WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-10 MCQs on simple prepositions

 

 10 MCQs on simple prepositions 

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1. Which of the following is the best definition of a simple preposition? A) A preposition made up of two or more words B) A preposition used only with verbs C) A single word used to show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence D) A preposition used only to show time

✅ Answer: C) A single word used to show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence A simple preposition is a single word — not a phrase — that connects a noun or pronoun to another word in the sentence. Examples: in, on, at, by, for, with, from, to, of, up, down, off, over, under, through, between, among, behind, before, after, near, about. They are called "simple" because they consist of just one word, unlike compound prepositions (in front of) or phrasal prepositions (in spite of).

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2. Choose the correct simple preposition: "The book is _______ the shelf." A) between B) during C) on D) from

✅ Answer: C) on "On" is a simple preposition of place meaning resting on a surface. A book resting on a shelf is correctly described with "on." "Between" implies two sides, "during" refers to time, and "from" indicates origin — none of which apply here.

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3. "She has been living in this city _______ 2015." A) for B) during C) in D) since

✅ Answer: D) since "Since" is a simple preposition used with a specific point in time to show when something started. "Since 2015" means she started living there in 2015 and is still living there. "For" would require a duration (for ten years), not a specific year.

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4. "The dog ran _______ the garden and disappeared." A) between B) over C) onto D) into

✅ Answer: D) into "Into" is a simple preposition showing movement from outside to inside an enclosed or defined space. The dog moved from outside the garden to inside it. "Over" means above, "between" means in the middle of two things, and "onto" means moving to a surface — none of which fit the sentence.

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5. Which sentence uses the simple preposition "by" correctly? A) She sat by the corner room to the left. B) The letter was written by an anonymous author. C) He arrived by the three days ago. D) They live by the 5th of January.

✅ Answer: B) The letter was written by an anonymous author. "By" as a simple preposition is used to show agency — the person who performs an action, especially in passive sentences. "Written by an anonymous author" correctly shows who wrote the letter. "By" is also used for deadlines (by Friday) and means of transport (by bus).

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6. "He stood _______ the door, waiting for someone to answer." A) at B) in C) on D) from

✅ Answer: A) at "At" is a simple preposition of place used to indicate a specific point or location — especially entrances, exits, and defined spots. "Standing at the door" means he is positioned at that exact point. "In" implies being inside, "on" implies a surface, and "from" shows origin.

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7. "The children played _______ the two tall trees in the garden." A) among B) through C) over D) between

✅ Answer: D) between "Between" is a simple preposition used to show a position or relationship involving exactly two things. Since there are two trees, "between" is correct. "Among" is used for three or more. "Through" and "over" do not correctly describe the positional relationship here.

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8. "She completed the project _______ great difficulty." A) in B) at C) on D) with

✅ Answer: D) with "With" is a simple preposition used to express manner, accompaniment, or the circumstances under which something happens. "With great difficulty" means the difficulty was the condition or circumstance of completing the project. It is a fixed and natural English expression.

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9. Which sentence uses the simple preposition "of" correctly? A) She is afraid of to speak in public. B) He arrived of the station early. C) They went of school together. D) A cup of tea was placed on the table.

✅ Answer: D) A cup of tea was placed on the table. "Of" is one of the most common simple prepositions in English. It is used to show belonging, content, quantity, or relationship: a cup of tea (content), a member of the team (belonging), a piece of advice (quantity/type). "Afraid of" is a fixed collocation but must be followed by a noun or gerund, not an infinitive.

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10. "The flight was delayed _______ two hours due to bad weather." A) since B) at C) on D) by

✅ Answer: D) by "By" is used here to show the extent or degree of a change or difference — the flight was delayed by two hours means the delay was two hours in length. This use of "by" (by two hours, by three metres, by a large margin) is a specific and important function of this simple preposition.