VERBAL ABILITY – SOLUTION
HSEM2BTECHFASTRACKVA1219
PREPOSITIONS
A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun to form a phrase modifying another word in the
sentence.
by... with.... about... until
(by the tree, with our friends, about the book, until tomorrow)
A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun to form a phrase modifying another word in the sentence.
Therefore a preposition is always part of a prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase almost always functions as
an adjective or as an adverb. The following list includes the most common prepositions:
The young girl brought me a very long letter from the teacher, and then she quickly disappeared.
A preposition usually indicates the temporal, spatial or logical relationship of its object to the rest of the sentence as in
the following examples:
The book is on the table.
The book is beneath the table.
The book is leaning against the table.
The book is beside the table.
She held the book over the table.
She read the book during class.
In each of the preceding sentences, a preposition locates the noun "book" in space or in time.
A prepositional phrase is made up of the preposition, its object and any associated adjectives or adverbs. A
prepositional phrase can function as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. The most common prepositions are "about,"
"above," "across," "after," "against," "along," "among," "around," "at," "before," "behind," "below," "beneath," "beside,"
"between," "beyond," "but," "by," "despite," "down," "during," "except," "for," "from," "in," "inside," "into," "like,"
"near," "of," "off," "on," "onto," "out," "outside," "over," "past," "since," "through," "throughout," "till," "to," "toward,"
"under," "underneath," "until," "up," "upon," "with," "within," and "without."
Each of the highlighted words in the following sentences is a preposition:
The children climbed the mountain without fear.
In this sentence, the preposition "without" introduces the noun "fear." The prepositional phrase "without fear"
functions as an adverb describing how the children climbed.
There was rejoicing throughout the land when the government was defeated.
Here, the preposition "throughout" introduces the noun phrase "the land." The prepositional phrase acts as an adverb
describing the location of the rejoicing.
The spider crawled slowly along the banister.
The preposition "along" introduces the noun phrase "the banister" and the prepositional phrase "along the banister"
acts as an adverb, describing where the spider crawled.
The dog is hiding under the porch because it knows it will be punished for chewing up a new pair of shoes.
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VERBAL ABILITY – SOLUTION
HSEM2BTECHFASTRACKVA1219
Here the preposition "under" introduces the prepositional phrase "under the porch," which acts as an adverb
modifying the compound verb "is hiding."
The screenwriter searched for the manuscript he was certain was somewhere in his office.
Similarly in this sentence, the preposition "in" introduces a prepositional phrase "in his office," which acts as an
adverb describing the location of the missing papers.
Directions for Q1 to Q40: In the following prepositions test, fill the blank space with the correct preposition.
1. She mended the sock ___________ a needle and thread.
(a) with (b) since (c) by (d) on
Ans: [a]
2. I will wait for you ___________ the corner.
(a) at (b) on (c) to (d) for
Ans: [a]
3. Is anyone else hot ___________ me?
(a) beside (b) for (c) in (d) besides
Ans: [d]
4. She wanted a new hat ___________ any price.
(a) on (b) for (c) at (d) in
Ans: [c]
5. Meet me ___________ the Eiffel Tower.
(a) in (b) on (c) at (d) besides
Ans: [c]
6. Go and stand ___________ Mary and Jeff.
(a) among (b) between (c) besides (d) in
Ans: [b]
7. I will speak ___________ aging society at the conference.
(a) for (b) in (c) about (d) among
Ans: [c]
8. She spent her holiday cooking ___________ the kitchen.
(a) into (b) on (c) in (d) for
Ans: [c]
9. Karen and I walked ___________ the park and back.
(a) till (b) after (c) to (d) in
Ans: [c]
10. I speak ___________ all of us when I say how much we have enjoyed your visit.
(a) about (b) on (c) in (d) for
Ans: [d]
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VERBAL ABILITY – SOLUTION
HSEM2BTECHFASTRACKVA1219
11. Alex stood ___________ her during the ceremony.
(a) beside (b) besides (c) for (d) between
Ans: [a]
12. My mother lets me stay up ___________ nine o'clock.
(a) till (b) at (c) for (d) since
Ans: [a]
13. I have a lot ___________ common with my cousin. We both like many of the same things.
(a) with (b) in (c) on (d) between
Ans: [b]
14. Did you forget your purse ___________ purpose so you wouldn't have to pay?
(a) in (b) on (c) for (d) since
Ans: [b]
15. It's best to arrive ___________ foot because there is nowhere to park.
(a) in (b) for (c) on (d) at
Ans: [c]
16. The book was ___________ reach on a high shelf.
(a) by (b) of (c) out of (d) for
Ans: [c]
17. We need to be ___________ time or my grandmother will start to get anxious.
(a) out of (b) for (c) in (d) on
Ans: [d]
18. It feels like owning a house is ___________ reach. I'll never be able to do it.
(a) on (b) for (c) among (d) out of
Ans: [d]
19. He walked into the kitchen and ___________ his surprise there was food all over the floor.
(a) for (b) on (c) to (d) among
Ans: [c]
20. I ‘d rather be single ___________ in a bad relationship.
(a) besides (b) instead (c) than (d) for
Ans: [c]
21. Using your cell phone while driving is ___________ the law
(a) against (b) beyond (c) despite (d) instead
Ans: [a]
22. After payment, you'll receive the product ___________ 10 business days.
(a) during (b) inside (c) within (d) for
Ans: [c]
23. I have no experience, so I'm ___________ a disadvantage when it comes to this job interview.
(a) at (b) in (c) with (d) by
Ans: [a]
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VERBAL ABILITY – SOLUTION
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24. My grandparents lived in that same house ___________ ages.
(a) for (b) over (c) since (d) at
Ans: [a]
25. It would expand federal spending ___________ healthcare.
(a) about (b) over (c) on (d) in
Ans: [c]
26. Finance committee is also looking ___________ ways.
(a) at (b) after (c) for (d) along
Ans: [c]
27. That chamber hope to bring a bill before the full Senate ___________ August 8.
(a) by (b) along (c) into (d) in
Ans: [a]
28. Wont the 13th stage ___________ the Tour de France
(a) into (b) of (c) by (d) over
Ans: [b]
29. ___________ for additional money
(a) Into (b) While (c) As (d) With
Ans: [c]
30. Also looking ways ___________ pay for the expanded healthcare.
(a) into (b) in (c) to (d) every
Ans: [c]
31. Terminate its exclusive deal ___________ Samsung
(a) with (b) hence (c) at (d) in
Ans: [a]
32. Do the whole job ___________ one call.
(a) at (b) over (c) along (d) in
Ans: [d]
33. Our boss says he doesn't approve ___________ the changes. He's totally against them.
(a) for (b) of (c) on (d) in
Ans: [b]
34. You must add an extra 1% to allow ___________ shrinkage of stock.
(a) in (b) to (c) for (d) with
Ans: [c]
35. The machine conforms ___________ BS 16499 – it's perfectly safe.
(a) in (b) about (c) with (d) to
Ans: [d]
36. It’s cold ___________ the time of year.
(a) in (b) by (c) on (d) for
Ans: [b]
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