This quiz works best with JavaScript enabled.
Home
>
English Grammar
>
Grammar
>
Parts Of Speech
>
Prepositions
>
Prepositions And Idiomatic Expressions – Quiz 1
Prepositions And Idiomatic Expressions Quiz 1 (10 MCQs)
This multiple-choice question set evaluates the understanding of prepositions and idiomatic expressions, focusing on their appropriate usage in various contexts such as gratitude, apologies, legal language, and comparisons. It also assesses the ability to recognize and use idioms correctly.
Quiz Instructions
Select an option to see the correct answer instantly.
1.
When I met Mr Clark, he asked ..... my father's health.
A) About.
B) Under.
C) Of.
D) After.
E) On.
Show Answer
Explanations:
When asking about someone's health, the preposition "about" is commonly used in English. Therefore, the correct answer is A) About.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "About" is appropriate when discussing a person's health.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Under" does not fit grammatically or contextually here.
Option C:
Incorrect. "Of" would be used to indicate possession, which is not the case here.
Option D:
Incorrect. "After" implies a sequence of events that doesn't apply in this context.
Option E:
Incorrect. "On" does not fit grammatically or contextually with asking about health.
2.
The police officer placed the criminal ..... arrest.
A) Of.
B) On.
C) After.
D) Under.
E) About.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) Under.
The phrase "place under arrest" is an idiomatic expression meaning to take someone into custody by a law enforcement officer. This usage of "under" is specific and commonly used in this context.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"Of" does not fit the idiom for placing someone under arrest.
Option B:
"On" could imply a charge but doesn't fit the exact phrasing of being placed in custody.
Option C:
"After" suggests an action that happened following something else, not the act of arresting.
Option D:
"Under" is correct for the idiom "place under arrest."
Option E:
"About" does not fit grammatically or contextually in this sentence.
3.
Which revision correctly fixes the phrase "compare at the results" ?
A) Compare by the results.
B) Compare with the results.
C) Compare for the results.
D) Compare on the results.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) Compare with the results.
The phrase "compare with" is an idiomatic expression used to indicate that one should examine two or more things side by side to find similarities and differences. Using "at," "by," "for," or "on" in this context would not be grammatically correct or meaningful.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. "Compare by the results" does not make sense in this context.
Option B:
Correct. "Compare with the results" is the proper usage of the idiom.
Option C:
Incorrect. "Compare for the results" implies an unnecessary purpose, which is not appropriate here.
Option D:
Incorrect. "Compare on the results" does not follow standard English preposition rules and idiomatic usage.
4.
Fill in the correct preposition.We bought Tania a present in appreciation ..... what she had done for us.
A) On.
B) Under.
C) After.
D) About.
E) Of.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct preposition to fill in the blank is "of". The phrase "in appreciation of" is an idiomatic expression meaning "because of" or "for", indicating gratitude for something someone has done. Therefore, the sentence reads: "We bought Tania a present in appreciation of what she had done for us."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
On - Incorrect; "on" does not fit this context.
Option B:
Under - Incorrect; "under" is used to indicate a position or condition, not gratitude.
Option C:
After - Incorrect; "after" indicates a sequence of events, not gratitude.
Option D:
About - Incorrect; "about" means concerning or regarding, which does not fit the context of expressing gratitude.
Option E:
Of - Correct; "in appreciation of" is an idiomatic expression meaning "for" or "because of".
5.
The minister was not available ..... the scandal was uncovered.
A) After.
B) Under.
C) Of.
D) About.
E) On.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The preposition "after" is correct because it indicates that the minister's unavailability occurred following the uncovering of the scandal. This sequence of events logically fits with the use of "after."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Indicates a sequence where the minister was not available after the scandal.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Under" does not fit grammatically or contextually here.
Option C:
Incorrect. "Of" is not appropriate for this sentence structure.
Option D:
Incorrect. "About" does not make sense in this context.
Option E:
Incorrect. "On" is not suitable here.
6.
I need to give a speech that is appropriate ..... the occasion.
A) After.
B) Of.
C) Under.
D) To.
E) On.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The preposition "to" is correctly used in this context to indicate the purpose or appropriateness of the speech for the occasion. The phrase "appropriate to the occasion" means that the speech should be suitable and fitting for the event or circumstance at hand.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
After - Incorrect, as "after" does not indicate suitability for an occasion.
Option B:
Of - Incorrect, as "of" would imply possession rather than appropriateness.
Option C:
Under - Incorrect, as "under" suggests a condition or rule, not appropriateness.
Option D:
To - Correct, as it properly conveys the idea of suitability for the occasion.
Option E:
On - Incorrect, as "on" would imply a topic rather than appropriateness to an event.
7.
Would you like me to assist you ..... studies?
A) On.
B) With.
C) Under.
D) Of.
E) After.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The preposition "with" is correctly used here to indicate assistance in a particular activity, which is studying. The phrase "Would you like me to assist you with your studies?" is grammatically correct and commonly used.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
On - Incorrect as "on" does not fit the context of assisting someone with their studies.
Option B:
With - Correct as it properly indicates assistance in a specific activity (studies).
Option C:
Under - Incorrect as "under" implies a position or authority, not assistance.
Option D:
Of - Incorrect as "of" does not fit the context of assisting someone with their studies.
Option E:
After - Incorrect as "after" suggests an event following another, not assistance in a process like studying.
8.
Which phrase correctly completes the sentence? "Researchers apologized ..... the delay."
A) Apologized with.
B) Apologized on.
C) Apologized at.
D) Apologized for.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct preposition to use in this context is "for." Researchers apologize for a delay, meaning they are expressing regret over the delay that has occurred.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"Apoloized with" is incorrect. There is no idiomatic expression where one apologizes using "with."
Option B:
"Apoloized on" is not a correct preposition to use in this context.
Option C:
"Apoloized at" is incorrect. There is no idiomatic expression where one apologizes using "at."
Option D:
"Apoloized for" is the correct choice, as it properly expresses regret over a delay.
9.
Most young people are apprehensive ..... the future.
A) Of.
B) After.
C) On.
D) About.
E) Under.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The preposition "about" is the correct choice here because it is commonly used to express concern or apprehension about something, in this case, the future. The phrase "are apprehensive about" is a common idiomatic expression meaning to feel worried or fearful about an uncertain situation.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Of - Incorrect. "Of" does not fit naturally with "apprehensive."
Option B:
After - Incorrect. "After" implies a sequence of events, which is not the intended meaning here.
Option C:
On - Incorrect. "On" typically indicates a surface or topic, not apprehension.
Option D:
About - Correct. This fits naturally with "apprehensive."
Option E:
Under - Incorrect. "Under" does not fit the context of feeling apprehensive about something.
10.
Fill in the correct preposition:on-of-under-after-about-with-to-forThe groom's anxiety was apparent to ..... all the guests.
A) About.
B) On.
C) Under.
D) After.
E) To.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct preposition to use in this sentence is "to". The phrase "was apparent to" means that the groom's anxiety could be observed by everyone present, indicating a relationship between the subject and the guests.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
About - This would imply the anxiety was related to the guests, which is not the intended meaning.
Option B:
On - This does not fit grammatically or contextually with "apparent" in this sentence.
Option C:
Under - This suggests something hidden beneath, which contradicts the idea of being obvious to everyone.
Option D:
After - This implies a sequence of events that is not relevant here.
Option E:
To - This correctly indicates that the anxiety was visible to all guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are prepositions and idiomatic expressions?
Prepositions show the relationship between nouns, pronouns, and other words in a sentence. Idiomatic expressions are phrases whose meanings cannot be understood from the literal meaning of their individual words.
How do prepositions work with idiomatic expressions?Prepositions can be used within idiomatic expressions to indicate the relationship between elements in a phrase, such as "in spite of" or "because of," which are common idioms.
Prepositions can be used within idiomatic expressions to indicate the relationship between elements in a phrase, such as "in spite of" or "because of," which are common idioms.
Why is it important to understand preposition usage in context?
Understanding how prepositions fit into sentences helps improve sentence clarity and coherence, making communication more effective.
Can you give an example of a sequence of events using prepositions?
Certainly! For instance, "She arrived at the station before he left for work" uses prepositions to show the timing and location in relation to each other.
What are some common challenges when learning about prepositions?
One challenge is recognizing how prepositions change meaning based on their position and the words they modify. Another is understanding idiomatic expressions that use prepositions in unique ways.