Advanced Prepositions Gap Fill (B2)

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

The project coordinator is responsible __ ensuring that all deliverables are submitted on schedule.

Correct answer: for

"Responsible for" is the fixed adjective + preposition collocation; "responsible of" is a common transfer error in speakers whose L1 uses an "of"-equivalent after this adjective.

The committee was not satisfied __ the initial findings and requested a full independent review.

Correct answer: with

"Satisfied with" is the fixed collocation; "satisfied of" (common among Romance-language speakers) and "satisfied about" are both incorrect.

Not all members of the public are aware __ the significant changes to the electoral registration process.

Correct answer: of

"Aware of" is the fixed adjective + preposition pattern; "aware about" is the most common learner error, formed by analogy with "know about".

The weaker-than-expected results were attributed __ a combination of supply chain disruptions and reduced consumer confidence.

Correct answer: to

"Attribute something to" is the fixed collocation meaning "to identify as the cause"; "attributed for" and "attributed from" both apply the wrong preposition.

It is hard to concentrate __ complex reading tasks when the open-plan office is particularly noisy.

Correct answer: on

"Concentrate on" is the fixed verb + preposition collocation; "concentrate in" is a frequent transfer error among Romance-language speakers.

The scholarship covers tuition fees __ a monthly living allowance for all successful applicants.

Correct answer: in addition to

"In addition to" is the formal prepositional phrase meaning "as well as"; "in addition of" and "in addition with" both get the closing preposition wrong.

__ the recent data breach, the company will hold an emergency board meeting this Thursday.

Correct answer: With regard to

"With regard to" (formal standard) introduces the topic; "regarding to" incorrectly adds "to" after "regarding", which is the most common error.

The research group is particularly interested __ investigating the social factors that shape language acquisition in early childhood.

Correct answer: in

"Interested in" is the fixed adjective + preposition collocation before a gerund; "interested to" signals pleasant discovery, not an ongoing research focus.

After several failed attempts, the engineering team finally succeeded __ developing a fully recyclable battery casing.

Correct answer: in

"Succeed in (doing something)" is the fixed pattern for achieving a goal; "succeed to" carries an entirely different meaning — inheriting a title or position.

__ last year's sluggish growth, this quarter's performance figures have been remarkably strong.

Correct answer: In contrast to

Both "In contrast to" and "In contrast with" are accepted; "in contrast of" and "by contrast to" are the most frequent errors — the phrase must close with "to" or "with".

She spoke out against the restructuring plan __ alienating her line manager, because she felt the risks had been seriously underestimated.

Correct answer: at the risk of

"At the risk of" is the fixed phrase meaning "despite the danger of a negative consequence"; "in the risk of" and "with the risk of" both substitute incorrect prepositions.

The tech firm agreed to share its proprietary data __ guaranteed access to the government's research infrastructure.

Correct answer: in exchange for

"In exchange for" is the fixed phrase meaning "as a trade for something received"; "in exchange of" is a common error shaped by languages where "of" maps to this concept.

Very few candidates were considered __ managing such a high-profile diplomatic mission independently.

Correct answer: capable of

"Capable of" followed by a gerund is the fixed pattern; "capable to" is a direct transfer error from "able to", as learners frequently conflate these two near-synonyms.

Despite considerable time pressure, the board insisted __ conducting a full risk assessment before signing the acquisition agreement.

Correct answer: on

"Insist on (doing something)" is the fixed verb + preposition + gerund pattern; "insist in" is a common transfer error from Spanish and Italian speakers.

The intern had redesigned the entire onboarding system __ her own initiative, which impressed the HR director considerably.

Correct answer: on

"On one's own initiative" is the fixed idiomatic phrase meaning "without being prompted"; "by her own initiative" is the most common error, a false transfer from the familiar pattern "by oneself".

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

The project coordinator is responsible __ ensuring that all deliverables are submitted on schedule.

Correct answer: for

"Responsible for" is the fixed adjective + preposition collocation; "responsible of" is a common transfer error in speakers whose L1 uses an "of"-equivalent after this adjective.

The committee was not satisfied __ the initial findings and requested a full independent review.

Correct answer: with

"Satisfied with" is the fixed collocation; "satisfied of" (common among Romance-language speakers) and "satisfied about" are both incorrect.

Not all members of the public are aware __ the significant changes to the electoral registration process.

Correct answer: of

"Aware of" is the fixed adjective + preposition pattern; "aware about" is the most common learner error, formed by analogy with "know about".

The weaker-than-expected results were attributed __ a combination of supply chain disruptions and reduced consumer confidence.

Correct answer: to

"Attribute something to" is the fixed collocation meaning "to identify as the cause"; "attributed for" and "attributed from" both apply the wrong preposition.

It is hard to concentrate __ complex reading tasks when the open-plan office is particularly noisy.

Correct answer: on

"Concentrate on" is the fixed verb + preposition collocation; "concentrate in" is a frequent transfer error among Romance-language speakers.

The scholarship covers tuition fees __ a monthly living allowance for all successful applicants.

Correct answer: in addition to

"In addition to" is the formal prepositional phrase meaning "as well as"; "in addition of" and "in addition with" both get the closing preposition wrong.

__ the recent data breach, the company will hold an emergency board meeting this Thursday.

Correct answer: With regard to

"With regard to" (formal standard) introduces the topic; "regarding to" incorrectly adds "to" after "regarding", which is the most common error.

The research group is particularly interested __ investigating the social factors that shape language acquisition in early childhood.

Correct answer: in

"Interested in" is the fixed adjective + preposition collocation before a gerund; "interested to" signals pleasant discovery, not an ongoing research focus.

After several failed attempts, the engineering team finally succeeded __ developing a fully recyclable battery casing.

Correct answer: in

"Succeed in (doing something)" is the fixed pattern for achieving a goal; "succeed to" carries an entirely different meaning — inheriting a title or position.

__ last year's sluggish growth, this quarter's performance figures have been remarkably strong.

Correct answer: In contrast to

Both "In contrast to" and "In contrast with" are accepted; "in contrast of" and "by contrast to" are the most frequent errors — the phrase must close with "to" or "with".

She spoke out against the restructuring plan __ alienating her line manager, because she felt the risks had been seriously underestimated.

Correct answer: at the risk of

"At the risk of" is the fixed phrase meaning "despite the danger of a negative consequence"; "in the risk of" and "with the risk of" both substitute incorrect prepositions.

The tech firm agreed to share its proprietary data __ guaranteed access to the government's research infrastructure.

Correct answer: in exchange for

"In exchange for" is the fixed phrase meaning "as a trade for something received"; "in exchange of" is a common error shaped by languages where "of" maps to this concept.

Very few candidates were considered __ managing such a high-profile diplomatic mission independently.

Correct answer: capable of

"Capable of" followed by a gerund is the fixed pattern; "capable to" is a direct transfer error from "able to", as learners frequently conflate these two near-synonyms.

Despite considerable time pressure, the board insisted __ conducting a full risk assessment before signing the acquisition agreement.

Correct answer: on

"Insist on (doing something)" is the fixed verb + preposition + gerund pattern; "insist in" is a common transfer error from Spanish and Italian speakers.

The intern had redesigned the entire onboarding system __ her own initiative, which impressed the HR director considerably.

Correct answer: on

"On one's own initiative" is the fixed idiomatic phrase meaning "without being prompted"; "by her own initiative" is the most common error, a false transfer from the familiar pattern "by oneself".

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.