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📚 Prepositions Practice
Choose an answer, then open the short learning card. Learn how words like in, on, at, by, for, and with are used without losing practice rhythm.
Q41. He was waiting _________ the train.
Answer: C) for Rule: We wait for something or someone (not / waiting in, at, or with). Reason: “He was waiting for the train” means he is anticipating the train’s arrival. Why others are wrong: in/at: not used with the verb “wait” to indicate the thing being awaited. with: implies accompaniment, not the object of waiting.
Q42. He was astonished ___________the sad news.
Explanation Correct option: A — The verb "astonished" is followed by the preposition at to show reaction to something (astonished at the news). Rule: Adjectives like astonished + at + noun/phrase. Why others wrong: in, with, to do not express this reaction pattern.
Q43. He is confident ___________ his success.
Correct answer: A Reason: The adjective confident is typically followed by the preposition of before the object (noun/pronoun): “confident of his success.” Why others are wrong: for — not standard with confident. about — may be used in some contexts, but less fixed than of. towards — incorrect with this sense.
Q44. Exercise is beneficial ___________ health.
Correct answer: C) to Rule/usage: The phrase “beneficial to” is a common collocation meaning something is helpful or good for someone or something. Why this option is correct: “Exercise is beneficial to health” shows the benefit applies to health. Why others are incorrect: Towards – refers to direction, not benefit. for – acceptable in some contexts, but the standard fixed phrase here is “beneficial to.” in – indicates location or state, not the recipient of the benefit.
Q45. My wife always grumbles ___________ her bad luck.
Answer: C. at Rule/usage: grumble at/about is a fixed phrase meaning to complain about something. Here, she is complaining about her bad luck. Why others are wrong: A. in — not used with grumble. B. over — possible but less common; sounds like worrying or arguing about. D. upon — not used with grumble.
Q46. We travelled ___________ boat to reach Sri Lanka.
Explanation: Correct: by — Use by to show the means or method of travel (We travelled by boat). Option on is less common for travel means; it’s used for being aboard something (on a boat) but not as the method here. Option for indicates purpose or duration, not the transport method. Option about means concerning, not travel.
Q47. His statement is very much similar ___________ mine.
Explanation: Correct: to. The adjective similar is followed by the preposition to in English: “similar to mine.” Rule: similar to + possessive noun/pronoun (mine, yours, etc.). Wrong options: Aim to be similar to is correct; others don’t fit the collocation. of – not used after similar. about, on – do not complete the meaning “similar …”
Q48. He is jealous ___________ me.
Correct option: C Correct answer: of Rule/Usage: Jealous is followed by of to show envy toward a person or thing (jealous of someone/something). Why others are wrong: with — not used after jealous. into — not a correct preposition here. at — not used with jealous in this sense.
Q49. She has a passion ___________ dance and music.
Correct answer: D) for Why: The noun passion is usually followed by the preposition for (passion for something). Rule: passion for + noun/gerund phrase. Why others are wrong: upon, at, in do not collocate with passion in this sense. Correct phrase: passion for dance and music.
Q50. He came ___________ me in the market.
Correct option: C — across Reason: "Come across" is a phrasal verb meaning to meet someone by chance. So: "He came across me in the market." Why others are wrong: at — implies location, not encounter. into — wrong sense; sounds like entering. of — not a proper preposition with this verb.