Prepositions Quiz 5 Advanced Level

Understanding Advanced Prepositions

Prepositions might appear simple, but they become increasingly complex at advanced levels of English. These small words establish relationships between elements in a sentence and often cause difficulty even for proficient English speakers. Advanced preposition usage requires understanding subtle distinctions, idiomatic expressions, and context-dependent applications.

At the advanced level, prepositions go beyond simple spatial or temporal relationships to express abstract concepts, attitudes, and complex relationships between ideas. Let’s explore some challenging preposition concepts before testing your knowledge with our advanced quiz.

Common Preposition Challenges

Advanced English learners often struggle with:

1. Preposition collocations with specific verbs, nouns, and adjectives
2. Subtle differences between similar prepositions (between/among, during/for)
3. Idiomatic phrases containing prepositions
4. Prepositions in phrasal verbs
5. Dependent prepositions that follow particular words

Understanding these nuances separates intermediate from advanced English users. Even native speakers occasionally question which preposition fits best in certain contexts.

Preposition Rules for Advanced Users

Before attempting our quiz, review these advanced preposition principles:

Abstract Relationships

At advanced levels, prepositions express abstract concepts rather than just physical locations:
– “They disagreed on principle” (regarding a concept)
– “She’s torn between loyalty and honesty” (abstract choices)
– “His argument rests upon several assumptions” (conceptual foundation)

Fixed Expressions

Many advanced preposition usages appear in fixed expressions that must be memorized:
– “In accordance with the rules”
– “By virtue of his position”
– “With respect to the previous statement”

Dependent Prepositions

Certain words require specific prepositions to follow them:
– Comply with (not to or in)
– Depend on (not from or to)
– Interested in (not about or with)

Verb	Required Preposition	Example
Agree	with (person), to (suggestion), on (topic)	I agree with you on this issue. I agreed to their proposal.
Consist	of	The team consists of five members.
Insist	on	She insisted on paying for dinner.
Apologize	for (action), to (person)	I apologized to her for being late.
Distinguish	between, from	Can you distinguish between these two colors?

Prepositions Quiz 5 – Advanced Level

Test your knowledge of advanced prepositions with this challenging quiz. Choose the correct preposition to complete each sentence.

Quiz Questions

1. She believes that there is a fine distinction __________ being cautious and being fearful.
a) between
b) among
c) with
d) for

2. What could have been a nasty situation was avoided __________ his quick thinking.
a) through
b) by
c) with
d) from

3. The committee will proceed __________ the recommendations outlined in the report.
a) with
b) by
c) through
d) in

4. The new policy is not __________ keeping with our company values.
a) in
b) at
c) on
d) by

5. The findings of the study are consistent __________ previous research.
a) to
b) with
c) for
d) by

6. The professor elaborated __________ the theory during her lecture.
a) on
b) about
c) with
d) for

7. The company is liable __________ any damages resulting from improper use of the product.
a) for
b) to
c) with
d) in

8. The manager was oblivious __________ the growing discontent among the staff.
a) of
b) to
c) with
d) for

9. The documentary sheds light __________ environmental issues rarely discussed in mainstream media.
a) on
b) over
c) about
d) with

10. Her argument is predicated __________ the assumption that resources are limited.
a) on
b) upon
c) with
d) by

Context-Based Preposition Challenges

11. The negotiations broke down __________ irreconcilable differences between the parties.
a) over
b) with
c) through
d) by

12. The professor took exception __________ the student’s interpretation of the data.
a) to
b) with
c) for
d) on

13. The policy was implemented __________ consultation with industry experts.
a) in
b) after
c) with
d) through

14. The company’s success is attributed __________ its innovative approach to problem-solving.
a) to
b) with
c) for
d) by

15. The manuscript was written __________ accordance with the publisher’s guidelines.
a) in
b) with
c) under
d) by

Advanced Preposition Patterns

Understanding advanced preposition usage requires recognizing patterns and exceptions. Let’s examine some sophisticated preposition constructions.

Prepositions with Adjectives

Many adjectives require specific prepositions:

Adjective	Preposition	Example
Afraid	of	She’s afraid of heights.
Familiar	with	Are you familiar with this author’s work?
Interested	in	They’re interested in the proposal.
Capable	of	She’s capable of solving complex problems.
Disappointed	in (person), with (thing)	I’m disappointed in you. I’m disappointed with the results.

Prepositions with Nouns

Certain nouns consistently pair with specific prepositions:

– An increase/decrease in (not of)
– A reason for (not of)
– A solution to (not for)
– An attitude toward/towards (not to)
– A relationship with (not to)

Quiz Answers and Explanations

Let’s review the correct answers to our advanced prepositions quiz:

1. a) between – We use “between” to show distinction among clearly defined items.

2. b) by – “By” indicates means or agency. “Through” would also work but “by” is more idiomatic with “quick thinking.”

3. a) with – “Proceed with” is the correct collocation for continuing with plans or recommendations.

4. a) in – “In keeping with” is a fixed expression meaning “in accordance with” or “consistent with.”

5. b) with – “Consistent with” is the standard collocation.

6. a) on – “Elaborate on” is the correct phrasal verb for providing more details about a topic.

7. a) for – “Liable for” is the correct legal term for responsibility.

8. b) to – “Oblivious to” is the standard expression for being unaware of something.

9. a) on – “Shed light on” is an idiomatic expression meaning to clarify or illuminate a topic.

10. b) upon/a) on – Both “predicated on” and “predicated upon” are correct, with “upon” being slightly more formal.

11. a) over – “Break down over” correctly expresses the cause of a negotiation failure.

12. a) to – “Take exception to” is a fixed expression meaning to object to something.

13. a) in – “In consultation with” is the correct prepositional phrase.

14. a) to – “Attributed to” is the correct form for assigning credit or cause.

15. a) in – “In accordance with” is the fixed expression.

Common Preposition Mistakes at Advanced Levels

Even advanced English users make these common preposition errors:

1. Confusion between “during” and “for” with time expressions
– Incorrect: I lived there during five years
– Correct: I lived there for five years

2. Misusing “since” and “for”
– Incorrect: I’ve been waiting since three hours
– Correct: I’ve been waiting for three hours

3. Incorrect prepositions with verbs
– Incorrect: He insisted for me to go
– Correct: He insisted on my going/that I go

4. Preposition dropping
– Incorrect: I’m looking forward your reply
– Correct: I’m looking forward to your reply

5. Adding unnecessary prepositions
– Incorrect: We discussed about the issue
– Correct: We discussed the issue

Strategies for Mastering Advanced Prepositions

To improve your command of advanced prepositions:

1. Read extensively in English, noting prepositional patterns
2. Create personal lists of dependent prepositions
3. Practice with context-rich exercises
4. Listen to native speakers and note their preposition usage
5. Use corpus tools to check prepositional collocations
6. Study fixed expressions and idioms containing prepositions

Contextual Learning

Rather than memorizing isolated rules, focus on learning prepositions in context. Notice patterns in authentic materials like news articles, academic papers, and literature. Pay attention to how prepositions function in different registers and contexts.

Conclusion

Mastering advanced prepositions requires attention to subtle distinctions and awareness of idiomatic patterns. This quiz highlights the complexity of preposition usage at higher levels of English proficiency. By understanding dependent prepositions, fixed expressions, and contextual variations, you can elevate your English to a truly advanced level.

Regular practice with challenging exercises like this quiz will help solidify your understanding of these essential but often overlooked elements of English grammar. Remember that even native speakers occasionally struggle with preposition choices, so approach this aspect of language learning with patience and persistence.