Can you use prepositions correctly? Test your understanding with this interactive grammar exercise.
1. We may play football. It depends ......................... the weather.
Depend and dependent take the preposition 'on'.
2. We want to see a big increase .................... productivity.
Increase is followed by 'in', not 'of' or 'with'
3. Excuse me, sir. You haven't ............................ your drink.
We pay 'for' something that is bought.
4. His wife is suffering .............................. hepatitis.
Suffer is followed by the preposition 'from'.
5. I hate the thought .......................... going back to work.
The correct expression is 'the thought of'.
6. I am sorry ............................. breaking your window.
Sorry can be followed by for or about.
7. Who is responsible ............................. the shopping this week?
The words responsible and responsibility are followed by 'for'.
8. You remind me ............................ a boy I was at school with.
We use remind...of to say that something makes us remember the past.
9. I am pleased ........................... my exam results.
We can be pleased with / about / at something, but we can only be pleased with somebody.
10. The noise from upstairs prevented me .........................
Note the pattern: prevent ... from ... ing form.
11. She insisted ........................... paying for the drinks.
Insist is followed by 'on'.
12. I am having difficulty .......................... my visa processing.
We can have difficulty with something and difficulty in doing something.
Answers
1. We may play football. It depends on the weather.
2. We want to see a big increase in productivity.
3. Excuse me, sir. You haven’t paid for your drink.
4. His wife is suffering from hepatitis.
5. I hate the thought of going back to work.
6. I am sorry for / about breaking your window.
7. Who is responsible for the shopping this week?
8. You remind me of a boy I was at school with.
9. I am pleased with / about / at my exam results.
10. The noise from upstairs prevented me from sleeping.
11. She insisted on paying for the drinks.
12. I am having difficulty with my visa processing.
