Preposition MCQ (A / An / The) – Daily Practice Set with Answers

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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."

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.