English Grammar - Preposition: 71 MCQs with Answers

Preposition - English Grammar
English Grammar - Preposition

English Grammar- Preposition

Learn Prepositions in English Grammar with complete explanations, definitions, types, grammar rules, sentence usage, examples, exercises, and multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Understand prepositions of time, place, direction, movement, manner, reason, and agency, along with common prepositional phrases, usage rules, exceptions, and common mistakes. This comprehensive guide is ideal for school students and candidates preparing for HTET, CTET, TET, SSC, Banking, UPSC, NDA, CDS, and other competitive examinations.

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Q1. Choose the correct prepositions for the blanks : He has been living ........... Calcutta ........... last three years.

Right Answer: in, for


Explanation:

Two blanks need two different prepositions here. 'Live in' is used with a city or a town, so the first blank takes 'in Calcutta'. The second blank follows the present perfect continuous tense 'has been living', which needs a period of time. 'For' is used with a duration such as three years, three hours or a long time, whereas 'since' is used with a fixed point of time such as 2019 or Monday. 'Last three years' shows duration, not a starting point, so 'for' is correct. Hence the right answer is 'in, for'.
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Q2. Fill in the blanks with the correct prepositions : The boy fell ……… the well ……… 10 O'clock.

Right Answer: into, at


Explanation:

The correct answer is 'into, at'. The preposition 'into' shows movement from outside to inside, so a boy who falls from the edge of a well falls 'into' it; 'in' would only show a static position already inside. For clock time, English uses the preposition 'at' — at 10 o'clock, at noon, at midnight. 'On' is used with days and dates such as on Monday or on 5 June, while 'in' is used with months, years and longer periods such as in May or in 2022. Hence option (2) is correct.

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Q3. Fill in the blank with correct preposition : The soldiers kept the terrorists ………….. bay.

Right Answer: at


Explanation:

‘To keep at bay’ is a fixed idiomatic expression meaning to hold something dangerous or unwelcome at a distance so that it cannot come close or cause harm, and the preposition in it is invariably ‘at’. The phrase comes from hunting, where a cornered animal turned to face the baying hounds that could not close in on it. In the given sentence the soldiers succeeded in preventing the terrorists from advancing. Substituting ‘into’, ‘out’ or ‘in’ destroys the idiom, since prepositions in such expressions are fixed by usage and cannot be reasoned out.

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Q4. Select the correct option: Rare though the phenomenon is, it can occur ___ prolonged drought conditions.

Right Answer: under


Explanation:

The blank requires a preposition that expresses the circumstances in which something happens. English idiom uses 'under' with words such as conditions, circumstances, pressure and supervision, so 'under prolonged drought conditions' is the natural and grammatically correct collocation. 'Towards' indicates direction or movement and cannot describe conditions. 'Amid' means in the middle of something and is used with events or situations rather than the fixed phrase 'conditions'. 'Among' is used with countable items in a group of three or more, which does not apply here. Hence the correct preposition is under.
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Q5. Select the correct option: The curator opted ___ displaying the artifact due to preservation concerns.

Right Answer: against


Explanation:

The phrasal verb 'opt against' means to choose not to do something or to decide not to proceed with an action, which fits the context of the curator deciding not to display the artifact due to preservation concerns. The preposition 'against' correctly conveys this sense of rejection or decision to avoid an action. 'Opt for' would mean choosing to do something, which contradicts the context since the curator is avoiding display, not choosing it. 'On' and 'with' are not standard prepositions used with 'opt' in this idiomatic sense. Therefore, based on the negative context implied by preservation concerns, 'against' is the correct choice. The correct answer is option 1, against.
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Q6. Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part 'for theft' in the sentence: He was accused for theft.

Right Answer: of theft


Explanation:

In English, the verb 'accuse' is always followed by the preposition 'of' when specifying the charge or offence, as in 'accused of a crime' or 'accused of theft'. The preposition 'for' is incorrect here because 'for' typically indicates purpose or reason, not the specific charge attached to a person. 'With' and 'by' are also grammatically unsuitable collocations with 'accused' in this context; 'with' pairs naturally with verbs like 'charged', while 'by' would indicate the accuser rather than the offence itself. Therefore, 'of theft' is the only construction that follows standard English usage and collocation rules for the verb 'accuse'.
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Q7. Choose the correct preposition: 'The meeting is scheduled ___ 5 PM.'

Right Answer: at


Explanation:

'At' is used with specific clock times: 'at 5 PM'.

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Q8. Identify the correct preposition: 'She was born ___ 1995.'

Right Answer: in


Explanation:

'In' is used with years, months, and long periods of time.

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Q9. Choose the correct preposition: 'The exam is ___ Monday.'

Right Answer: on


Explanation:

'On' is used with specific days: 'on Monday'.

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Q10. Identify the correct preposition: 'I will finish the report ___ Friday.'

Right Answer: by


Explanation:

'By' indicates a deadline, meaning 'no later than' Friday.

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Published: 16 July 2026 | Last Updated: 08 September 2026 |


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Deepak - Educational Content Creator

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