have reached the search grid. We spotted the floating marker in the end of the channel." (last)

Correct phrase: ____

Fixed Prepositional Phrases

Fixed Prepositional Phrases

Teacher Note

Learner Guide

Rules Fixed Prepositional Phrases Guide

on time vs in time

at the end vs in the end

by accident vs on purpose

in charge, out of reach, under control

Practice Test Your Understanding (12 Questions)

Select the sentence that uses the fixed phrase correctly.

Rewrite each sentence using the designated fixed phrase, keeping the original meaning.

Complete the rescue log sentences with the correct fixed phrase.

Identify and type the correct fixed phrase to replace the underlined error in each team text message.

Related lessons

Reading: Rega Swiss Air-Rescue Organisation

IELTS Speaking: Search and Rescue Teams

Vocabulary and Pronunciation: Search and Rescue

IELTS Writing: Search and Rescue Teams

Passive Voice and Causative

Reported Speech and Reporting Verbs