##  [Wordsleuth (2002, vol. 35, 4): Quiz on Prepositional Usage](/favourite-articles/wordsleuth-2002-volume-35-4-quiz-on-prepositional-usage)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

Sheila Sanders
(*Terminology Update*, Volume 35, Number 4, 2002, page 34)

Does one say *immune from* death or *immune* *to* death? Is one *free of* headaches or *free from* headaches? Why is *preplanning* redundant? When should *decision making* be hyphenated? If these questions leave you stymied, you will be happy to learn that help is available.

In June 2000 the Translation Bureau launched *Writing Tips*, an expanding on-line language guide that offers succinct solutions to common language problems, including the puzzlers above. In addition to dealing with prepositional usage, redundancies and hyphenation, the guide offers advice on subject-verb agreement, abbreviations, geographical names and gender-neutral language.

For those who like to challenge themselves, here are some examples of prepositional usage taken from *Writing Tips.* The answers are listed at the end of the article, with more thorough explanations available on-line.

Fill in the blank with the correct preposition.

1. New mothers and fathers are often anxious \_\_\_\_ their parenting skills.
2. Tristan was anxious \_\_\_\_ Iseult’s delay.
3. Entrepreneurs are anxious \_\_\_\_ cordial relations with emerging Central Asian nations.
4. The United Nations designated 1999 \_\_\_\_ the International Year of Older Persons.
5. Hockey players are no longer associated \_\_\_\_ the same team for many years.
6. I differed \_\_\_\_ Ashley about our bike club’s budget.
7. Denzil’s answers to the math questions differed \_\_\_\_Samantha’s.
8. The east and west coasts of Canada differ greatly \_\_\_\_ climate.
9. As long as he lives, Juan will labour \_\_\_\_ the freedom of his homeland.
10. I must get another job (beside or besides) \_\_\_\_ this one to make ends meet.
11. The students floundered \_\_\_\_ aimlessly in a sea of grammatical rules.
12. There exists a strong mutual sympathy \_\_\_\_ people who have experienced similar hardships.
13. Hans is sympathetic \_\_\_\_ victims of car accidents but is not sympathetic \_\_\_\_ the idea of cameras being installed at intersections.
14. Shall we divide the project \_\_\_\_ six or seven small tasks?
15. Nunavut was created by dividing the Northwest Territories \_\_\_\_ two.
16. The best thing about vacations is being free \_\_\_\_ the daily grind.
17. Eric has been free \_\_\_\_ headaches for several weeks.
18. No one is immune \_\_\_\_ death.
19. Julie thought she was immune \_\_\_\_ chicken pox, but there she lies, itching and uncomfortable.
20. They’ll arrive in Saskatoon inside \_\_\_\_ a week.
21. Lemuel was the only one inside \_\_\_\_ the old barn when the roof caved in.
22. The failed entrepreneur was now liable \_\_\_\_ her company’s $500 000 debt.
23. Travellers who smuggle drugs are liable \_\_\_\_ arrest and imprisonment.
24. These hybrid roses are suited \_\_\_\_ colder climates.
25. With his scientific background, Canadian Chris Hadfield is suited \_\_\_\_ his job as an astronaut.
26. Economically, Canada developed in parallel \_\_\_\_ the United States.

Each month the Translation Bureau features three tips on its Web site free of charge: simply click on *Writing Tips of the Month* at [www.btb.gc.ca](http://www.btb.gc.ca/). The entire collection of *Writing Tips* is available to federal government employees on the extranet at btb.gc.ca, and to *TERMIUM Plus*® subscribers on the Internet at [www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2guides/guides/wrtps](http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2guides/guides/wrtps/).

## Answers and explanations to the quiz

1. anxious **about**
- *Anxious about* refers to the subject of worry.
2. anxious **at**
- *Anxious at* refers to the cause of worry. *About* is plausible if Iseult’s delay is the subject of worry.
3. anxious **for**
- *Anxious for* indicates a positive concern or a desire for something. *About* could also be used.
4. designated **as**
- When *designate* means to select, it is followed by the preposition *as*.
5. associated **with**
- *Associate to* is non-standard English.
6. differed **with**
- When *differ* means disagree, it is usually followed by *with* or *from*.
7. differed **from**
- *Differ from* means being unlike.
8. differ greatly **in**
- Employ *differ in* to compare different elements.
9. labour **for** or **toward(s)**
- To *labour at* or *over* something implies that the task is difficult. To *labour for* or *toward(s)* something emphasizes the goal.
10. job **besides**
- The preposition *beside* normally means *by the side of* while *besides* functions as an adverb meaning *moreover*, or as a preposition meaning *in addition to*.
11. floundered or floundered **about**
- Both *floundered* and *floundered about* are correct.
12. sympathy **between**
- *Sympathy with* indicates being in favour of something, or supporting a cause, a proposal, etc. *Sympathy for* suggests feeling sorry for someone, while *sympathy between* refers to an agreement in feeling.
13. sympathetic **to or** towards
- One may be *sympathetic to* or *toward(s)* an object or a person.
14. divide **into**
- Except for such phrases as *divide in half* and *divide in two*, the preposition *into* is used because *divide* emphasizes separating, breaking up or cutting up a whole into sections or parts, changing the state or form of something. When *half* and *two* are used as adjectives, the correct phrasal verb is *divide into*.
15. divide **in** two
- *Divide in two* and *divide in half* are standard phrases; use the preposition *into* when *two* or *half* is followed by a noun (e.g. *into* two pieces).
16. free **from**
- Employ *free from* when it means *released from*.
17. free **of**
- Opt for *free of* when it means *relieved of*.
18. immune **from**
- *Immune from* means exempt.
19. immune **to**
- *Immune to* means protected against or not affected by something, such as disease or other factors.
20. inside **of**
- The colloquial expression *inside of* means "in less than" or "within" when referring to units of time.
21. inside the barn
- Inside *of* is redundant when the meaning indicates being within a specific area.
22. liable **for**
- *Liable for* means to be responsible, often in a legal sense.
23. liable **to**
- *Liable to* indicates vulnerability and means *likely to*, especially when there is risk of an unpleasant outcome.
24. suited **to**
- The phrase *suited to* means appropriate or right for a purpose, person or activity.
25. suited **for**
- The phrase *suited for* indicates that one is qualified for a job.
26. parallel **with**
- When making a comparison, draw a *parallel with* another situation or draw a *parallel between* one situation and another.

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