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 theCSS and PMSexaminations, 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 neverlearnthe 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 betweenToandAtwhen 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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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.
My parents metduringthe warinAugust 1943, to be precise. My father was homeonleavefromthe front and decided to spend the first week with his aunt in Liverpool. He hadn t seen herforseveral years, even though she had brought him upafterhis mother s death. Liverpool is not the most beautiful city in the world, but it can be very pleasantinthe summertime, especially earlyinthe morning.Onthis particular morning, however, my father was in the mood to enjoy the sunrise over the Mersey. His train left Euston Stationontime, at midnight, butbythe time it got to Crewe, it was already three and a half hoursbehindschedule. So, he was in a bad mood and very tiredonarrival at Lime Street Station. But something happenedwithinminutes of his arrival that changed not only his mood but also his whole life. Feeling thirstyafterhis long journey, he decided to go and have a cup of tea in the station buffet. Typically, it was shutatthat early hour. A notice on the door read, Opening hoursfrom7 00 a.m.to5 30 p.m. He looked at the station clock tenpastseven. The buffet should be openbynow, he thought. But, knowing station buffets, he realized that he could waituntil8 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 meno preposition requiredsome years later sat down and said, I ve never seen such a pretty girl allinmy life as you. And I haven t had a hot drinksincelast night. If you give me a drink of your tea, I ll marry you and look after youforthe rest of your life! Believe it or not! She smiled at him, gave him the tea, and well, I wouldn t be hereno prep requirednow if the buffet hadn t been shutonthat fateful dayinAugust 1943.
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!
When you getoffthe bus, start walkingalong downthe High Streettowardsthe church.Onthe way, you ll pass a pub called the King s Head and a telephone kiosk. Justafterthe telephone kiosk,onthe left, there is a car park. Goacross over throughthe car park and continuealong downthe footpath that goesthroughBox Wood. Turn rightatthe signpost and walkalongthe river bank until you cometoa bridge. Don t goover acrossthe bridge but keep on walking until you reach a cottage called Hillside .Behindthe cottage there is a narrow road that leadstoa farm. Follow the road and turn left justbeforereaching the farm.Atthe endofthis road, there is a row of houses. I live in the middle house. It s number 10 and has a lamp postoutsideit. If I m not in, goround aroundthe back, where you ll find a spare keyforthe front doortothe rightofthe back door,under insidea flowerpot. I hope you don t get lost!
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.
I liveinSweden, but every summer I liketotravel to Britain to visit my family and friends. I hate flying, so last summer I decided that for achangeI would travelbybus.Accordingto the brochure I receivedfromthe travel agency, the bus would leave Malmoat9.30onFriday evening and arriveinLondon the following Sunday at 7 30inthe morning. The journey would involve taking the boatfromTrelleborg on the southcoastof Sweden to Trav MundeinWest Germany. Then we would drivethroughGermany, Holland, and Belgiumbeforetaking another boatfromOstendtoDover. It sounded wonderfulatleastintheory. Inpractice, the journey was a nightmare fromstartto finish.Tobegin with, I made the mistakeofnot reserving a berthbetweenTrelleborg and Trav Munde since it was quite impossible to sleepowingto the combined singingofgroups of drunk Germans and Swedes, each tryingtooutdo the other intermsof volume and vulgarity.
Again, I had forgotten that you are not allowed to smokeonSwedish buses, which made the journeybetweenstops seem even longer than it wasinreality. 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,withthe result that I could not be bothered to waste valuable smoking timeinqueuing upfora meal.Bythe time we reached London I was a physical and mental break wreck! I had not slept or eaten properlyforalmost thirty-six hours and all I wanted to do was sleep. So, I bookedintoa really shoddy hotel nexttoVictoria Coach Station and slept soundlyfortwelve hours,atthe same time vowing that never again would I make the journey from SwedentoBritain by bus.Infact,afterthat experience, flying tookona whole new dimension and farfromhating it, I would now not dreamoftravelling any other way.