Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition.
1The killer smothered the victim ............... a pillow.
Wrong!
Use "with" to show the instrument used to do an action.
2You have an ink smudge ............... your shirt.
Wrong!
Use "on" for something on the surface of another thing.
3She snapped ............... me when I tried to comfort her.
Wrong!
The verb pattern is "snap at" someone when speaking angrily.
4The professor was sparing ............... his praise.
Wrong!
The adjective "sparing" is followed by "in" before what is given only in small amounts.
5He demonstrated a staunch belief ............... human rights.
Wrong!
The noun phrase is "belief in" something that someone accepts or supports.
6My feet ached ............... the two-hour stand.
Wrong!
Use "from" to show the cause of the ache.
7He stormed ............... the waiter and embarrassed everyone at the table.
Wrong!
The verb pattern is "storm at" someone when speaking angrily.
8I can't believe you would stoop ............... such nonsense.
Wrong!
The fixed expression is "stoop to" something bad or foolish.
9He struck me ............... his fist.
Wrong!
Use "with" to show the instrument used to hit someone.
10She stretched the clothesline ............... two trees.
Wrong!
Use "between" when referring to two separate things.
11The region has long been stricken ............... poverty.
Wrong!
The phrase is "stricken with" a serious problem or condition.
12All hands were rescued ............... the stricken ship.
Wrong!
Use "from" to show the place people were rescued out of or away from.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- The killer smothered the victim with a pillow.
- You have an ink smudge on your shirt.
- She snapped at me when I tried to comfort her.
- The professor was sparing in his praise.
- He demonstrated a staunch belief in human rights.
- My feet ached from the two-hour stand.
- He stormed at the waiter and embarrassed everyone at the table.
- I can’t believe you would stoop to such nonsense.
- He struck me with his fist.
- She stretched the clothesline between two trees.
- The region has long been stricken with poverty.
- All hands were rescued from the stricken ship.
