English Grammar Quiz - Prepositions

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English Grammar - Prepositions

Comprehensive Guide to Prepositions in English Grammar

Prepositions are a fundamental part of English grammar, connecting nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence. They establish relationships in terms of time, place, direction, and manner. For advanced English learners, mastering prepositions is crucial for achieving fluency and precision in communication. This guide delves into the various types of prepositions, their uses, and provides numerous examples to illustrate their correct usage.

1. Types of Prepositions

Prepositions can be broadly classified into several categories based on their function: time, place, direction, manner, agent, and instrument.

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens. Common prepositions of time include at, on, in, before, after, since, for, during, until, and by.

At: Used for precise times.
- Example: She will meet us at 7 PM.
On: Used for days and dates.
- Example: The event is scheduled on Monday.
In: Used for months, years, centuries, and long periods.
- Example: He was born in 1990.
Before: Indicates an earlier time.
- Example: Finish your work before dinner.
After: Indicates a later time.
- Example: Let’s go for a walk after lunch.
Since: Indicates a starting point.
- Example: They have been friends since childhood.
For: Indicates a duration.
- Example: She has been studying for three hours.
During: Indicates a period of time.
- Example: The store is open during the holidays.
Until: Indicates up to a point in time.
- Example: We can stay here until noon.
By: Indicates a deadline.
- Example: Submit the report by Friday.

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place indicate the location of something. Common prepositions of place include at, on, in, under, over, between, among, next to, beside, behind, and in front of.

At: Used for a point.
- Example: She is at the door.
On: Used for a surface.
- Example: The book is on the table.
In: Used for an enclosed space.
- Example: They are in the room.
Under: Indicates something is below.
- Example: The cat is under the chair.
Over: Indicates something is above.
- Example: The lamp is over the table.
Between: Indicates something is in the middle of two things.
- Example: The garden is between the house and the garage.
Among: Indicates being in the middle of a group.
- Example: She was standing among her friends.
Next to: Indicates being adjacent.
- Example: The bank is next to the post office.
Beside: Indicates being at the side of.
- Example: The school is beside the park.
Behind: Indicates being at the back of.
- Example: The car is behind the building.
In front of: Indicates being ahead of.
- Example: The statue is in front of the museum.

Prepositions of Direction

Prepositions of direction show movement towards something. Common prepositions of direction include to, toward, through, into, across, up, down, along, and past.

To: Indicates movement towards a destination.
- Example: She is going to the market.
Toward: Indicates movement in the direction of something.
- Example: He was walking toward the beach.
Through: Indicates movement from one side to the other within something.
- Example: The river flows through the city.
Into: Indicates movement from the outside to a point inside.
- Example: She jumped into the pool.
Across: Indicates movement from one side to the other.
- Example: They walked across the bridge.
Up: Indicates movement to a higher place.
- Example: He climbed up the ladder.
Down: Indicates movement to a lower place.
- Example: She slid down the hill.
Along: Indicates movement in a line following the length of something.
- Example: They walked along the path.
Past: Indicates movement from one side of something to the other.
- Example: She drove past the mall.

Prepositions of Manner

Prepositions of manner describe how something happens. Common prepositions of manner include by, with, and like.

By: Indicates the means of doing something.
- Example: He traveled by train.
With: Indicates the tool or instrument used.
- Example: She wrote the letter with a pen.
Like: Indicates similarity.
- Example: He swims like a fish.

Prepositions of Agent

Prepositions of agent are used to indicate the doer of an action. The most common preposition of agent is by.

By: Indicates the person or thing performing the action.
- Example: The book was written by J.K. Rowling.

Here are more examples of sentences using prepositions of agent, specifically focusing on “by,” which is the primary preposition of agent:

The novel was written by a famous author.
The building was designed by an award-winning architect.
The cake was baked by my grandmother.
The song was composed by a well-known musician.
The painting was created by an Italian artist.
The experiment was conducted by a team of scientists.
The report was prepared by the finance department.
The bridge was constructed by a reputed engineering firm.
The film was directed by a renowned filmmaker.
The theory was proposed by a leading physicist.

These sentences highlight how “by” is used to indicate the doer of an action, establishing a clear relationship between the action and the agent performing it.

Prepositions of Instrument

Prepositions of instrument indicate the means or instrument used to perform an action. Common prepositions of instrument include by and with.

By: Indicates the means or method.
- Example: The cake was baked by using a microwave oven.
With: Indicates the tool used.
- Example: She cut the paper with scissors.

Complex Prepositions

Complex prepositions consist of two or more words that function as a single preposition. Examples include according to, because of, due to, in spite of, on behalf of, with regard to, and in accordance with.

According to: Based on a source.
- Example: According to the report, sales have increased.
Because of: Due to a reason.
- Example: The match was canceled because of rain.
Due to: Because of.
- Example: The flight was delayed due to technical issues.
In spite of: Despite.
- Example: She succeeded in spite of the difficulties.
On behalf of: Representing someone.
- Example: He spoke on behalf of the committee.
With regard to: Concerning.
- Example: With regard to your application, we need more information.
In accordance with: In agreement with.
- Example: The policy was updated in accordance with the new regulations.

Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the object. These phrases function as adjectives or adverbs, adding detail and context to sentences.

As an adjective: The book on the table is mine.
- (Here, “on the table” modifies “book”.)
As an adverb: She arrived on time.
- (Here, “on time” modifies “arrived”.)

Common Errors with Prepositions

Even advanced learners can struggle with prepositions due to their idiomatic usage in English. Here are some common errors and how to avoid them:

Incorrect: I am good in English.
- Correct: I am good at English.
Incorrect: She is married with a doctor.
- Correct: She is married to a doctor.
Incorrect: They discussed about the project.
- Correct: They discussed the project.
Incorrect: He is waiting since two hours.
- Correct: He has been waiting for two hours.
Incorrect: She is interested for music.
- Correct: She is interested in music.

Prepositions in Idiomatic Expressions

Prepositions are often used in idiomatic expressions, where the combination of words has a specific meaning that may not be immediately apparent from the individual words.

Break into: Enter by force.
- Example: Thieves broke into the house.
Look forward to: Anticipate with pleasure.
- Example: I am looking forward to the holidays.
Put up with: Tolerate.
- Example: She has to put up with a lot of noise.
Run out of: Have none left.
- Example: We have run out of milk.
Take care of: Look after.
- Example: He takes care of his grandmother.

Summary

Mastering prepositions is essential for advanced English learners to achieve fluency and accuracy in both written and spoken English. By understanding the different types of prepositions, their correct usage, and common pitfalls, learners can improve their language skills significantly. Remember, practice and exposure to varied contexts are key to internalizing these rules and using prepositions naturally and effectively.

Below, we have provided a few sentences (Easy and Advanced) for further understanding of practical usage of Prepositions.

Sample Sentences with Prepositions - Easy

Here are 10 sentences with prepositions highlighted:

She left her book on the table.
We will meet at the park after lunch.
The cat hid under the bed during the storm.
He traveled by train to visit his family.
They have lived in this city since 2005.
The flowers in the garden are blooming beautifully.
She looked through the window with curiosity.
The meeting was canceled because of the bad weather.
He walked along the beach toward the pier.
She is always interested in learning new languages.

Sample Sentences with multiple Prepositions - Advanced

Here are 10 complex sentences with multiple prepositions highlighted:

She left her keys on the kitchen counter before leaving for work.
The conference will be held in New York during the first week of October.
He sat by the window with a cup of coffee in his hand.
The book on the top shelf near the window in the living room is mine.
They traveled from Mumbai to Delhi by train for the wedding.
She has been working at the company since last year and enjoys her job.
The dog ran across the yard and hid under the porch during the thunderstorm.
He is planning to go to the gym after work and then have dinner with friends.
The painting on the wall next to the bookshelf in the study is a family heirloom.
She managed to complete the project on time despite the challenges and is proud of her achievement.

Sample Quiz on Prepositions in English Grammar - Beginners

Here are 10 easy quiz questions on prepositions with answer options and the correct answers:

Question: The cat is hiding ______ the table.
- a) on
- b) in
- c) under
- d) above
- Answer: c) under
Question: She will meet us ______ 7 PM.
- a) in
- b) at
- c) on
- d) for
- Answer: b) at
Question: They moved ______ a new house last month.
- a) to
- b) from
- c) in
- d) by
- Answer: a) to
Question: The book is ______ the table.
- a) in
- b) on
- c) under
- d) between
- Answer: b) on
Question: He has been living here ______ 2010.
- a) for
- b) by
- c) since
- d) from
- Answer: c) since
Question: She walked ______ the park to get some fresh air.
- a) over
- b) through
- c) under
- d) by
- Answer: b) through
Question: The children are playing ______ the garden.
- a) in
- b) on
- c) at
- d) by
- Answer: a) in
Question: He is sitting ______ his friends.
- a) in
- b) among
- c) between
- d) at
- Answer: b) among
Question: The meeting will start ______ noon.
- a) at
- b) on
- c) in
- d) for
- Answer: a) at
Question: They walked ______ the river for miles.
- a) in
- b) along
- c) over
- d) under
- Answer: b) along

Sample Quiz on Prepositions in English Grammar - Intermediate

Here are 10 medium difficulty quiz questions on prepositions with answer options and the correct answers:

Question: She is looking forward ______ the weekend.
- a) at
- b) in
- c) to
- d) for
- Answer: c) to
Question: The lecture was postponed ______ further notice.
- a) until
- b) during
- c) for
- d) since
- Answer: a) until
Question: He left his jacket ______ the back of the chair.
- a) over
- b) on
- c) in
- d) behind
- Answer: d) behind
Question: She completed the assignment ______ the given time.
- a) within
- b) among
- c) beside
- d) throughout
- Answer: a) within
Question: The hotel is located ______ the river and the mountain.
- a) through
- b) between
- c) across
- d) under
- Answer: b) between
Question: The teacher explained the concept ______ detail.
- a) with
- b) on
- c) in
- d) by
- Answer: c) in
Question: She is responsible ______ managing the team.
- a) at
- b) in
- c) of
- d) for
- Answer: d) for
Question: He succeeded ______ the support of his family.
- a) by
- b) with
- c) through
- d) in
- Answer: c) through
Question: They will arrive ______ the airport at 5 PM.
- a) to
- b) at
- c) on
- d) in
- Answer: b) at
Question: The book was written ______ a famous author.
- a) by
- b) from
- c) with
- d) about
- Answer: a) by

Sample Quiz on Prepositions in English Grammar - Advanced

Here are 10 advanced, difficult quiz questions on prepositions with answer options and the correct answers:

Question: Despite the heavy rain, the match went ahead ______ schedule.
- a) by
- b) as
- c) on
- d) according to
- Answer: c) on
Question: The report was written ______ collaboration with several experts.
- a) in
- b) on
- c) by
- d) through
- Answer: a) in
Question: The book is dedicated ______ all the teachers who inspired me.
- a) to
- b) for
- c) at
- d) by
- Answer: a) to
Question: She has been appointed the director ______ the marketing department.
- a) on
- b) of
- c) for
- d) in
- Answer: b) of
Question: The success of the project depends ______ the team’s collaboration.
- a) on
- b) in
- c) at
- d) with
- Answer: a) on
Question: He was fined for driving ______ the influence of alcohol.
- a) by
- b) under
- c) over
- d) with
- Answer: b) under
Question: The agreement is subject ______ approval by the board.
- a) on
- b) for
- c) to
- d) in
- Answer: c) to
Question: She was absent from work ______ health reasons.
- a) on
- b) by
- c) because
- d) for
- Answer: a) on
Question: The new policy will be implemented ______ the next fiscal year.
- a) by
- b) during
- c) within
- d) upon
- Answer: b) during
Question: He is well-known ______ his contributions to environmental science.
- a) by
- b) with
- c) for
- d) through
- Answer: c) for