1.1.7 Preposition

Exercise with Answers:

1. Choose the most appropriate preposition from the brackets.

1. We have been living in Chennai _________ eight years. (for/ since)

2. Abdul has taken______ his father. (after/ at)

3. Vimal generally goes to his workplace______ bus. (by/on)

4. The cricket ball was hidden ______ the leaves. (among/ between)

5. Mani divided his toys______his brothers and sisters. (among/ between)

Answers:

1. for 

2. after 

3. by 

4. among 

5. among

2. Identify the prepositions in the given sentences and underline them.

1. Riya borrowed a dress from me and lent it to her friend, Mary.

2. When I moved back to the city, things had changed considerably.

3. The burglar found the keys under the pot in the balcony.

4. Prabhu was hiding behind the door when his sister came looking for him.

5. My dog sat on my hat and squashed it.

Answers:

1. Riya borrowed a dress from me and lent it to her friend, Mary.

2. When I moved back to the city, things had changed considerably.

3. The burglar found the keys under the pot m the balcony.

4. Prabhu was hiding behind the door when his sister came looking for him.

5. My dog sat on my hat and squashed it.

3. Complete the passage by filling in appropriate prepositions from the list (with, out, to, in, from, during, of, for, by). Some prepositions may be used more than once.

In Tamil Nadu, a very interesting form of recitation named Villupattu developed (a) ____________ the 15th century. Villupattu means bow-song because a bow-shaped musical instrument (b) ___________ strong high tension string is used (c) __________placing it (d) _______________ an earthen pitcher. It is believed that this narrative form was an invention (e) __________ Arasa Pulavar. The troupe gives its performance mostly (f) ___________ temple festivals. There are seven to eight persons in a troupe who form a kind (g) ___________ chorus that supports the main singer-narrator. When the chief narrator sings, the chorus takes (h) ____________ the refrain (i) _______________ the song and repeats it in unison. The whole party sits (j) _____________ the ground and performs (k) __________ a lot (l) ____________ gesticulation and facial expression to suit the narrative they have taken. The ballad style songs are composed (m) __________ the rural dialect which appeals (n) ___________ the audience who sometimes join the troupe (o) ____________ suitable notes or words.

Answers :

a) during  

b) with  

c) for  

d) in  

e) by  

f) during

g) of  

h) out  

i) from 

j) on  

k) with  

l) of

m) in  

n) to  

o) with

4. Read the following sentences carefully and underline the preposition.

1. Julian placed her lunchbox inside her bag.

2. Vinothini left the house before sunrise.

3. Ben saw Daisy playing across the road.

4. Hema keeps all her teddy bears on top of her wardrobe.

5. Divya hid the sweets behind her back.

6. Sudha fell over during the basketball match.

7. Madhusudhan checked to see if his keys had fallen underneath his chair.

8. Mrs Meena asked the children to go into her classroom.

9. After lunch, the children were allowed to play.

10. Saravanan climbed onto the horse.

Answers :

1. Julian placed her lunchbox inside her bag. – Place Preposition

2. Vinothini left the house before sunrise. – Time Preposition

3. Ben saw Daisy playing across the road. – Place Preposition

4. Hema keeps all her teddy bears on top of her wardrobe. – Position Preposition

5. Divya hid the sweets behind her back. – Place Preposition

6. Sudha fell over during the basketball match. – Position Preposition

7. Madhusudhan checked to see if his keys had fallen underneath his chair. – Position Preposition

8. Mrs Meena asked the children to go into her classroom. – Place Preposition

9. After lunch, the children were allowed to play. – Time Preposition

10. Saravanan climbed onto the horse. – Position Preposition

5. Complete the following sentences using appropriate prepositions.

1. Is your mother …………………. home?

a) in b) at c) on

2. There is unity in diversity ………………… the people.

a) among  b) between  c) within

3. He discussed the problem …………………. his parents.

a) with  b) to  c) for

4. Lithisha was praised ……………….. her father.

a) with  b) for  c) by

5. Can you finish the work ………………….. tomorrow?

a) by  b) in  c) within

6. He has been absent ………………….. last week.

a) since  b) for  c) by

Answers:

1. (b) at  

2. (a) among  

3. (a) with  

4. (c) by  

5. (a) by  

6. (a) since

6. Fill in the blanks using suitable prepositions from the box. Some options can be used more than once.

across  with  on  to  by  since  from  about  into at  during

1. What do you do __________ weekends?

2. I am going to my village __________ Sunday.

3. I haven’t met my friends __________ December.

4. Run __________ the street and get me the ribbon.

5. He told me in detail __________ the incident.

6. This picture was drawn __________ the girl __________ charcoal.

7. The car was travelling __________ a great speed.

8. The ball fell __________ the lake.

9. There is a bridge __________ the river.

10. The conference will be held __________ 10 a.m. __________ 5 p.m.

Answer:

1) during  

2) on 

3) since   

4) on  

5) about  

6) by; with

7) at  

8) into  

9) across  

10) from; to

7. Fill up the blanks using suitable prepositions on your own.

1. The soldier climbed __________ a horse and rode away.

2. They have been here __________ a long time.

3. Kumaravel has lived in this city ____________2012.

4. The paper was published __________ an International journal.

5. When will you return __________ home?

6. One __________ the four students wrote the answers correctly.

7. This fruit is __________ the Mexican capital.

8. The head office is __________ Nungambakkam. It is __________ College Road. As you go __________ the station, the office is __________ the right side.

9. The sailors were taken __________ the forest and made to walk __________ 10 miles.

10. The girl standing __________ me was sneezing.

Answers:

1. on 

2. For 

3. since 

4. in 

5. Back 

6. of

7. from 

8. at; on; through; at 

9. through for  

10. before

8. Fill in the blanks by using correct preposition.

1. We go to school ____ Mondays, but not on Sunday

2. Christmas falls ____ 25th December.

3. Buy me a present ____ my birthday.

4. Families often argue ____ Christmas time.

5. I work faster ____ night.

6. Her shift finished ____ 7 p.m.

Answers:

1. on 

2. on 

3. For 

4. during 

5. at 

6. at

9. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with appropriate prepositions.

1. In case _________ difficulty, you should refer _________ a dictionary and then respond _________ the question.

2. The clothes that he has put _________ are very impressive. He is going _________ his hometown to pay homage _________ the village head.

3. The nearest hospital _________ this place is _________ a distance of twenty kilometres. You can reach it either _________ car or _________ a bicycle.

Answers:

1. of, to, to 

2. on, to, to 

3. in, at, by, by

10. Complete the following paragraph by filling in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

Mr. Beek of New Jersey has invented a floating life-preserver, which gives complete protection (1) _________ people who have been shipwrecked. The upper section is large enough (2)____the wearer to be able to move his head and arms (3) _________,and a month’s supply (4 )_________ food and drinking water can also be stored (5) _________ it. The cover can be closed in rough weather, and the wearer can see (6) _________ the window in the front, and breathe (7) _________ a curved pipe. The life preserver is made (8) _________ water proof cloth attached (9) _________ circular metal tubes, which protect the wearer (10) _________ sharp rocks and hungry fish.

Answers:

1. for 

2. for 

3. freely 

4. of 

5. in

6. through 

7. through 

8. of 

9. to 

10. From

11. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences, using prepositions if necessary.

1. The new machines are quite different _________ the old ones. They are able to work _________ a much faster pace, a substantially reduced risk _________ the environment.

2. The students discussed the problem _________ themselves. However, they did not arrive _________ any conclusion. They went _________ their class teacher and discussed _________ her. She gave a solution _________ it and they were happy.

Answers:

1. from, at, to 

2. among, at, to, with, for

12. Do you know what happened to the Titanic, the largest ship to sail then? She hit an iceberg and sank into the Atlantic Ocean. Now choose the right word and complete the paragraph.

The wreck (1) _________ (up/of) the RMS Titanic lies (2) _________ (in/at) a depth of (3) _________ (about/ above) 12,500 feet about 370 miles southeast (4) _________ (of/off) the coast of Newfoundland. It lies (5) _________ (in/on) two main pieces about a third (6) _________ (of/off) a mile apart. The bow is still largely recognizable (7) _________ (with/ within) many preserved interiors, despite the damage it sustained hitting the sea floor. A debris field (8) _________ (of/for) the wreck contains thousands (9) _________ (on/ of) items spilled (10) _________ (from/of) the ship as it sank. She sank (11) _________ (in/at) the year 1912.

Answers:

1. of 

2. at 

3. about 

4. off 

5. in

6. of 

7. with 

8. for 

9. of 

10. from 

11. in

13. Fill in the blanks with appropriate Preposition:

A thiruvizha (festival) is a source of excitement and thrill for villagers. The village thoroughfare wears a festive look, as the open spaces are cleaned, spruced up and decorated (a) ________colourful streamers.

People throng the premises (b) ______catch a glimpse (c)________their village deity (d)______ a magnificently decorated chariot and pay their respects. There is a big crowd (e)_____ the food stalls that serve free piping hot sakkarai pongal (sweet pongal), lemon rice and curd rice.

People (f)______nearby villages and towns display their wares attractively and call out loudly (g)______the people (h)_______buy their wares. Cotton candy, cut raw mangoes smothered (i)________salt and chilly powder, boiled groundnuts, murukku, sweets, buttermilk etc are sold. Men, women, grandmas, grandpas and little children dressed (j)_________their best clothes, enjoy the Thiruvizha greatly.

You can hear the shrieks (k)________happy children enjoying the rides on ferris wheels and carousels, elders looking (l)_________ each other with smiles on their faces.

The entire day is spent (m) _______fun and gaiety. All the village people irrespective of their age, look forward (n)_________the thiruvizha every year.

Answers:

a) with 

b) to 

c) of 

d) in 

e) near 

f) from

g) to 

h) to 

i) with 

j) up in 

k) of 

l) at

m) with 

n) to

14. Complete the sentences using the prepositions given in brackets.

(over, under, on, between, among, into, with, since, in front of, near/beside)

1. The boy jumped _____ a narrow stream.

2. Afsar will meet me _____ Friday morning.

3. The temple is _____ the bank.

4. My friend will meet me _____ his brother tomorrow.

5. There is usually a garden _____ a bungalow.

6. Yuvan has been studying well _____ childhood.

7. A trekker climbed _____ a mountain meticulously.

8. There was a skirmish _____ my brother and sister.

9. The laudable thoughts were apparent _____ many scholars in a conference.

10. It is easy to work _____ the aegis of visionary leader.

Answers:

1. into 

2. on 

3. near/beside 

4. with 

5. in front of

6. since 

7. over 

8. between 

9. among 

10. under

15. Complete the following passages using the prepositions given in brackets.

1. (among, for, at, to, in)

When Lakshmi was (1) ___ school, she practised music from Monday (2) ___ Friday. She involved herself (3) ___ the school orchestra. She was responsible (4) ___conducting many programmes. She was very popular (5) ___ her schoolmates, as she was kind, friendly and helpful.

2. (after, with, on, before, of, in, for)

(1)__ the interview, Solomon was confident (2)___ getting the job. He knew that he was qualified (3)___ the job. He was interested (4)__ discharging his duty perfectly. The interview panel was impressed (5)__ his attitude and skills. So (6)__ the interview, he was (7)__ cloud nine.

Answers:

1. at, to, in, for, among 

2. Before, of, for, in, with, after, on

16. Fill in the blanks using correct prepositions.

1. I am going ______ college. (to, by)

2. The college is next ______ the hospital. (from, to)

3. You can also see the building _________ the bus stop. (from, to)

4. It is just _______ C.J. Street. (across, by)

5. Our college is located ______ Tiruchirapalli. (of, in)

Answers:

1. to 

2. to 

3. from 

4. across 

5. In

17. The sentences below have incorrect prepositions. Rewrite the sentences with correct prepositions.

1. Government Hospital can be seen below the next street.

2. It is just a short walk till Bhuvana Cinema Hall.

3. Keep walking until you reach Bhuvana Cinema Hall.

4. Geeta Sweets Corner is till Giri Tailors.

5. You can walk down this road from Geeta Sweets Corner.

6. If you walk from the end of Vivekananda Street, you will easily see Bhuvana Cinema Hall.

Answers:

1. Government Hospital can be seen on the next street.

2. It is just a short walk to Bhuvana Cinema Hall.

3. Keep walking until you reach Bhuvana Cinema Hall. (This sentence is already correct.)

4. Geeta Sweets Corner is near Giri Tailors.

5. You can walk down this road to Geeta Sweets Corner.

6. If you walk from the end of Vivekananda Street, you will easily see Bhuvana Cinema Hall. (This sentence is already correct.)

18. Edit the following passage by circling the incorrect prepositions and writing the correct preposition against each line.

Dolphins are regarded as the friendliest between the sea creatures.  1 ________

There have been several stories of dolphins helping drowning sailors.  2 ________

The more we learn on dolphins, the more we realise how  3 ________

amazing they are, they care off the sick, protect the weakest  4 ________

at danger, they communicate very well with each other.  5 ________

Answers:

Dolphins are regarded as the friendliest amongthe sea creatures.  There have been several stories about dolphins helping drowning sailors. The more we learn about dolphins, the more we realise how amazing they are, they care for the sick, protect the weakest during danger, they communicate very well with each other.