📚 Prepositions Practice

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.

Correct option: B From is used after hinder to show preventing someone from doing something. Pattern: hinder someone from (doing) something. Here, the idea is to prevent him from meeting me in the market. Other options are incorrect: into — not used with hinder to indicate prevention. of — incorrect collocation with hinder. at — incorrect preposition for this meaning.

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Explanation The correct answer is of. Rule: The verb phrase "beg pardon" can take the preposition of to mean asking forgiveness from someone (archaic/formal usage): "I beg pardon of you." Why others are wrong: with, upon, off do not collocate with "beg pardon" here. Note: In modern English, you often hear "I beg your pardon" instead of "I beg pardon of you."

Explanation The correct answer is to. Rule: be a witness to means to testify about or observe something. Here, the road witnessed the assassination. Why others are wrong: A. of – not used with “witness” in this sense. C. at – not the fixed phrase for witnessing an event. D. on – not used with “witness” here.

Answer: A. at Why this is correct: We use smile at to show a reaction or attitude toward someone or something (e.g., threats, remarks). Rule/usage: Verb + preposition at for a facial reaction directed toward a person/situation. Why others are wrong: on / upon / over: not standard collocations with smile to indicate reaction to threats.

Explanation Correct: A) at — The phrasal verb smile at someone is the standard, natural collocation. It shows the direction of the smile toward a person. Other options are incorrect for this context: in — not used with smile here. with — not a common collocation for smile. upon — archaic/rare; not used in this modern sentence.

explanation Correct: B) to – The phrase “essential to” means something is necessary for something else. Here, contentment is necessary for happiness. Rule – Use to after adjectives like essential when linking to what it is essential for. Why others are wrong – A) for – not the common link for necessity with the object. C) in – not used to show necessity. D) of – not used to show being essential.

Correct answer: B (to) Rule: "Adjacent to" is the fixed phrase to show location/next to something. Why option B is correct: His house is next to mine = adjacent to mine. Why others are wrong: A) "with" = together with; not used for location. C) "from" = away from. D) "of" = possessive/description, not for location.

Explanation Correct answer: C (to) — “antipathy” means a strong dislike, and it is followed by the preposition to (antipathy to something). Example: antipathy to smoking. Why others are wrong: A) for — not the usual collocation with antipathy. B) against — antipathy is not typically used with “against.” D) of — incorrect collocation with antipathy.