1st exercise

Choose the suitable preposition for each adjective in this

context: for, from, of, to

1. different what I had expected

2. fit one more season

3. contrary for what people believe

4. ashamed himself

5 . a w a r e the possibilities

6 . a b s e n t work

7. new this kind of situation

8 . b o u n d Liverpool

9. c a p a b l e f r o m doing much better

10. grateful everything you have done for us

11. not averse earning a few pounds extra

12. conscious what other people think of you

13. late school

14. jealous his sister's success

15. due the bad weather

16. separate of the rest of the money

17. ready anything

18. fond his nephews

19. proud their student's results

20. allergic scented soap

21. responsible everyone's safety

22. safe to harm

23. sick being told what to do

24. similar the one we had at home

2nd exercise

Choose the suitable preposition: ABOUT, AGAINST, FOR, FROM,

OF, ON, TO

1. We rely _______ your discretion.

2. I borrowed some money _______ the bank.

3. Some young people rebel _______ authority.

4. How do you account _______ the differences?

5. Common salt consists _______ chlorine and sodium.

6. It appeals _______ my sense of humor.

7. I must apologize _______ being late.

8. We have decided to abstain _______ voting.

9. Everyone in the world longs _______ peace.

10. Why did you get rid _______ your old car?

11. It doesn't amount _______ very much.

12. They asked me _______ the accident.

13. He suffers _______ rheumatism.

14. It depends _______ how good you are.

15. Has he been cured _______ his habit of coming late?

16. I can hardly wait _______ the summer to come!

17. Joe belongs _______ a number of societies.

18. Will you pay _______ the taxi?

19. It is time to ask _______ a pay increase.

20. Can one insure _______ being struck by a lightning?

21. It is silly to worry _______ growing old.

22. This soup tastes _______ iodine.

23. He has just recovered _______ a serious illness.

24. In despair, I turned _______ the church for help.

3rd exercise

Replace the words underlined with a compound preposition

formed from the words in brackets, and make any other

necessary changes.

1. All those who think that we should go on strike, raise your hands.

(favour)

2. If you believe what it says in the papers, we are in for a crisis.

(according)

3. Speaking as a representative of the committee, I should like to

thank you all for what you have done. (behalf)

4. Taking into consideration the number of absences, I have decided

that nobody will get a certificate! (view)

5. Even though there was deep snow everywhere, he decided to go out.

(spite)

6. Everyone in the staff with the exception of Simon liked the idea. (apart)

7. We dealt with all the prepositions which express relationships, but we excluded those which refer to time and space.

(other)

8. Having decided not to wait for the others, he went on ahead.

(instead)

9. They were not only kind enough to visit her in hospital, but they

also looked after her bungalow for her (addition)

10. Tonight's play has been cancelled; this is because there has been

a lack of interest (owing)

11. The fire in the oil well was put out, and in order to achieve this

they used explosives. (means)

12. If a fire should break out, sound the alarm. (case)

4th exercise 1. I cannot type very well. (no good) 2. I think that I might make mistakes. (afraid) 3. He says he might join the debating society. (interested) 4. She left but she did not say goodbye first. (without) 5. He doesn't want to work in an office any more. (tired) 6. Switch off the lights, then you can leave. (before) 7. They had a crash because they drove too fast. (through) 8. He is one of the people who runs the youth club. (involved) 9. She went on her own, and did not wait for the others. (instead) 10. I regularly get up while it is still dark. (accustomed) 11. She does not always remember people's names. (bad) 12. We can only improve if we work harder. (by)

5th exercise.

Rewrite these sentences beginning with the words given

underneath each sentence. 1. I am glad that you phoned.

Thank...

2. They persuaded him not to go.

He was discouraged...

3. They made it impossible for me to address the meeting.

They prevented...

4. The police said that he had driven without due care and

attention.

The police accused...

5. He is trying to decide whether to change jobs.

He is thinking...

6. Do everything you can to get good grades in your examination

Concentrate...

7. Everybody was very pleased that Jeremy had passed his

driving test.

Everybody congratulated...

8. The suspicion was that they had cheated.

They were suspected...

9. She would not have the courage to ask a man to dance with

her.

She would not dream...

10. "Live a day at a time" - that is my philosophy.

I believe...

11. It will be a pleasure for me to visit you next summer.

I'm looking forward...

12. He often says how much he would like to emigrate to

Australia.

He talks a lot...

6th exercise

The underlined phrase in each sentence has one of the three

meanings shown below. Underline the correct meaning of each

phrase.

1. Mrs Hill decided that it was time to have a long heart-

to-heart talk with her daughter.

A. emotional B. frank C. secret

2. I was completely at sea when I first started my new job in

the factory.

A. on a ship B. forgetful C. confused

3. John's pleasant manner soon helped to put him in our good

books.

A. in our favour B. in our debt C. in our service.

4. You spoke to me a long time ago about a tall stranger: the man in

question is a detective.

A. referred to B. under suspicion C. not known

5. Whether or not you agree to the plan is beside the point: all

we want from you is information.

A. very important B. irrelevant C. being discussed

6. After the incident, the crowd got out of hand and there was

almost a riot.

A. out of control B. out of reach C. angry

7. I knew that Jack was on edge as he sat waiting to take his

driving test.

A. in poor health B. depressed C. nervous

8. How on earth can you work without a break for eight hours?

A. ever B. almost C. always

9. Mr White often meets your principal and is also on terms

with your teacher.

A. on holiday B. friendly C. agreeable

10. Everyone was in high spirits when we went on the picnic.

A. drunk B. energetic C. happy

11. Paul is hard-working, intelligent, and very popular with the

other students. He is also reliable and has the quality of

leadership. In short, he is just the type of boy we want to be a

prefect.

A. Briefly B. At once C. Therefore

12. As a rule I work until six o'clock every day and then have

tea at a nearby café.

A. Officially B. Usually C. In fact

13. I can recommend without reserve the small hotel where we

stayed last summer.

A. fully B. in public C. willingly

14. Dick was a few hundred dollars in pocket after selling his

good bicycle.

A. richer B. poorer C. in cash

15. I tried in vain to start the engine of the boat.

A. with great strength B. proudly C. without result

KEY

1st exercise

1. from 2. for 3. to 4. of

5. of 6. from 7. to 8. for

9. of 10. for 11. to 12. of

13. for 14. of 15. to 16. from

17. for 18. of 19. of 20. to

21. for 22. from 23. of 24. to

2nd exercise

1. on 2. from 3. against 4. for

5. of 6. to 7. for 8. from

9. for 10. of 11. to 12. about

13. from 14. on 15. of 16. for

17. to 18. for 19. for 20. against

21. about 22. of 23. from 24. to

3rd exercise

1. in favour of (going) 2. according to

3. on behalf of 4. in view of

5. in spite of 6. apart from

7. other than 8. instead of (not waiting)

9. in addition to (visiting) 10. owing to

11. by means of 12. in case of fire, ...

4th exercise

1. I'm no good at... 2. I'm afraid of...

3. He's interested in 4. ... without ...

5. He's tired of... 6. ... before ...

7. ... through ... 8. ... involved in ...

9. instead of ... 10. I'm accustomed to ... -ing...

11. ... bad at ... 12. ... by ...

Remember: all the verbs after the prepositions must be in -ing form.

5th exercise

1. Thank you for... 2. ...discouraged from...

3. ...prevented me from... 4. ..accused him of...

5. ...thinking about/of ... 6. Concentrate on...

7. congratulated Jeremy on ... 8....suspected of...

9. ...dream of... 10. ...believe in..

11. ...looking forward to +

ing.

12. ...about...

6th exercise

1. B 2. C 3. A

4. A 5. B 6. A

7. C 8. A 9. B

10. C 11. A 12. B

13. A 14. A 15. C