Prepositions Exercise

Test your understanding of prepositions with this grammar exercise. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition.

1. We walked ……………………… the edge of the desert.

Please select 2 correct answers

as far as

up to

until

Correct!

Wrong!

To talk about distance, we can use ‘up to’ or ‘as far as’.

2. It is another three weeks …………………………. the holidays.

Please select 2 correct answers

to

until

for

up to

Correct!

Wrong!

We can use ‘to’ when counting the time until a future event. Until is also possible here.

3. I don’t know how she manages to support such a large family. She has nothing …………………………….. her pension.

besides

except

apart from

All of the above

Correct!

Wrong!

After negative expressions like ‘no’, ‘nobody’ and ‘nothing’, all of these three expressions can have the same meaning.

4. Are you wearing anything ………………………. your sweater?

below

under

underneath

Either under or underneath

Correct!

Wrong!

‘Underneath’ can be used as a preposition instead of ‘under’. But note that ‘underneath’ can only show position. ‘Under’, on the other hand, can also mean ‘lower than’.

5. Do you mind? I was ……………………………. you!

Please select 2 correct answers

in front of

in front off

before

Correct!

Wrong!

‘Before’ is possible here. ‘Before’ can be used to talk about the order in which people or things come in lists, queues, etc. ‘In front of’ is also correct here. It shows position.

6. We should arrive ……………………… their place ……………………. time …………………… lunch.

at, in, for

in, to, at

at, for, in

at, by, for

Correct!

Wrong!

‘Arrive’ is followed by ‘at’ or ‘in’. ‘In time’ means ‘before the planned time’. The option ‘for’ is also correctly used.

7. They live ………………………. a small one bedroom flat ………………….. the third floor.

in, in

on, on

in, on

on, in

Correct!

Wrong!

‘In’ shows position inside something. We use ‘on’ for the number of the floor.

8. Granny is arriving ………………………. the 3.30 train.

in

with

on

Correct!

Wrong!

We use ‘on’ and ‘off’ to talk about travel using public transport (buses, planes, trains, etc).

9. Last year, there were a large number of mangoes ……………………. the tree.

in

at

on

with

Correct!

Wrong!

‘On’ can mean ‘attached to’. The mangoes are attached to the tree.

10. His house is ……………………….. the way from Mumbai to Thane.

in

at

by

on

Correct!

Wrong!

To indicate position on a line (for example a road or a river), we use ‘on’.

11. He met and fell in love with a French girl when he was ………………………. the London School of Economics.

in

at

on

Correct!

Wrong!

‘At’ is used to say where people study.

12. A few days after the accident she died ……………………….. the injuries.

of

with

from

Either of or from

Correct!

Wrong!

We say ‘die of’ or ‘die from’.

Answers

1. We walked up to / as far as the edge of the desert.
2. It is another three weeks to / until the holidays.
3. I don’t know how she manages to support such a large family. She has nothing besides / except / apart from her pension.
4. Are you wearing anything under / underneath your sweater?
5. Do you mind? I was before / in front of you!
6. We should arrive at their place in time for lunch.
7. They live in a small one bedroom flat on the third floor.
8. Granny is arriving on the 3.30 train.
9. Last year, there were a large number of mangoes on the tree.
10. His house is on the way from Mumbai to Thane.
11. He met and fell in love with a French girl when he was at the London School of Economics.
12. A few days after the accident she died of / from the injuries.