📚 Prepositions Practice

Explanation in simple words: The correct preposition with “apologize/sorry” is for when you mean “sorry because of that thing.” Correct answer: C. for — Fixed phrase: “sorry for the mistake.” Why others are wrong: “from” is used to show origin or separation (not the reason). “with” implies accompaniment or tool, not the reason. “at” is used for location or times, not the reason.

Explanation: Correct: He complimented her on new dress — the fixed phrase is compliment sb on sth (praise about something). Wrong options: A) for — not used with “compliment” here. B) of — incorrect collocation. D) about — not the standard preposition with “compliment.”

Answer: D) from Rule: prevent someone from doing something is the correct collocation. Reason: "prevent" requires from before the gerund to show what is being prevented. A, B, C: "against", "at", "with" do not form the fixed phrase with prevent in this sense. Usage: He tried to prevent me from doing my duty.

Explanation Correct: with — The phrasal verb dispense with means to do away with or no longer require someone’s services. Rule/usage: dispense with + noun/gerund to indicate elimination or removal. Why others are wrong: of — not used with dispense in this sense. off — not correct in this fixed phrase. on — changes meaning; not the collocation here.

Answer: C) of Rule: Assure someone of something means to tell them that they will receive that thing. Here, “assured … every type of help” uses of after “assured …” → He was assured of every type of help. Other options fail: about (not correct with “assured”); by is used to indicate the agent; with isn’t the fixed collocation here.

Answer: in Correct choice: C – Use in to indicate a state or condition within a place or field, e.g., “not well in the economy/sector.” Why others are wrong: A. of is used for ownership or part of, not a state. B. down is not used with “well” to describe a sector’s condition here. D. to indicates direction/recipient, not state.

Explanation Correct option: A – into. The phrasal verb slip into means to gradually revert to a previous behavior or habit. Rule/usage: slip into + [habit/attitude] shows moving back into something familiar. Why others are wrong: off – slip off means detach or remove, not revert to a habit. by – slip by indicates passing by, not entering a state. in – slip in can mean insert quietly, not revert to a habit.

Explanation (HTML): Correct: B) to — The phrase is conducive to + noun. Here, it means helpful for health. Rule: Use to after conducive when linking to the object (health). Why others are wrong: A. in — conducive in is not used. C. for — conducive for is not standard; we use to. D. of — conducive of is incorrect.

Answer: B) since Rule: Use since with a specific starting time point to show actions continuing up to now. Reason: "Mr. Murugan has been in this college since 2010" means he started in 2010 and is still there. Why others are wrong: A) for: only shows duration, not the exact start point. C) after: relates to a time following, not the start. D) before: refers to a time earlier than another point.

Answer: A. behind Reason: “Left behind” is a phrasal verb meaning to leave someone or something in a place when you go elsewhere. It takes an object (here, “children”). Rule/usage: Use the particle behind after left to show what is remaining with the person’s death. Why others are wrong: for — means intended for (not correct here). with — means accompanied by, not about leaving behind. by — agent/source, not applicable here.