Students should attempt the following Language Preposition Practise Problems with Solutions which are really useful to understand the concept of language prepositions and its applicability. In long term this is really useful for CBSE NCERT students. You should also read Unseen Comprehensions for Class 10 post solving the below questions.

Question 1 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.

i) The teacher spoke ………….. for Raju when he was wrongly accused of stealing money.

ii) We can visit her in the hostel ………………. 3 pm and 5 pm on Saturday.

iii) The Sinhas have lived in New Delhi ……….. 1943.

iv) Little children are often afraid ………….. the dark.

v) Sneha has applied ……………… a scholarship.

vi) It took Ahmed many months to get ………………… the loss of his friend

vii) She turned ……….. the generous offer made by the manager.

viii) We were asked to take ………………….. our footwear as we were entering a place of worship.

Question 2 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.

i) She takes a lot of trouble ………….. her work.

ii) Our English friends have taken ……………… Indian food quite quickly.

iii) He got an A ……………… the Mathematics test.

iv) He jumped ……………….. the river to save his friend from drowning.

v) Always be prepared …………………… a surprise test.

vi) She hid …………………. the cupboard and gave everyone a fright.

vii) She is fond ………. pets.

viii) The brothers quarrelled …………… themselves for their property.

Question 3 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.

i) He was touched …………. pity when he heard the tale.

ii) There is always a demand …………… good tailors.

iii) The mother prevented her child ………….. going out in the rain.

iv) The baby crawled ………….. the table and hid there.

v) Once upon a time the great King ruled ……………….. all these village are towns.

vi) She is the smarter ………………… the two.

vii) Sheila insists ………… wearing that dress, although her mother thinks its is too short for her.

viii) The teacher complained …………. him when she met his mother in the market.

Question 4 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.

i) He congratulated me ……………. my great achievement.

ii) The poor man is afflicted …………….. arthritis.

iii) She is blind ……………. the faults of her husband.

iv) The boss had many complaints ……………. Shyam.

v) You must prepare ,…………… the examination.

vi) She is not aware ………………. the danger.

vii) Ravi was accurate ……………… his calculations.

viii) They hid the money ………………. the carpet.

Question 5 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.

i) I refrained ………………… telling Reeta the truth.

ii) The leader counted ……………… the cooperation of his colleagues.

iii) The public was cautioned ………………. pickpockets.

iv) Janaki escorted her daughter to the cinema theatre as she was anxious ……………. her safety.

v) Their path was beset ………………. difficulties yet they succeeded.

vi) The mouse crept stealthily ………….. the cheese.

vii) It was good …………. you invite Sheila for the picnic.

viii) Smoking ……………. public places is now banned.

Question 6 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.

i) I prevailed ……………… him to join the gymnasium.

ii) The curious child eagerly begged …………… an answer to the riddle.

iii) He was bent …………….. coming first in the examinations.

iv) The theory exam was followed ………….. a group discussion.

v) I ran ……….. my teacher at the show last night.

vi) She is extremely anxious ……………. an interview next week.

vii) What a contrast …………… the two siblings.

viii) The brother fought ………….. their father’s property.

Question 7 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.

i) The elderly man prepared himself for a life …………. retirement.

ii) Do you take his word ……….. mine?

iii) Rohini is very concerned …………… her father’s health.

iv) Altaf had many books and papers scattered all …………. the room.

v) The Phoenix is a legendary bird that rises …………………. its ashes.

vi) The police pulled the briefcase from …………. the table.

vii) The mob rushed onto the pavement, everyone seemed angry……………… everyone else.

viii) The old woman looked ……………….. the cupboard, searching for the photograph.

Question 8 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.

i) Truth always prevails ………. the long run.

ii) Sujata stood ………. the river and saw the ship pass by .

iii) She too some money …………. her father to buy a video game.

iv) Shilpa gave me a rare gift …………… my birthday.

v) Deepak was very upset …………. me.

vi) Michelle is longing …………… meet me.

vii) It has been a long time ……………… I met my sister.

viii) The worker asked …………… his wages.

Question 9 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.

i) He refused to put …………… with their interference in his affairs.

ii) She has been going …………….. the script for days.

iii) It is our duty to protest ……………… injustice.

iv) He soon became accustomed …………….. the harsh weather.

v) Dilip went out ………………. his way to help the poor.

vi) He was able to put …………….. his ideas so cleverly that he impressed everyone.

vii) He persists ………………… teasing the other children in the class.

viii) I have been waiting for you ………………. four o’clock.

Question 10 : Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.

i) The safari parks of South Africa abound ………… with animals.

ii) The young man excels …………… both music and dance.

iii) She is a diligent student, worthy ……………. praise.

iv) I saw ………….. his plans and realised that he was going to cheat us.

v) I was ………….. the impression that the meeting had been cancelled.

vi) Always be true …………. yourself.

vii) The villagers lodged a complaint ………………. the corrupt officials.

viii) I can rely ……………. my sister for help.

Question 1 : Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

He rubbed his fingers nervously against the small notebook in his pocket and (1)…………………. (tell) himself to be patient. The old man in the toy booth (2) …………………….. (argue) with the girl. She (3) ………………. (be) about Hugo’s age and hen often saw her go into the booth and (4) …………………. (disappear) behind the counter.
The old man (5)………………(look) agitated today. He had figured out some of his toys were (6) …………… (miss)? Well, there was nothing to be (7) ………………… (do) about that now. The old man and the girl argued some more and finally she closed her book and (8) …………. (run) off.

Answer 1) told
2) was arguing
3) was
4) disappear
5) looked
6) missing
7) done
8) ran

Question 2 : Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

She (1) ………… (hunt) for a book in the airport shops, (2) …………(but) a bag of cookies and found a place to sit. She (3) ……………. (engross) in her book but happened to see that the man sitting beside her, bold as could be, grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between, which she tried to ignore to avoid scene. So she (4) …………. (munch) the cookies and watched the clock, as the gutsy thief diminished her stock. She (5) ………………. (get)
more irritated as the minutes ticked by , thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I (6) …………….(black) his eye.” With each cookie she took, he took one too. When only one was left, she wondered what he would do. With a smile on his face, a nervous laugh, he (7) ………… (take) the last cookie and broke it in half. He offered her half, as he ate the other. She had never known
she could be so angry and turned to gather her belongings. As she reached for her baggage, she gasped with surprise, there was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes. If mine are here, she moaned in despair, the others were his, he (8) …………(try) to share.

Answer : 1) hunted
2) bought
3) was engrossed
4) munched
5) was getting
6) would blacken
7) took
8) was trying

Question 3 : Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

We finally (1)………….. (reach) a village where I (2)………… (meet) a lad whose age I (3)……………… (can) not immediately make out. My translator (4) …………… (find) it difficult to interpret the lady’s words because her dialect was quite different. She (5) ………….. (is) a dark-skinned and dark-haired lady. She must have been around seventy years old, but there was no grey in her hair. She obviously could not afford to dye her hair. So what was her
secret? Nobody (6) …………. (know). It must have been a ‘secret’ common to all for not one person in that whole village (7) ……….. (has) a trace of grey hair ! I (8) …………… (think) about it for a long time.

Answer : 1) reached
2) met
3) could
4) found
5) was
6) knew
7) had
8) thought

Question 4 : Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

The children (1)……………(sit) in a neat circle and (2) …………… (begin) (3) ………… (copy) their multiplication tables. Most (4) ……………. (scratch) in the dirt with sticks they had (5) …………….. (bring) for that purpose. The more fortunate (6) ………….. (has) slate boards that they (7) ……………….. (write) on with sticks (8) ……………. (dip) in a mixture of mud and water.

Answer : 1) sat
2) began
3) to copy
4) were scratching
5) brought
6) had
7) were writing
8) dipped

Question 5 : Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

But just when I had almost given up hope, I was (1) …………. (strike) ………. with a brilliant idea : my birthday was due fairly soon and if I (2) …………… (deal) with the family skillfully, I (3) ……………… (feel) sure, I could not only get a boat but a lot of other equipments as well. I (4) …………….. (suggest) to the family that, instead of (5) ……………. (let) them choose my parents, I (6) …………… (many) tell them the things that I (7) ………………. (want) most. In this way, they could be sure of not (8) ………………….. (disappoint) me.

Answer : 1) struck
2) dealt
3) felt
4) suggested
5) letting
6) might
7) wanted
8) disappointing

Question 6 : Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

As she spoke I (1) ……………. (rise) and (2) ………………… (go) to the centre blackboard. I (3) ………….. (find) the chalk (4) ……….. (write) in block letters the title of the book. Then I (5) ………….. (put) the chalk down and went to (6) ……….. (sit) beside her, to (7) …………… (hold) her hand. The day had barely (8) ………………. (begin)

Answer : 1) rose
2) went
3) found
4) to write
5) put
6) sit
7) hold
8) begun

Question 7 : Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

Example (0) was

There (0) …………… (be) some confusion in the doorway. A man (1) ………. (get) into the compartment (2) ………….. (stammer) an apology. Then the door (3) ………………… (bang) and the world was (4) …………………. (shut) out again. I (5) …………… (return) to my berth. The guard (6) …………….. (blow) his whistle and we (7) …………….. (move) off. Once again I (8) ……………… (has) a game to play.

Answer : 1) got
2) stammering
3) banged
4) shut
5) returned
6) blew
7) moved
8) had

Question 8 : Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

I (0) ……………….. (convince) that my father (1) ……………….. (remember) by all those who value integrity. He (2) ……………. (be) a man of learning and also saw to it that he (3) ………….. (teach) his pupils with passion and patience. He, at times (4) …………………. (use) to lose his temper, but that was because he always (5) ………………. (want) his pupils to learn and learn well. As a person, he was honest and simple. His greatness (6) …………… (lie) in the fact that he (7) …………………. (have) a pure heart, devoid of malice. Such a man is always valued and (8) ……………….. (be) very rare to find.

Answer : 0) am convinced
1) will be remembered
2) was
3) taught
4) used
5) wanted
6) lay
7) lay
8) is

Question 9 : Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

Mid-afternoon while (0) …………. (give) my report to Mrs Biggs, I (1) …………………. (hear) a loud thumping (2) ………….. (come) from the direction of her store room.

“What (3) ………………… (be) all that noise downstairs ?” I asked.

“Probably a rat. I don’t hear anything,” she replied.

I ran downstairs and (4) ………….. (open) the store room door. There was Mr Biggs (5) …………… (look) very dusty and very disgruntled; he wanted to know why Mrs Biggs (6) …………… (shut) him up for hours. He had gone into the store room in search of a walking stick and Mrs Biggs, (7) …………… (see) the door open, had promptly (8) ……………… (bolt) it.

Answer : 0) giving
1) heard
3) is
4) opened
5) looking
6) had shut
7) seeing
8) bolted

Question 10 : Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

After Christopher Columbus (0) ……….. (return) from his famous voyage across the Atlantic, the King of Spain (1) …………. (wish) to celebrate the great event and do honour to the man who (2) ………….. (make) himself a national hero. He (3) ………………. (do) so by holding a banquet in honour of the explorer. To this banquet he (4) …………… (invite) many of the nobles of the King’s Court. Some of them (5) ………… (be) jealous of the success Columbus (6) ………….. (achieve). One of them sat next to Columbus. He turned towards Columbus and said, “Of course you (7) …………… (be) a brave man but it doesn’t take much intelligence to do what you have done. After all, anyone can take a ship and sail on and on till he (8) ……………….. (reach) land.”

Answer : 0) returned
1) wished
2) had made
3) did
4) invited
5) were
6) had achieved
7) are
8) reaches

Q. 1. Rewrite the following sentences according to instructions given after each.

1. He really likes correcting her English. ( use pleasure)
2. It’s not necessary to take a lot of luggage when going on holiday. (use Much)
3. Perhaps he hasn’t received the doctor’s results yet ( use may)
4. All I want you to do is to look after my dog. ( use care)
5. She was not certain about the trip ( use decide)
6. He locked the gate so that the dog wouldn’t escape. ( use prevent)
7. They did not like to pay extra taxes. ( use objected)
8. The day was so nice that we went on a picnic. ( use such)
9. The only person I didn’t see was Jane. ( use except)
10. She decided to visit her friend and tell her the news. ( use drop)
11. It wasn’t necessary to meet me at the airport yesterday. ( use needn’t )
12. It was unkind of you to talk to her like that. ( use not)
13. I saw the film although I strongly dislike thrillers ( use spite)
14. It’s not possible to play tennis because of the rain. ( use makes)
15. I’ve never tasted such good food before. ( use ever)
16. Do your parents allow you to watch TV late at night? ( use let)
17. “Did you write a note for Anna?” I asked my mother. ( use she)
18. He gave me the money first, and then he left. ( use after )
19. I don’t find it difficult to get up early any more. ( use used)
20. We have to reduce our expenses. ( use cut )
21. “Can you please explain this to me?” she asked the teacher. ( use if)
22. Perhaps he’s working late. ( use may)
23. Nobody ever told me about it. ( use never)
24. “I’ll pick him up from the airport,” she said. ( use offered)
25. I was so shocked that I couldn’t react. ( use wasn’t)
26. People say Greek is a difficult language to learn. ( use said)
27. The police have investigated the crime. ( use by)
28. Without your help, I would never have managed. ( use you )
29. The manager made the employees stay late. ( use made)
30. When can their glory fade? ( use never)

Q. 2. complete with the suitable prepositions:

1. The people are____the table____the dining room.
2. The stairs are____the bathroom____the second floor.
3. The bedroom is____the attic(room in roof) ____the third floor.
4. The washing machine is____the dryer.
5. The steps are in____ of the door.
6. The tools are____the peg(wooden nail) board.
7. The peg board is____the basement.
8. The basement is____ the house.
9. The cupboards are____ the counter.
10. The roof is____ the house.
11. The books are____the book case.
12. The woman is putting something____the oven.
13. The dresser is____the mirror.
14. The shelf is____the washing machine and table.
15. The box is____the table____the basement.
16. The dishes are____the china cabinet____the dining room.
17. The kitchen is____the first floor____the house.
18. The computer is____the room____the third floor____the attic
19. The play is____ Monday, _ 9:30_ night
20. I study____ the morni8ng and work____ the afternoon.

Q. 1. ANSWERS:

1. He …takes pleasure in.. correcting her English.
2. You …don’t need much / needn’t take much / don’t have to take much… luggage when
   going on holiday.
3. He ..may not have received.. the doctor’s results yet.
4. All I want you to do is to ……take care of….. my dog.
5. She ……could not decide….. about the trip.
6. He locked the gate ……to prevent the dog (from).. escaping.
7. They ……objected to paying………. extra taxes.
8. It was …such a nice day…. that we went on a picnic.
9. I ………saw everyone except….. Jane.
10. She decided to …drop in on… her friend and tell her the news.
11. You ……needn’t have met… me at the airport yesterday.
12. You …should not have talked… to her like that.
13. I saw the film in …spite of my strong dislike… of thrillers.
14. The rain ……makes it impossible…. to play tennis.
15. It is the …best food I’ve ever.. tasted.