PREPOSITION

Choose the appropriate preposition to complete the sentence.

1. He sat------ the shade of a tree.
2. The dog ran--- the road and got hit by a car.
3. The mother asked me to put--- the lights before going to sleep.
4. The dog walked ----him
5. The parcel fell--- the bicycle
6. ---- the help of the police dog the thief was caught
7. The leader was born---1958
8. ---- seeing the snake he ran away
9. Two clerks are working--- me as I am the manager
10. He went --- the tunnel and reached the other side
11. He went out---- buying newspaper.
12. The railway station is….
13. Sam walked--- him and the road.
14. The stars are all ----- the moon and the sun
15. Sita spilt the ink---- the table.

Choose the appropriate prepositions to complete the sentences.

1. They live ---- Atlantic Avenue.

at
in
on
to

2. Tokyo is the most crowded city ---- the world.

on
at
in
over

3. Don't walk ---- the street! Walk here ---- the sidewalk.

in / on
on / at
at / on
 in / to

4. I'm going to meet my friends, ---- Times Square tonight.

on
at
in
over

5. He tried to open the tin ---- a knife.

with
by
to
of
6. Mike is sitting ---- the desk ---- front of the door.

at / in
in / on
on / on
at / at

7. Listen! I think there is someone ---- the front door.

on
at
in
with

8. There's paper ---- the floor. Please put it ---- the wastebasket.

at / into
on / at
on / in
over / at

9. See you ---- Monday morning.

 under
at
in
on

10. We are giving him a surprise party ---- his birthday.

in
at
with
on

11. A dictionary has information ---- words.

to
about
in
at

12. You'll find the poem ---- page 16.

at
on
in
over

13. I'll call you ---- seven o'clock.

in
on
at
of

14. We'll go ---- Caribbeans ---- June.

- / in
at / on
to / on
 to / in

15. I was born ---- September 9th.

in
on
at
of

ANSWER
1. on
2. in
3. in / on
4. in
5. with
6. at / in
7. at
8. on / in
9. on
10. on
11. about
12. on
13. at
14. to / in
15. on

1. As I have just had a tooth ----, I am not allowed to eat or drink anything for three
hours.

A) run out
B) tried on
C) crossed out
D) taken out
E) broken off

2. You need to ---- your essay for spell-check before you hand in your exam
paper.
 A) hang out
B) point out
C) cut off
D) go over
E) give away

3. It is not easy for many civil servants to ---- on their salaries as the inflation
rate is extremely high.

A) get by
B) turn up
C) wear out
D) run over
E) take away

4. You'd better ---- your cigarette as it is dangerous to smoke at a gas station.

A) hold up
B) pull through
C) get through
D) hang up
E) put out

5. Jane found it hard to get up from the bed after the alarm clock ---- at seven.

A) broke in
B) took out
C) sent out
D) went off
E) threw up

6. There is an easy way to ---- four species of wild cats living in this region by
their tail patterns.
 A) tell apart
B) see to
C) clear up
D) back up
E) call for

7. I thought the party was going to be boring, but it ---- to be the most
unforgettable evening of my life.

A) turned out
B) looked around
C) passed away
D) fell back on
E) cut down

8. I find it hard to ---- with the other students in the Italian class as they have
been attending the classes more regularly than I do.

A) fall through
B) call in
C) do away
D) catch up
E) come up

9. The first National Food and Nutrition Survey was ---- in 1980 and the most
recent one in 1992.

A) carried out
B) dropped out
C) figured out
D) brought about
E) checked in
10. The summit was earlier to be held in March but was ---- due to the tsunami
disaster that hit India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

A) paid off
B) crossed out
C) put off
D) dropped in
E) turned down

1. D
2. D
3. A
4. E
5. D
6. A
7. A
8. D
9. A
10. C

Prepositions Questions and Answers

The Editor
Question 1 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.
i) The teacher spoke ………….. for Raju when he was wrongly accused of stealing money.
ii) We can visit her in the hostel ………………. 3 pm and 5 pm on Saturday.
iii) The Sinhas have lived in New Delhi ……….. 1943.
iv) Little children are often afraid ………….. the dark.
v) Sneha has applied ……………… a scholarship.
vi) It took Ahmed many months to get ………………… the loss of his friend.
vii) She turned ……….. the generous offer made by the manager.
viii) We were asked to take ………………….. our footwear as we were entering a place of worship.
Answer : i) up   ii) between    iii) since   iv) of    v) for    vi) over    vii)  down   viii) off
Question 2 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.
i) She takes a lot of trouble ………….. her work.
ii) Our English friends have taken ……………… Indian food quite quickly.
iii) He got an A ……………… the Mathematics test.
iv) He jumped ……………….. the river to save his friend from drowning.
v) Always be prepared …………………… a surprise test.
vi) She hid …………………. the cupboard and gave everyone a fright.
vii) She is fond ………. pets.
viii) The brothers quarrelled …………… themselves for their property.
Answer : i) for   ii) to    iii) in   iv) into    v) for   vi) inside   vii) of    viii) among
Question 3 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.
i) He was touched …………. pity when he heard the tale.
ii) There is always a demand …………… good tailors.
iii) The mother prevented her child ………….. going out in the rain.
iv) The baby crawled ………….. the table and hid there.
v) Once upon a time the great King ruled ……………….. all these village are towns.
vi) She is the smarter ………………… the two.
vii) Sheila insists ………… wearing that dress, although her mother thinks its is too short for her.
viii) The teacher complained …………. him when she met his mother in the market.
Answer : i) with     ii) for    iii) from    iv) under    v) over   vi) among   vii) upon    viii) against
Question 4 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.
i) He congratulated me ……………. my great achievement.
ii) The poor man is afflicted …………….. arthritis.
iii) She is blind ……………. the faults of her husband.
iv) The boss had many complaints ……………. Shyam.
v) You must prepare ,…………… the examination.
vi) She is not aware ………………. the danger.
vii) Ravi was accurate ……………… his calculations.
viii) They hid the money ………………. the carpet.
Answer : i) on    ii) with    iii) to    iv) against    v) for   vi) of   vii) with   viii) under
Question 5 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.
i) I refrained ………………… telling Reeta the truth.
ii) The leader counted ……………… the cooperation of his colleagues.
iii) The public was cautioned ………………. pickpockets.
iv) Janaki escorted her daughter to the cinema theatre as she was anxious ……………. her safety.
v) Their path was beset ………………. difficulties yet they succeeded.
vi) The mouse crept stealthily ………….. the cheese.
vii) It was good …………. you invite Sheila for the picnic.
viii) Smoking ……………. public places is now banned.
Answer : i) from    ii) on    iii) against    iv) about    v) with   vi) towards   vii) of   viii) in
Question 6 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.
i) I prevailed ……………… him to join the gymnasium.
ii) The curious child eagerly begged …………… an answer to the riddle.
iii) He was bent …………….. coming first in the examinations.
iv) The theory exam was followed ………….. a group discussion.
v) I ran ……….. my teacher at the show last night.
vi) She is extremely anxious ……………. an interview next week.
vii) What a contrast …………… the two siblings.
viii) The brother fought ………….. their father’s property.
Answer : i) upon    ii) for    iii) on/upon    iv) by    v) into   vi) about/for   vii) between   viii) over/for
Question 7 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.
i) The elderly man prepared himself for a life …………. retirement.
ii) Do you take his word ……….. mine?
iii) Rohini is very concerned …………… her father’s health.
iv) Altaf had many books and papers scattered all …………. the room.
v) The Phoenix is a legendary bird that  rises …………………. its ashes.
vi) The police pulled the briefcase from …………. the table.
vii) The mob rushed onto the pavement, everyone seemed angry……………… everyone else.
viii) The old woman looked ……………….. the cupboard, searching for the photograph.
Answer : i) after    ii) over    iii) about    iv) over    v) from    vi) under   vii) with    viii) inside/into
Question 8 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.
i) Truth always prevails ………. the long run.
ii) Sujata stood ………. the river and saw the ship pass by .
iii) She too some money …………. her father to buy a video game.
iv) Shilpa gave me a rare gift …………… my birthday.
v) Deepak was very upset …………. me.
vi) Michelle is longing …………… meet me.
vii) It has been a long time ……………… I met my sister.
viii) The worker asked …………… his wages.
Answer : i) in    ii) beside    iii) from    iv) on    v) with   vi) to   vii) since   viii) for
Question 9 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.
i) He refused to put …………… with their interference in his affairs.
ii) She has been going …………….. the script for days.
iii) It is our duty to protest ……………… injustice.
iv) He soon became accustomed …………….. the harsh weather.
v) Dilip went out ………………. his way to help the poor.
vi) He was able to put …………….. his ideas so cleverly that he impressed everyone.
vii) He persists ………………… teasing the other children in the class.
viii) I have been waiting for you ………………. four o’clock.
Answer : i) up    ii) through     iii) against    iv) to    v) of   vi) across   vii) on   viii) since
Question 10 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.
i) The safari parks of South Africa abound ………… with animals.
ii) The young man excels …………… both music and dance.
iii) She is a diligent student, worthy ……………. praise.
iv) I saw ………….. his plans and realised that he was going to cheat us.
v) I was ………….. the impression that the meeting had been cancelled.
vi) Always be true …………. yourself.
vii) The villagers lodged a complaint ………………. the corrupt officials.
viii) I can rely ……………. my sister for help.
Answer : i) with    ii) in    iii) of    iv) through    v) under   vi) to   vii) against  viii) on