English prepostions are confusing and frustrating!

Native Korean   Tue May 20, 2008 1:29 am GMT
Using proper prepositions in English sentences are really confusing and frustrating.
I think it will take forever to learn them for non-native English speakers.

Can you put the correct preposition for these sentences?

#1. "You can also contact me ( ) cellphone ( at ) 800-123-4567."
a) through
b) via
c) with
d) none of above <suggest the proper one>

#2. If you had to describe the location of this place on the map below:
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc4/devianx17/map.jpg
"The place is ( on ) the cross ( ) 9th avenue and Dell Street."
a) of
b) to
c) at
d) between
e) none of above <suggest the proper one>

#3. My school is a little further south ( ) Kenmore Avenue.
a) to
b) of
Native Spanish   Tue May 20, 2008 1:37 am GMT
You are not alone! I'm an English student too and prepositions and phrasal verbs are a nightmare for me. To those who say English is easy: are you kidding right? As for your question, I would say a) ,c), a). Let's see what a native speaker tells us. Bye.
Guest   Tue May 20, 2008 1:39 am GMT
1. by cellphone

2. ... on the intersection of 9th avenue and dell street.

3. b) of
Skippy   Tue May 20, 2008 5:14 am GMT
And you can't forget our wonderful post-positions :-)

Politics ASIDE Segolene Royal is quite attractive.
He lives three blocks AWAY.
I went to Germany two years AGO.
I worked the whole week THROUGH.

Or the circumpositions...
I'll have to keep an eye on you FROM now ON.

Yeah, English "positions" are fun...
Upstater   Tue May 20, 2008 2:22 pm GMT
<<#3. My school is a little further south ( ) Kenmore Avenue.
a) to
b) of >>

There's something "funny" about #3.

I'd say somethinog like:

- My school is further south than Kenmore Avenue.
- My school is south of Kenmore Avenue.
- My school is a little south of Kenmore Avenue.
- My school is a little further south than Kenmore Avenue.


<<To those who say English is easy: are you kidding right?>>

Aren't prepositions tough in all foreign languages.
Porchia   Tue May 20, 2008 2:25 pm GMT
Hmm you seem to know all the positions Skippy.
Guest   Tue May 20, 2008 2:26 pm GMT
<<2. ... on the intersection of 9th avenue and dell street.>>

I'd also say "at the intersection of" here (although your arrow seems to point on top of the street itself -- perhaps a manhole cover?).
TomJimJack   Wed May 21, 2008 10:37 am GMT
Don't you like the usage of prepositions in the sentence : "What hotel did you put up at?"?
Bill from Warwick   Thu May 22, 2008 12:34 am GMT
1. You can contact me "by" cellphone (or via, but this sounds stilted)..

2. The place is "at" the crossING (or much more commonly "intersection)...

3. My school is a little south "of"...