Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition.
1. The killer smothered the victim ……………………… a pillow.
We use with to refer to the instrument used by somebody.
2. You have an ink smudge ……………………….. your shirt.
We use on to indicate position on the surface of something.
3. She snapped ……………………….. me when I tried to comfort her.
The words snapped, yelled, shouted etc., are followed by at.
4. The professor was sparing ………………………… his praise.
5. He demonstrated a staunch belief …………………………… human rights.
Belief is followed by in.
6. My feet ached …………………………… the two-hour stand.
From can indicate the cause.
7. He stormed …………………………… the waiter and embarrassed everyone at the table.
We use at after some verbs to indicate the target.
8. I can’t believe you would stoop ……………………….. such nonsense.
9. He struck me ………………………….. his fist.
We use with to refer to the instrument used by somebody.
10. She stretched the clothesline …………………………. two trees.
Use between to speak of two things.
11. The region has long been stricken ……………………………. poverty.
12. All hands were rescued ………………………….. the stricken ship.
Answers
1. The killer smothered the victim with a pillow.
2. You have an ink smudge on your shirt.
3. She snapped at me when I tried to comfort her.
4. The professor was sparing in his praise.
5. He demonstrated a staunch belief in human rights.
6. My feet ached from the two-hour stand.
7. He stormed at the waiter and embarrassed everyone at the table.
8. I can’t believe you would stoop to such nonsense.
9. He struck me with his fist.
10. She stretched the clothesline between two trees.
11. The region has long been stricken with poverty.
12. All hands were rescued from the stricken ship.
