Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition.
1When she arrived, I was listening ............... some music.
Wrong!
We use "to" after "listen" when we talk about hearing music or sounds intentionally.
2I saw him getting ............... the bus.
Wrong!
We usually use "on" with buses, trains, and planes.
3I hear that the doctors are going ............... strike.
Wrong!
The fixed expression is "on" in "go on strike."
4It gets ............... my nerves to watch him acting so arrogantly.
Wrong!
The idiom is "on" in "get on someone’s nerves."
5This time tomorrow, I will be lying ............... the beach.
Wrong!
We use "on" when we mean on the surface of the beach.
6She loves being looked ...............
Wrong!
The verb phrase is "looked at" in the passive form, so the correct preposition is "at."
7Having slept ............... eight hours, I felt refreshed.
Wrong!
We use "for" to show a length of time.
8She can play almost every instrument you can think ...............
Wrong!
The phrase "think of" means bring something to mind, so the correct preposition is "of."
9Could you look ............... the kids while I go shopping?
Wrong!
The phrasal verb "look after" means take care of someone, so the correct answer is "after."
10You can't expect people to work ............... no money.
Wrong!
We use "for" to mean in exchange for payment or reward.
11She was frightened ............... a mouse that ran into the room.
Wrong!
We use "by" to introduce the cause or agent in this passive sentence.
12The room was filled ............... smoke.
Wrong!
The phrase is "filled" with "," so the correct preposition is "with."
Answers
- When she arrived, I was listening to some music.
- I saw him getting on the bus.
- I hear that the doctors are going on strike.
- It gets on my nerves to watch him acting so arrogantly.
- This time tomorrow, I will be lying on the beach.
- She loves being looked at.
- Having slept for eight hours, I felt refreshed.
- She can play almost every instrument you can think of.
- Could you look after the kids while I go shopping?
- You can’t expect people to work for no money.
- She was frightened by a mouse that ran into the room.
- The room was filled with smoke.
