Prepositional Phrases worksheet with matching, multiple-choice, and fill-in-the-blank exercises.

Let's solve each section of this Prepositional Phrases worksheet step by step. I'll explain the logic and correct answers for each part.

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Part 1: Match the two parts of the sentences

We need to match the beginning of each sentence (1–10) with the appropriate ending (A–J).

Let’s analyze each:

1. I find it difficult to believe → This is followed by something that is hard to believe.
→ A. of things we know little about.
✔ "I find it difficult to believe of things we know little about" — but this doesn’t sound natural. Wait — actually, “believe” takes in, not of. But let’s check others.

Wait — actually, the phrase should be:
“I find it difficult to believe that…” or “to believe in...” — but here the options are prepositional phrases.

Let’s try matching based on common collocations:

1. I find it difficult to believe → B. in criticising his class.
✘ Doesn’t make sense. "Believe in criticizing"? Not idiomatic.

Better approach: Look for logical completions.

Let’s go through all:

1. I find it difficult to believe → likely needs a noun phrase after "believe", but "believe" usually takes in (e.g., believe in God). So perhaps:
→ F. of dry bread and a cup of tea. → No, doesn't fit.
→ Try A. of things we know little about → "believe of..."? No, wrong preposition.

Wait — maybe the structure is "find it difficult to believe [something]", so the object must follow logically.

But looking at option A: “of things we know little about” — could it be “I find it difficult to believe things we know little about”? That would be awkward.

Alternatively, consider:

- "I find it difficult to believe" + "that" clause, but no "that" here.

Wait — perhaps the intended match is G. to his mother, Amy. → “I find it difficult to believe to his mother, Amy”? No.

This seems messy. Let’s look for better matches.

Try:

2. Her breakfast consists → “consists of” is a fixed phrase.
→ F. of dry bread and a cup of tea. ✔

So:
2 – F

3. Adam looks very similar → “similar to” is required.
→ G. to his mother, Amy. ✔
3 – G

4. The town of Gouda is famous → “famous for” or “famous as”
→ H. for its cheese. ✔
4 – H

5. She has a good relationship → “relationship with”
→ C. with her students. ✔
5 – C

6. There’s a great demand → “demand for”
→ D. for cheap houses. ✔
6 – D

7. Mary is keen → “keen on”
→ I. on tracing her family tree. ✔
7 – I

8. They don’t agree → “agree with” or “agree on”
→ J. with the government’s policy. ✔
8 – J

9. We tend to be scared → “scared of”
→ E. in good luck and bad luck. → doesn’t fit.
→ A. of things we know little about. → “scared of things we know little about” ✔
9 – A

10. Sam takes great pleasure → “takes pleasure in”
→ B. in criticising his class. ✔
10 – B

Now back to 1: I find it difficult to believe → only one left: E. in good luck and bad luck. → “I find it difficult to believe in good luck and bad luck.” → Yes! That makes sense.

So:
1 – E

And 10 – B (already used)

Wait — we have:

- 1: E
- 2: F
- 3: G
- 4: H
- 5: C
- 6: D
- 7: I
- 8: J
- 9: A
- 10: B

All matched!

✔ Final Matching:

| Number | Answer |
|--------|--------|
| 1 | E |
| 2 | F |
| 3 | G |
| 4 | H |
| 5 | C |
| 6 | D |
| 7 | I |
| 8 | J |
| 9 | A |
| 10 | B |

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Part 2: Choose the correct preposition

1. I’m really ashamed at/on/of his behaviour.
→ "ashamed of" is correct.
✔ of

2. Ted can’t come – he’s short of/in/with money.
→ "short of money" is correct.
✔ of

3. Doctors say she would benefit of/from/with a change in her diet.
→ "benefit from" is correct.
✔ from

4. What do the letters BBC stand by/for/with?
→ "stand for" = represent
✔ for

5. My mother’s always complaining about/of/on the clothes my sister wears.
→ "complaining about" is correct.
✔ about

6. Did Jill and Ann decide on/about/of where to go for their holiday?
→ "decide on" = choose something
✔ on

7. I’m very suspicious with/by/of job adverts that offer a large salary.
→ "suspicious of" is correct.
✔ of

8. Have you arrived on/at/of the decision about the new teacher yet?
→ "arrived at a decision" is correct.
✔ at

9. Jake’s got the advantage with/of/on speaking Chinese.
→ "advantage in" or "advantage of"?
→ "have an advantage in" doing something → "advantage in speaking Chinese"
✔ in — but option says with/of/on — none is "in"? Wait, options are: with/of/on
→ Actually, "advantage in" is correct, but not listed.
→ But "advantage of" is also possible: "the advantage of speaking Chinese"
→ Both are acceptable, but "advantage in" is more natural for skills.
However, since "in" isn't an option, and "of" is — "advantage of" is grammatically correct.
✔ of (though "in" is better; but given choices, of is best)

10. I don’t want the kids getting addicted on/by/to stupid TV programmes.
→ "addicted to" is correct.
✔ to

11. The key for/to/on good organization is not leaving everything to the last minute.
→ "key to" is correct.
✔ to

12. The police are looking down/into/over the woman’s disappearance.
→ "looking into" = investigating
✔ into

13. A lot of people are concerned of / about / on global warming.
→ "concerned about" is correct.
✔ about

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Part 3: Complete the sentences with a suitable preposition

Given prepositions: ON, IN, OF, INTO, ACROSS, FOR, TO, WITH, AT, ABOUT

1. Jane came _______ Ann’s diary when she was cleaning her room.
→ "came across" = found by chance
✔ across

2. The Greens ran ______ some their old friends when they were visiting Paris.
→ "ran into" = met by chance
✔ into

3. They are aware ______ the danger.
→ "aware of"
✔ of

4. He was responsible ______ the accident.
→ "responsible for"
✔ for

5. Other girls were jealous ______ her good looks.
→ "jealous of"
✔ of

6. Peter was extremely good ______ playing basketball.
→ "good at"
✔ at

7. Dan was ten minutes late ______ school.
→ "late for"
✔ for

8. She’s fed up ______ this job.
→ "fed up with"
✔ with

9. We finally succeeded ______ getting that piano up the stairs.
→ "succeeded in"
✔ in

10. Sometimes you just have to rely ______ your own judgment.
→ "rely on"
✔ on

11. We are very worried ______ our future.
→ "worried about"
✔ about

12. It was becoming obvious ______ her parents that she needed help.
→ "obvious to"
✔ to

13. I want to see you achieve what you are capable ______.
→ "capable of"
✔ of

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✔ Final Answers:

#### Part 1: Match
1 – E
2 – F
3 – G
4 – H
5 – C
6 – D
7 – I
8 – J
9 – A
10 – B

#### Part 2: Choose the correct preposition
1. of
2. of
3. from
4. for
5. about
6. on
7. of
8. at
9. of
10. to
11. to
12. into
13. about

#### Part 3: Complete with prepositions
1. across
2. into
3. of
4. for
5. of
6. at
7. for
8. with
9. in
10. on
11. about
12. to
13. of

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✔ Summary Explanation

- Prepositional phrases often follow specific verbs, adjectives, or nouns with fixed combinations.
- Common collocations:
- be ashamed of, benefit from, depend on, interested in, afraid of, good at, etc.
- Use context and grammar rules to determine the correct preposition.
- Some phrases are idiomatic (e.g., "come across", "run into", "succeed in").

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