1. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. Only those over 70 are eligible         the special payment.
2. Increased production will,         turn (=as a result), lead to increased profits.
3. He longed         Pat to phone.
4. A bicycle came         sight on the main road.
5. an admission         guilt/failure/defeat
6. She is very sensitive         nature.
7. to enter         (=start to do sth) a new career
Answers

1. for 2. in 3. for 4. into 5. of 6. by 7. on

2. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. How did the thieves gain entry         the building?
2. The present system is in want         a total review.
3. Yesterday, in an interview         German television, the minister denied the reports.
4. I'm         a loss what to do next.
5. a house         the proximity of (= near) the motorway

6. He is a thief         his own admission (= he has admitted it).
7. to apply         a job/passport/grant
Answers

1. into 2. of 3. on 4. at 5. in 6. by 7. for

3. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. Personal enmities and conflicts have soured relations         the department.

2. We looked around the school and talked         the principal.
3. She dipped her toe         the pool to see how cold it was.
4. Would you care to partake (=eat or drink something)         some refreshment?
5. I called the station to enquire (=ask somebody for some information)         train times.

6. The horse came next         last (= the one before the last one) in the race.

7. She was shunned         her family when she remarried.

Answers
1. within 2. with 3. into 4. of 5. about 6. to 7. by

4. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. God have mercy         us.
2. seek refuge         God
3. The Kaba is central         Islamic pilgrimage.
4. It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days when His Throne was         the water.
5. His throne extends         the heavens and the earth.
6. They will not be finished         by death.

7. seekers         the truth
Answers

1. on 2. with 3. to 4. on 5. over 6. off 7. after

5. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. The children seem to be totally incapable         working by themselves.

2. The defence lawyers claimed that the prisoners had been subjected         cruel and degrading treatment.

3. He repaired         (=go to a particular place) his study for some peace and quiet.

4. They are less sanguine (= optimistic)         the company's long-term prospects.
5. I was reluctant to embroil myself         his problems.
6. The decision is binding         both parties.

7. The teaching of history should not be limited         dates and figures.

Answer

1. of 2. to 3. to 4. about 5. in 6. on 7. to

6. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. The area has a number of schools in close proximity         each other.

2. to be granted/refused entry         the country
3. She married         the aristocracy.
4. Villagers used to hold a great feast         harvest time.

5. He was barely 30 and         the prime of (his) life.

6. These flowers are long         their prime.

7. We interviewed ten people         the job.
Answer

1. to 2. into 3. into 4. at 5. in 6. past 7. for

7. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. to sow doubt         somebody’s mind
2. Allah urges believers to submit themselves         God and to guard themselves         Hellfire.

3. He was a Catholic         upbringing.

4. the party's position         education reforms
5. She failed to gain admission         the university of her choice.
6. They must be prevented from intruding         the family's private grief.

7. There's nothing better after a hard day's work than to luxuriate         (=get great pleasure from) a hot bath.

Answers

1. in 2. to; against 3. by 4. on 5. to 6. into 7. in

8. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. There was nowhere         me to sit.
2. I need some time to mull it         (= consider) before making a decision.
3. She appealed         the judge for leniency.
4. The judge was far too lenient         him.
5. They preferred not to partake         (= take part in an activity) the social life of the town.
6. I promised not to refer         the matter again.
7. He tends to take a sanguine (= optimistic) view         the problems involved.
Answers
1. for 2. over 3. to 4. with 5. in 6. to 7. of

9. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. The proximity of the college         London makes it very popular.

2. The poor train service has been the bane (=cause of ruin or trouble)         commuters for years.
3. To the best of my recollection (=if I remember correctly) I was not present         that meeting.
4. The African elephant is         a desperate plight.

5. He discoursed (=talk or give a long speech) for hours         the problems of the education system.
6. Lord, I take refuge         You         the goadings of the evil ones.
7. She was near         tears (= almost crying).

Answers

1. to 2. of 3. at 4. in 5. on 6. with; from 7. to

10. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. He expressed suitable penitence         what he had done.

2. I have no recollection (= memory)         meeting her before.
3. They had been exhorted (=urged)         action.
4. By the end of the week, there was a tremendous feeling of togetherness (=a feeling of closeness to others)         the group.
5. a look         contrition (=repentance; deep and genuine feelings of guilt and remorse)

6. He was met by an elderly priest         a benevolent smile.

7. He had an abhorrence         waste of any kind.

Answers

1. for 2. of 3. to 4. in 5. of 6. with 7. of

1. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. She always referred         Ben as ‘that nice man’.
2. Pakistan officially backed the Saudi position         Syria.
3. She knew         a shadow of a doubt that he was lying to her.

4. You should apply         person/        letter.
5. Violent crime is not limited         big cities.
6. He wouldn't apologize. He knew he was         the right (= had justice on his side).
7. Leave any valuables in your car         sight.

Answers

1. to 2. on 3. without 4. in; by 5. to 6. in 7. out of

2. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. They have been working         the perfection of the new model.
2. The men were arrested but not brought         trial.
3. The armed forces see themselves as the guarantors         free elections in the country.
4. Keep         the right side of the road.
5. We appealed         his better nature (= his kindness).
6. The research showed         doubt that smoking contributes to heart disease.
7. The end is         sight (= will happen soon).

Answers

1. on 2. to 3. of 4. on 5. to 6. beyond 7. in

3. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. We whiled         the time reading and playing cards.
2. She inquired         his grandfather's health.
3. Whether he will continue to be successful in future is open         doubt.
4. a slur/attack         his character
5. She won laurels         her first novel.
6. The death sentence may be commuted         life imprisonment.
7. There was no one         sight.

Answers

1. away 2. after 3. to 4. on 5. for 6. to 7. in

4. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. He became embroiled         a dispute with his neighbours.
2. The victims were not referred to         name.
3. countries seeking entry         the European Union
4. Take the first street         the right.
5. He is the bearer         good tidings.
6. At last we came         sight of a few houses.
7. The two governments are still at loggerheads         the island.

Answers

1. in 2. by 3. into 4. on 5. of 6. in 7. over

5. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. The label should be firmly affixed         the package.

2. There is not a grain         truth in what she says.

3. There's no point in disturbing him         something so trivial.
4. The ruling set a precedent         future libel cases.
5. The dispute has dragged         for months.
6. They must be prevented from intruding         the family's private grief.
7. The house will be yours when I turn         my toes (= die).

Answers

1. to 2. of 3. with 4. for 5. on 6. into 7. up

6. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. He seemed most amenable         (= willing to be influenced by) my idea.
2. Children learn to use computer programs         trial and error.

3. They greeted the newcomers         friendly salutations.

4. The couple are grieving         the loss of their son.
5. The awful truth about his disappearance finally dawned         her.

6. It is part of a teacher's job to instil confidence        /        his or her students.
7. The fish was cooked         perfection.

Answers

1. to 2. by 3. with 4. over 5. on 6. in; into 7. to

7. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. He's         trial for murder.
2. The project failed for want         (= because of a lack of) financial backing.
3. We are determined to get         (= discover) the truth.
4. They showed no mercy         their hostages.
5. He went         his parents' blessing.
6. She was forced to face         a few unwelcome truths about her family.
7. He was         noble countenance.

Answers

1. on 2. of 3. at 4. to 5. with 6. up to 7. of

8. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. The future         its very nature is uncertain.

2. The government failed to keep its promise         lower taxes.

3. He had no right to meddle         her affairs.

4. The judge will pass sentence         the accused this afternoon.
5. We plan to go on Wednesday, subject         your approval.

6. The article raised doubts         how effective the new drug really was.

7. You will be required to enrol         the commencement of each academic year.

Answers

1. by 2. of 3. in 4. on 5. to 6. about 7. at

9. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. It's not         his nature to be unkind. 

2. You haven't gone back         your promise, have you?
3. We are now operating         a loss.
4. A military junta took control         the country.

5. Owing to circumstances         our control, the flight         Rome has been cancelled.
6. They asked her to be merciful         the prisoners.
7. New evidence has cast doubt         the guilt of the man jailed for the crime.

Answers

1. in 2. on 3. at 4. of 5. beyond; to 6. to 7. on

10. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. There is no entry         his diary for that day.

2. to apply         a company/university
3. If you are in any doubt         whether you should be doing these exercises, consult your doctor.
4. Anecdotes have no place         (= are not acceptable in) an academic essay.
5. Soltan was sentenced         life imprisonment.
6. children nurtured         loving parents
7. They had been sentenced         murder.

Answers

1. in 2. to 3. as to 4. in 5. to 6. by 7. for