Prepositions Exercise

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition.

1. It is too late to go out now. …………………., it’s starting to rain.

Beside
Besides
In addition

Besides and in addition can mean also.

2. There were ………………… ten people at the meeting.

under
below
Either could be used here

Under means less than or younger than.

3. She is well ……………………… average in intelligence.

above
over
Either could be used here

Above is used in cases where we think of a vertical scale.

4. We lost the championship …………………………. working very hard.

in spite of
although
however

In spite is a preposition. Although and however are conjunctions.

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 Prepositions Exercise

5. We understood him ……………………… his strange accent.

despite
in spite of
Either could be used here

Despite can be used in the same way as in spite of. It is more formal.

6. I could not enjoy the movie ……………………….. the headache.

in spite of
because of
despite

Because of is the opposite of in spite of.

7. The cat is ……………………. the roof again.

on
onto
at

We use on to talk about the positions of things.

8. How did that cat get ……………………… the roof?

on
in
onto
into

We use onto to talk about directions and destinations.

9. Can you translate this letter …………………… German?

in
into

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 Prepositions Exercise

Either could be used here

We normally use into after verbs suggesting change.

10. I prefer swimming ……………………. walking.

to
over
Either could be used here

Prefer is followed by to.

11. Can you go with Madhu ………………………… me today?

instead
instead of
without

Instead of is the preposition. Instead without of is an adverb.

12. Wine can be made …………………….. blackberries.

of
with
from

We use make from to talk about changing a material into a completely different form to
make something.

PLAY AGAIN !

Answers

1. It is too late to go out now. Besides / In addition, it’s starting to rain.

2. There were under ten people at the meeting.
3. She is well above average in intelligence.
4. We lost the championship in spite of working very hard.

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 Prepositions Exercise

5. We understood him despite / in spite of his strange accent.

6. I could not enjoy the movie because of the headache.
7. The cat is on the roof again.
8. How did that cat get onto the roof?
9. Can you translate this letter into German?
10. I prefer swimming to walking.
11. Can you go with Madhu instead of me today?
12. Wine can be made from blackberries.

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