F i l l i n t h e b l a n k s w i t h s u i t a b l e p r e p o s i t i o n s

I quarrelled ______ her ______ a trivial matter.I quarrelled with her over a trivial matter.

1. I do not like to intrude ______ your privacy.

2. You should rely ______ your hard work.

3. The child is afraid ______ the dark.

4. Augustus Caesar reigned ______ 31 B.C. ______ 14 A.D.

5. He insisted ______ standing ______ the door.

6. She doesn't agree ______ us ______ that decision. Nevertheless she has agreed to carry ______ our instructions.

7. Learning is knowledge acquired ______ study and is frequently contrasted ______ knowledge gained ______ experience.

8. He is a man endowed ______ a strong capacity ______ business affairs.

9. He impressed ______ them that hard work and perseverance are indispensable ______ success ______ life.

10. Ambition constitutes the desire ______ power combined ______ the thirst ______ fame. The desire for wealth is a further spur ______ ambition.

11. He is indebted ______ his friend, not ______ a sum ______ money, but ______ being rescued ______ him ______ danger.

12. He was found guilty ______ murder and was subsequently sentenced ______ death.

13. The hippopotamus subsists chiefly ______ aquatic plants but there are times when it looks ______ food ______ the land.

14. ______ the eleventh hour, she retired ______ the competition, leaving the field open ______ her rivals.

15. I was obliged ______ the stranger ______ his kindness ______ helping me when I was ______ a bad situation.

16. The clerk thought ______ a way to make himself richer ______ 30,000 dollars. However, he failed ______ his plan.

17. "Walk ______ this corridor until you come ______ a room ______ a sign reading 'TESTING ROOM' ______ it," the clerk told me.

18. She was born ______ humble parents ______ a small village ______ the border.

19. They argued ______ a trivial matter and are not ______ speaking terms ______ each other now.

20. The natives paid no heed ______ the advice ______ their old chief. Instead they prepared ______ war ______ the invaders without taking ______ consideration their own lack ______ arms and ammunition.

Answers

1. I do not like to intrude upon your privacy.

2. You should rely on your hard work.

3. The child is afraid of the dark.

4. Augustus Caesar reigned from 31 B.C. to 14 A.D.

5. He insisted on standing at/near/behind the door.

6. She doesn't agree with us on that decision. Nevertheless she has agreed to carry out our instructions.

7. Learning is knowledge acquired through_ study and is frequently contrastedwith knowledge gained from/through experience.

8. He is a man endowed with a strong capacity for business affairs.

9. He impressed upon them that hard work and perseverance are indispensableto success in life.

10. Ambition constitutes the desire for power combined with the thirst for fame. The desire for wealth is a further spur to ambition.

11. He is indebted to his friend, not for a sum of money, but for being rescued byhim from danger.

12. He was found guilty of murder and was subsequently sentenced to death.

13. The hippopotamus subsists chiefly on aquatic plants but there are times when it looks for food from the land.

14. At the eleventh hour, she retired from the competition, leaving the field open toher rivals.

15. I was obliged to the stranger for his kindness in helping me when I was in a bad situation.

16. The clerk thought of a way to make himself richer by 30,000 dollars. However, he failed in his plan.

17. "Walk along this corridor until you come to a room with a sign reading 'TESTING ROOM' on it," the clerk told me.

18. She was born of humble parents in a small village on the border.

19. They argued over a trivial matter and are not on speaking terms with each other now.

20. The natives paid no heed to the advice of their old chief. Instead they preparedfor war on the invaders without taking into consideration their own lack ofarms and ammunition.

Write a story based on this line : "By evening, she was running a high fever ... "

Far up in the mountains of Canada, there is an old abandoned log cabin. Once it was occupied by a young couple who wanted to distance themselves from the chaos of this modern world. Here they were miles away from the nearest town. Bob, the husband, made the occasional trip into town to buy supplies whereas Jan, his wife, spent her free time by the fire, sewing. Their life was simply idyllic.

Then, one midwinter's day, Jan woke up from bed with a strange ache in her bones. Putting it down to overwork, Bob shooed her to bed and made sure she rested. Though Jan was impatient to get to her chores, Bob soothed her, "Relax, Sugar. You're overdoing things. All these chores will be here when you recover."

However, Jan seemed to be getting worse instead of recovering. By evening, she was running a high fever and in greater pain. In spite of his best efforts, Bob could not manage to ease her suffering. And then suddenly, she started to lapse into unconsciousness.

It was then obvious that she was seriously ill. What could Bob do? He had no experience in treating the sick and Jan was getting worse by the minute. He knew that there was an old doctor in town but he lived three miles away, downhill. Pot-bellied and obese, there was no way the doctor could make it up to their cabin.

Something had to be done quickly! Bob racked his brains but to no avail. The only thing left to do was to go to the doctor. In Jan's condition, she could never walk that far in the waist-deep snow. Bob would have to carry her!

Bob searched his mind for a way to move poor, sick Jan. Then, he remembered. He had once made a sledge so that they could ride together over the mountain. They never got around to using it though, because the whole mountain was thickly covered with rocks and trees. He had never found a safe way down, not even once.

"Well," he thought, "looks like I'm going to have to try it anyhow," as he dug out the sledge from the storeroom. "Jan may die unless I get her to the doctor, and life means nothing to me without her." With this thought in mind, Bob gently tucked Jan into the sledge, got in the front, and with a short prayer for safety, pushed off.

How they got through that ride alive, Bob has never figured out. As trees loomed up in front of him and just as quickly whizzed by his side, close enough to touch, he felt relieved that Jan was not awake to experience the ride. It was all he could do not to scream as collision seemed imminent, time and again, with only inches to spare.

At last, bursting from the mountainside, the town came into view. Barely slowing down, they sped through the icy streets, only losing speed as they neared the doctor's house. The sledge, battered through the journey, collapsed in the left ski as it came to a halt, spilling out its occupants. Bob picked up his Jan and made his way into the doctor's house.

After what seemed to be a long winter, Jan recovered fully from her illness but Bob never recovered from his fright. They moved into the little town so as to be near help in times of crisis, and have lived there ever since.

idyllic simple and carefree

rack one's brains strain to find a solution

batter to damage as by heavy wearetween the devil and the deep sea

To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma.

Where there's a will there's a way

When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it.

A burnt child dreads fire A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking for a lifetime.

First come, first served The first in line will be attended to first.

A friend in need is a friend indeed

A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.

Discretion is the better part of valor

If you say discretion is the better part of valor, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do.

A hungry man is an angry man

A person who does not get what he wants or needs is a frustrated person and will be easily provoked to rage.

Empty vessels make the most noise

Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the most and make the greatest fuss.

A man is as old as he feels A person's age is immaterial - it is only when he thinks and feels that he is ageing that he actually becomes old.

Great talkers are little doers Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching others usually do not do much work.

An idle brain is the devil's workshop

One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many mischievous acts.

An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit

It is better to be careful and discrete than to be clever.

Faint heart never won fair lady

To succeed in life one must have the courage to pursue what he wants.

A penny saved is a penny gained

By being thrifty one will be able to save up.

A rolling stone gathers no moss

A person who never settles in one place or who often changes his job will not succeed in life ; one who is always changing his mind will never get anything done.

As you sow, so you shall reap One will either enjoy or suffer the consequences of his earlier actions or inactions.

Barking dogs seldom bite Those who make loud threats seldom carry them out.

Better late than never To do something that is right, profitable, or good a little late is still better than not doing it at all.

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush

Something that one already has is better than going after something seemingly more worthwhile that one may not be able to get.

Birds of a feather flock together

People of the same sort of character or belief always go together.

Call a spade a spade If you say that someone calls a spade a spade, you mean that they speak frankly and directly, often about embarrassing or unpleasant subjects; an informal expression.

Charity begins at home A person's first obligation should be to help the member of his own family before he can begin thinking of talking about helping others.

Dead men tell no lies ( often used as an argument for killing someone whose knowledge of a secret may cause one loss or get into serious trouble.)

A great talker is a great liar A smooth and persuasive talker may be a good liar.

Every cloud has a silver lining If you say that every cloud has a silver lining, you mean

that every sad or unpleasant situation has a positive side to it. If you talk about silver lining you are talking about something positive that comes out of a sad or unpleasant situation.

All that glitters is not gold Do not be deceived by things or offers that appear to be attractive.

Eat to live, but do not live to eat

Man was created for a divine purpose and he has a destiny with his Creator - he was not born just to enjoy food.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

One should not risk everything he has in a single venture.

Every dog has its day Everyone will get a period of success or satisfaction during his lifetime.

Every one can find fault, few can do better

It is easier to find fault in other people's actions or methods than to do it properly or correctly.

Any time means no time When an event is not decided on or planned earlier it will never take place.

Fair exchange is no robbery A contract is fair as long as both the parties understand and agree to the conditions willingly; after a deal is closed neither side can turn around and say that he was unfairly treated.

Fire is a good servant but a bad master

Fire, like any other manmade tool or device, will serve man well only when it is controlled and used wisely.

Chinese Style It's seven twenty o'clock.American Style It's seven twenty.

Chinese Style Your coat is broken.American Style Your coat is torn.

Chinese Style Susan didn't make a fault anyway.American Style Susan didn't make a mistake anyway.

Chinese Style Would you mind posting this letter for me ? Yes, certainly.

American StyleWould you mind mailing this letter for me ? Of course not. OR( Not at all )

Chinese Style He becomes better.American Style He got better.

Chinese Style We'll have a hearing test tomorrow.American Style We'll have a listening test tomorow.

Chinese Style I recommend you to take a long vacation.American Style I recommend that you take a long vacation.

Chinese Style The last bus leaves at eleven o'clock. It's about eleven now, Hurry up!

American Style The last bus leaves at eleven o'clock. It's nearly ( almost ) eleven now, Hurry up!

Chinese Style It was still bright outside.American Style It was still light outside.

All About Basic Fill in the Blanks with Appropriate Prepositions.

DECEMBER 28, 2010 1 COMMENT

I am related to him.

She met me on Friday.

Tamim is occupied with his books.

The house is made of brick.

Gazi went away before dinner.

The book is being read by him.

I can not agree with your proposal.

Paul is destitude of any friend.

Jimy prefer milk to tea.

He desisted from the attempt.

He insisted on my going.

I do not demur to your request.

He looks after his old parents.

It is a confession of weakness.

Suddenly she bursts into tears.

We condole with him on his loss.

We should not hanker after money.

The man could not conceive of such cruelty.

The student is busy at his desk.

I must adhere to my principles.

The lady is clothed in white.

He is capable of solving the problems.

Rasel wants a certificate of character.

I am angry with my younger brother.

I am aware of the fact.

His style of writing is not appropriate to his subject.

Life may be compared to flower.

He was well into his work.

The author was astonished at Jerry’s integrity.

I required a loan of him.

He was destined to death.

We should take proper caution against aids.

I found a clue to the mystery.

Exercise : Articles Exercise 1

Directions: Fill in the blank with the appropriate article, a, an, or the, or leave the space blank if no article is needed.

1. I want ____ apple from that basket.

2. ____ church on the corner is progressive.

3. Miss Lin speaks ____ Chinese.

4. I borrowed ____ pencil from your pile of pencils and pens.

5. One of the students said, "____ professor is late today."

6 Eli likes to play ____ volleyball.

7. I bought ____ umbrella to go out in the rain.

8. My daughter is learning to play ____ violin at her school.

9. Please give me ____ cake that is on the counter.

10. I lived on ____ Main Street when I first came to town.

11. Albany is the capital of ____ New York State.

12. My husband's family speaks ____ Polish.

13. ____ apple a day keeps the doctor away.

14. ____ ink in my pen is red.

15. Our neighbors have ____ cat and ____ dog.

 

Answer: Articles Exercise 1

Correct answers are in bold. 

1. I want an apple from that basket.

2. The church on the corner is progressive.

3. Miss Lin speaks Chinese. (no article needed)

4. I borrowed a pencil from your pile of pencils and pens.

5. One of the students said, "The professor is late today."

6. Eli likes to play volleyball. (no article needed)

7. I bought an umbrella to go out in the rain.

8. My daughter is learning to play the violin at her school.

9. Please give me the cake that is on the counter.

10. I lived on Main Street when I first came to town. (no article needed)

11. Albany is the capital of New York State. (no article needed)

12. My husband's family speaks Polish. (no article needed)

13. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

14. The ink in my pen is red.

15. Our neighbors have a cat and a dog.

Answer : Adjective or Adverb Exercise 1

Correct answers are in bold. 

1. He correctly defined the terms. The answer sounded correct.

2. She quickly adjusted the fees. She adapted quickly to any situation.

3. He measured the floor exactly. They proved to be perfectly exact measurements.

4. The stillness of the tomb was awful. The tomb was awfully still.

5. It was a dangerous lake to swim in. The man was dangerously drunk. The gas smelleddangerous.

6. She performed magnificently. It was a magnificently beautiful performance.

7. Her voice sounds beautiful. She sang the song exactly as it was written. We heard itperfectly.

8. He was a very sensible person. He acted very sensibly.

9. Mike wrote too slowly on the exam. He always writes slowly.

10. Talk softly or don't talk at all. The music played softly.

11. Andrea knows the material very well. She always treats us well.

12. You must send payments regularly. We deal on a strictly cash basis.

13. The mechanic's tools were good. The foreman said that his work was well done.

14. She worked carefully with the sick child. She was a very careful worker.

15. He did not pass the course as easily as he thought he would.

16. I find this novel very interesting. It was interestingly written.

Exercise : Adjective or Adverb Exercise 1

Choose the correct item:

1. He (correct, correctly) defined the terms. The answer sounded (correctly, correct).

2. She (quickly, quick) adjusted the fees. She adapted (quick, quickly) to any situation.

3. He measured the floor (exact, exactly). They proved to be (perfectly, perfect) (exact, exactly) measurements.

4. The stillness of the tomb was (awfully, awful). The tomb was (awfully, awful) still.

5. It was a (dangerously, dangerous) lake to swim in. The man was (dangerous, dangerously) drunk. The gas smelled (dangerously,dangerous).

6. She performed (magnificent, magnificently). It was a (magnificent, magnificently) beautiful performance.

7. Her voice sounds (beautifully, beautiful). She sang the song (exact, exactly) as it was written. We heard it (perfectly, perfect).

8. He was a very (sensibly, sensible) person. He acted very (sensible, sensibly).

9. Mike wrote too (slow, slowly) on the exam. He always writes (slow, slowly).

10. Talk (softly, soft) or don't talk at all. The music played (softly, soft).

11. Andrea knows the material very (good, well). She always treats us (good, well).

12. You must send payments (regular, regularly). We deal on a (strictly, strict) cash basis.

13. The mechanic's tools were (well, good). The foreman said that his work was (good, well) done.

14. She worked (careful, carefully) with the sick child. She was a very (careful, carefully) worker.

15. He did not pass the course as (easy, easily) as he thought he would.

16. I find this novel very (interesting, interestingly). It was (interesting, interestingly) written.

Exercise : Adjective or Adverb Exercise 2

In the following sentences, cross out the incorrect words and write in the correct form in the blanks. If the sentence is correct as it is, write "correct" in the blank.

1. Terrence plays quarterback as well as Brian._______________

2. The game hadn't hardly begun before it started to rain.____________

3. This was sure a mild winter.__________________

4. Jane behaves more pleasant than Joan.________________

5. When you are a parent, you will think different about children.___________

6. I felt badly about not having done good on my final exams._____________

7. Whether you win is not near as important as how you play._____________

8. Asian music often sounds oddly to Western listeners.______________

9. Does your car run well enough to enter the race?_________________

10. I felt safely enough to go out at night on my own._________________

11. You can see the distant mountains clear with these binoculars.______________

12. Our team was real sharp last Saturday afternoon during the game.___________

Answer : Adjective or Adverb Exercise 2

Correct answers are in bold. Incorrect answers are in italics.

1. Terrence plays quarterback as well as Brian. correct

2. The game hadn't hardly begun before it started to rain. had

3. This was sure a mild winter. surely

4. Jane behaves more pleasant than Joan. pleasantly

5. When you are a parent, you will think different about children. differently

6. I felt badly about not having done good on my final exams. bad, well

7. Whether you win is not near as important as how you play. nearly

8. Asian music often sounds oddly to Western listeners. odd

9. Does your car run well enough to enter the race? correct

10. I felt safely enough to go out at night on my own. safe

11. You can see the distant mountains clear with these binoculars. clearly

12. Our team was real sharp last Saturday afternoon during the game. really

Exercise : A or An?

In the following phrases, supply either a or an:

1. ____ bingo game

2. ____ idiot

3. ____ good job

4. ____ rotten plum

5. ____ used fork

6. ____ uncle

7. ____ historian

8. ____ apple

9. ____ hair

10. ____ artichoke

11. ____ horrible movie

12. ____ opera

13. ____ fine opera

14. ____ television

15. ____ earthquake

16. ____ icicle

17. ____ plant

18. ____ eggplant

19. ____ honorable discharge

20. ____ intelligent man

21. ____ table

22. ____ up stairway

23. ____ paper clip

24. ____ animal

25. ____ usual feeling

26. ____ interest

27. ____ alibi

28. ____ early bird

29. ____ couch

30. ____ airplane

31. ____ grade

32. ____ pair

33. ____ idea

34. ____ energy level

 

Answer : A or An?Correct answers are in bold. 

1. a bingo game

2. an idiot

3. a good job

4. a rotten plum

5. a used fork

6. an uncle

7. a historian

8. an apple

9. a hair

10. an artichoke

11. a horrible movie

12. an opera

13. a fine opera

14. a television

15. an earthquake

16. an icicle

17. a plant

18. an eggplant

19. an honorable discharge

20. an intelligent man

21. a table

22. an up stairway

23. a paper clip

24. an animal

25. a usual feeling

26. an interest

27. an alibi

28. an early bird

29. a couch

30. an airplane

31. a grade

32. a pair

33. an idea

34. an energy level

Exercise : Articles Exercise 1

Directions: Fill in the blank with the appropriate article, a, an, or the, or leave the space blank if no article is needed.

1. I want ____ apple from that basket.

2. ____ church on the corner is progressive.

3. Miss Lin speaks ____ Chinese.

4. I borrowed ____ pencil from your pile of pencils and pens.

5. One of the students said, "____ professor is late today."

6 Eli likes to play ____ volleyball.

7. I bought ____ umbrella to go out in the rain.

8. My daughter is learning to play ____ violin at her school.

9. Please give me ____ cake that is on the counter.

10. I lived on ____ Main Street when I first came to town.

11. Albany is the capital of ____ New York State.

12. My husband's family speaks ____ Polish.

13. ____ apple a day keeps the doctor away.

14. ____ ink in my pen is red.

15. Our neighbors have ____ cat and ____ dog.

Answer : Articles Exercise 1

Correct answers are in bold. 

1. I want an apple from that basket.

2. The church on the corner is progressive.

3. Miss Lin speaks Chinese. (no article needed)

4. I borrowed a pencil from your pile of pencils and pens.

5. One of the students said, "The professor is late today."

6. Eli likes to play volleyball. (no article needed)

7. I bought an umbrella to go out in the rain.

8. My daughter is learning to play the violin at her school.

9. Please give me the cake that is on the counter.

10. I lived on Main Street when I first came to town. (no article needed)

11. Albany is the capital of New York State. (no article needed)

12. My husband's family speaks Polish. (no article needed)

13. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

14. The ink in my pen is red.

15. Our neighbors have a cat and a dog.

Exercise : Articles Exercise 2

Directions: Write the following paragraphs, inserting a, an, and the where needed.

1. I have horse of my own. I call her Pretty Girl. She is intelligent animal, but she is not thoroughbred horse. I could never enter her in race, even if I wanted to. But I do not want to. She is companion, for my own pleasure. I took her swimming day or two ago.

2. Horse knows when he is going to race. How does he know? His breakfast was scanty. (He is angry about that.) He does not have saddle on his back. He is being led, not ridden, to grandstand. He is led under grandstand into unusual, special stall. Horse is nervous. Sometimes he does not know what to do when starting gate flies open and track is before him. If he does not begin to run instantly, other horses are already ahead of him. During race, when he sees another horse just ahead of him, he will try to pass him. Sometimes jockey holds him back to save his energy for last stretch. Eventually horse gets to run as fast as he can. Exercise boy, watching owner's favorite jockey riding horse he has exercised day after day, says nothing. Secretly, he is planning for day when he will be jockey himself, and his horse will be first to cross finish line.

3. Most people have fewer hours to give to time-consuming activities of clubs than they used to have, but most people in small town belong to club or two. One of clubs is likely to be social and benevolent organization, such as Rotary or Elks. Business people are likely to belong, also to either Kiwanis Club or Lions. Such business people's organizations may meet as often as once a week in one of private dining rooms of town's leading hotel for lunch. They have good lunch, hear good program, and continue their fundraising program for worthy organization, such as local hospital.

Answer : Articles Exercise 2

Correct answers are in bold. 

1. I have a horse of my own. I call her Pretty Girl. She is an intelligent animal, but she is not a thoroughbred horse. I could never enter her in a race, even if I wanted to. But I do not want to. She is a companion, for my own pleasure. I took her swimming a day or two ago.

2. A horse knows when he is going to race. How does he know? His breakfast was scanty. (He is angry about that.) He does not have a saddle on his back. He is being led, not ridden, to the grandstand. He is led under the grandstand into an unusual, special stall.The horse is nervous. Sometimes he does not know what to do when the starting gate flies open and the track is before him. If he does not begin to run instantly, other horses are already ahead of him. During the race, when he sees another horse just ahead of him, he will try to pass him. Sometimes the jockey holds him back to save his energy for the last stretch. Eventually the horse gets to run as fast as he can. The exercise boy, watching theowner's favorite jockey riding the horse he has exercised day after day, says nothing. Secretly, he is planning for the day when he will be a jockey himself, and his horse will bethe first to cross the finish line.

3. Most working people have fewer hours to give to time-consuming activities of clubs than they used to have, but most people in a small town belong to a club or two. One of theclubs is likely to be a social and benevolent organization, such as the Rotary or Elks. Business people are likely to belong, also to either the Kiwanis Club or the Lions. Such business people's organizations may meet as often as once a week in one of the private dining rooms of the town's leading hotel for lunch. They have a good lunch, hear a good program, and continue their fundraising program for a worthy organization, such as a local hospital.

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