Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Definition and Types of Preposition”.
1. A preposition is placed before which of these?
a) Noun
b) Verb
c) Adjective
d) Noun or pronoun
Answer: d
Clarification: A preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to show in what relation the person or thing denoted by it stands in regard to something else. For example: There is a dog in the garden. For this sentence, the preposition is in, and it is placed before the noun garden. Another example is: The boy’s cellphone lay beside him. In this sentence, the preposition is beside, and it precedes the pronoun him.
2. The noun or pronoun which is used with a preposition is called its object.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The noun or pronoun which is used with a preposition is called its object. It is in the accusative case and is said to be governed by the preposition. Example: There is a dog in the garden. The noun ‘garden’ is in the accusative case governed by the preposition ‘in’.
3. In which of these cases, the preposition is always placed at the end?
a) Relative pronoun
b) Reciprocal pronoun
c) Possessive pronoun
d) Reflexive pronoun
Answer: a
Clarification: The preposition is always placed at the end when the object is an interrogative or a relative pronoun. For example: Here is the money that you asked for. , What are you thinking of.
4. Which of these is not a simple preposition?
a) From
b) Through
c) Above
d) With
Answer: c
Clarification: At, by, for, from, in, of, off, as, out, through, till, to, up, with are simple prepositions. Compound prepositions are generally formed by prefixing a preposition to a noun, adjective or an adverb. Example, above.
5. Phrase prepositions are group of words used with the force of single preposition.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: Phrase prepositions are group of words used with the force of single preposition. Examples are in addition to, in place of, in spite of, etc.. For example: Call me in case of an emergency.
6. Fill in the blank: He acted ________ my instructions.
a) agreeable to
b) according to
c) in favour of
d) in course of
Answer: b
Clarification: Here we use a phrase preposition, according to. The correct statement will be: He acted according to my instructions.
7. Which of these is a participial?
a) Underneath
b) Beside
c) Considering
d) Along with
Answer: c
Clarification: Participials are present participles of verbs which are used absolutely without any noun or pronoun being attached to them. For all practical purposes, they have become prepositions. In the above question, the word Considering is the present continuous tense of the word consider, and it’s used as a participial preposition. Example: Considering his age, the Sports Council felt that he was too old to be in the international team.
8. Correct the incorrect statement :
I do not agree to his proposal.
a) I do not agree with his proposal.
b) I do not agree for his proposal.
c) I do not agree on his proposal.
d) I do not agree at his proposal.
Answer: a
Clarification: Here the correct statement is: I do not agree with his proposal. Frequent mistakes are made through wrong use of prepositions in certain idiomatic usage.
9. Fill in the blank: We walked ___ the river and back.
a) till
b) to
c) at
d) about
Answer: b
Clarification: The preposition used here is- to. Do not use wrong prepositions. To is used with distance and till or until with time.
10. Fill in with appropriate preposition : I have not seen the television ______ yesterday.
a) from
b) since
c) till
d) for
Answer: b
Clarification: The correct preposition here would be- since. Since is used before a noun or a phrase, which denotes some point of time. It is preceded by a verb in perfect tense.