Exercise 1 Choose a word from the box to complete each prepositional phrase below
Example: Many mail-order companies have put their catalogs on line.
1 He didn’t have any cash, so he paid by ___________.
2 I can’t afford this television at this price. Will it ever go on __________?
3 That store has Christmas ornaments in __________ even during the summer.
4 My credit card wasn’t accepted, so I paid for my new shoes in __________.
5 Our landlord has asked us to move. Do you know of any apartments for ___________?
6 Their house has been for __________ for a long time.
They can’t find any buyers.
7 The company fixed my computer for __________ because it was under warranty.
8 She has a big debt because she pays for everything by _________.
9 We were able to buy some new software on ________.
10 I did the work for ___________ because I owed him a favor.
cash
check
credit card
free
line
nothing
rent
sale
stock
Exercise 2 Choose a word from the box to complete each prepositional phrase below
Example: His beliefs and his behavior are at odds.
1 Most students in the United States learn foreign languages when they are in high school. In ________, citizens of North Carolina begin their language training in elementary school.
2 We fell in love because we had a lot in __________.
3 The two Internet browsers are similar in many_________.
4 Her first novel was a bestseller; by ___________, her later books have been disappointing.
5 We have to believe the report: No one has found data to the __________.
6 Some of you might think these ideas are original. On the ___________, if you look at the writings of Aristotle, you will find the same claims.
7 It’s a hard decision to make. On the one _________, we like convenience. On the other ____________, we don’t want to pollute the air.
8 You might want to apply for that job. On the other ___________, you might not want to if you don’t like commuting long distances.
9 Children often imitate bad language they hear on the playground. In the same __________, they often mimic bad language they hear on television.
10 Democrats and Republicans are usually at ______.
common
comparison
contrary
contrast
hand
odds
way
ways
Exercise 3 Circle the preposition that correctly completes the sentence.
Example: I spoke ___________ them yesterday.
about over to
1 We should unite ___________ the other department.
about for with
2 Our friends rely ___________ us.
about on to
3 We disagreed ___________ our work benefits.
about for to
4 I have worked ___________ Chen for six years.
about to with
5 She spoke ___________ me yesterday.
about to over
Exercise 4 Fill in the blanks below with the correct verbs
Example: Point at the one you want.
1 I usually ___________ for clothes at the mall.
2 Did you ___________ at any new cars?
3 We didn’t have much time, so I could only ________
at the watches on sale.
4 If you don’t know where the store is, why don’t you ___________ for directions?
5 You can ___________ for your lost mittens in the
lost-and-found box.
ask
glance
look
search
shop
Exercise 5 Circle the prepositional phrase that correctly completes the sentence
Example: The clerk asked ___________.
at my credit card for my credit card
1 She pointed ___________.
at the price for the price
2 We were laughing ___________.
at the funny T-shirt for the funny T-shirt
3 I practically begged __________, but still no one would assist me.
at help for help
4 The number of books amazed him. He could only stare _________.
at them for them
Exercise 6 Fill in the blanks below with the correct verbs
Example: Should I ask out your friend?
1 Did you ___________ out last night?
2 Let’s ____________ her over.
3 Do you _____________ like playing tennis?
4 When will you ____________ me up?
5 If you don’t like him, why don’t you _________ up?
ask
break
feel
go
pick
Exercise 7 Choose a word from the box to complete each prepositional phrase below
Example: They have been in low spirits since their grandfather became ill.
1 I’m feeling under the ___________, so I won’t be in the office today.
2 Louise is very thin because she’s always on a ___________.
3 He hasn’t been in good ____________ for a long time.
4 Why are you in such low____________?
5 I was in so much ____________that I couldn’t sleep.
6 In order to get in ____________, he started to exercise.
7 I’m on __________ for a sore throat, but it makes me dizzy.
8 She had just run three miles, so she was out of___________.
9 Her daughter has been in ___________ for two years.
10 I wasn’t sure I would recover, but I’m on the __________ now.
breath
diet
health
medication
the mend
pain
shape
spirits
therapy
weather
Exercise 8 Fill in the blanks below with the correct verbs
Example: We agree with you.
1 Did you ___________ about the work assignments.
2 I’ll ____________ to you tomorrow.
3 He can ___________on the machine at 10:00.
4 My coworkers ____________on me.
5 They’ll ___________ against management.
argue
depend
side
talk
work
Exercise 9 Circle the particle that correctly completes the sentence
Example: How long have you been going ________ her?
for with up
1 I’ll call you ________ on the weekend.
out for up
2 My brother really fell ________ her.
for up like
3 Have they made _________ yet?
with over up
4 Do you feel _________ having ice cream?
like up out
5 My good friend asked my old roommate ________.
out with up
Exercise 10 Fill in the blanks below with the correct verbs
Example: Did your car break down on the freeway?
1 We don’t have a lot of money, but we’ll _________ by.
2 It’s getting late. We should ____________ in.
3 I forgot my alarm clock. How will I ___________up?
4 ___________ up your suitcase.
5 I’ll ___________ back late, so don’t wait for me.
check
get
pack
wake
Exercise 11 Circle the particle that correctly completes the sentence
Example: What time did you wake __________?
down up on
1 The plane is taking _________ right now.
off up on
2 We need to gas __________ the car.
out in up
3 What time did you check __________?
out up on
4 Did the tour tire you __________?
into out on
5 How long does it take to fuel the bus __________?
into on up
Exercise 12 Fill in the blanks below with the correct verbs
Example: Children grow up fast.
1 When do you think you’ll ____________ from your son?
2 You __________ after your uncle.
3 I’ll ___________ after the children today.
4 Do your sons ___________ along?
5 What profession did your daughter ___________up?
get
hear
look
take
Exercise 13 Circle the particle that correctly completes the sentence
Example: My grandparents brought me ________.
from with up
1 Her little boy grew ________ a man.
into for up
2 She handed ________ her stamp collection to her niece.
away up down
3 His great aunt passed ________ last month.
from away up
4 I grew ________ in South Dakota.
like up out
5 We haven’t heard ________ our aunt for a long time.
from down up
Exercise 14 Fill in the blanks below with the correct verbs
Example: Did they call off the soccer match?
1 It’s hot now, but it should ___________ off tonight.
2 The rain __________ up, and the sun came out.
3 It’s very sunny out, so you should _________ on a sun hat.
4 Good weather ___________ in. I hope it stays.
5 It’s cold out. Go inside and ____________up.
cool
let
put
set
warm
Exercise 15 Circle the particle that correctly completes the sentence
Example: The sky should clear _______ today.
in up on
1 I dried _______ by sitting in the sun.
in off on
2 The sky clouded _______ this afternoon.
on off up
3 I took _______ my gloves, so I could write a note.
off on up
4 They called school _______ because of the snow.
in on off
5 Let’s cool _______ with a cold glass of lemonade.
off on in
Exercise 16 Complete the complaints below using the form “When is it going to ... ?” Choose a verb from the list. Supply the correct particles.
Example: My flowers need rain.
When is it going to cloud up?
1 It’s too muddy to go for a walk. ______________________________________________
2 It’s been raining hard for hours. ______________________________________________
3 It has been a cold spring. ______________________________________________
4 I’ll die in this heat. ______________________________________________
5 It has been cloudy since Monday. ____________________________________________
clear
cloud
cool
dry
let
warm
Exercise 17 Fill in the blanks below with the correct verbs
Example: He’ll cook up something from his country.
1 Are you leaving? I’ll ____________ you off.
2 ____________ out your favorite flavor of ice cream for dessert.
3 You should ___________ up his address in the company directory.
4 I didn’t __________ to my homework, because I went to the party.
5 How did the dinner ____________ over?
get
go
look
pick
see
Exercise 18 Circle the particle that correctly completes the sentence
Example: Should I mix _______ some drinks?
away out up
1 Clear that _______. I need some room.
on away in
2 The children ate _______ all the rolls.
over up out
3 Let’s have guests ________.
to over off
4 Dinner’s ready, so we should dish it ________.
off up away
5 Have you picked ________ something to wear?
off out up
Exercise 19 Fill in the blanks below with the correct verbs
Example: Someone should open up a bakery in this town.
1 He’s dependable, so your agreement shouldn’t ________ through.
2 I _________ off my bills.
3 The business wasn’t making money, so they _________ it down.
4 Let’s _________ up all the stock before the price goes up.
5 They must _________ off the entire inventory.
buy
fall
pay
sell
shut
Exercise 20 Circle the particle that correctly completes the sentence
Example: Did you add ________ our profits for the year?
in through up
1 I didn’t figure _________ a raise for next year’s budget.
in off down
2 They will lay _________ fifteen employees next week.
off up down
3 My older brother bailed me _________.
through out up
4 I opened _________ the office early yesterday.
down up in
5 Our offer fell _________.
off through down
Exercise 21 Choose a compound noun from the list; then change it to a verb phrase to complete the sentences below
bailout layoff
,payoff selloff
shutdown
Example: The company needed to lay off a thousand workers.
1 Do you think the government should ___________ corporations that run out of money?
2 GWM Industries wanted to ___________ seventy employees.
3 We are going to ____________ those loans by the end of the year.
4 The government ordered the plant to ____________ because it was not safe.
5 They will ___________ the inventory and use the profit to buy new machinery.
Exercise 22 Fill in the blanks below with the correct verbs
Example: Did you brush up on your algebra?
1 Who should __________ in for the teacher when she is absent?
2 I ___________ forward to my new job.
3 You can’t ___________ out of that commitment.
4 She must ___________ up with current thought.
5 Did you ___________ up with a plan?
come
fill
get
keep
look
Exercise 23 Circle the particle that correctly completes the sentence
Example: Her work didn’t come _______ to our standard of excellence.
up along to
1 I should study _______ on verb conjugation before I take the language test.
in up with
2 They get _______ with everyone.
about along for
3 The medical student brushed _______ on anatomy before taking his exam.