How to Fill in the Gaps with Appropriate Prepositions

1. What Is a Preposition?

A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun to show its relation with another word in a sentence.

It shows place, time, direction, cause, purpose, manner, possession, etc.

Examples:

at school, in the room, on the table, to Dhaka, from Khulna, about English.

2. Why Are Prepositions Important?

In SSC English Grammar, you often get a short passage with 10 blanks, each needing a correct preposition.

To fill them correctly, you must understand how prepositions work with verbs, adjectives, and nouns.

🌼 3. Types of Prepositions and How to Use Them

🔸 (A) Prepositions of Place / Position

They show where something or someone is.

(D) Prepositions of Cause, Purpose or Reason

Examples:

He was praised for his honesty.

She suffered from illness.

The tower was built by Gustave Eiffel.

(E) Prepositions Used After Verbs

Some verbs always take certain prepositions.

Examples:

He depends on his hard work.

She believes in truth and honesty.

(F) Prepositions Used After Adjectives

Examples:

He was proud of his success.

She was kind to the poor.

(G) Prepositions Used After Nouns

Examples:

He has faith in the Almighty.

There is a demand for skilled workers.

(H) Prepositions Showing Relationship / Comparison

Examples:

He divided the money among the poor.

She left without saying goodbye.

4. How to Guess the Correct Preposition in Exams

Here’s a strategy your students can follow while filling in blanks:

Step 1 — Identify the key verb, adjective, or noun

→ Many prepositions depend on these words.

Example: depend (on), believe (in), interested (in), afraid (of).

Step 2 — Understand the meaning of the sentence

→ Read the full idea.

Example: He went — school → movement → “to” school.

She lives — Khulna → place → “in” Khulna.

Step 3 — Apply logic of time/place/direction

• “At” = point

• “In” = area

• “On” = surface

• “To” = movement

• “From” = origin

• “For” = purpose

• “By” = agent / method

• “Of” = belonging

• “With” = instrument

• “About” = topic

Step 4 — Use collocation memory

Some words always go together:

• participate in,

• prefer to,

• result in,

• suffer from,

• depend on,

• proud of.

🌻 5. Sample Practice Explained

Example 1

An honest man is true (a) — his word. He does not deviate (b) — the path of honesty.

👉 (a) to – because “true to one’s word” means faithful to promises.

👉 (b) from – “deviate from” means to turn away from a path.

Example 2

He graduated (a) — the Central School of Engineering (b) — Paris.

👉 (a) from – we graduate from an institution.

👉 (b) in – “in Paris” shows location.

Example 3

A pious man abides (a) — the rules of religion and clings (b) — his faith.

👉 (a) by – “abide by” means obey.

👉 (b) to – “cling to” means hold firmly.

Example 4

He depends (a) — his hard work and believes (b) — honesty.

👉 (a) on – “depend on” = rely on.

👉 (b) in – “believe in” = have faith in.

🌾 6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Wrong: He depends in me.

✅ Right: He depends on me.

❌ Wrong: She is married with a teacher.

✅ Right: She is married to a teacher.

❌ Wrong: He is good in English.

✅ Right: He is good at English.

❌ Wrong: Discuss about the plan.

✅ Right: Discuss the plan (no preposition after “discuss”).

🌸 7. How to Practice

✅ Read every passage aloud and ask:

“What kind of relation is this — place, time, cause, or connection?”

Then select the preposition accordingly.

✅ Keep a “Preposition Notebook” — record words like depend on, result in, suffer from, etc.

✅ Revise in groups — quiz each other using your One Grammar worksheets.

🌼 8. Final Tip from One Grammar

“Prepositions are small words with great power.

They connect every part of your sentence,

just like bridges connect the banks of a river.”

So don’t guess — understand.

If you know the meaning and pattern, you can fill any blank correctly.

Prepared by:

🖊️ Nimai Mandal

Senior Teacher (English)

Khulna Zilla School, Khulna