A Preposition shows the relation between a noun or a pronoun and the other part of the sentence.
Kinds of Prepositions
Preposition: On, in, at, by, for, from, of, off, up, to, with, about, above, across, along, among, around, before, behind, beside, between, within, without, beyond, inside, outside etc., Phrasal Prepositions: According to, along with, away from, because of, by means of, by virtue of, by way of, for the sake of, in addition
to, in case of, in course of, in favour of, in front of, in order to, in place of, with reference to, in regard to, inspite of, on account of, on behalf of, owing to, with regard to etc., Position of Prepositions
1. A preposition is usually placed before the noun or noun phrase it governs.
e.g.: Ravi is in the room. They are at the market.
2. A preposition is placed after the infinitive.
e.g.: This is a good pen to write with. This is a good hotel to stay at.
3. A preposition can occur at the end of a relative clause or a question.
e.g.: This is the book that I asked for. What is she looking at?
4. Some prepositions can be placed at the beginning of some questions.
e.g.: With whom did you go to the market? For which bus are you waiting?
5. When the indirect object comes after the direct object, a preposition is placed before the indirect object.
e.g.: I sent a present to my brother. ‘Present’ is the direct object and ‘my brother’ is the indirect object.
6. When the indirect object comes before the direct object, a preposition is not necessary.
e.g.: I sent my brother a present.
Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is 5.
1. Your dress, which is gorgeous, (1)/ is (2)/ different (3)/ and superior to my dress. (4)/ No error (5).
2. The land lord, in his will (1)/ has clearly stated (2)/ that his property should be distributed (3)/ between his four sons. (4)/ No
error (5).
3. Beside being conferred a title, (1)/ the artist is also given a cash reward (2)/ for his exemplary contribution (3)/ to the field of art and literature. (4)/ No error (5).
4. I have been trying to contact the director (1)/ for the last two months, (2)/ but he says that he is busy (3)/ since 5th of
September, 2012. (4)/ No error (5).
5. The batsman deserves appreciation (1)/ as (2)/ he has been batting (3)/ since seven hours. (4)/ No error (5).
6. Kiran, who had handed over his valuables to his close relative (1)/ before leaving for the U.S.A., (2)/ came back in a few days (3)/ and asked his friend to give them back. (4)/ No error (5).
7. The performance was (1)/ so (2)/ superb that all the audience were (3)/ delighted at it. (4)/ No error (5).
8. Though (1)/ I expatiated to the the manager (2)/ on the problem in all earnestness, (3)/ he did not comply on my request for financial help. (4)/ No error (5).
9. As his apparel (1)/ is grotesque, (2)/ Sunil jeered at (3)/ by the on-lookers. (4)/ No error (5).
10. For peaceful co-existence, (1)/ people should develop the trait of (2)/ not (3)/ interfering with others’ affairs. (4)/ No error (5).
11. In view of (1)/ dwindling rate of production, (2)/ the Managing Director has warned all the workers about (3)/ shirking their responsibilities. (4)/ No error (5).
12. In order to (1)/ avoid expulsion from the college, (2)/ all the students are hereby (3)/ instructed to adhere by the rules of
discipline. (4)/ No error (5).
13. Since (1)/ he is (2)/ not able to run the factory, (3)/ he is thinking of disposing it. (4)/ No error (5).
14. Most of the Indian students (1)/ who are blessed with intelligence and diligence, (2)/ long for (3)/ pursuing their studies in other countries. (4)/ No error (5).
15. The audience are (1)/ amazed over (2)/ the stupendous performance of the acrobat, (3)/ who had done a perilous feat. (4)/ No error (5).
16. Those candidates, who display (1)/ exemplary and prodigious qualities (2)/ of head and heart (3)/ will be qualified to the posts
advertised. (4)/ No error (5).
17. He has produced (1)/ a medical certificate issued by registered medical practitioner. (2)/ Hence (3)/ he has been exempted to attending the N.C.C. classes. (4)/ No error (5).
18. If you are keen to approach (1)/ the right person, (2)/ who has an access to the minister concerned, (3)/ you are sure of getting
a job. (4)/ No error (5).
19. It is not enough (1)/ if you have nodding acquaintance to your neighbours. (2)/ You need to develop (3)/ close association with
them. (4)/ No error (5).
20. His fondness to pets (1)/ is decried (2)/ by the residents of the locality (3)/ as he does not domesticate them in a hygienic
environs. (4)/ No error (5).
21. The father has (1)/ a great attachment on his child. (2)/ He pampers (3)/ it profusely. (4)/ No error (5).
22. Since (1)/ Kiran resembles to his brother, (2)/ all his friends mistake him (3)/ for his brother. (4)/ No error (5).
23. Subhash Chandra Bose took pride on (1)/ the cultural heritage of India (2)/ and fought tooth and nail (3)/ for preserving it. (4)/ No
error (5).
24. The Chairman visited all the branches (1)/ on last Monday (2)/ and congratulated all the employees (3)/ on making sincere
efforts for the progress of the institution. (4)/ No error (5).
25. A great honour has been (1)/ bestowed to Sri Jayaprakash Narayan (2)/ for his selfless service (3)/ to the poor and down-trodden
sections of the society. (4)/ No error (5).
26. All the members of staff (1)/ are enthusiastically (2)/ awaiting for the arrival of the Managing Director (3)/ after his successful
tour of the western countries. (4)/ No error (5).
27. The Chairman is (1)/ angry with (2)/ the indifferent and callous behaviour (3)/ of the employees. (4)/ No error (5).
28. When Kiran had raised some objections (1)/ to the implementation of the proposal, (2)/ all the members (3)/ laughed at his face. (4)/ No error (5).
KEY WITH EXPLANATIONS
1-3; It should ‘different from’. If there are two adjectives, which should be followed by different prepositions, both the prepositions must be put in.
2-4; Replace ‘between’ with ‘among’. ‘Between’ is used with two persons or things. ‘Among’ is used with more than two persons or things.
3-1; Replace ‘beside’ with ‘besides’. ‘Beside’ means ‘by the side of’. “Besides’ means ‘in addition to’.
4-4; Replace ‘since’ with ‘from’. ‘Since’ denotes ‘point of time’ and it is used with perfect tense only. ‘From’ also denotes ‘point of time’, but unlike ‘since’, it is used with all tenses, except perfect tense.
5-4; Replace ‘since’, with ‘for’. ‘Since’ is used with ‘point of time’ and ‘for’ is used with ‘period of time’.
6-3; Replace ‘in’ with ‘after’. ‘After’ expresses some period of time in the past, while ‘in’ expresses some period of time in the future.
7-4; It should be ‘delight in’. Verbs like delight, persevere, believe, indulge, excel, fail, succeed, increase and persist are followed by the preposition ‘in’.
8-4; It should be ‘comply with’. Verbs like comply, sympathize, coincide. disagree, meddle, supply, cope, unite, quarrel and threaten are followed by the preposition ‘in’.
9-5; No error. Verbs like smile, wonder, gaze, jeer, laugh, aim, look, stare, and hint are followed by the preposition ‘at’.
10-4; It should be ‘interfering in’. ‘Interfere with’ should be used when we speak of a ‘person’. ‘Interfere in’ should be used when we speak of ‘a certain thing’.
11-3; Replace ‘about’ with against’. Verbs like warn, lean, rebel, guard and offend should be followed by the preposition ‘against’.
12-4; ‘Adhere’, which means ‘obey’, is followed by ‘to’. Verbs like adhere, submit, introduce, belong, adapt, prefer, surrender, add, conform, object, consent and listen are followed by the preposition ‘to’.
13-4; It should ‘disposing of it’. Verbs like dispose, boast, accuse, acquit, dream, suspect, complain and tire are followed
by the preposition ‘of’.
14-5; ‘Long for’ means ‘desire for’. Verbs like long, hope, compensate, apologize, feel, wait, pray and send are followed by
the preposition ‘for’.
15-2; It should be ‘amazed at’. Past Participles like amazed and amused are followed by the preposition ‘at’.
16-4; Replace ‘qualified to’ with ‘qualified for’. Past Participles like ‘qualified’ and ‘prepared’ are followed by ‘for’.
17-4; It should be ‘exempted from’.
18-1; It should be ‘keen on approaching’. Words like intent, dependent and keen are followed by the preposition ‘on’.
19-2; It should be ‘acquaintance with’. Nouns like relationship, peace, comparison, quarrel, and acquaintance are followed by ‘with’.
20-1; It should be ‘fondness for’. Nouns like fondness, apology, liking, affection and reputation are followed by the preposition
‘for’.
21-2; It should be ‘attachment to’. Nouns like attitude, admission, access, attachment, attention, exception, invitation, slave, resemblance, and obedience are followed by the preposition ‘to’.
22-2; Delete ‘to’ after ‘resembles’. No preposition is required after transitive verbs like resemble, approach, ask, advise, give etc.,
23-1; It should be ‘took pride in’. Nouns like pride, delight, skill, pleasure, confidence and difficulty are followed by the
preposition ‘in’.
24-2; Delete ‘on’. When a noun that has a time reference is
preceded by an adjective, no preposition is required. In this sentence, the noun that has the time reference is ‘Monday’ and the adjective that comes before it is ‘last’.
25-2; It should be ‘bestowed on’. Verbs like bestow, compliment, depend, comment, base, insist and congratulate are followed by the preposition ‘on’.
26-3; It should not be ‘awaiting for’. It should be ‘awaiting’.
After the verbs like await, discuss, cope, watch, tell and comprise, use of preposition is not required.
27-2; Replace ‘with’ with ‘at’. Angry with (person). Angry at (something).
28-4; It should be ‘laughed in his face’. Phrases like ‘‘laugh in one’s face’’, ‘‘tell one to one’s face’’ are correct expressions.