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English grammar exercises

Prepositions exercise

Complete the following sentences using appropriate prepositions. Each question is followed by three suggested answers. Choose the most appropriate one.

1. He went out ......................... the rain.

a) in spite of
b) despite
c) although

Answer: in spite of / despite

Both ‘in spite of’ and ‘despite’ have the same meaning. Although is a conjunction. It should be followed by a clause.

2. I enjoyed the film .......................... having a headache.

a) though
b) despite
c) inspite of

Answer: despite

There are three words in ‘in spite of’.

3. We were late ………………….. the rain.

a) in spite of
b) because of
c) because

Answer: because of

‘In spite of’ is the opposite of ‘because of’.

4. He has a number of criminals ………………….. his friends.

a) between
b) among
c) Either could be used here

Answer: among

5. The old man divided his money …………………. his wife, his son and his daughter.

a) between
b) among
c) Either could be used here

Answer: between

We use ‘divide between’ before a series of singular nouns.

6. He shared the chocolates …………………. the children.

a) between
b) among
c) Either could be used here

Answer: between / among

We can use ‘between’ or ‘among’ before a plural noun.

7. I don’t like the colour of this dress; ……………….., it is too expensive.

a) besides
b) beside
c) Either could be used here

Answer: besides

8. Whose car is parked ……………….. the library?

a) in front of
b) before
c) Either could be used here

Answer: in front of

‘Before’ refers to time; ‘in front of’ refers to position.

9. I have read every book on that shelf ……………. one.

a) except
b) except for
c) Either could be used here

Answer: except / except for

After words like all, every, whole, no, anybody, everybody, nobody, nowhere etc., both ‘except’ and ‘except for’ are possible with the same meaning.

10. …………………….. his help, I would not have succeeded.

a) But for
b) Except for
c) Except

Answer: But for

‘Except’ and ‘except for’ are only used to talk about exceptions to generalizations. In other cases, we use ‘without’ or ‘but for’.

11. I would like to have coffee ……………….. tea.

Answer: instead of

‘Instead’ is an adverb; ‘instead of’ is the preposition.

12. She is good at scientific subjects …………………. physics and chemistry.

a) like
b) as
c) Either could be used here

Answer: like

‘Like’ is a preposition. It is used before a noun. ‘As’ is a conjunction. It is used before a clause.