Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition.
1. There were ……………. ten students in the class.
We use under to mean less than or younger than.
2. Parts of the country are ……………. sea level.
We use below in measurements of temperature and height.
3. The climbers stopped a few hundred meters ……………. the top of the mountain.
We use below when one thing is not directly under another thing.
4. Who is that child sitting ……………. your mother?
Beside means at the side of or next to.
5. He can play all the musical instruments ……………. the violin.
Except subtracts; besides adds.
6. He has a number of criminals ……………. his friends.
Among can mean included in.
7. The office was closed ……………. the whole of May.
We use during to talk about the whole of the period.
8. I met him ……………. my stay in Germany.
We use during to say that something happens between the beginning and end of an event/activity.
9. I stayed in bed all day ……………. going to work.
Instead is not used alone as a preposition. We use the two words instead of.
10. We arrived ……………. to get good seats.
In time means before the last moment.
11. The trains are never …………….
If something is on time, it is neither late nor early.
12. The movie is quite exciting …………….
At the end means at the point where something stops.
Answers
1. There were under ten students in the class.
2. Parts of the country are below sea level.
3. The climbers stopped a few hundred meters below the top of the mountain.
4. Who is that child sitting beside your mother?
5. He can play all the musical instruments except the violin.
6. He has a number of criminals among his friends.
7. The office was closed during the whole of May.
8. I met him during my stay in Germany.
9. I stayed in bed all day instead of going to work.
10. We arrived in time to get good seats.
11. The trains are never on time.
12. The movie is quite exciting at the end.
