Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition.
1She believes that there is a fine distinction ............... wealthy and rich.
Wrong!
Use "between" when the distinction is between two things.
2What could have been a nasty situation was handled ............... great finesse.
Wrong!
The fixed phrase is handled "with" finesse.
3She found a diamond ring ............... the bus.
Wrong!
For public transport, we usually say "on" the bus.
4The fine ............... overtime parking is outrageously high.
Wrong!
A penalty connected with an offence is a fine "for" that offence.
5He hoped to free his people ............... hunger.
Wrong!
The pattern is free someone "from" an unwanted condition.
6Both English and Russian belong ............... the Indo-European family of languages.
Wrong!
The verb pattern is belong "to" a group or family.
7Ancient Greece was a fountain ............... wisdom and philosophy.
Wrong!
The noun phrase is a fountain "of" wisdom.
8Most of her arguments were founded ............... fact.
Wrong!
The usual pattern is founded "on" fact or evidence.
9The charges of fraud ............... the mayor proved to be without foundation.
Wrong!
Formal charges are brought "against" a person.
10Early experience ............... bullies in school fostered in him a hatred of tyrants.
Wrong!
The natural collocation is experience "with" people or things.
11It was a neighborhood accustomed ............... foul crimes.
Wrong!
The adjective pattern is accustomed "to" something familiar.
12A liking ............... flattery was one of his frailties.
Wrong!
The noun pattern is a liking "for" something.
Exercise complete
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correct answers
Answers
- She believes that there is a fine distinction between wealthy and rich.
- What could have been a nasty situation was handled with great finesse.
- She found a diamond ring on the bus.
- The fine for overtime parking is outrageously high.
- He hoped to free his people from hunger.
- Both English and Russian belong to the Indo-European family of languages.
- Ancient Greece was a fountain of wisdom and philosophy.
- Most of her arguments were founded on fact.
- The charges of fraud against the mayor proved to be without foundation.
- Early experience with bullies in school fostered in him a hatred of tyrants.
- It was a neighborhood accustomed to foul crimes.
- A liking for flattery was one of his frailties.