National Highways & Motorway Police (NH&MP) SI / JPO English Prepositions — Set 3

1. Question 1

   Q1. Use the correct preposition in the blank. I shall abide ______ my promise.

   • A) To
   • B) With
   • C) By
   • D) On

   Answer: By

   Explanation: The verb "abide" takes the preposition "by" when meaning to comply with or act according to a rule, law, or promise.

2. Question 2

   Q2. She is awaiting ______ her result.

   • A) of
   • B) No Preposition needed
   • C) to
   • D) by

   Answer: No Preposition needed

   Explanation: "Await" is a transitive verb that takes a direct object without any preposition; "she is awaiting her result" needs no preposition.

3. Question 3

   Q3. Choose the correct preposition: Look! There is a big spider ____ the ceiling.

   • A) At
   • B) In
   • C) On
   • D) Of

   Answer: On

   Explanation: "On" is used for surfaces that something is touching or attached to; a spider clinging to the ceiling is described as being "on" it.

4. Question 4

   Q4. Find out the word followed by the appropriate preposition and fill in the blank space: The eagle swooped and ______ a sleeping lizard.

   • A) Carried us
   • B) Carried down
   • C) Carried off
   • D) Carried in

   Answer: Carried off

   Explanation: "Carried off" is the correct phrasal verb meaning to take away or seize something suddenly, which fits the image of an eagle swooping to grab a lizard.

5. Question 5

   Q5. He succeeded by dint of perseverance and sheer hard work. Which part of speech is "by dint of" in this sentence?

   • A) Noun
   • B) Adverb
   • C) Conjunction
   • D) Preposition

   Answer: Preposition

   Explanation: "By dint of" functions as a compound preposition meaning "by means of"; it links the subject to the cause of the action, fulfilling the role of a preposition.

6. Question 6

   Q6. Choose the appropriate PREPOSITIONS to complete the sentence from the given options: We should stand ______ our friend.

   • A) With
   • B) For
   • C) By
   • D) Around

   Answer: By

   Explanation: "Stand by someone" is the idiomatic phrase meaning to support or remain loyal to a person, requiring the preposition "by."

7. Question 7

   Q7. Fill in the blank with a suitable preposition: The condemned man appealed ____ the court for mercy.

   • A) in
   • B) for
   • C) to
   • D) into

   Answer: to

   Explanation: The verb "appeal" takes the preposition "to" when referring to a person or authority being petitioned: "appeal to the court."

8. Question 8

   Q8. Fill in the blank: I am going ________ home.

   • A) For
   • B) To
   • C) In
   • D) No preposition

   Answer: No preposition

   Explanation: "Home" in the phrase "going home" functions as an adverb of place and requires no preposition in standard English usage.

9. Question 9

   Q9. Fill in the blank with a suitable preposition: The workers called ____ the strike.

   • A) off
   • B) from
   • C) to
   • D) None of these

   Answer: off

   Explanation: The blank is correctly filled with 'off' because this is the standard preposition or word choice in formal English for this construction.

10. Question 10

    Q10. I left my shoes under the kitchen table. The underlined word is which part of speech:

    • A) Noun
    • B) Adverb
    • C) Adjective
    • D) Preposition

    Answer: Preposition

    Explanation: "Under" shows the spatial relationship between the shoes and the table, functioning as a preposition in this sentence.

11. Question 11

    Q11. Choose the correct preposition. It can take over a month to get ______ an illness like that.

    • A) up
    • B) over
    • C) out
    • D) for

    Answer: over

    Explanation: "Get over an illness" is the standard phrasal verb meaning to recover from a sickness, requiring the preposition "over."

12. Question 12

    Q12. Fill in the blank with a suitable preposition: He prefers coffee _ tea.

    • A) than
    • B) to
    • C) far
    • D) None

    Answer: to

    Explanation: "Prefer" always takes the preposition "to" when comparing two things - "prefers X to Y" is the correct idiomatic construction.

13. Question 13

    Q13. What type of phrase is 'a decent black shirt?

    • A) Verb Phrase
    • B) Noun Phrase
    • C) Prepositional phrase
    • D) Infinitive phrase

    Answer: Noun Phrase

    Explanation: A noun phrase is a group of words centered on a noun and its modifiers; "a decent black shirt" is built around the noun "shirt" with its articles and adjectives.

14. Question 14

    Q14. Choose the correct preposition: There was a notice ______ the door that said: Keep out!

    • A) On
    • B) With
    • C) At
    • D) In

    Answer: On

    Explanation: "On" is used for surfaces; a notice is placed on (attached to the surface of) a door.

15. Question 15

    Q15. Choose the correct preposition in the following sentence: The birds are sitting ______ the trees.

    • A) on
    • B) in
    • C) over
    • D) into

    Answer: in

    Explanation: Birds perching among the branches of trees are described as being "in" the trees; "on" would imply sitting on top of the tree.

16. Question 16

    Q16. Which part of speech is the word "quickly" in the sentence "She walked quickly to the store"?

    • A) Noun
    • B) Adverb
    • C) Adjective
    • D) Preposition

    Answer: Adverb

    Explanation: "Quickly" modifies the verb "walked," describing how the action was performed, which is the defining function of an adverb.

17. Question 17

    Q17. What part of speech is "although" in the sentence "Although it was raining, we went out"?

    • A) Preposition
    • B) Conjunction
    • C) Adverb
    • D) Interjection

    Answer: Conjunction

    Explanation: "Although" introduces a subordinate clause that contrasts with the main clause, functioning as a subordinating conjunction.

18. Question 18

    Q18. Select the correct preposition: I am interested _____ music.

    • A) with
    • B) in
    • C) at
    • D) on

    Answer: in

    Explanation: "Interested in" is the fixed collocation; the preposition "in" always follows "interested" when indicating engagement with a subject.

19. Question 19

    Q19. Choose the correct preposition: I am proud _____ my achievement.

    • A) with
    • B) of
    • C) for
    • D) on

    Answer: of

    Explanation: "Proud of" is the fixed adjectival collocation in English; the preposition "of" always follows "proud" to introduce the cause of pride.

20. Question 20

    Q20. Which word is a preposition in: "The book is on the table"?

    • A) Book
    • B) On
    • C) Table
    • D) Is

    Answer: On

    Explanation: "On" shows the positional relationship between the book and the table, functioning as a preposition that connects a noun to the rest of the sentence.