Some nouns, adjectives and verbs are followed by particular prepositions. It is not always easy to say which preposition goes after a particular word. This quiz covers some of the most common combinations. Note that alternatives are sometimes possible.

Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositional phrases

1.    He won the first rank ———————– hard work.

a)    By dint of
b)    By way of
c)    By force of
d)    By virtue of

Exclamatory sentences express a sudden outburst of some emotions such as joy, sorrow, contempt, regret, surprise etc. Common explanatory phrases are given below:

Imperative sentences beginning with let are different from other imperative sentences. Sentences beginning with let express ideas such as a suggestion, proposal, request, wish, determination, desire etc.

Imperative sentences do not normally have an expressed subject. This is because the subject ‘you’ is usually understood. As a result of this, imperative sentences begin with a verb in the simple present tense.

Direct: The Father said, ‘Son, did I not ask you to study hard?’
Indirect: The father enquired of his son if he had not asked him to study hard.
Direct: My father said to me, ‘Where were you last night?’
Indirect: My father demanded of me where I had been the previous night.
Direct: She said, ‘Friend, will you wait for a moment?’
Indirect: She asked her friend if she would wait for a moment.

There are two main kinds of interrogative sentences. Those which start with an auxiliary verb and those which start with a question word such as what, why, when, where, how etc.