Learning English

Because And Because Of Grammar Exercise Fill in the blanks with because or because of. 1. We got into trouble ............................... you. because because of 2. We cancelled the trip ............................. bad weather. because because of 3. We hurried indoors ....................... it was raining. because because of 4. She passed the test .................................. her teacher. because of because 5. She passed the test ........................

Prepositions Exercise This grammar exercise tests your ability to use prepositions correctly. Complete the following sentences. 1. Could you translate this document .............. German for me? in into to 2. You remind me ................... my cousin. of with about 3. He wasn't very nice ....................... me when we met last week. at with to 4. This perfume is typical ...................... the region. to of for ...

Prepositions Exercise Prepositions often cause problems. Can you use them correctly? Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition. 1. I was waiting ......................... the bus stop when I met Larry. at on in from 2. Is there any milk .............................. the bottle? on in at under 3. I was .......................... my way to work when I met with an accident. in at on 4. Please don't stand in the door - you are .......................... my way. ...

For, In, From, and Since | Grammar Exercise The prepositions for, in, from, and since can all refer to time. Can you use them correctly? Fill in the blanks. 1. I once studied the violin .......................... six months. since for from 2. I have known him ........................... our school days. for since from 3. That house has been empty ......................... several years. since from for 4. How long have you been here ...........................? since ...

Mistakes with prepositions Prepositions are small words but they are important ones. Some common mistakes in the use of prepositions are given here. Incorrect: Who is the girl you were speaking with? Correct: Who is the girl you were speaking to? Incorrect: This is the house I was born on. Correct: This is the house I was born in . Incorrect: What are you looking in? Correct: What are you looking at ? To look at something is to gaze in a specified direction. Incorrect: The manager has promised to look at the matter. Correct: To manager has promised to look into the matter. To look into something is to investigate it. Incorrect: It has been raining from Monday. Correct: It has been raining since Monday . Use from to show the starting point only when the end point is also mentioned. In other cases, use since. Incorrect: I have been waiting from two hours. Correct: I have been waiting for two hours. Use for to indicate duration. Incorrect: I ...

Prepositions worksheet Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition. Each question is followed by four suggested answers. Choose the most appropriate one. 1. I was amazed ………………….. his brilliance. a) with b) at c) by d) to 2. He is afflicted ………………… a serious illness. a) to b) by c) of d) with 3. Alcohol does not agree ……………… me. a) upon b) to c) with d) none of these 4. You must apologize ………………. him for your rude behaviour. a) with b) to c) at d) for 5. Is it possible to achieve just about everything one aims ……………….? a) at b) to c) with d) of 6. She often boasts ………………. her aristocratic upbringing. a) about b) of c) at d) with 7. Don’t brood …………………. your mistakes and failures. a) with b) at c) by d) over 8. We decided to call ……………… the principal. a) at b) on c) for d) with 9. He has been charged ………………… the murder of his neighbor. a) out b) with c) by d) from 10. During the cold war era, the US and the USSR were competing …………………....

Prepositions worksheet Complete the following sentences using appropriate prepositions. 1. We started …………………. six ……………….. the morning. 2. He was born ………………. a small village. 3. They killed the snake ………………….. hitting it. 4. That portrait was painted ……………… my grandfather. 5. You have eaten six mangoes ………………… morning. 6. The boy has been missing ………………… two days. 7. They don’t let anybody in ……………… five o’clock. 8. An old feud existed …………………. the families. 9. I heard this ……………… a friend ………………. mine. 10. His illness has taken a turn ……………….. the worse. 11. I saw him felling the tree ……………… an axe. 12. ………….. Mark and Harry, there were three other boys in the team. Answers 1. We started at six in the morning. 2. He was bor n in a small village. 3. They killed the snake by hitting it. 4. That portrait was painted by my grandfather. 5. You have eaten six mangoes since morning. 6. The boy has been missing for two days. 7. They do...

Prepositions worksheet Complete the following sentences using appropriate prepositions. 1. Is your brother ……………………. home? a) in b) at c) on 2. There is no unity …………………… the leaders. a) among b) between c) within 3. He is a man ………………….. humble origin. a) of b) with c) from 4. The village is 5 miles …………………… the highway. a) off b) across c) of 5. He is …………………. to Mumbai. a) off b) out c) over 6. The boy was beaten …………………… a stick. a) by b) with c) Either could be used here 7. He discussed the problem …………………. his parents. a) with b) to c) for 8. John was punished ……………….. his father. a) with b) for c) by 9. Can you finish the work ………………….. tomorrow? a) by b) in c) within 10. He has been absent ………………….. last week. a) since b) for Answers 1. Is your brother at home? 2. There is no unity among the leaders. 3. He is a man of humble origin. 4. The village is 5 miles off the highway. 5. He is off to Mumbai....

Prepositions exercise Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions. 1.    I think we should apologize ……………………………….. him. a)    To b)    At c)    For 2.    Do you believe ……………………………….. life after death? a)    In b)    At c)    On 3.    When did you arrive ……………………………….. France? a)    In b)    On c)    To 4.    Those books belong ……………………………….. the top shelf. a)    In b)    On c)    Both answers are correct 5.    When did your interest ……………………………….. philosophy begin? a)    In b)    At c)    On 6.    We had a long discussion ……………………………….. politics. a)    About b)    At c)    For 7....

Against as a preposition Against is a preposition. When you do something against somebody or something, you oppose them or it. Human rights organizations have been campaigning against the death penalty. Are you against internet censorship? When you play against somebody, you try to defeat them. Argentina lost the World Cup final match against Germany. We must fight against the anti-social elements that lead our kids astray. Count against If something counts against you, it causes you to have a disadvantage. She is 45, so her age may count against her. If someone turns against you, they become unfriendly towards you. No one thought that he would turn against his own brother. When you lean against a wall, you touch it. If there is a law against something it is illegal. The country does have some legislation against child labor. If you swim against the current, you move in the opposite direction. They were sailing against a strong wind. As agains...

Along The word along can be used as a preposition or an adverb. When it is used as a preposition, it is followed by a noun. We walked along the road. When along is used as an adverb, it is not followed by a noun. She brought her children along . Along is used to talk about movement on or beside a line. She hurried along the road towards us. Along is used with nouns like road, river, line etc: words that refer to things with a long thin shape. They were sailing along the western coast of India. There are several shops along the street. Along can also be used to refer to a place on or beside a river or road. Gunshots were heard from somewhere along the road. Along can also mean ‘come to the place where somebody is’ or ‘go to the place where something is happening’. Finally a truck came along, and we all jumped in. Can I bring my daughter along? Don’t forget to take your books along with you. Along can also mean ‘arrive’ in a few structu...

Prepositional phrases A prepositional phrase is made up of a preposition and a noun phrase. Examples are: in the corner, on the roof, under the bed and within seconds. A prepositional phrase has several uses. For example, it can be used as an adverbial of time and place. The work was completed in a few days. She wrote the essay in twenty minutes. I went to the market. There is something under the bed. The old man sat in a corner. A prepositional phrase can be a post-modifier in a noun clause. Her son is that boy in the red shirt. We are looking for a house with a large garden. She has bought a new laptop with a 17 inch display. The prepositional phrase can be used to say who did something. The farmer was bit by the snake. The spider was killed by the boy. She owns a wonderful painting by Picasso. Prepositional phrases are used with verbs that take two objects. Examples are: give and get. He gave some money to the beggar on the corner. I have ordere...

Except, accept, past, passed Except, expect and accept These words are often confused. Except is a preposition. It should be followed by a noun which acts as its object. Everybody came except John. Here the noun John acts as the object of the preposition except. Except shows the relationship between ‘everybody’ and ‘John’. Expect is a verb I expected him to call but he didn’t. We expect her to win the first prize. Accept is also a verb. She accepted the invitation. Past and passed Past can be used as a preposition, but passed cannot be used like this. I walked past the school. It is past your bedtime. Past can also be used as an adverb. In this case, it is not followed by a noun. A policeman walked past. Passed is a verb. It refers to the action of passing. She has passed the test. Note that the word past usually refers to time or distance. Into and Onto The word into is a preposition. It is usually written as one word. King Mid...

Prepositions exercise Complete the following sentences using appropriate prepositions. 1. A young child cannot distinguish good ………………. bad. a) from b) between c) for d) by 2. Death does not distinguish ………………… the rich and the poor. a) from b) between c) by 3. He is distinguished ……………….. his crooked nose and bald head. a) from b) by c) between 4. He has been disqualified ……………….. competing. a) of b) from c) for 5. He was acquitted …………………… the charges. a) of b) off c) from 6. He was acquitted as there was no proof …………………….. him. a) against b) for c) of 7. The team consisted entirely ……………….. college students. a) of b) in c) with 8. He was too busy to concern himself ……………… my affairs. a) with b) about c) for 9. Parents were concerned …………………. the safety of their children. a) about b) of c) in 10. The news is of concern ………………. all of us. a) to b) for c) of Answers 1. A young child cannot disti...

Prepositions exercise Complete the following sentences using appropriate prepositions. 1. A dog suddenly ran ………………… the road. It was caught ………………… the wheels of a speeding truck. 2. I stood ………………. the bridge and watched the sky ………………….. 3. When she heard the news she burst ……………… tears. 4. Would you like to come ……………….. me ……………… a swim ………………… the river? 5. The boy was born ………………. six o’clock ……………… 3 rd May. 6. I am staying …………………… my friend ………………… a lodge not far …………………. here. 7. My father goes ……………….. bed ……………… 10 o’clock ………………… the night. 8. I would like to stay ……………….. you ……………… two or three days. 9. Aksinov’s wife went ……………….. the town where her husband was ……………….. jail, taking all their children ………………. her. 10. I will be coming ………………… your house ……………. four o’clock ………………….. my sister. Answers 1. A dog suddenly ran across the road. It was caught under the wheels of a speeding truck. 2. I stood on the bridge and watched the sk...

Prepositions in collocations Invest with / invest in To invest someone with something is to give them a particular quality. These animals have been invested with an ability to survive in extreme climates. To invest someone with something is to give them power, authority or influence. The Black Cats are invested with the authority to protect the minister. Invest in To invest in something is to buy it or to spend money on something that will be profitable or useful in the long time. He plans to invest in real estate. I think I should invest in a new laptop. The government should invest in education. Authority on If you are considered an authority on something, you are an expert in that subject. He is an authority on classical music. This book is acknowledged to be the authority on idiomatic expressions. Authority over Parents have legal authority over their children. (= Parents have a legal right to make decisions that affect their children.) ...

Preposition collocations with nouns and verbs Prepositions cause a great deal of confusion. Most ESL students find it difficult to use them correctly. One way of learning the correct use of prepositions is to look at several examples illustrating usage. In English, there are a large number of collocations. These are words which are often used together with other words. Examples of collocation are given below. Comment The word comment takes the preposition ‘on’. He commented on her lovely hair. (NOT He commented about her lovely hair.) Reason What is the reason for her unhappiness? (NOT What is the reason of her unhappiness?) The word reason collocates with the preposition for. Discuss The verb discuss does not take a preposition. Let us discuss your problem. (NOT Let us discuss about your problem.) Consider The verb consider does not take any preposition. You should consider every aspect of the situation. (NOT You should consider about every aspec...

Combine using in spite of In spite of is a preposition. It can be followed by a noun or an –ing form. An example is given below. I had a headache. Still, I enjoyed the film. In spite of having a headache, I enjoyed the film. Combine the following pairs of sentences using in spite of. 1. I gave him good advice. Yet he failed. 2. His vision is poor. Still he reads books. 3. She was ill. Still she went to work. 4. The weather was bad. Still we went out. 5. His health is poor. Still he attends office regularly. 6. He is in great pain. Yet he laughs. 7. We are very poor. Yet we are happy. 8. He made repeated requests. Still she refused to help him. 9. She worked hard. Yet she failed. 10. The leader was very popular. But he failed to win the election. ANSWERS 1. In spite of my good advice, he failed. 2. In spite of his poor vision, he reads books. 3. In spite of her illness, she went to work. OR In spite of being ill, she went to work. 4. In spite...

Words that take the prepositions to and for Several verbs, adjectives and nouns are followed by prepositions. Most of these expressions are idiomatic. Here is a brief list of words taking the prepositions to and for. The following words take the preposition to. According to He acted according to my advice. Affectionate to The old woman is affectionate to all. Note that we say: affection for, not affection to. He has great affection for his grandchildren. Alternative to The alternative to death was submission but that simply wasn’t acceptable to the brave soldiers. Derogatory to He will never do anything derogatory to his high position. Take exception to He took exception to my remarks. Hindrance to Illiteracy is a hindrance to progress. Partial to She is partial to her family. Respectful to You must be respectful to your seniors but you are not supposed to be servile. Insensible to He is insensible to pain and pleasure. The followi...

Before, across and in front of We do not normally use before to talk about position/place. Instead, we use in front of. A tall guy was standing in front of me . There were hundreds of people in front of me in the queue. The professor stood in front of the desk. The opposite of in front of is behind. When the professor stands in front of the desk, the desk is behind him. Who is that fat guy standing behind Jane? As a preposition, before normally indicates time. It is the opposite of after. I need to be there before 8 pm . (NOT I need to be there in front of 8 pm.) The teacher told us that we should be in our seats at or before 9 am. Before can refer to place in a few cases. For example, you can bring somebody before the magistrate. Students who misbehave in the class are often brought before the head master / mistress. Before can also indicate position in a list. The letter C comes before D and after B. Before (conjunction or adverb) Before ca...

Unnecessary prepositions Sometimes we use prepositions where they are not necessary. While expressions like ‘check up on’ and ‘as from’ are not exactly considered incorrect, they should be avoided in academic and formal writing. Study the examples given below. Incorrect: If we don’t hurry, we will miss out on the show. Correct: If we don’t hurry, we will miss the show. To miss out on is to fail to participate in something. This expression is not exactly wrong; however, you can express the same idea using miss . Incorrect: Are you able to meet with me in the morning? Incorrect: Are you able to meet up with me in the morning? Correct: Are you able to meet me in the morning? To meet with something is to experience trouble, danger or difficulty unexpectedly. She met with an accident yesterday. (NOT She met an accident yesterday.) In other cases, meet should be used without a preposition. Incorrect: There will be no more chemistry lessons this term, a...