Chapter 3: Prepositions

English Grammar and Composition

Chapter 3: Prepositions

Textbook: Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), English Grammar and Composition (For Senior Secondary Classes)

Formatting convention: Answers are inserted into the original sentences in bold. The original numbering and instructions are retained. For unsolved exercises, the answers are suggested completions based on the sentence context.

Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

  1. The show will be over by 5 p.m.
  2. His interview will be held on Monday, 30th October.
  3. Two boys quarrelled after the teacher had gone.
  4. The new session starts from April.
  5. They have been living here since 2009.
  6. We were at Shimla from Monday to Friday.
  7. The hockey match was played from 1 p.m. to 2.20 p.m.
  8. They met only for thirty minutes.
  9. The train arrives at 11 o’clock sharp.
  10. Our shop opens on weekdays only.

Exercise 2 (Solved)

Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

  1. He stays at Karol Bagh.
  2. He spent his early life in India.
  3. He made his son sit between him and his friend on the bike.
  4. Manav was sitting beside his mother.
  5. He distributed the toffees among all the children.
  6. He was hiding behind a big board.
  7. We stood in front of the Sun temple for a while to admire its beauty.
  8. My cat was resting under the table.
  9. A big statue of Mahatma Gandhi has been placed in front of the Gandhi Museum.
  10. The papers were scattered on the floor.

Exercise 3 (Solved)

Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

  1. We were on our way to school.
  2. Winter vacations start from 25th December.
  3. The axe fell into the canal.
  4. They were running along the beach.
  5. Our school is near the temple.
  6. The wheel went off.
  7. He will have to pay through his nose.
  8. We must face the challenge with courage.
  9. You must learn the lesson by heart.
  10. He threw the packet against the wall.

Exercise 4

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. I was surprised at the contents of the notice.
  2. He sat on the sofa.
  3. She was looking forward to your proposal.
  4. The cat jumped onto the table.
  5. I fell in love with picturesque beauty of Darjeeling.
  6. Sudha was not afraid of challenges.
  7. Gulmohars were scattered all over the fields.
  8. The rat ran into its hole.
  9. I saw the advertisement in the Sunday newspaper.
  10. She was transferred out of Mumbai.

Exercise 5

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. We walked through the park.
  2. He lives in India.
  3. My grandfather’s portrait hung above the mantelpiece.
  4. His cat was sitting on the table.
  5. Grandmother’s lips constantly moved in prayer.
  6. I was left alone in my village.
  7. Her face was covered with her silver locks.
  8. My school was attached to the village temple.
  9. She used to sit at the temple till my school finished.
  10. She hobbled into the house with a stick in her hand.

Exercise 6

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. I used to get up early in the morning.
  2. A brisk walk is best for the heart.
  3. Some books are to be tasted, while others are to be read in parts.
  4. You should not take things for granted.
  5. Some students were reading books in the library.
  6. Books serve for delight and ornament.
  7. He is good at studies.
  8. We will be free by the end of day.
  9. Francis Bacon wrote an essay on the importance of studies.
  10. Bowling is good for stone and reins.

Exercise 7

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. The children climbed over the wall.
  2. We watched the match on a big screen.
  3. He answered some of the questions only.
  4. Wasan was admitted to class.
  5. We must pray to God.
  6. I have no interest in games.
  7. Kalam had three visions for India.
  8. I believe in equality.
  9. Discipline is important for success.
  10. He was worried about the results of the competition.

Exercise 8

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. He was moving towards the stage.
  2. Kalam would not rest until he achieves his aim.
  3. The students stood in front of the Taj for some time to admire its beauty.
  4. We remained seated throughout the entire performance.
  5. Self-respect comes from self-reliance.
  6. I could see only his head above the water.
  7. I parked my car exactly under the bridge.
  8. I waited for him until 5.00 pm and then left for my walk.
  9. Cubs were jostling against each other.
  10. We should wash our hands before the meals.

Editorial notes

  1. Exercise 1, Question 4: The textbook’s printed answer is from. “The new session starts in April” is also natural English when simply stating the month. Retain from to follow the textbook’s answer key.
  2. Exercise 2, Question 5: The textbook gives among. The sentence is retained as printed, although “distributed the toffees among the children” is more natural.
  3. Exercise 4, Question 4: Onto indicates movement to a surface; on may also be used depending on context.
  4. Exercise 5, Question 4: The original reads “His cat was sitting ___ table.” The answer on the completes the sentence naturally, but the blank may have been intended to contain only a preposition. Check the printed layout before publication.
  5. Exercise 6, Question 6: The wording “Books serve for delight and ornament” is unusual. Since the textbook provides no answer key for this exercise, for is a tentative completion and should be verified before treating it as definitive.
  6. Exercise 6, Question 10: “Bowling is good for stone and reins” appears unusual and may reflect source wording or a printing/OCR issue. The answer for is tentative; verify this sentence against the printed page before publication.
  7. Exercise 7, Question 4: The choice between to and into may depend on whether the sentence refers to admission to a class or entry into a classroom. To is a reasonable completion for the wording supplied.
  8. Exercise 8, Question 9: Against is a possible completion, but “jostling with each other” is also idiomatic. Verify the intended answer if the textbook provides an official key elsewhere.

Exercise 9

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. I have been waiting for you since 11.00 am.
  2. He has been visiting our place for many weeks now.
  3. They have lived here since 2015.
  4. You must learn to stand up for yourself.
  5. The meeting was held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  6. He got a deep cut on his right hand.
  7. Both the vehicles collided with each other.
  8. The plane flew over the fields.
  9. Children generally quarrel among themselves over trifles.
  10. India is among the top five nations of the world.

Exercise 10

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. His car knocked against the pillar and overturned.
  2. The crowd pressed against the gate.
  3. Captain Vikram Batra stormed at the enemy.
  4. Major Som Nath Sharma laid down his life for the nation.
  5. Indian troops were airlifted to Srinagar.
  6. Flying Officer Nirmaljit exposed himself to danger.
  7. The aeroplane flew through the clouds.
  8. Indian soldiers displayed highest bravery in the battle.
  9. Captain Batra led his company to victory.
  10. Our soldiers inflicted heavy casualities on the enemy.

Exercise 11

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. We can see through clear water.
  2. We should leave the natural resources for future generations.
  3. Rivers have been flowing for ages.
  4. Forests are essential for human life too.
  5. Saving our environment is the need of the hour.
  6. Many parts of Punjab are on the verge of becoming a desert.
  7. Many cities were developed on the banks of rivers.
  8. Man has always longed for the imaginary elixir of life.
  9. We must take steps to preserve our heritage.
  10. People should be educated about the adverse effects of globalization.

Exercise 12

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. U.S. Forces dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
  2. A soldier renders selfless service to his nation.
  3. Violence is not a solution to any problem.
  4. Man must learn to love.
  5. Many animals hunt at night.
  6. I requested the commander to explain the situation of the patients.
  7. I waited for the doctor.
  8. Besides attending to the patients, he gave them medicines also.
  9. General Fitch took off his glasses after reading the telegram.
  10. The nurse was attending to the sick people.

Exercise 13

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. Malcolm was walking along a creek.
  2. He saw the grizzly at a distance of twenty yards.
  3. The grizzly pounced on Barb.
  4. Malcolm was standing between the Grizzly and Barb.
  5. She kept slipping on the ice.
  6. Grizzly grabbed him with both hands.
  7. She squeezed him against her chest.
  8. Barb burst into tears.
  9. There was no time for fear.
  10. Barb did not give up on Malcolm.

Exercise 14

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. Nobody warned us about the dangers of pollution.
  2. He never thought I would be ready for the challenge.
  3. The new law prohibits us from drinking while driving.
  4. Will you wait for your turn?
  5. The teacher handed out the answer sheets to the students.
  6. Prime Minister was very keen on reforms.
  7. BMW has recalled many cars because of some technical fault.
  8. The policeman was walking along the street at night.
  9. People of India know how to welcome a guest.
  10. Swami Vivekananda influenced millions of people throughout the world.

Exercise 15

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. He was looking at the board.
  2. The haze prevented me from seeing the train.
  3. She complained of headache.
  4. I could not agree with his proposal.
  5. There is no exception to rules of traffic.
  6. They fought until the last round.
  7. Swami’s father was shocked at his behaviour.
  8. I insist on his speaking the truth.
  9. He was sorry for the delay.
  10. My friend is a professor by profession.

Exercise 16

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions.

  1. Children are generally fond of Laddoos.
  2. A drowning man catches at a straw.
  3. We are now on good terms with each other.
  4. He has not come to my house for many days.
  5. It is difficult to convince him.
  6. He knew that he was at fault.
  7. Maharana Pratap fought tooth and nail against the Mughals.
  8. Shivaji fought for his motherland.
  9. He fell a victim to drinking.
  10. Her voice is familiar to me.

Editorial notes for publication

  1. Exercise 9, Question 4: “Stand up for yourself” is a natural expression meaning to defend or assert yourself. The source has two blanks, so the answer is divided between them.
  2. Exercise 9, Question 9: Among is a possible completion, but “quarrel among themselves” is less natural than “quarrel with each other.” The original wording has been retained.
  3. Exercise 10, Question 3: At is a possible completion in the sense of attacking the enemy. Depending on context, “stormed against the enemy” may also be used.
  4. Exercise 10, Question 10: The textbook prints “casualities”; the standard spelling is casualties. The sentence wording is retained here apart from the inserted preposition.
  5. Exercise 12, Question 4: “Man must learn to love” is grammatically natural, although to functions as part of the infinitive rather than as a conventional preposition in this construction.
  6. Exercise 13, Question 7: Against is a possible completion, but the intended physical action is not entirely clear without the passage this exercise may refer to.
  7. Exercise 14, Question 5: Handed out … to is a reasonable completion. “Handed the answer sheets to the students” would also be natural, but it would require removing the first blank’s preposition.
  8. Exercise 15, Question 3: “She complained of headache” follows a recognised construction, though “She complained of a headache” is more idiomatic in everyday English.

Exercise 17

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions:

  1. The child was clinging to his mother.
  2. He wrote a letter to his friend.
  3. She closed the door behind him.
  4. Always be kind to children.
  5. I am pleased with her.
  6. Write in ink.
  7. I don’t care a fig about him.
  8. He ran short of money.
  9. We haven’t met since last week.
  10. Her efforts were rewarded with success.

Editorial note: In Question 3, behind is a suitable completion if she closed the door after he passed through it. The context is not provided, so the intended meaning cannot be confirmed.

Exercise 18

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions:

  1. This book is superior to that.
  2. I congratulated her on her success.
  3. He will deliver the mail to you.
  4. The postman delivered the letter at my home.
  5. The man was leaning against the wall.
  6. I will get over the difficulties.
  7. I wished him a speedy recovery from illness.
  8. She takes pride in her beauty.
  9. My office is opposite [no preposition] the Post office.
  10. I never exempted him from class.

Editorial notes:

  • Question 9: In standard English, opposite can be used directly before a noun: “My office is opposite the Post office.” No preposition is needed. The marker [no preposition] makes this explicit.
  • Question 10: “I never exempted him from class” is a possible completion, but the sentence is context-dependent and sounds unusual without further explanation. The original wording has been preserved.

Exercise 19

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions:

  1. She belongs to a poor family.
  2. Beware of stray dogs.
  3. One should never boast of knowledge.
  4. He appealed to the public for keeping the area clean.
  5. My bed is made of teak wood.
  6. I was not angry with her.
  7. Mr. Verma is sure of his success.
  8. He was anxious about his son’s safety.
  9. He believes in fair dealing.
  10. I solved the problem without any difficulty.

Editorial note: In Question 3, of is a possible completion following boast. The sentence has been retained as printed.

Exercise 20

Fill in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions:

  1. We go to office in my official car.
  2. He works in the factory from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30.p.m.
  3. The boy hid himself behind the tree.
  4. He was found sleeping in the class.
  5. His mobile fell into the water tank.
  6. Sweets were distributed among the street children.
  7. There is a cinema hall in front of his office.
  8. The river is flowing above the danger mark.
  9. Always hope for the best.
  10. Always be positive about life.

Editorial notes:

  • Question 1: “We go to office in my official car” has a possible preposition, in, but the sentence shifts between we and my. The original wording has been preserved.
  • Question 2: The expected time range is from … to …. The printed form “4.30.p.m.” has been retained.
  • Question 4: In the class is a possible completion in the given sentence. The more natural expression may depend on the intended context.
  • Question 8: Above is suitable if the river level has exceeded the danger mark.

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