Most Important Prepositions Practice for CSS & PMS Aspirants

The role of the English language for competitive aspirants has always been important as it is regarded as the language of competitive communication, through which they talk and interact with their examiners. Therefore, learning English skills has always been important in CSS and PMS preparation. Of the communication skills – listening, reading, speaking, and writing – writing is considered one of the most difficult to master among millions of aspirants. In the CSS and PMS examinations, where aspirants have to deliver their ideas, viewpoints, thoughts, and suggestions, effective communication certainly depends on good writing skills. It is aptly said that the better the writing skills, the greater the chances of success. 

CSS and PMS aspirants are challenged every time they try to communicate their thoughts because they never learn the correct uses of prepositions, thus, cannot transfer what they really mean to the examiner. For instance, if they, by mistake, use incorrect prepositions in their sentences, especially while writing essays or precis papers, they unintentionally change the contextual meaning of their sentences. Consequently, their results affect the end. So, learning prepositions is crucial in English because they are vital markers of sentence structuring. As they mark a very important relationship between persons, places, objects, and locations, competitive aspirants must carefully consider how they incorporate them within their sentences. 

For example, let’s explore the difference between “To” and “At” when throwing a bat. If you tell someone you want to throw a bat to him, you mean he must be ready to catch it. However, if you tell someone you will throw a bat at him, you mean to say you want to hit him with the bat. 

To help my students and other competitive aspirants, I have created a number of practices of the most important prepositions that every aspirant must learn before taking any competitive exam.

Practice-1

Complete the following sentences using the following prepositions.

at, by, for, in

Practice Sentences

1	He sent a copy of his will to his bank ______ safekeeping.	for	at	in	into
2	The house is to be sold ______ auction.	by	in	into	on
3	Although I practise quite a lot, I never seem to win very often ______ tennis.	on	at	in	into
4	Let Ali work it out; he has an aptitude ______ figures.	at	on	for	in
5	You could tell ______ a glance that he was no ordinary speaker.	in	for	on	at
6	Most people think the government is to blame ______ rising unemployment.	for	at	on	in
7	Although their marriage was not a happy one, the decided to stay together ______ the sake of the children.	at	for	to	above
8	There has been a sharp increase ______ house prices in recent months.	for	at	in	on
9	They began to drop out of the race one ______ one.	in	on	at	by
10	Do you know of a cure ______ baldness?	for	of	on	in
11	She takes great pride ______ her work.	in	at	of	into
12	He was the sort of person who immediately made you feel ______ ease.	of	at	into	on
13	Did he give you any reason ______ his behaviour?	of	on	for	at
14	I am sorry, but I am not ______ liberty to tell you anymore.	of	for	in	at
15	Alia has got very strange taste ______ clothes, has not she?	in	on	for	of
16	Could you come back in half an hour? Mr Ali is _____ lunch at the moment.	on	at	in	upon
17	We did not know ______ certain whether they would come or not.	at	on	for	in
18	Think of a number. Now multiply it ______ eight.	with	at	in	by
19	Do sit down. Mr Ali will join you ______ a moment.	in	at	with	by
20	The attendance ______ Friday’s meeting was very poor.	on	at	in	by

 

Practice–2

Complete the following sentences using the following prepositions.

of, for, against, with, from, into, on, about, behind, at,

Practice Sentences

1	My brother is very conscious ______ his big nose.	of	for	on	at
2	He was arrested ______ robbing a bank.	of	from	at	for
3	In Britain, having more than two wives at the same time is ______ the law.	out of	against	at	on
4	The police charged the man ______ murder.	for	with	at	on
5	Most children are fond ______ going to the circus.	at	on	in	of
6	They were found guilty ______ fraud.	of	at	from	in
7	Since the weather was so bad, we decided ______ going to the beach.	on	at	against	for
8	He apologized _______ his bad behaviour.	for	at	in	on
9	Since Mr Danish is ill, Mr Ali is deputizing ______ him today.	at	on	for	in
10	I did not want her to go, so I tried to prevent her ______ leaving.	on	at	from	into
11	Since he had missed so many lessons, he was discouraged ______ taking the exam.	from	at	by	on
12	He tried to coax her ______ going to the party.	in	on	at	into
13	Ali complimented her ______ her work.	on	at	in	by
14	He was always nervous ______ going to the doctor.	about	of	for	from
15	To tell you the truth, I am not very keen ______ going out tonight.	about	on	at	in
16	Why can you not hide ______ a newspaper at breakfast like other husbands?	behind	below	inside	on
17	Why can you not hide behind a newspaper ______ breakfast like other husbands?	in	on	at	no preposition
18	What do you mean it is not that bad? I am standing ______ my husband’s shoulders!	at	on	in	by
19	I think we’d better apologize to them ______ waking them up.	to	for	at	on
20	She is very allergic ______ feathers, you see.	to	for	at	on
21	She used to gaze ______ me like that!	to	for	at	on
22	It is amazing ______ me how people always seem to get married in alphabetical order.	to	for	at	on
23	What do you mean you cannot sleep ______ light on?	to	at	on	with
24	What a pity you have not brough your little son ______ you.	to	with	for	no preposition
25	Do I take it you object ______ my smoking a pipe?	to	for	at	on

 

Practice–3

Complete the following sentences using the following prepositions.

against, at, from, about, in, after,

Practice Sentences

1	He hadn’t seen her for several years, even though she had brought him up _______ his mother’s death.	since	soon	after	before
2	Lahore is not the most beautiful city in the world, but it can be very pleasant in the summertime, especially early ______ the morning.	in	at	on	after
3	I do not know her exact age; I can only guess ______ how old she really is.	on	in	of	at
4	She intended to post my letter, but she forgot all ______ it.	about	in	round	at
5	How does a frog differ ______ a toad?	to	from	in	on
6	Tall people are definitely ______ an advantage at a football match.	in	on	at	for
7	It is really a pity ______ poor old Danish: everyone got an Eid present except him.	on	in	at	about
8	After the war, several people were tried for crimes ______ humanity.	against	for	at	on
9	I know ______ experience that I do my best work early in the morning.	with	from	at	in
10	Mrs Danish says her husband neglects her. I do not know what she is worrying ______: mine never leaves me alone.	for	at	about	on
11	I am astonished ______ the way my students can spend all night at the party and still remember their prepositions the next morning.	on	about	for	at
12	On June Day, in a startling departure ______ tradition, the Prime Minister got on a bicycle and rode around Liberty Chowk.	from	at	on	for
13	Is it impossible to insure yourself ______ nuclear attack?	from	against	to	for
14	Today I feel really miserable because I cannot find anything to complain ______.	on	for	about	at
15	Resulting ______ their exhaustive research into the matter, scientists can now confirm that we are all getting older.	at	with	on	from
16	I bought an old bike cheaply, cleaned it up and sold it the next day ______ a profit.	at	on	in	with
17	Before going to India, he had himself inoculated ______ tetanus, yellow fever, cholera, and typhoid. A week later, de died of influenza.	with	against	to	for
18	At school today, we had a long discussion ______ the best way to learn a foreign language.	for	around	about	beside
19	The best reason for having strict rules at school is that it gives the pupils something to rebel ______ when they are older.	for	with	at	against
20	How can I discourage my friend ______ trying to help me all the time?	from	with	on	for
21	Raise the gun to your shoulder, aim ______ the target, and try not to kill anyone.	to	at	in	against
22	Picking your nose in public is not illegal, but it is certainly an offence ______ good manners.	for	with	against	behind

 

Practice–4

Complete the following sentences using the following prepositions.

at, of about, with, to, from, no preposition

Practice Sentences

1	Ali married ______ Alia.	to	with	by	no preposition
2	She has married ______ Ali two months before.	to	with	by	no preposition
3	We entered ______ the compound.	to	into	inside	no preposition
4	We discussed ______ an issue.	about	at	for	no preposition
5	He lacks ______ tact.	in	at	of	no preposition
6	I meet ______ my boss every day.	with	to	at	no preposition
7	The baby resembles ______ its mother.	with	to	for	no preposition
8	The divorce affected ______ every aspect of her life.	for	at	about	no preposition
9	He attacked ______ the man with a pencil.	at	on	for	no preposition
10	She greatly influences ______ the field of intersectional feminism.	to	at	into	no preposition
11	The accommodation comprises ______ six bedrooms and three living rooms.	of	for	about	no preposition
12	She confronted ______ the burglars with bravery.	against	at	to	no preposition
13	I contacted ______ her.	with	to	against	no preposition
14	He just lacks ______ a little confidence.	in	of	at	no preposition
15	The son might look like his father but doesn’t resemble ______ him.	with	to	at	no preposition
16	The FPSC result is out. Only 1.5% of aspirants have passed ______ the exam.	in	for	at	no preposition
17	So, next time you go to a conference with your boss, just say, I accompanied ______ my boss to the conference on Digital Pakistan.	with	at	to	no preposition
18	I requested ______ my colleague to help me out with the new version of the software.	to	about	for	no preposition
19	The lawyer asked my father to read and sign ______ the deed.	about	for	to	no preposition
20	My son was going out to a party with friends. I asked him, “What time would you return ______ home?”	to	by	at	no preposition
21	We went to Café Coffee Day last evening. I ordered a coffee while my daughter ordered ______ a hot chocolate brownie.	to	for	at	no preposition
22	Alia divorced ______ her husband.	to	with	against	no preposition
23	I’ll phone ______ you tomorrow.	to	for	at	no preposition
24	So many working mothers are facing ______ such problems.	to	with	at	no preposition
25	He explained ______ everything in great detail.	to	for	about	no preposition
26	When is the government going to tackle ____ the problem of poverty?	with	about	for	no preposition
27	She was astonished ______ her failure.	with	for	in	at
28	She was afraid ______ spiders.	of	by	at	away
29	I am aware ______ the situation.	of	at	about	by
30	Is she addicted ______ smoking?	to	by	of	about
31	I am so excited ______ the holidays!	on	about	at	for
32	She was capable ______ learning all these prepositions.	of	for	about	at
33	Are they familiar ______ our rules?	with	of	for	about
34	I am pleased ______ your performance.	with	of	for	about
35	Is this book dedicated ______ his teachers?	to	for	about	at
36	I am disappointed ______ the test results.	with	for	at	on
37	She is very proud ______ her kids.	of	for	at	about
38	Is she guilty ______ murder?	of	about	at	on
39	Is the shop close ______ your work?	to	at	in	about
40	She is responsible ______ my kids.	for	to	about	on
41	One should be polite ______ one’s colleagues.	to	for	at	on
42	It is made ______ wood.	of	out	at	for
43	This chair is made ______ wood.	from	out	at	for
44	Is that topic connected ______ the concept?	to	with	for	at

 

Practice–5

Use the following prepositions to fill in the blanks.

in, on, no preposition required, for since, until, by, past, to, from, at, after, within, behind, after, during

Practice Paragraph

My parents met (1) ………… the war: (2) ……………. August 1943 to be precise. My father was home (3) …………. leave (4) ………… the front, and he decided to spend the first week with his aunt in Liverpool. He hadn’t seen her (5) ………….. several years, even though she had brought him up (6) …………. his mother’s death. Liverpool is not the most beautiful city in the world, but it can be very pleasant (7) ………….. summertime, especially early (8) …………….. the morning. (9) …………. this particular morning, however, my father was in the mood to enjoy the sunrise over the Mersey. His train left Euston Station (10) ………….. time, at midnight, but (11) …………. the time it got to Crewe, it was already three and a half hours (12) ………….. schedule. So, he was in a bad mood and very tired (13) …………. arrival at Lime Street Station. But something happened (14) ………….. minutes of his arrival that changed not only his mood but also his whole life. Feeling thirsty (15) …………. his long journey, he decided to go and have a cup of tea in the station buffet. Typically, it was shut (16) ………… that early hour. A notice on the door read, “Opening hours: (17) ………….. 7:00 a.m. (18) …………… 5:30 p.m. He looked at the station clock ten (19) …………… seven. The buffet should be open (20) ………….. now, he thought. But, knowing station buffets, he realized that he could wait (21) ……………  8 or even 9 o’clock before it opened. Suddenly he noticed a pretty girl sitting on a bench. She was pouring some hot liquid from a thermos flask into a cup. Being something of a lady’s man, my father (at least this is what my mother told me (22) …………. some years later) sat down and said, “I’ve never seen such a pretty girl all (23) ………… my life as you. And I haven’t had a hot drink (24) …………….. last night. If you give me a drink of your tea, I’ll marry you and look after you (25) ………….. the rest of your life!” Believe it or not! She smiled at him, gave him the tea, and …… well, I wouldn’t be here (26) ………… now if the buffet hadn’t been shut (27) ……….. that fateful day (28) ……….. August 1943.

Answer

My parents met during the war: in August 1943, to be precise. My father was home on leave from the front and decided to spend the first week with his aunt in Liverpool. He hadn’t seen her for several years, even though she had brought him up after his mother’s death. Liverpool is not the most beautiful city in the world, but it can be very pleasant in the summertime, especially early in the morning. On this particular morning, however, my father was in the mood to enjoy the sunrise over the Mersey. His train left Euston Station on time, at midnight, but by the time it got to Crewe, it was already three and a half hours behind schedule. So, he was in a bad mood and very tired on arrival at Lime Street Station. But something happened within minutes of his arrival that changed not only his mood but also his whole life. Feeling thirsty after his long journey, he decided to go and have a cup of tea in the station buffet. Typically, it was shut at that early hour. A notice on the door read, “Opening hours: from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. He looked at the station clock ten past seven. The buffet should be open by now, he thought. But, knowing station buffets, he realized that he could wait until 8 or even 9 o’clock before it opened. Suddenly he noticed a pretty girl sitting on a bench. She was pouring some hot liquid from a thermos flask into a cup. Being something of a lady’s man, my father (at least this is what my mother told me no preposition required some years later) sat down and said, “I’ve never seen such a pretty girl all in my life as you. And I haven’t had a hot drink since last night. If you give me a drink of your tea, I’ll marry you and look after you for the rest of your life!” Believe it or not! She smiled at him, gave him the tea, and …… well, I wouldn’t be here (no prep required) now if the buffet hadn’t been shut on that fateful day in August 1943.

Practice–6

Use the following prepositions to fill in the blanks.

to, under, inside, of, for, round, around, outside, in, at, before, behind, over, across, along, through, down, along, over, on, after, towards, off,

Practice Paragraph

When you get (1) ……………. the bus, start walking (2) …………… the High Street (3) ………….. the church. (4) …………… the way, you’ll pass a pub called the King’s Head and a telephone kiosk. Just (5) …………… the telephone kiosk, (6) …………… the left, there is a car park. Go (7) …………… the car park and continue (8) ………….. the footpath that goes (9) ………….. Box Wood. Turn right (10) ……………. the signpost and walk (11) …………..  the river bank until you come (12) ………….. a bridge. Don’t go (13) …………… the bridge but keep on walking until you reach a cottage called ‘Hillside’. (14) …………. the cottage there is a narrow road that leads (15) ………….. a farm.  Follow the road and turn left just (16) ………….. reaching the farm. (17) …………. the end (18) ………….. this road there is a row (19) …………… houses. I live (20) …………. the middle house. It’s number 10 and has a lamp-post (21) ………….. it. If I’m not in, go (22) ………….. the back, where you’ll find a spare key (23) …………. the front door (24) ………… the right (25) ……….the back door, (26) ……….. a flowerpot. I hope you don’t get lost!

Answer

When you get off the bus, start walking along/down the High Street towards the church. On the way, you’ll pass a pub called the King’s Head and a telephone kiosk. Just after the telephone kiosk, on the left, there is a car park. Go across/over/through the car park and continue along/down the footpath that goes through Box Wood. Turn right at the signpost and walk along the river bank until you come to a bridge. Don’t go over/across the bridge but keep on walking until you reach a cottage called ‘Hillside’. Behind the cottage there is a narrow road that leads to a farm.  Follow the road and turn left just before reaching the farm. At the end of this road, there is a row of houses. I live in the middle house. It’s number 10 and has a lamp post outside it. If I’m not in, go round/around the back, where you’ll find a spare key for the front door to the right of the back door, under/inside a flowerpot. I hope you don’t get lost!

 

Practice–7

Use the following prepositions to fill in the blanks.

Before, At, Practice, Start, With, Of, Between, Owing, Terms, Making, For, Into, After, In, On, To, Change, By, According, From, At, From, Coast, Through

Practice Paragraphs

I live (1) …………. Sweden, but every summer I like to travel (2) …………. Britain to visit my family and friends. I hate flying, so last summer I decided that for a (3) ………….. I would travel (4) ………… bus. (5) …………. to the brochure I received (6) ………….. the travel agency, the bus would leave Malmo (7) ………… 9.30 (8) ………… Friday evening and arrive (9) …………. London the following Sunday at 7:30 (10) ………….. the morning. The journey would involve taking the boat (11) ……….. Trelleborg on the south (12) ………… of Sweden to Trav Munde (13) …………. West Germany. Then we would drive (14) ……………. Germany, Holland, and Belgium (15) …………. taking another boat (16) …………….. Ostend (17) …………… Dover. It sounded wonderful- (18) …………….. least (19) …………. theory. In (20) …………., the journey was a nightmare from (21) …………… to finish. (22) ………….. begin (23) ………….., I made the mistake (24) ……………. not reserving a berth (25) …………….. Trelleborg and Trav Munde since it was quite impossible to sleep (26) ………….. to the combined singing (27) ………….. groups of drunk Germans and Swedes, each trying (28) …………… outdo the other in (29) …………… of volume and vulgarity.

Again, I had forgotten that you are not allowed to smoke (30) ………….. Swedish buses, which made the journey (31) …………. stops seem even longer than it was (32) …………. reality. It also meant that when we did eventually have a break, I spent the whole time up for the hours when I had not been able to smoke, (34) …………. the result that I could not be bothered to waste valuable ‘smoking’ time (35) …………… queuing up (36) …………… a meal. (37) …………. the time we reached London I was a physical and mental break wreck! I had not slept or eaten properly (38) ………… almost thirty-six hours and all I wanted to do was sleep. So, I booked (39) ………….. a really shoddy hotel next (40) ………… Victoria Coach Station and slept soundly (41) …………. twelve hours, (42) …………… the same time vowing that never again would I make the journey from Sweden (43) …………… Britain by bus (44) …………… fact, (45) ……………. that experience, flying took (46) …………. a whole new dimension and far (47) ………….. hating it, I would now not dream (48) …………… travelling any other way.

Answer

I live in Sweden, but every summer I like to travel to Britain to visit my family and friends. I hate flying, so last summer I decided that for a change I would travel by bus. According to the brochure I received from the travel agency, the bus would leave Malmo at 9.30 on Friday evening and arrive in London the following Sunday at 7:30 in the morning. The journey would involve taking the boat from Trelleborg on the south coast of Sweden to Trav Munde in West Germany. Then we would drive through Germany, Holland, and Belgium before taking another boat from Ostend to Dover. It sounded wonderful – at least in theory. In practice, the journey was a nightmare from start to finish. To begin with, I made the mistake of not reserving a berth between Trelleborg and Trav Munde since it was quite impossible to sleep owing to the combined singing of groups of drunk Germans and Swedes, each trying to outdo the other in terms of volume and vulgarity.

Again, I had forgotten that you are not allowed to smoke on Swedish buses, which made the journey between stops seem even longer than it was in reality. It also meant that when we did eventually have a break, I spent the whole time up for the hours when I had not been able to smoke, with the result that I could not be bothered to waste valuable ‘smoking’ time in queuing up for a meal. By the time we reached London I was a physical and mental break wreck! I had not slept or eaten properly for almost thirty-six hours and all I wanted to do was sleep. So, I booked into a really shoddy hotel next to Victoria Coach Station and slept soundly for twelve hours, at the same time vowing that never again would I make the journey from Sweden to Britain by bus. In fact, after that experience, flying took on a whole new dimension and far from hating it, I would now not dream of travelling any other way.