COMPETITION EXAMINATION QUESTIONS -- PREPOSITIONS - FILL IN BLANKS WITH PREPOSITIONS

EXERCISES RELATING TO FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH 
PREPOSITIONS
(Based on latest pattern of Competitive Examinations)


SELECT THE APPROPRIATE PREPOSITION(S) TO 
FILL IN THE BLANK (S).


1. She complained ........... the principal ..........me.

     a) with, for  b) to, of c) to, against d)of, for 

2. He is jealous ........ her ....her riches.

    a)   against, of   b) of, for  c) with, to d) of, to

3. He travelled partly ..........bus and partly .........foot.

      a)  in, at  b)  by, on  c) by, by  d) in, on

4. He is fully confident ........his success...... the examination.

     a) for, of  b) by,for  c) to, in  d) of, in

5.He differs ........... his parents ........this point.

     a)  by, at   b) with, on   c)  to, for   d) from, to

6. His sister was insisting ....... his accompanying her.

      a) on, with  b) for, to  c) at, to  d) by, to

 7. His father is proud.......... him .......his achievements.

       a) with, in b) by, at  c) of, for d) of, to

8. Both the sisters are not ...... good terms .....each other.

      a) for, to b) for, of   c) at, by   d) on, with

9. He caught him ........ his neck and slapped .... his face.

     a) by, into  b) with, on  c) at , in  d) to, of

10. He apologised ...... her .........his misbehaviour.

      a)  by, to   b) with, on  c) to, for  d) to, at

11. The forest is infested .....many ferocious wild animals.

       a)  by  b)  of   c) with  d) in

12. The little doll was draped ........ a bright red attire.

       a) in   b) with  c)  of  d) by

13. ...........whom was her daughter married?

        a) by  b) of   c) to  d) with

14. He is known for his acquaintance ......... good persons.

       a)   by  b) with  c) along with   d)  to 
  
15. His father stood surety ......... him in this case.

       a)  of    b) to    c)  for   d) by

16. His misdeeds are a matter of great disgrace .......for the family.

       a)  for   b)  to    c) into  d) of

17. There is no precedent .......... this ruling of the court.

       a)  for  b) to   c)  of  d) into

18. In the far off village we were bereft ....... regular power supply          and internet connection.

      a)  of    b) to     c) into   d) for

19. He is ambitious............ becoming a doctor.

       a) to   b)  for    c)  by   d) of

20. He is not answerable .......... anybody for his actions.

       a)   for   b)  to   c) by   d) with
21. His statement was devoid ....... any evidence and historical                facts.

        a)  with   b)  by    c) to   d) of

22. The principal of our school is known ........his honesty and                 integrity.

       a)  of    b)  to   c)  by  d) for

23. He has been looking ......... a new job for two months.

      a)  at   b) for   c) after   d) into


24. All the successful candidates were overwhelmed ....... joy.

       a) by  b)  into  c) from   d) with

25. The old man advised his sons to lay ....... something for the                rainy day

      a)  for   b) down   c) by   d) against

26. His son is negligent ............his studies.

       a)   of   b)  in  c)  by  d) to

27. Most of the people are carried ....... by alluring advertisements.

      a)   into   b) away   c) from   d) with

28. We plan to put ........ at a hotel during our next vacation.

       a) by   b)  against  c) up   d) down

29. People living there were deprived ....... the basic amenities.

       a) of  b)  with   c) for   d) by

30. She acted repugnant ......... the official orders.

       a) by   b)  against  c) for  d) to


ANSWERS
1. a   2. b  3. b  4. d  5. b  6. a  7.c  8. d 9. a 10. c  
11.c  12. a 13. d 14. d 15. c 16 . b 17. a 18. a 19. d  20. b
21. d 22. d 23. b  24. d  25. c  26. b 27. b  28. c  29. a  30. d

COMPETITION EXAMINATION QUESTIONS -- IMPROVEMENT OF THE PART OF THE SENTENCE

Exercises relating to Improvement of sentences 

(Based on latest changed style used in SBI 2017 Preliminary Exam.)

Question : In the following questions, a part of the given sentence is in bold italics. Below the sentence are given alternatives to the italicized part as (A), (B) and (C) which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct option as answer. If no improvement is required mark your answer as (D).  

ONE

1. The traveller asked the old man where does that road led to.

(A) where did that road lead to.

(B) where that road led to.

(C) where that road leads to.

(D) No improvement  required.

2. It is beyond one’s guess who the team will elect captain.

(A) who will the team

(B) whom will the team

(C)  whom the team will

(D) No improvement  required.

3. The boss as well as all the staff members of the office are worried about the bad performance of the company this year.

(A) are worried over the bad performance

(B) are worried for the bad performance

(C) is worried about the bad performance

(D) No improvement required.

4. All the students were working very hard for the last so many months to clear the examination but all went in vain.

(A) All  the students were toiling hard.
(B) The all students were working hard.
(C) All the students had been working very hard.
(D) No improvement required.

5. The only son of the old man played ducks and drakes with his wealth and ruined his future.

(A) played ducks and drakes of his wealth    
(B) played bucks and ducks with his wealth.
(C) played ducks and does with his wealth.
(D) No improvement required.

6. The host kept all the guests wait for a long time before he served them with food.

(A) kept all the guests waited for a long time.
(B) did keep the guests wait for a long time.
(C) kept all the guests waiting for a long time.
(D) No improvement required.

7. Hardly had the child seen his mother than he started to weep.

(A) than he started weeping.
(B) when he started to weep.    
(C) when he started weeping.
(D) No improvement required.

8. Had he paid his dues in time, he had been allowed to appear in the examination.

(A) he would have been allowed to appear.
(B) he had allowed to appear in the examination.
(C) he would be allowed to appear in the examination.
(D) No improvement required.

9. The person who you met in the market yesterday, is my friend.

(A)  The person with whom you met.
(B) The person whom you met.
(C) The person who had met you.
(D) No improvement required.

10. None of them are so intelligent and capable to impart knowledge to the candidates.

(A) Neither of them are so intelligent and capable
(B) None of them is so intelligent and capable.
(C) None of they is so intelligent and capable.
(D) No improvement required.

(ANSWERS)

1. B

The word ’asked’  indicates that the activity relates to the past and the sentence should be in past tense.”Does’ is incorrect. The sentence ends with a full stop. It is a simple assertive sentence and not an interrogative sentence. So formation of the sentence should be accordingly in simple form. Past tense of lead(does+lead) = led. “where that road led to.”

2.C

 This sentence ends with full stop. It is a simple sentence. Here error is due to subject or object form to be used in the sentence. Take an example by substituting a word in place of ‘who’. The team elected ‘him’ captain. ‘Him’ is in object case so the word to be used in its place will be in object case. ‘Who’ is in subject case and ‘whom’ is object case.”whom the team will  elect captain”.   

 3.C

When two nouns or pronouns are joined by ‘as well as’ verb relating to the former is used i.e. verb relating to ‘the boss’ = is .The boss as wellas all the staf members is….

 4.C

The sentence depicts duration of period of performing an activity with the words ‘for the last so many months” It is of Past Perfect continuous tense. So instead of ‘were’ should be ‘had been’.

 5.A

It is an idiom to play ‘ducks and drakes of’ meaning to spoil or to destroy.

 6.C

‘To keep one waiting’ means to force one to wait.

7.C  

Hardly is followed by ‘when’ and participle is used. When he started weeping. 

8.A

This is a condition sentence. Both the actions are imaginary and are supposed to have happened in the past. First is in past perfect tense and second should be with ‘would have + third form of verb.’he would have been allowed to’.

 9.B

 Here error is due to use of subject or object form. Who is in subject and whom is in object form.Check it by changing word in place of ‘who’. It will be … You met ‘him’ and not ‘he’ and ‘whom’ and not ‘who’ So it will be “The person whom I met”

 10.B None is  singular in form. It will be followed by singular verb. None…..is

TWO

1. All the members of my family were living in our ancestral house in the village since my childhood.

(A) All the members of my family was living.
(B) All the members of my family lived.
(C) All the members of my family had been living.
(D) No improvement required

2. Drinking and to smoke has made an adverse effect on the health of the old man.

(A)Drinking and smoking has made.
(B) Drink and smoke have made.
(C) Drinking and smoking have made.
(D) No improvement required.

3. Neither she nor her sister were ready to participate in the competition.

(A) Neither she or her sister were ready.
(B) Neither she nor her sister was ready.
(C) Neither she or her sister was ready.
(D) No improvement required

4. Unless the culprit does not apologise, the  authorities will not forgive him.

(A) Unless the culprit do not apologise.
(B) Unless the culprit not apologises.
(C) Unless the culprit apologises.
(D) No improvement required

5. If his father had enough money he would have purchased a spacious house for him.

(A) he had purchased.
(B) he would purchase.
(C) he would had purchased.
(D) No improvement required.

6. I shall have accomplished my work before my friends will reach my house.

(A) my friends reached my house.
(B) my friends would reached my house.
(C) my friends reach my house.
(D) No improvement required.

7. Before the mother finished narrating her story, the child was already slept. 

(A) the child already slept.
(B) the child already would slept.   
(C) the child had already slept.
(D) No improvement required.

8. Where the saint  was born, when he was born and how he lived are all a mystery.


(A) all are a mystery.
(B) all is a mystery.
(C) is all a mystery.
(D) No improvement required.

9. The captain along with all the members of his team enjoyed  in the farm house yesterday.

(A) his team members enjoyed.
(B) the team members enjoyed.
(C) the members of his team enjoyed themselves.
(D) No improvement required.

10. Both the sisters take after each other so much that it is difficult for one  to distinguish between the two.

(A) Both the sisters look after each other
(B) The both sisters appear for each other.
(C) Both the sisters make after each other.
(D) No improvement required.

(ANSWERS)

1. C

This sentence relates to Past Perfect Continuous Tense as it shows duration of activities through words …’since my child hood’. So instead of ‘were’ there should be ‘had been’. 

2.C

Both the activities are to be expressed in the same manner. Drinking and smoking. For these two plural verb is to be used.

Drinking and smoking have ……

 3.B

Neither is a singular word, therefore a singular verb is used.

4.C

 Unless itself includes negative meaning so not is superfluous to be used with it.”Unless the culprit apologises..”

 5.D .

Both the activities in this sentence are imaginary to have happened in the past.It is not sure  whether they will ever happen or not. In first case past tense will be used and in second case ‘would have + III form of verb is used.  

 6.C

In this sentence both activities are imaginary and are to happen in future. In such cases, for earlier activity ’future perfect tense’ is used and in other simple present tense is used i.e.1. Shall+have+ III form of verb and 2. First form of verb.

7.C

There are two activities one after the other relating to past time.  These have already happened in the past. In one part Past indefinite tense is used whereas for activity prior to that past perfect tense is used i.e. ‘finished’ and ‘had slept’.

8.C

All the three parts of the sentence show a single activity relating to one person. So for these a single verb will be used.

 9.C

Words like ‘enjoy’ or ‘avail’ are always followed by reflexive pronouns like myself, himself herself or yourselves etc.

10.D

‘To take after’ is an idiom meaning ‘to look alike’.

THREE 

1.Today in the morning when I reached the bus stand, I discovered that I had missed my usual bus therefore I reached my office on time.

(A) consequently I reached my office on time.
(B) however I reached my office on time.
(C) moreover I reached my office on time.
(D) No improvement required.

2. All the persons standing in the crowd could not know that where the pick pocket went.

(A) that where the pick pocket had gone.
(B) where the pick  pocket had gone.
(C) where the pick pocket was gone.
(D) No improvement required.

3. As it was already dark all around, the travellers were left with no other choice but to  halt their journey.

(A) but to put halt of their journey.
(B) than to halt their journey.
(C) except to put halt of their journey.
(D) No improvement required.

4. As the young lady was travelling with a forged passport therefore her passport impounded by the authorities.

(A) her passport was impounded by the authorities.
(B) therefore her passport got impounded by the authorities.
(C) consequently her passport got impounded by the authorities.
(D) No improvement required.

5. The boy did not attempt the examination fairly eventually he is not likely of being successful.

(A) consequently he is not likely of successful.
(B) therefore he is not likely to be successful.
(C) so that he is not likely to be successful.
(D) No improvement required.

6. The team elected him captain than whom no better person could be found.


(A) than who a better person could be found.
(B) except who a  better person could be found.
(C) but whom a better person was found.
(D) No improvement required.

7. Having paid his fine, the principal allowed his brother to attend the college.

(A) Being paid his fine.
(B) After paying his fine.
(C) After he paid his fine.
(D) No improvement required.

8. Come what may, we  extend our full support to him in this hour of need.

(A) we have extended our full support to him.
(B) we must extend our full support to him.
(C) we might extend our full support to him.
(D) No improvement required.

9. It was hardly impossible for me to resist myself from taking so delicious food.

(A) Hardly it was impossible for me.
(B) Hardly it was possible for me.
(C) It was hardly possible for me.
(D) No improvement required.

10. Physical activities and light exercise can be helpful in preventing us against stress caused by pressures of modern busy life.

(A) can be helpful to preventing us from stress.
(B) can be helpful in preventing us from stress.
(C) can be helpful for preventing us against stress.
(D) No improvement required.

(ANSWERS)

1. B

 ‘Therefore’ is used to show result of an activity, In this case inspite of one activity the subsequent activity happened. So a word expressing such an action followed by another should be used. Out of the given words however is the correct word. 

2.B 

Along with the words like ‘Where, why,‘ etc. that is not used. As the activity happened in the past, words ‘had gone’ are correct.

3.B

‘ No other’ is always followed by ‘than’ and not by ‘but or except’.

4.A 

‘As’ and ‘therefore’ both words have the same meaning. So ‘therefore’ is superfluous here.

5.B

There are  two activities one followed by the other. The second one is the result of the former one. ‘therefore is the correct word.

6.D

The sentence is correct.

7.C

The given sentence gives an impression that the principal gave the fine and allowed which is incorrect. The correct sentenceis ‘Afterhe paid the fine, he was  allowed…..

8.B

‘Come what may’ means ‘whatever may happen and under all circumstances’ It shows that activity will be done in future time. So past tense is  incorrect.

9.C

‘Hardly’ itself means ‘not’. So impossible is incorrect. A positive adverb ‘possible’ is correct.

10.B

Verb ‘prevent’ is followed by preposition ‘from’ instead of against.

FOUR

1. Taken all the circumstances into consideration, the authorities have decided to sack all the striking employees from service.

(A) Taking all the circumstances into consideration.
(B) Considering into all the circumstances.
(C) Taken all the circumstances for considering.
(D) No improvement required.

2. The inspecting official during the inquiry found both the employees neglect his duty.

(A) found both of the employees neglect his duty.
(B) found both the employees negligent in their duties
(C) found both the employees negligence in their duties.
(D) No improvement required.

3. Those people who do not avail of the available opportunity always lag behind in the life.

(A) which do not avail of the available opportunity
(B) who does not avail of the available opportunity
(C) who do not avail themselves of the available opportunity.
(D) No improvement required.

4. The organizers have not yet decided the venue where the prize distribution ceremony going to be held tomorrow.

(A) where the prize distribution ceremony is going to be held tomorrow.
(B) where the prize distribution ceremony held tomorrow.
(C) which the prize distribution ceremony is going to be held tomorrow.
(D) No improvement required.

5. Both the sisters are very intelligent but the elder sister is the best of the two in her studies.

(A) but the elder sister is  better of the two in her studies.
(B) but the older sister is the best of the two in her studies.
(C) but the eldest sister is the best of the two in her studies.
(D) No improvement required.

6. The accident would have been  averted, had the driver driven the bus with carefully.

(A) the driver had driven the bus with care.
(B) if the driver had driven the bus with care.
(C) if the driver drove the bus carefully.
(D) No improvement required.

7. The authorities have decided to impart necessary training to all the staff members about security measures avoiding cyber attacks.

(A) about security measures preventing cyber attacks.
(B) about security measures to check cyber attacks.
(C) about security measures exercising cyber attacks.
(D) No improvement required.

8. The dignitary who the committee invited to preside over the function has shown his inability to be present on the occasion.

(A) The dignitary which the committee invited to preside over the function.
(B) The dignitary whom the committee invited to preside over the function.
(C) The dignitary to whom the committee invited to preside over the function.
(D) No improvement required.

9. The manager has lost confidence of all the committee members because when he says nobody is ready to believe.

(A) when he says none is ready to believe.
(B) when he says nobody is ready to believe in.
(C) what he says nobody is ready to believe.
(D) No improvement required.

10. What does worry me is his falling in a bad company.

(A) What worries me.
(B) That worries me.
(C) What has worry me.
(D) No improvement required.

(ANSWERS)

1. A

As the main activity is to take place in time to come ‘taken’ is incorrect here. It means that act has already been done.So ‘taking’ is the correct word.

2.B

The verb ‘found’ shows that the act relates to past time. Adjective ‘negligent’ qualifying the nouns ‘both the employees’ is correct word here.

 3.C

Verbs like  enjoy or avail are followed by reflexive pronouns like myself, yourself or themselves etc. For noun ‘the people’ pronoun ‘themselves’ will be used.

4.A

Here helping verb ‘is’ is missing. To make it correct add ‘is’ before verb ‘going’.

 5.A

While comparing two things a comparative degree is used. So instead of ‘best’ ‘better’ is correct here.

 6.B

‘With’ is superfluous here. Only adverb ‘carefully’ is sufficient here.

7.B

“Avoiding’ gives impression of related to verb ‘impart’ whereas here a word showing subsequent action is required. ‘ To check’ is the correct word here.

 8.B

To understand it properly consider the sentence in its original form. “The committee invited the dignitary”, here dignitary is in object case. As the noun ‘dignitary’ here is in object case, to qualify it object case ‘whom’ instead of subject case ‘who’ is required.

 9.C

‘When’ pertains to time whereas ‘what’ relating to contents of the matter is required here.’What he says’ is correct.

10.A

‘Does worry’ gives  impression that it is an interrogative sentence but the sentence is simple assertive sentence and it ends with a full stop. So ‘What worries me’ is correct.

FIVE

1. The tourists visiting this place often ask the guide where does the river the Ganges come from.

(A) from where does the river the Ganges come.
(B) that where the river the Ganges come from.
(C) where the river the Ganges comes from.
(D) No improvement required.

2. Shakespeare as a playwright has a distinction that character of his plays is imbued in trait of love, hatred, ambition, jealousy and compassion as found in normal human beings of the world.

 (A) that character of his plays is imbued by traits of love, hatred, ambition, jealousy and compassion
(B) that characters of his plays are imbued in trait of love, hatred, ambition, jealousy and compassion.
(C) that characters of his plays are imbued with traits of love, hatred, ambition, jealousy and compassion
(D) No improvement required.

3. The company has employed two young engineers to supervise the keep up and maintenance of the machinery of the factory.

(A) to look after the keep up and maintenance of the machinery of the factory.
(B) to look into the keep up and maintenance of the machinery of the factory.
(C) to supervise the up-keep and maintenance of the machinery of the factory.
(D) No improvement required.

4. It is unlikely that the young man will take rest for a little even until he does not get a suitable job.

(A) until he will not get a suitable job.
(B) until he will get a suitable job.
(C) until he  gets a suitable job.
(D) No improvement required.

5. Arrogance in manners, rudeness in behavior and harshness in language is the manifestation of his personality.

(A) are the manifestations of his personality.
(B) is the manifestations of his personality.
(C) is the manifestation to his personality.
(D) No improvement required.

6.On hearing the news of success of his son in the examination, the old father felt elated and was besides with joy.

(A) the old father felt elated and besides with joy.
(B) the old father felt elated and was beside with joy.
(C) the old father felt elated and was beside himself with joy.
(D) No improvement required.

7. Technology and globalization have greatly obviated the need for labour rendering many Americans superfluous and relegating them from the middle to lower class.

(A) the need for labour render many Americans superfluous and relegate them

(B) the need from labour rendering many Americans superfluous and relegating them

(C) the need for labour rendering many Americans superfluous and relegate them.
(D) No improvement required.

8. The old man used to visit the place where he resided in the past for many years and sat for hours brooding over the days gone away.

(A) sat for hours brooding over the days gone off.
(B) sat for hours brooding over the days gone by.
(C) sat for hours brooding on the days gone by.
(D) No improvement required.

9. The young boy appeared in the examination again and again as long as he qualified it.

(A) the examination again and again as long as he was qualified.
(B) in the examination again and again until he qualified it.
(C) in the examination again and again until he was qualified in it.
(D) No improvement required.

10. A few  students of my class is not as intelligent as me but more intelligent than me.

(A) are not as intelligent as me but more intelligent than me.
(B) are not as intelligent  but more intelligent than me.
(C) are not as intelligent as I but more intelligent than I.
(D) No improvement required.

(ANSWERS)

1. C

A helping verb before the main verb gives impression of an interrogative sentence which is not correct in this case. It is an assertive simple sentence.So main sentence and A option are incorrect. The noun the Ganges is singular so it should be followed by singular verb. B is also not correct. C is the correct option.

2. C  

Plays have more than one characters, so it should be ‘characters’ instead of character and ‘are’ instead of ‘is’. Main sentence and (A) are incorrect. Imbued is followed by preposition ‘with’ instead of ‘in’. B too is incorrect. 

3. C

‘To keep up’ means ‘to maintain a certain level or speed’. But ‘upkeep’ means ‘to maintain a thing in a working order’. So ‘upkeep’ is the correct word.

4. C

In such cases first sentence is in future tense and the second sentence is in present tense. So ‘gets’ instead of ‘will get’ is correct. Until itself means negative, so not is superfluous. 

5. Both qualities relate to one person so it is treated as singular. The sentence is correct.

6.  C

Words like enjoy, avail or beside are always followed by a reflexive pronoun. ‘The old father’ is third person singular. Its reflexive pronoun s ‘himself’.   So ‘beside himself with joy’is correct.

7. D

Sentence is correct.

8. B                         

‘Brooding’ is followed by preposition ‘over’. ‘Gone by’ means something relating to past time.

9. B

‘Again and again’ means repeatedly. ‘As long as’ means two actions going on simultaneously. But here the required word is ‘up to a certain time’ so ‘until’ is the correct word.

10. C

‘A few students’ is a plural noun. It should be followed by plural verb ‘are’ instead of ‘is’ Further ‘I’ is required instead of ‘me’. For further clarification on  this point  consider … He is stronger than I (am) and not me (am).