Test your understanding of prepositions with this grammar exercise. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition.
1We walked ............... the edge of the desert.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
To talk about distance, we can use ‘up to’ or ‘as far as’.
2It is another three weeks ............... the holidays.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
We can use ‘to’ when counting the time until a future event. Until is also possible here.
3I don’t know how she manages to support such a large family. She has nothing ............... her pension.
Wrong!
After negative expressions like ‘no’, ‘nobody’ and ‘nothing’, all of these three expressions can have the same meaning.
4Are you wearing anything ............... your sweater?
Wrong!
‘Underneath’ can be used as a preposition instead of ‘under’. But note that ‘underneath’ can only show position. ‘Under’, on the other hand, can also mean ‘lower than’.
5Do you mind? I was ............... you!
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
‘Before’ is possible here. ‘Before’ can be used to talk about the order in which people or things come in lists, queues, etc. ‘In front of’ is also correct here. It shows position.
6We should arrive ............... their place ……………………. time …………………… lunch.
Wrong!
‘Arrive’ is followed by ‘at’ or ‘in’. ‘In time’ means ‘before the planned time’. The option ‘for’ is also correctly used.
7They live ............... a small one bedroom flat ………………….. the third floor.
Wrong!
‘In’ shows position inside something. We use ‘on’ for the number of the floor.
8Granny is arriving ............... the 3.30 train.
Wrong!
We use ‘on’ and ‘off’ to talk about travel using public transport (buses, planes, trains, etc).
9Last year, there were a large number of mangoes ............... the tree.
Wrong!
‘On’ can mean ‘attached to’. The mangoes are attached to the tree.
10His house is ............... the way from Mumbai to Thane.
Wrong!
To indicate position on a line (for example a road or a river), we use ‘on’.
11He met and fell in love with a French girl when he was ............... the London School of Economics.
Wrong!
‘At’ is used to say where people study.
12A few days after the accident she died ............... the injuries.
Wrong!
We say ‘die of’ or ‘die from’.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- We walked as far as/up to the edge of the desert.
- It is another three weeks to/until the holidays.
- I don’t know how she manages to support such a large family. She has nothing All of the above her pension.
- Are you wearing anything Either under or underneath your sweater?
- Do you mind? I was in front of/before you!
- We should arrive at, in, for their place ……………………. time …………………… lunch.
- They live in, on a small one bedroom flat ………………….. the third floor.
- Granny is arriving on the 3.30 train.
- Last year, there were a large number of mangoes on the tree.
- His house is on the way from Mumbai to Thane.
- He met and fell in love with a French girl when he was at the London School of Economics.
- A few days after the accident she died Either of or from the injuries.
