Show I Put Preposition ɒn ɑːn Picture Wall

• a picture on a wall
• there's a mark on your skirt.
• the diagram on page 5
• put it down on the table.

on

1. in or into a position covering, touching or forming part of a surface
• a picture on a wall
• There's a mark on your skirt.
• the diagram on page 5
• Put it down on the table.
• He had been hit on the head.
• She climbed on to the bed.
2. supported by somebody/something
• She was standing on one foot.
• Try lying on your back.
• Hang your coat on that hook.
3. used to show a means of transport
• He was on the plane from New York.
• to travel on the bus/tube/coach
• I came on my bike.
• a woman on horseback
4. by means of something; using something
• She played a tune on her guitar.
• The information is available on the internet.
• We spoke on the phone.
• What's on TV?
• The programme's on Channel 4.
5. used to show a day or date
• He came on Sunday.
• We meet on Tuesdays.
• on May the first/the first of May
• on the evening of May the first
• on one occasion
• on your birthday
6. used to describe an activity or a state
• to be on business/holiday/vacation
• The book is currently on loan.
7. used to show direction
• on the left/right
• He turned his back on us.
8. at or near a place
• a town on the coast
• a house on the Thames
• We lived on an estate.
9. used to show the basis or reason for something
• a story based on fact
• On their advice I applied for the job.
10. immediately after something
• On arriving home I discovered they had gone.
• Please report to reception on arrival.
• There was a letter waiting for him on his return.
11. about something/somebody
• a book on South Africa
• She tested us on irregular verbs.
12. used to show that somebody belongs to a group or an organization
• to be on the committee/staff/jury/panel
• Whose side are you on (= which of two or more different views do you support)?
13. eating or drinking something; using a drug or a medicine regularly
• He lived on a diet of junk food.
• The doctor put me on antibiotics.
14. paid for by something
• to live on a pension/a student grant
• to be on a low wage
• You can't feed a family on £50 a week.
• Drinks are on me (= I am paying).
15. used when giving a phone number
• You can get me on 020 7946 0887.
• She's on extension 2401.
16. used with some nouns or adjectives to say who or what is affected by something
• a ban on smoking
• He's hard on his kids.
• Go easy on the mayo! (= do not take/give me too much)
17. being carried by somebody; in the possession of somebody
• Have you got any money on you?
18. compared with somebody/something
• Sales are up on last year.

Word Origin

• Old English on, an, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aan and German an, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek ana.