English Prepositions

English prepositions Exercises

Prepositions play a vital role in English grammar, indicating relationships between words, phrases, and clauses. Understanding and using prepositions correctly is essential for precise and accurate expression. In this section, we will explore the concept of prepositions, their common uses, and provide examples to illustrate their usage.

Definition of Prepositions: Prepositions are words that establish relationships between nouns, pronouns, and other words in a sentence. They typically indicate location, direction, time, manner, and other important aspects of relationships.

Example 1: She sat on the chair. (The preposition “on” shows the relationship between the subject and the chair.)

Common Prepositions: There are numerous prepositions in the English language, each serving different purposes. Some common prepositions include:

Location: in, on, at, by, next to, under, above
Direction: to, from, into, out of, towards
Time: at, on, in, before, after, during
Manner: with, without, like, as
Possession: of, with

Example 2: He walked towards the door with his hands in his pockets.

Prepositions of Place and Location: Prepositions such as “in,” “on,” and “at” are frequently used to indicate place and location.

Example 3: The book is on the table.

Prepositions of Time: Prepositions like “at,” “on,” and “in” are commonly used to indicate specific times or time periods.

Example 4: The meeting is at 9 a.m. on Monday.

Prepositions in Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and a preposition or particle. The preposition is essential to the meaning of the verb.

Example 5: She turned off the lights before going to bed.

Proper Use of Prepositions: Using the correct preposition is crucial for accurate expression. Prepositions can be influenced by specific verbs, adjectives, or phrases, and their usage may vary in different contexts.

Example 6: She is interested in art. (Correct: “in” is used with the adjective “interested”)

Idiomatic Prepositions: Some prepositions have idiomatic meanings that differ from their literal interpretations. Understanding these idiomatic expressions is important for fluency and understanding.

Example 7: He is good at playing the guitar. (Idiomatic use of “at” to indicate skill)

English prepositions Exercises

Conclusion: Prepositions are fundamental elements of English grammar, establishing relationships between words and providing clarity and precision in communication. By understanding the various uses of prepositions, including their role in indicating location, direction, time, manner, and possession, you can express ideas accurately and effectively. Practice using prepositions in different contexts and pay attention to idiomatic expressions and specific preposition requirements. Mastery of prepositions will enhance your language proficiency and enable you to communicate with clarity and confidence.

Fill in the missing prepositions for each of the following.

1. She doesn’t like to go far ——— her mother.

2. The students had a dispute ——— politics.

3. He is not only intelligent ——— nice.

4. The class size is limited ——— twenty-two.

5. Mrs. Finch is thought ——— be one of the worst teachers.

6. You are responsible ——— the payment.

7. You have a responsibility ——— your fellow residents.

8. I will eat neither ice cream ——— cake.

9. I will go either to the movies ——— to dinner.

10. My paper was based ——— the writings we read.

11. That movie was modeled ——— an old Hitchcock movie.

12. Success is the result ——— hard work.

13. Hard work results ——— success.

Answers – 1

1. without	6. for	11. on/after
2. about	7. to	12.of
3. but also	8. nor	13. in
4. to	9. or
5. to	10.on

Prepositions

Prepositions Exercises -2

Supply an appropriate preposition for each of the following.

1. Do you believe ——— ghosts?

2. Anthony is engaged ——— my cousin.

3. Ms. Balla substituted ——— our regular teacher yesterday.

4. I can’t distinguish one twin ——— the other.

5. Did you forgive him———lying to you?

6. Children rely ——— their parents for food and shelter.

7. Tim wore sunglasses to protect his eyes ——— the sun.

8. Chris excels ——— sports.

9. Andrea contributed her ideas ——— the discussion.

10. I hope you succeed ——— your new job.

11. I’m very fond ——— their children.

Answers – 2

1. in	3. for	5. for	7. from	9. to	11. of
2. to	4. from	6. on	8. in	10. in

Prepositions Exercises -3

Fill in the blanks in the sentences with the correct prepositions.

1. I was disappointed ——— the grade I received on my last essay.

2. The medical Center is close ——— campus.

3. Since she graduated, Anne is no longer dependent ——— her parents for financial support.

4. Catherine became accustomed ——— spicy foods when she was traveling.

5. Table salt is composed ——— two elements, sodium and chlorine.

6. Is there enough ——— salad for everyone?

7. His computer is not capable ——— running this software.

8. Washington State is famous ——— its apples.

9. Was your choice of research topic acceptable ——— your instructor?

10. People who are afraid ——— heights are called acrophobes.

11. Water is essential ——— all life.

12. Were you aware ——— the regulation against smoking in this area?

13. Will this office be adequate ——— your company’s needs?

14. I’m not familiar ——— that song.

15. One meter is approximately equal ——— a yard.

16. This movie is based ——— a true story.

17. What he said is contrary ——— common sense.

18. This summer he will be eligible ——— a three-week vacation.

19. The explanation that our instructor gave us was different ——— the one yours gave you.

Answers – 3

1. in/with	5. of	9. to	13. for	17. to
2. to	6. of	10. of	14. with	18. for
3. on	7. of	11. to/for	15. to	19. from
4. to	8. for	12. of	16. on

Prepositions

English prepositions Exercises -4

Supply appropriate prepositions.

1. I am grateful ——— you ——— your assistance.

2. The criminal escaped ——— prison.

3. Elizabeth is not content ——— the progress she is making.

4. Paul’s comments were not relevant ——— the topic under discussion.

5. Have you decided ——— a date for your wedding yet?

6. My boots are made ——— leather.

7. I’m depending ——— you to finish this work for me.

8. Patricia applied ——— admission ——— the university.

9. Daniel dreamed ——— some of his childhood friends last night.

10. Mr. Miller dreams ——— owning his own business someday.

11. The accused woman was innocent ——— the crime with which she was charged.

12. Ms. Sanders is friendly ——— everyone.

13. Benjamin was proud ——— himself for winning the prize.

14. The secretary provided me ——— a deal of information.

15. Ivan compared the wedding customs in his country ——— those in the United States.

Answers – 4

1. to … for	4. to	7. on	10. about/of	13. of
2. from	5. (up) on	8. to for…for	11. of	14. with
3. with	6. of	9. of (about)	12. to	15. to (with)

English prepositions Exercises -5

Supply appropriate preposition.

1. I am not familiar ——— that author’s works.

2. He doesn’t approve ——— smoking.

3. I subscribe ——— several magazines.

4. Water consists ——— oxygen and hydrogen.

5. I became uncomfortable because she was staring ——— me.

6. She hid the candy ——— the children.

7. He never argues ——— his wife.

8. I arrived ——— this country two weeks ago.

9. We arrived ——— the airport ten minutes late.

10. Has Mary recovered ——— her illness?

11. I pray———peace.

12. I am envious ——— people who can speak three or four languages fluently.

13. Why are you angry ——— me? Did I do something wrong?

14. They are very patient ——— their children.

15. The students responded ——— the questions.

Answers – 5

1. with	2. of	3. to	4. of	5. at	6. from	7. with	8. in (at)
9. at	10. from	11. for	12. of	13. at (with)	14. with	15. to

Prepositions

English prepositions Exercises -6

Complete the sentences with among and between.

1. I was sitting ——— my two sisters when he came in.

2. Mother divided the cake ——— her three children.

3. I can’t see any difference ——— these two maps.

4. They spent their holidays ——— the mountains.

5. They found the boy ——— the bushes in the garden.

6. She invited Jane ——— others.

7. These two brothers can never agree ——— themselves.

8. This family are always quarreling ——— themselves.

9. Just ——— ourselves, I can’t stand that man.

10. The railway line runs ——— the road and the river.

11. The story is a dialogue ——— husband and wife.

12. There was a great quarrel ——— the two friends.

13. The property was divided equally ——— his son and daughter.

14. Rick and his wife can usually solve their problems ——— them.

15. The choice is ——— vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream cone.

16. Profits are divided ——— the stockholders of the corporation.

17. The votes were evenly divided ——— the Democratic candidate and the Republican candidate.

Answers – 6

1. between	4. among	7. between	10. between	13. between	16. among
2. among	5. among	8. among	11. between	14. between	17. between
3. between	6. among	9. between	12. between	15. among

Prepositions Exercises -7

Correct mistakes in the following sentences.

1. Wildflowers can be substituted with mowed grass on highway shoulders and medians.

2. To clear deep snow of a sidewalk or driveway, shovel the snow in layers, starting with the top few inches.

3. You can rely to Southerners never to agree about politics, religion or barbecuing.

4. Among dark and light turkey meat, the dark meat has more calories.

6. The “new, improved” cereal is neither different nor cheaper than the old one.

7. Unfortunately, my new computer is not compatible to my old computer printer.

8. Bricks made of sun-dried mud have been used as building materials since before

3,400 B.C., but such bricks are durable only warm, dry climates.

9. Cats are capable to living thirteen or fourteen years.

10. The albatross is the largest in the web-footed birds.

Answers – 7

1. substituted for

2. To clear deep snow off a sidewalk ….

3. rely on

4. Between dark and light turkey meat, ….

5. … is different from ….

6. … different from nor cheaper ….

7. compatible with

8. in warm, dry climates

9. capable of

10. the largest of… .

English prepositions

English prepositions Exercises -8

Define whether the following sentences ate True (T) or False (F).
Correct mistakes.

1. We drove the car into the driveway.

2. They came to visit us with a car.

3. The movie was reviewed by the critic.

4. He came to the United States for an education.

5. Did you notice that Bob walks as his father?

6. He opened the door by key.

7. Paula looks nothing like her sister.

8. They purchased the material for the yard.

9. Barbara enjoyed working as a bank teller for one summer.

10. He went to the store for buying a newspaper.

11. We would like to invite you to our home for dinner on your birthday.

12. He did not notice that the leg for the chair was broken before he sat down.

13. John went to the store to buy two pounds butter.

14. Would you please bring us some coffee with our meal?

15. They met at the movies 7:00.

Answers – 8

1. ?	6. F, with a key	11.T
2. F, by car	7. T	12. F, the leg of the chair
3. T	8. F, by the yard	13. F, two pounds of butter
4. T	9. T	14.T
5. F, walks like his	10. F, for a newspaper	15. F, at the movies at 7:00

Exercise-9 Define whether the following sentences ate True (T) or False (F).
Correct mistakes.

1. Did you agree to your father on which car you should buy?

2. They arrived to Paris sometime early in the summer.

3. Were the students accustomed to leaving early on Fridays?

4. Whether we leave early or late depends about your schedule.

5. The doctor objected to the patient’s leaving the hospital a day early.

6. David was surprised with the amount of time necessary to fix the car.

7. Henry was not very satisfied with the lab report that he wrote.

8. Switzerland is famous of its beautiful mountains.

9. The soldier showed great courage in the face of death.

10. This home certainly does not compare favorably at our old one.

11. The committee was in favor of increasing his salary.

12. Were you tired with waiting for her call?

13. He did not expect us to comment to his newly decorated office.

14. Are you familiar to early American art?

15. He spent his life in search for absolute truth.

Answers – 9

1. F, agree with	6. F, surprised at/by	11. T
2. F, arrived in	7. T	12. F, tired of
3. T	8. F, famous for	13. F, comment on
4. F, depends on	9. T	14. F, familiar with
5. T	10. F, compare… for	15. F, in search of

English prepositions Exercises

Prepositions

English prepositions: These tiny words are so important! But they can be a little confusing at times too, right? In this video, Emma explains how to use them when giving information about PLACE.