Can you use prepositions correctly? Test your understanding with this interactive grammar exercise.
1We may play football. It depends ............... the weather.
Wrong!
We use "on" after "depend" to show what something is affected by.
2We want to see a big increase ............... productivity.
Wrong!
We use "in" after "increase" when we mean growth in an amount, level, or area.
3Excuse me, sir. You haven't paid ............... your drink.
Wrong!
We use "for" after "pay" when we say what someone buys.
4His wife is suffering ............... hepatitis.
Wrong!
We use "from" after "suffer" when naming an illness or problem.
5I hate the thought ............... going back to work.
Wrong!
The noun pattern is "of" in "the thought of" followed by a gerund.
6I am sorry ............... breaking your window.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "for" and "about" are natural after "sorry" when apologising for an action.
7Who is responsible ............... the shopping this week?
Wrong!
We use "for" after "responsible" to say what someone must deal with.
8You remind me ............... a boy I was at school with.
Wrong!
We use "of" after "remind someone" when one person or thing makes us think of another.
9I am pleased ............... my exam results.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
The adjective "pleased" can be followed by "with", "about" or "at" in this context, but not "of".
10The noise from upstairs prevented me ............... all night.
Wrong!
After "prevent someone", we use "from sleeping" to show the action that was stopped.
11She insisted ............... paying for the drinks.
Wrong!
We use "on" after "insist" before a gerund.
12I am having difficulty ............... my visa application.
Wrong!
We use "with" after "have difficulty" before a noun phrase describing the problem.
Answers
- We may play football. It depends on the weather.
- We want to see a big increase in productivity.
- Excuse me, sir. You haven’t paid for your drink.
- His wife is suffering from hepatitis.
- I hate the thought of going back to work.
- I am sorry for / about breaking your window.
- Who is responsible for the shopping this week?
- You remind me of a boy I was at school with.
- I am pleased with / about / at my exam results.
- The noise from upstairs prevented me from sleeping all night.
- She insisted on paying for the drinks.
- I am having difficulty with my visa application.