1. Prepositions ____.
a.
express an action, an occurrence, or a state of being
b.
name persons, places, things, qualities, feelings, concepts, activities, and measures
c.
join nouns and pronouns to other words in a sentence
d.
modify verbs, adjectives, and adverbs
c
words in a sentence.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-1 – 8-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.4 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.4
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Knowledge
2. When a pronoun serves as the object of a prepositional phrase, it must be in the ____ case.
a.
subjective
b.
objective
c.
possessive
b
case.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-1 – 8-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.4 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.4
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Knowledge
3. All of the following are objective-case pronouns except ______.
a.
them
b.
us
c.
her
d.
he
d
Objective-case pronouns include me, us, you, him, her it, and them.
1
Easy
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.4 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.4
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Knowledge
4. In the sentence LinkedIn is a popular networking site for business professionals, the word professionals functions as
____.
a.
the object of a verb
b.
the object of a preposition
c.
a subject
b
cannot serve as subjects of sentences.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-1 – 8-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
5. Because I couldn’t attend the meeting, Tammy substituted for ____.
a.
I
b.
me
c.
myself
b
preposition.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-1 – 8-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
6. The new company brochure was created by my boss and ____.
a.
me
b.
I
c.
we
a
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-1 – 8-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.1.5 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.1.5
7. According to Bill and ____, our company will start using social networking sites for market research.
a.
herself
b.
she
c.
her
c
1
Easy
8. Everyone in our department except ____ is excited about the new mission statement.
a.
himself
b.
him
c.
he
b
of the preposition.
1
Easy
9. Between ____, I believe that the new job sharing proposal will not be successful.
a.
you and me
b.
you and I
a
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-1 – 8-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
10. Which sentence is correct?
a.
The supervisor attended the sales conference in New York with he.
b.
Please forward your e-mail message to Megan and she by noon tomorrow.
c.
The disagreement is with the shipper, not with you and me.
c
of with him along with to Megan and she instead of to Megan and her).
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.8-1 – 8-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
11. If Jessica ____ been more prepared, she would have performed better during her job interview.
a.
would have
b.
would of
a
such as of cannot be used in verb phrases.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-2 – 8-2
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
12. My English professor said that my paper could ____ been better organized and more concise.
a.
of
b.
have
b
Never substitute the preposition of for the verb have in a verb phrase (could have been).
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-2 – 8-2
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
13. Were you able to retrieve the data ______ the hard drive of the damaged computer?
a.
off
b.
from off of
c.
off of
d.
from
d
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-2 – 8-2
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
14. I used information ____ the Internet in my research paper.
a.
from
b.
off of
c.
off
a
Don’t substitute off of or off for the preposition from.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-2 – 8-2
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
15. Please send your application ____ our human resources manager.
a.
to
b.
too
c.
two
a
1
BENG.GUFF.17.8-2 – 8-2
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
16. We’re getting ____ few “likes” on our Facebook page.
a.
two
b.
too
c.
to
b
adverb too because it means “excessively.”
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-2 – 8-2
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
17. We plan ____ survey our customers and conduct a focus panel ______.
a.
to, to
b.
too, to
c.
too, too
d.
to, too
d
meaning “additionally” or “also,” use the adverb too.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-2 – 8-2
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
18. Which sentence is correct?
a.
All managers except Bruce and he were asked to increase their sales goals.
b.
Wasn’t that invitation addressed to you and I?
c.
All the sales reps but you and me had to revise their reports.
c
preposition except and the subjective pronoun I after the preposition to.
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.8-1 – 8-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Common Uses of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
19. The writing of the business plan will be divided equally ____ Rick and Cathi.
a.
among
b.
between
b
Because the writing is being divided by two individuals, use between.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-3 – 8-3
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Challenges With Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
20. The plan called for the sharing of the word processing tasks ______ the five members of the research team.
a.
among
b.
between
a
Because this statement references five members, use among.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-3 – 8-3
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.1.6 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.1.6
21. Has anyone ____ Andrew expressed interest in attending the conference?
a.
beside
b.
besides
b
1
Easy
22. Seated ____ the CEO is the executive vice president.
a.
beside
b.
besides
a
1
Easy
23. Everyone ____ Bill attended the company retreat.
a.
except
b.
accept
a
1
Easy
24. We need to ____ the fact that our financial records will be more closely examined by auditors.
a.
accept
b.
except
a
1
Easy
25. Tony and Barb went ____ talk with their supervisor about their proposal to job share.
a.
in to
b.
into
a
1
Easy
26. Because of his desire to help others, Derrik plans to go ____ nursing.
a.
into
b.
in to
c.
in
a
something.”
1
Easy
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Challenges With Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
27. It looks ____ more and more social media sites will be developed over the next few years.
a.
like
b.
as if
b
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-3 – 8-3
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Challenges With Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
28. It looks ______ it’s going to rain tomorrow.
a.
as if
b.
like
a
preposition like should introduce a noun or pronoun.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-3 – 8-3
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Challenges With Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
29. Which sentence uses like correctly?
a.
Although text messaging is still popular, it appears like Twitter is becoming a preferred social networking tool
by many.
b.
Griffin feels like he should have studied more thoroughly for the test.
c.
The magazine model looked a lot like Taylor Swift.
c
Only The magazine model looked a lot like Taylor Swift uses like correctly to introduce a
appropriate because they introduce clauses rather than sentence objects.
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.8-3 – 8-3
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Challenges With Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
30. The hiring team will consider only those applicants who ______ college.
a.
graduated
b.
graduated from
b
between the words college and applicants.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-4 – 8-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Necessary Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
31. Which sentence is better expressed?
a.
Collin demonstrated an aptitude for and an appreciation of statistics.
b.
Collin demonstrated an aptitude and an appreciation of statistics.
a
and appreciation) and the object of the preposition (statistics).
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-4 – 8-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Necessary Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
32. Bill could not ____ laughing when he heard his coworker discuss her attempts to potty train her son.
a.
help from
b.
help
b
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-4 – 8-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Unnecessary Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
33. Both ____ were lying on my desk.
a.
reports
b.
of the reports
a
prepositional phrase of the reports.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-4 – 8-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Unnecessary Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
34. Which sentence is more formally expressed?
a.
Do you know where the meeting is?
b.
Do you know where the meeting is at?
a
Avoid unnecessary prepositions that clutter sentences.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-4 – 8-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Ending a Sentence With a Preposition
BLOOM’S: Application
35. Which sentence is more formally expressed?
a.
Whom should I address the letter to?
b.
To whom should I address the letter?
b
Authors of formal writing avoid ending a sentence with a preposition (to).
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-4 – 8-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Ending a Sentence With a Preposition
BLOOM’S: Application
36. Which sentence is correct?
a.
Danika said that she graduated from college two years ago.
b.
Jonathan met up with Karen in the employee lounge.
c.
Did the e-mail message tell what the topic is and where the meeting is at?
a
constructions with unnecessary prepositions (met up with and where is the meeting at).
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.8-4 – 8-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Necessary Prepositions, Unnecessary Prepositions, and Ending a Sentence With a Preposition
37. We need at least half of our staff to agree ____ volunteer at Saturday’s open house.
a.
with
b.
to
c.
on
b
mutual ideas.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-5 – 8-5
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Idiomatic Use of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
38. Any websites that do not conform ____ disability access standards will have to be redesigned.
a.
to
b.
with
a
1
Easy
39. Many customers were angry ____ the manager and her attitude toward them.
a.
with
b.
about
c.
at
a
1
Easy
40. Beth is completely different ____ our previous manager.
a.
from
b.
than
a
1
Easy
41. Some of the office tasks in this company are similar ____ those I performed for my previous employer.
a.
with
b.
to
b
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-5 – 8-5
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Idiomatic Use of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
42. Have you reconciled your checkbook ____ your bank statement?
a.
to
b.
with
b
means to “match.” Reconcile to means to “accept.” In this sentence use reconcile with.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-5 – 8-5
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Idiomatic Use of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
43. Your salary raise is retroactive ____ July 1.
a.
to
b.
from
a
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.8-5 – 8-5
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Idiomatic Use of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
44. Which sentence uses idiomatic expressions appropriately?
a.
The manager said that he planned on giving everyone a raise.
b.
Employees inferred from the manager’s remarks that raises would be issued shortly.
c.
Employees inferred by the manager’s remarks that raises would be issued shortly.
b
of inferred from).
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.8-5 – 8-5
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Idiomatic Use of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
45. Which sentence is correct?
a.
In contrast to our presentations, Joe will present his without any multimedia.
b.
Contrasting to the majority of the staff, Jenna argued for shorter breaks.
c.
In contrast with our presentations, Joe will present his without any multimedia.
c
The appropriate idiom is contrast with, not contrast to.
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.8-5 – 8-5
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Idiomatic Use of Prepositions
BLOOM’S: Application
46. Please ____ to the front of the room to deliver your presentation.
a.
precede
b.
proceed
b
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.N/A – N/A
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
FAQs About Business English
BLOOM’S: Application
47. A number of our ____ have inquired about their benefit reductions.
a.
personnel
b.
personal
a
the other hand, means “private” or “individual.”
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.N/A – N/A
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
FAQs About Business English
BLOOM’S: Application
48. If you have ____ to spare, please drop by my office.
a.
sometime
b.
some time
b
The one-word form means “an indefinite time.”
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.N/A – N/A
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
FAQs About Business English
BLOOM’S: Application
49. Karen is ____ to submit the final architectural drawings to the customer by April 1.
a.
suppose
b.
supposed
b
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.N/A – N/A
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
FAQs About Business English
BLOOM’S: Application
50. She turned right ____ Park Avenue in an attempt to find parking.
a.
on to
b.
onto
b
as two words.
1
Easy