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Preposition or Not? Trivia Quiz

Prepositions can be tricky things--sometimes the same word can be either a preposition, an adverb, or a conjunction. It all comes down to function.

A multiple-choice quiz by Treenage. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Treenage

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
387,622

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
231

Question 1 of 10

1. A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and a complement/object. Which of the following can be joined with the preposition "after" to form a prepositional phrase? Hint

mysterious

the lecture

decipher

incandescent

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Question 2 of 10

2. In which of the following sentences does the prepositional phrase act as the complement of an adjective? Hint

What did he say about me?

"A Christmas Carol" is a story about redemption.

George was ecstatic about the news.

The program lasts about an hour.

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of the following choices does NOT provide a brief list of common prepositions? Hint

under, until, up, upon, within

aboard, above, across, after, along

and, but, or, yet, so

except, for, in, into, like

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Question 4 of 10

4. In which sentence is "by" used as a preposition rather than in some other way? Hint

Stand by, please.

Jose strode by.

Jose strode by the emporium.

The doves flew by.

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Question 5 of 10

5. In which sentence is "before" used as a preposition? Hint

Before the end of the day, my basement will be flooded with rainwater.

Before the chickens hatch, you'd better not count them.

Before the day ends, our boss will uncover Jim's error.

Before Indira leaves, we must give her Bob's gift.

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Question 6 of 10

6. What part of speech is the word "until" in the following sentence? You can ask for your money back until the end of time, but you won't get it. Hint

preposition

conjunction

adverb

verb

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Question 7 of 10

7. How is "up" used in the following sentence? The warring parties finally drew up an agreement. Hint

conjunction

adverb

preposition

noun

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Question 8 of 10

8. In which sentence is "over" used as a preposition? Hint

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue.

It will all be over soon.

Think it over.

Stop over briefly for a chat.

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Question 9 of 10

9. Identify the preposition in the following sentence: "Once the water flowed in the river, the poorly constructed dam fell over."
Hint

the

once

over

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Question 10 of 10

10. In which sentence does the prepositional phrase function as an adverbial? Hint

They were disappointed about the results.

The teacher handed out the papers.

You are one level beneath "Expert."

The mayor has no comment regarding the firing.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and a complement/object. Which of the following can be joined with the preposition "after" to form a prepositional phrase?

Answer: the lecture

A noun phrase such as "the lecture" is the most common sort of complement/object for a prepositional phrase. However, a preposition can also have a subordinate clause as its complement, as in this example: "after finishing the sculpture."

2. In which of the following sentences does the prepositional phrase act as the complement of an adjective?

Answer: George was ecstatic about the news.

The prepositional phrase "about the news" complements the adjective "ecstatic." None of the other example sentences contains an adjective.

3. Which of the following choices does NOT provide a brief list of common prepositions?

Answer: and, but, or, yet, so

And, but, or, yet, so - these words are coordinating conjunctions that connect two or more grammatical units, as in the following sentence: "Gail and Ricardo are considering adopting two children." Prepositions perform an entirely different function.

4. In which sentence is "by" used as a preposition rather than in some other way?

Answer: Jose strode by the emporium.

Only one sentence (the correct choice) contains a complement/object. In the other sentences, "by" functions as an adverb because it modifies a verb.

5. In which sentence is "before" used as a preposition?

Answer: Before the end of the day, my basement will be flooded with rainwater.

"Before" acts as a conjunction in an adverbial clause in every sentence but one. Generally, a conjunction comes before a clause and a preposition comes before a phrase. Note that "the end of the day" is a noun phrase, but "the day ends" is a clause with a subject ("the day") and verb ("ends").

6. What part of speech is the word "until" in the following sentence? You can ask for your money back until the end of time, but you won't get it.

Answer: preposition

"Until pigs fly, she can't possibly honor your request," is a sentence in which "until" serves as a conjunction. "Until" is often used as a subordinating conjunction, and most of those appear in adverbial clauses.

7. How is "up" used in the following sentence? The warring parties finally drew up an agreement.

Answer: adverb

"Up" modifies the verb "drew." When "up" functions as a preposition, it often appears with a noun or noun phrase as in the following: "up a lazy river."

8. In which sentence is "over" used as a preposition?

Answer: Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue.

In every sentence but one, "over" functions as an adverb because it modifies a verb or another adverb. When "over" acts as a preposition, it usually describes a location or direction as in "over my dead body," "over the ocean," and "over the moon."

9. Identify the preposition in the following sentence: "Once the water flowed in the river, the poorly constructed dam fell over."

Answer: in

"In" modifies the noun phrase "the river," so it acts as a preposition. "Once" serves as a conjunction, and "over" is an adverb.

10. In which sentence does the prepositional phrase function as an adverbial?

Answer: The teacher handed out the papers.

Although a prepositional phrase may function as an adverbial, it still contains a preposition rather than an adverb. In the sentence, "The teacher handed out the papers," "out" is as an adverb rather than a preposition because "out" modifies "handed."

Source: Author Treenage

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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