The Ultimate English Prepositions Challenge
Master your grammar with 50 complex questions. You have 30 minutes!
1. The teacher was shocked _____ his student's rude behaviour.
Rule: While 'by' is common in passive sentences, the verb 'shocked' is typically followed by the preposition 'at' when referring to an event, action, or thing.
2. I have been waiting for you _____ half an hour.
Rule: 'For' is used to denote a period of time, whereas 'since' is used to denote a specific point in time.
3. This book is quite different _____ the one I read last week.
Rule: The adjective 'different' is correctly followed by the preposition 'from'. 'Different than' is common in American English but 'different from' is standard in British and formal English.
4. The new policy will come _____ effect from next Monday.
Rule: The idiom 'come into effect' means to become operational or start to be used. 'Into' shows the change of state.
5. He is endowed _____ great talents.
Rule: The phrasal verb 'endowed with' means to be naturally provided with a particular quality or feature.
6. There is no exception _____ this rule.
Rule: The noun 'exception' is always followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating what the exception applies to.
7. We must abide _____ the decisions of the committee.
Rule: The phrasal verb 'abide by' means to accept or act in accordance with a rule, decision, or recommendation.
8. The police are looking _____ the case very carefully.
Rule: The phrasal verb 'look into' means to investigate or examine the facts about a problem or situation.
9. He is interested _____ learning French.
Rule: The adjective 'interested' is always followed by the preposition 'in'.
10. The sweets were distributed _____ the two brothers.
Rule: 'Between' is used when referring to two people or things. 'Among' is used for more than two.
11. I am accustomed _____ waking up early.
Rule: The expression 'accustomed to' means to be used to something. The 'to' here is a preposition, not part of an infinitive.
12. She prides herself _____ her excellent cooking skills.
Rule: The phrasal verb 'pride oneself on' means to be proud of a particular quality or skill.
13. The company has to dispense _____ the services of several employees.
Rule: The phrasal verb 'dispense with' means to get rid of or stop using something or someone.
14. He has been accused _____ theft by his employer.
Rule: The verb 'accuse' is followed by the preposition 'of' when stating the crime or wrongdoing.
15. The minister resigned _____ the cabinet due to health reasons.
Rule: The verb 'resign' is followed by 'from' to indicate the position or body one is leaving.
16. The new manager is very popular _____ the employees.
Rule: The adjective 'popular' is followed by 'with' (or 'among') when referring to the group of people who like someone or something.
17. Are you related _____ the victim?
Rule: The adjective 'related' is followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating a connection or relationship.
18. The chairman will preside _____ the meeting tomorrow.
Rule: The phrasal verb 'preside over' means to be in charge of a formal meeting, ceremony, or debate.
19. We should not be indifferent _____ the sufferings of the poor.
Rule: The adjective 'indifferent' is followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating a lack of interest or concern.
20. He is confident _____ his success in the examination.
Rule: The adjective 'confident' is followed by the preposition 'of' (or sometimes 'about').
21. The fire resulted _____ a huge loss of property.
Rule: 'Result in' is used to indicate the outcome or consequence of an action. 'Result from' indicates the cause.
22. She complains _____ a headache every morning.
Rule: One 'complains of' an ailment (like a headache) and 'complains about' a situation or person.
23. This material is inferior _____ that one.
Rule: Latin comparative adjectives like 'inferior', 'superior', 'senior', 'junior', and 'prior' are followed by 'to', not 'than'.
24. He has been suffering from malaria _____ last week.
Rule: 'Since' is used with a specific point in time in the past ('last week') to indicate the starting point of an action that continues to the present.
25. We were amazed _____ his incredible performance.
Rule: The verb 'amazed' is correctly followed by 'at' or 'by'. 'At' is often used to express a reaction to something specific.
26. The committee consists _____ ten members.
Rule: The phrasal verb 'consist of' means to be composed or made up of something.
27. She is not eligible _____ this post.
Rule: The adjective 'eligible' is followed by the preposition 'for' when referring to a position or thing.
28. The judge acquitted him _____ all the charges.
Rule: The verb 'acquit' is followed by the preposition 'of' when stating the crime or charge from which someone is found not guilty.
29. What is the time _____ your watch?
Rule: This is an idiomatic usage. We ask for the time 'by' someone's watch.
30. He jumped _____ the river to save the drowning child.
Rule: 'Into' is used to show movement from outside to inside. 'In' shows a state of being already inside.
31. The patient is now free _____ danger.
Rule: The expression 'free from' is used to indicate being liberated or safe from something undesirable.
32. This work of art is worthy _____ praise.
Rule: The adjective 'worthy' is followed by the preposition 'of'.
33. We must not be blind _____ the faults of our children.
Rule: The expression 'blind to' means to ignore or be unaware of something obvious.
34. He is working _____ a new project at the moment.
Rule: One 'works on' a project, task, or problem.
35. I was astonished _____ the news of his failure.
Rule: Similar to 'shocked' and 'amazed', the verb 'astonished' is followed by 'at' (or 'by') when referring to the cause of the feeling.
36. She has a strong aversion _____ getting up early.
Rule: The noun 'aversion' (a strong dislike) is followed by the preposition 'to'.
37. There is a bridge _____ the river.
Rule: 'Across' is used to indicate something that goes from one side to the other. 'Over' could also be used.
38. I am very much annoyed _____ him for his carelessness.
Rule: One is 'annoyed with' a person and 'annoyed at' a thing or situation.
39. Can we rely _____ this information?
Rule: The phrasal verb 'rely on' means to depend on or trust someone or something.
40. The students were prohibited _____ bringing mobile phones into the exam hall.
Rule: The verb 'prohibit' is followed by the structure 'prohibit [someone] from [doing something]'.
41. The cat sprang _____ the table and knocked over the vase.
Rule: 'Upon' (or 'on') is used here to show movement onto a surface. 'Upon' is often considered more formal or emphatic than 'on'.
42. He is a descendant _____ the Mughal dynasty.
Rule: The noun 'descendant' is followed by the preposition 'of' to indicate lineage.
43. We must be grateful for the blessings that have been bestowed _____ us.
Rule: The phrasal verb 'bestow upon' (or 'bestow on') means to give something as an honour or present.
44. I have no access _____ the manager's office.
Rule: The noun 'access' is followed by the preposition 'to' when referring to a place or information.
45. This law is not applicable _____ foreign citizens.
Rule: The adjective 'applicable' is followed by 'to' when indicating the person or group affected.
46. The politician has a great deal of influence _____ the local community.
Rule: The noun 'influence' is followed by 'over' (or 'on') when referring to the power to affect someone or something.
47. The brothers quarrelled _____ themselves over the property.
- among
- between
- with
- against
Rule: 'Among' is used because 'themselves' implies there are more than two brothers. 'Between' would be used for exactly two.
48. He has been ill _____ a week.
Rule: 'For' is used to indicate a duration or period of time ('a week').
49. She is good _____ mathematics but weak _____ English.
- at, in
- in, at
- at, at
- in, in
Rule: The correct collocation is 'good at' a subject or skill, and 'weak in' a subject or area.
50. Contrary _____ my expectations, he failed the exam.
Rule: The expression 'contrary to' means in opposition to what is expected.
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