Level 1 — Foundation · Instant Sentences
Drill 7: Saying Where, When, or How, Instantly
Answer a question with a spoken prepositional phrase — of, by, in, or with — live and unscripted, turning Lesson 7's relationship words into something you can produce on demand.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this drill, you should be able to:
- Answer a 'where/when/how' question with a correct prepositional phrase, instantly
- Use a fixed verb+preposition pair correctly under time pressure
- Keep the prepositional phrase attached to the sentence, not tacked on after a pause
Introduction
Lesson 7 taught you that a preposition builds a relationship between two things. In speech, that relationship has to arrive instantly when someone asks where, when, or how — there's no time to search for the "correct" preposition the way you might while writing.
Shadow the Model
I work in a busy office. It depends on the weather. The report was written by my colleague.
Notice how naturally the preposition attaches to the verb before it — depends on is said as one unit, not two words with a gap. Shadow it until that attachment feels automatic.
Your Turn
Your Turn
Someone asks you "where?", "when?", or "how?" about something true in your life. When the timer starts, answer with one full sentence containing a prepositional phrase, immediately. Do this five times.
Answer now — the preposition attaches to the sentence, no separate pause
Record Yourself
Answer five where/when/how questions with a prepositional phrase, then play yourself back.
Model Answer
Show a model answer
There's no single correct sentence — "I work in a small office," "It depends on the traffic," and "The decision was made by my manager" are all natural answers. What matters is that the prepositional phrase arrived attached to the sentence, without a long searching pause.
Vocabulary in Context
attachverbneutral
to connect one thing directly to another (সংযুক্ত করা)
Often with attach to, attach a file, attach the detail
“In speech, we attach the detail straight to the verb: 'arrived at noon'.”
Self-Check
Self-Check
- Did your prepositional phrase come out attached to the sentence, without a long pause?
- Did you use at least one fixed verb+preposition pair correctly?
- Did at least 3 of your 5 answers finish before the timer ended?
Next: Speaking 8 — signalling a contrast out loud, instantly, using but or although, following Lesson 8.