Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition.
1Can I pay ............... credit card?
Wrong!
Use "by" in the expression "pay by credit card" when talking about the method of payment.
2I didn't use the card. I paid ............... cash.
Wrong!
Use "in" in the expression "pay in cash" when talking about using cash instead of a card.
3We met ............... chance.
Wrong!
The fixed expression is "by chance", meaning accidentally or unexpectedly.
4I didn't do it ............... purpose.
Wrong!
The fixed expression is "on purpose", meaning intentionally.
5Did you come here by car or ............... foot?
Wrong!
The correct expression is "on foot" when we mean walking.
6They didn't come in their car. They came ............... a taxi.
Wrong!
Use "in" with a car or taxi: "in a taxi".
7We traveled ............... the 5.30 train.
Wrong!
Use "on" when talking about traveling on a specific train: "on the 5. 30 train".
8The door must have been opened ............... a key.
Wrong!
Use "with" for the tool or instrument used to do something: "opened with a key".
9Don't put this jacket in the washing machine. It should be washed ............... hand.
Wrong!
The fixed expression is "by hand", meaning done manually and not" by" machine.
10She was ............... the bus.
Wrong!
Use "on" when someone is traveling as a passenger on a bus: "on the bus".
11How did you get here? Did you come ............... bus?
Wrong!
Use "by" with a means of transport when there is no article: "by bus".
12I can't pay cash. I don't have money ............... me.
Wrong!
The natural expression is "money"on" me", meaning money that I am carrying now.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- Can I pay by credit card?
- I didn’t use the card. I paid in cash.
- We met by chance.
- I didn’t do it on purpose.
- Did you come here by car or on foot?
- They didn’t come in their car. They came in a taxi.
- We traveled on the 5.30 train.
- The door must have been opened with a key.
- Don’t put this jacket in the washing machine. It should be washed by hand.
- She was on the bus.
- How did you get here? Did you come by bus?
- I can’t pay cash. I don’t have money on me.
