Prepositions Exercise

Fill in the blanks.

1. Who will ……………………………… the drinks?

pay
pay for
We pay for something that is bought.

2. He wasn’t very nice ……………………………. me when we met yesterday.

with
to
Either could be used here
With is not used after words which say how people act towards others.

3. The noise prevented me …………………………….

of working
to work
from working
Prevent is followed by object + from + ing form.

4. He is rude ……………………………… everyone.

with
to
Either could be used here
With is not used after words which say how people act towards others.

5. The police ………………………………….. everybody’s luggage.

searched
searched for
When search is used without preposition, it means look through.

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 Prepositions Exercise

6. The police are ………………………………. a bald guy in his thirties.

searching
searching for
Search for means the same as look for.

7. I was shocked ………………………………… the news of the accident.

at
by
Either could be used here
Either by or at can be used after shocked.

8. He is quite pleased …………………………………. his results.

with
about
at
All of the above

9. I am thinking ………………………………… studying palmistry.

about
of
to
Either about or of is possible here. To is not possible.

10. He is polite ………………………………. everyone.

with
to

11. What does it mean if you dream …………………………………… hills and

valleys?
about

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 Prepositions Exercise

of
Either could be used here

12. The driver was sleeping and crashed …………………………………. the

car in front.
at
into
with
We usually say crash into.

PLAY AGAIN !
Answers
1. Who will pay for the drinks?
2. He wasn’t very nice to me when we met yesterday.
3. The noise prevented me from working.
4. He is rude to everyone.
5. The police searched everybody’s luggage.
6. The police are searching for a bald guy in his thirties.
7. I was shocked by / at the news of the accident.
8. He is quite pleased with / about / at his results.
9. I am thinking about /of studying palmistry.
10. He is polite to everyone.
11. What does it mean if you dream about /of hills and valleys?
12. The driver was sleeping and crashed into the car in front.

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