1. Silkworms feed ———– mulberry leaves.

a) at
b) on
c) from
d) with

2. Alice excels —————- dancing.

a) on
b) for
c) in
d) with

3. He has a special attitude ———— mathematics.

a) in
b) on
c) for
d) at

4. The godown is infested ————– rats.

a) with
b) in
c) from
d) on

5. There is no exception ————— this rule.

a) on
b) to
c) for
d) with

6. Alcohol is injurious ————— health.

a) for
b) on
c) to
d) at

7. She is blind ————- her left eye.

a) in
b) at
c) on
d) for

8. Which cat is averse ————- fish?

a) to
b) for
c) at
d) in

9. Queen Elizabeth knew how to inspire her soldiers ———— hope.

a) with
b) for
c) in
d) on

10. Early rising is beneficial ———— health.

a) to
b) for
c) from
d) in

11. The old man was too miserly to part ————– his money.

a) with
b) in
c) for
d) at

12. The accident resulted ————– the death of seven people.

a) in
b) for
c) on
d) with

Answers

1. on
2. in
3. for
4. with
5. to
6. to
7. in
8. to
9. with
10. to
11. with
12. in

After certain verbs
The verbs enter, discuss, marry, lack, approach and resemble are usually followed by direct objects without prepositions.

Let’s discuss your plans. (NOT Let’s discuss about your plans.)
She married a rich business man. (NOT She married with a rich business man.)
The baby resembles its father. (NOT The baby resembles to its father.)
They entered the premise without obtaining permission. (NOT They entered into the premise without obtaining permission.)

Before next, last etc.
A number of common expressions beginning this, that, next, last, one, every, each, some, any etc are used without prepositions.

See you next Sunday. (NOT See you on next Sunday.)
We met one Friday in June. (NOT We met on one Friday in June.)
We have meeting this Monday. (NOT We have meeting on this Monday.)

Before what time?
The preposition at is usually left out before what time?

What time does the train leave? (More natural than ‘At what time does the train leave?’)

Expressions containing words like height, weight, length, size, shape etc., are usually used without prepositions.

She is the same age as me. (More natural than She is of the same age as me.)
What color are her eyes? (NOT Of what color are her eyes?)

Before home
The preposition to is not used before home.

I am going home. (NOT I am going to home.)

In an informal style, at can be left out before home.

There is nobody home. (OR There is nobody at home.)

1. I have been ill ————– three months.

a) for
b) since
c) from
d) to

2. This is my first game of cricket —————- a long time.

a) since
b) for
c) from
d) to

3. He wrote ————- me.

a) to
b) at
c) with
d) on

4. This paper is inferior ————— that.

a) to
b) than
c) with
d) from

5. You should explain this ————— them.

a) with
b) to
c) on
d) at

6. Men are superior —————– women in muscle power.

a) than
b) with
c) to
d) from

7. Everybody should pray ————— God.

a) with
b) to
c) at
d) on

8. Send this letter ————- his address.

a) with
b) to
c) on
d) at

9. He suggested this ————– me.

a) with
b) to
c) on
d) at

10. He is going ————- school.

a) for

b) on
c) at
d) to

11. They have invited us ————- dinner.

a) with
b) to
c) for
d) on

12. We reached ————— Singapore in the morning.

a) at
b) on
c) to
d) no preposition

Answers

1. for

2.  for

3. to

4. to

5. to

6. to

7. to

8. to

9. to

10. to

11. to

12. No preposition

Notes

For is used a period of time.  E.g. for two months, for a long time, for 2 hours etc. Since is used with the starting point of a period of time. E.g. since yesterday, since morning, since 1990 etc.

The adjectives inferior, superior, junior, senior etc., are followed by to and not than.

We do not normally use a preposition with reach.

a)    On
b)    In
c)    Under
d)    Over

2.    She sat —————— her children.

a)    Between
b)    Among
c)    On
d)    In

3.    Are you still ——————— the same address?

a)    On
b)    In
c)    To
d)    At

4.    It is very hot ——————— the center of the earth.

a)    In
b)    At
c)    On
d)    To

5.    The plane stopped for an hour ———————- New York.

a)    On
b)    To
c)    At
d)    From

6.    Sorry, I couldn’t come yesterday – I was ——————- the theatre.

a)    On
b)    In
c)    At
d)    With

7.    The cat fell ———————– the well.

a)    On to
b)    Into
c)    Out
d)    On

8.    London is ——————– the Thames.

a)    At
b)    In
c)    On
d)    By

9.    There aren’t many mangoes ——————– the tree this year.

a)    In
b)    At
c)    To
d)    On

10.    He asked the boy to stop throwing stones ——————— the cat.

a)    In
b)    On
c)    At
d)    To

Answers

1.    Under
2.    Among (We use between to talk about two people or things. We use among to talk about more than two people or things.)
3.    At (We generally use at to talk about addresses.)
4.    At (We use at to talk about position at a point.)
5.    At
6.    At
7.    Into
8.    On (We use on for position by a lake, river or sea.)
9.    On (= attached to)
10.    At

1.    A little child cannot distinguish good ——————– evil.

a)    Between
b)    By
c)    For
d)    From

2.    Death does not distinguish —————— the rich and the poor.

a)    Between
b)    From
c)    By
d)    For

3.    Dr Richards is distinguished ———————— his selfless service to humanity.

a)    From
b)    For
c)    Between
d)    From

4.    On account of his advanced age he was disqualified ——————— competing.

a)    From
b)    For
c)    To
d)    With

5.    He was discharged because there was no proof ——————– him.

a)    On
b)    Against
c)    Of
d)    From

6.    Brass consists ——————– copper and zinc.

a)    In
b)    Of
c)    On
d)    Off

7.    His parents are very worried ———————- his safety.

a)    At
b)    About
c)    For
d)    In

8.    He parted ——————- his family and belongings and went on a pilgrimage.

a)    At
b)    With
c)    In
d)    After

9.    I am convinced that he is acting ——————— compulsion.

a)    Upon
b)    Under
c)    From
d)    With

10.    The patient is now free ———————- danger.

a)    From
b)    With
c)    Of
d)    On

11.    This peculiar custom prevails ———————- the Hindus.

a)    Between
b)    Among
c)    In
d)    On

12.    She was angry ——————— him ——————– lying to her.

a)    With, for
b)    For, with
c)    In, for
d)    For, on

13.    We should provide ———————- damage by fire and natural calamities by insuring our goods.

a)    Against
b)    for
c)    with
d)    on

14.    Many Hindi plays are adapted ——————– English.

a)    For
b)    To
c)    From
d)    With

15.    The police is entrusted ———————- the enforcement of law and order.

a)    With
b)    To
c)    From
d)    For

Answers

1.    From
2.    Between
3.    For
4.    From
5.    Against
6.    Of
7.    About
8.    With
9.    Under
10.    From
11.    Among
12.    With, for
13.    Against
14.    From
15.    with

1.    He has heavily invested ——————- shares.

a)    With
b)    On
c)    In
d)    For

2.    Let’s talk ——————— something else.

a)    With
b)    About
c)    Of
d)    To

3.    I will talk —————– him if you want.

a)    For
b)    To
c)    Of
d)    On

4.    I have no interest —————— politics.

a)    On
b)    In
c)    For
d)    With

5.    He has the reputation ——————– being a great writer.

a)    For
b)    Of
c)    On
d)    In

6.    Dr Bridge is an authority —————- English prosody.

a)    Over
b)    On
c)    For
d)    Of

7.    He fell a victim ——————– his own avarice.

a)    On
b)    For
c)    To
d)    At

8.    He has complete authority ———————– his subordinates.

a)    On
b)    Over
c)    For
d)    Of

9.    He has lost the use ——————- his right arm.

a)    Of
b)    For
c)    In
d)    On

10.    Let’s proceed ——————- the work in hand.

a)    On
b)    For
c)    With
d)    After

11.    The generous man supplied the poor —————— clothing.

a)    To
b)    With
c)    For
d)    In

12.    The teacher impressed ——————- us the value of honesty.

a)    To
b)    With
c)    On
d)    For

13.    I am quite impressed ——————– her performance.

a)    On
b)    With
c)    To
d)    At

14.    Elementary algebra is allied —————– arithmetic.

a)    With
b)    To
c)    For
d)    In

15.    She was accompanied ——————– her mother.

a)    With
b)    By
c)    To
d)    On

Answers

1.    In
2.    About/of
3.    To
4.    In
5.    Of
6.    On
7.    To
8.    Over
9.    Of
10.    With
11.    With
12.    On
13.    With
14.    To
15.    By

1.    He lives ————– 48, MG Road.

a)    In
b)    At
c)    On
d)    For

2.    We started ———————– eight —————— the morning.

a)    At, in
b)    In, at
c)    In, on
d)    At, on

3.    Stricken with grief, she hanged herself ——————– a piece of cloth.

a)    With
b)    By
c)    To
d)    Of

4.    This portrait was painted ——————– an artist who lived in the eighteenth century.

a)    By
b)    With
c)    In
d)    For

5.    We must start ———————– dawn if we want to reach in time.

a)    In
b)    On
c)    At
d)    With

6.    We have been waiting ——————- morning.

a)    For
b)    Since
c)    From
d)    To

7.    The traveler must reach his destination ———————- sunset.

a)    In
b)    At
c)    Before
d)    On

8.    The next flight is due ——————— 6 pm.

a)    In
b)    On
c)    At
d)    Before

9.    He ran twelve miles ——————— two hours.

a)    In
b)    At
c)    On
d)    For

10.    He ran ——————– the room, panting for breath.

a)    At
b)    Into
c)    After
d)    On

11.    He does not leave his house ——————– 9 am.

a)    In
b)    On
c)    Before
d)    By

12.    The train departs —————— 3 am.

a)    In
b)    At
c)    On
d)    Within

13.    ——————— his children, his nephews and nieces were also present.

a)    Beside
b)    Besides
c)    Outside
d)    Before

14.    ——————— last month, I haven’t seen him even once.

a)    For
b)    Since
c)    Ago

d)    From

15.    Mumbai is famous ——————— its textile mills.

a)    In
b)    For
c)    On
d)    At

Answers

1.    At
2.    At, in
3.    With
4.    By
5.    At
6.    Since
7.    Before
8.    At
9.    In
10.    Into
11.    Before
12.    At
13.    Besides
14.    Since
15.    For

1.    There is a cat ———————- the roof.

a)    On
b)    In
c)    At
d)    To

2.    The cat was hiding ———————- the bed.

a)    On
b)    In
c)    Under
d)    At

3.    My parents live ——————— Canada.

a)    At
b)    On
c)    In
d)    To

4.    I am going ——————- the market.

a)    To
b)    At
c)    In
d)    For

5.    We are waiting ———————— the bus.

a)    For
b)    To
c)    In
d)    At

6.    Hurry up! – supper is —————— the table.

a)    In
b)    At
c)    On
d)    To

7.    The children were throwing stones ———————– the dog.

a)    On
b)    To
c)    At
d)    With

8.    He is a student ——————– Oxford.

a)    In
b)    At
c)    With
d)    From

9.    Where are you coming ——————?

a)    To
b)    From
c)    At
d)    With

10.    I live ——————— my husband and kids.

a)    In
b)    With
c)    At
d)    Together

11.    The young mother sat ———————- her children.

a)    Between
b)    Among
c)    Besides
d)    At

12.    The old man sat ———————- a corner.

a)    In
b)    On
c)    To
d)    With
13.    You don’t need to shout —————— me.

a)    With
b)    On
c)    At
d)    For

14.    He is ——————- the office.

a)    At
b)    On
c)    In
d)    For

15.    The whole village is ——————— water.

a)    Under
b)    At
c)    Beside
d)    From

Answers

1.    On
2.    Under
3.    In
4.    To
5.    For

6.    On
7.    At
8.    At
9.    From
10.    With
11.    Among
12.    In
13.    At
14.    In
15.    Under

Incorrect: We discussed about the matter.
Correct: We discussed the matter.

Incorrect: We reached at the airport at 9 pm.

Correct: We reached the airport at 9 pm.

Incorrect: I have ordered for his dismissal.
Correct: I have ordered his dismissal.

Incorrect: He married with his friend’s sister.
Correct: He married his friend’s sister.

Incorrect: She entered into the room.
Correct: She entered the room.

Incorrect: The child resembles to its mother.
Correct: The child resembles its mother.

Incorrect: He is intelligence, but he lacks of experience.
Correct: He is intelligence but he lacks experience

Explanation

Verbs such as enter, resemble, lack, discuss, marry, reach, order and approach are normally followed by direct objects without prepositions.

Incorrect: What is the time in your watch?
Correct: What is the time by your watch?

Incorrect: We traveled in train.
Correct: We traveled by train.

Explanation

We write by train/car/bike/boat/plane/land/sea/air etc. But note that by is not used if there is an article. For example, we write in the car, on a bus, and not by the car or by a bus.

Incorrect: He is angry upon me.
Correct: He is angry with me.

Incorrect: I am pleased at you.
Correct: I am pleased with you.

Incorrect: He was trembling in rage.
Correct: He was trembling with rage.

Explanation

We use with in a number of expressions which say how people express their feelings and sensations. Common examples are: white with fear/rage, red with anger/embarrassment, green with envy, blue with cold etc.

Incorrect: Who is in the phone? It is John.
Correct: Who is on the phone? It is John.

Incorrect: There was an interesting show at TV.
Correct: There was an interesting show on TV.

Explanation

The correct expressions are on the radio, on TV, on the phone etc.

Incorrect: She washed her face in water.
Correct: She washed her face with water.

Incorrect: The snake was killed by a stone.
Correct: The snake was killed with a stone.

Explanation

We use with to talk about instruments with which something is done.

Incorrect: I go to school by foot.
Correct: I go to school on foot.

Incorrect: I congratulated her for her success.
Correct: I congratulated her on her success.

1.    The new chapter ———————- page 60.

a)    Begins on
b)    Begins at
c)    Begins with
d)    Begins after

2.    Let’s ——————— the first lesson.

a)    Begin with
b)    Begin at
c)    Begin in
d)    Begin after

3.    Do you ——————— God?

a)    Believe on
b)    Believe in
c)    Believe for
d)    Believe with

4.    That boy is ———————- mischief.

a)    Bent on
b)    Bent of
c)    Bend with
d)    Bend after

5.    He is ———————– one eye.

a)    Blind at
b)    Blind with
c)    Blind in
d)    Blind on

6.    The indulgent parents are ——————– the shortcomings of their only son.

a)    Blind in
b)    Blind to
c)    Blind with
d)    Blind of

7.    Robert Burns was ———————- poor but wise parents.

a)    Born with
b)    Born of
c)    Born after
d)    Born for

8.    A son is ——————— her.

a)    Born for
b)    Born to
c)    Born with
d)    Born in

9.    Othello was ——————— the murder of his wife Desdemona.

a)    Charged of
b)    Charged at
c)    Charged after
d)    Charged with

10.    Love is often ———————– madness.

a)    Compared for
b)    Compared in
c)    Compared to
d)    Compared on

11.    He intends to ——————- Peter for the price in the slow cycle race.

a)    Compete at
b)    Compete on
c)    Compete with
d)    Compete in

12.    He ——————- pain in the stomach.

a)    Complained of
b)    Complained against
c)    Complained with
d)    Complained to

13.    There has been several ———————– the new warden.

a)    Complaints to
b)    Complaints against
c)    Complaints for
d)    Complaints with

14.    I have no ——————– his ability to solve the problem.

a)    Confidence after
b)    Confidence on
c)    Confidence in
d)    Confidence with

15.    The magistrate ——————- the accused ————— theft.

a)    Convicted with
b)    Convicted of
c)    Convicted for
d)    Convicted on

Answers

1.    Begins at
2.    Begin with
3.    Believe in
4.    Bent on
5.    Blind in
6.    Blind to
7.    Born of
8.    Born to
9.    Charged with
10.    Compared to
11.    Compete with
12.    Complained of
13.    Complaints against
14.    Confidence in
15.    Convicted of