English MCQs – Page 22 (Q211-220)

The correct answer is 'on' because 'depend' pairs with the fixed preposition 'on' (or its variant 'upon') to introduce the person or thing relied upon, as in 'depends on her parents' or 'depends on the weather'. This verb-preposition collocation is one of the most frequently tested in competitive English exams, since learners sometimes mistakenly substitute 'for' or 'at' by analogy with other verbs. Related expressions following the identical pattern include 'rely on' and 'count on', both also expressing reliance and taking the same preposition.

The correct answer is 'of' because 'capable' pairs with the preposition 'of', typically followed by a gerund, to introduce what someone has the ability to do, as in 'capable of handling the situation' or 'capable of great things'. This differs from 'able to', which instead takes a base-form infinitive, as in 'able to handle the situation', a frequently tested contrast between two similar-meaning expressions that require different grammatical structures. Confusing these two capability expressions and their differing prepositions or verb forms is a common exam trap.

The correct answer is 'on' because 'congratulate' pairs with the preposition 'on' to introduce the achievement or event being celebrated, as in 'congratulated him on his success' or 'congratulated her on passing the exam'. This verb-preposition collocation is frequently tested alongside similar celebratory expressions like 'compliment someone on' and 'praise someone for', where the choice of preposition, 'on' versus 'for', depends on the specific verb used. Memorizing which verbs pair with which prepositions is essential for these commonly confused collocations.

The correct answer is 'of' because 'fond' is conventionally followed by the preposition 'of', typically before a gerund, to introduce what someone likes or enjoys, as in 'fond of reading novels' or 'fond of traveling'. This is a fixed adjective-preposition collocation frequently grouped with similar expressions like 'keen on' and 'interested in', all describing enthusiasm or liking but each requiring a different, non-interchangeable preposition. Learning these collocations as fixed units, rather than trying to apply a single universal rule, is the most reliable exam strategy.

The correct answer is 'from' because 'absent' pairs with the preposition 'from' to indicate the place or event someone was not present at, as in 'absent from school' or 'absent from the meeting'. This fixed collocation is often confused with 'absent in' or 'absent at' by learners applying location-based preposition logic instead of the collocation specific to 'absent'. The opposite expression, 'present at', takes a different preposition entirely, illustrating how antonym pairs do not always share the same prepositional pattern.

The correct answer is 'in' because 'succeed' pairs with the preposition 'in', typically followed by a gerund, to introduce the activity or goal accomplished, as in 'succeeded in passing the exam' or 'succeeded in convincing them'. This differs from the related noun form 'success', which instead pairs with 'in' as well but is more often followed by a noun phrase, as in 'success in business'. Confusing 'succeed in' with 'succeed at' or 'succeed to', which carry different or archaic meanings, is a common error tested in exams.

The correct answer is 'from' because 'different' is conventionally followed by the preposition 'from' in standard formal English, as in 'different from his brother', though 'different than' is commonly accepted in American usage and 'different to' appears in British informal speech. Competitive exams in Pakistan generally favor the formal 'different from' as the standard correct answer. This collocation is frequently tested alongside similarly confused comparison expressions, making 'different from' one of the most reliably examined preposition pairs in grammar sections.

The correct answer is 'at' because 'at' is the standard preposition used with precise clock times, as in 'at 9 o'clock', 'at noon', or 'at midnight'. This is part of the broader at-on-in system for time expressions: 'at' for exact times, 'on' for days and dates, and 'in' for longer periods like months, years, and seasons. Mastering this three-way distinction, at for time, on for days, in for longer periods, is essential for correctly answering the many time-preposition questions common in competitive English exams.

The correct answer is 'on' because 'on' is the standard preposition used with specific days and dates, as in 'on Monday', 'on my birthday', or 'on the 5th of May'. This fits within the broader time-preposition system: 'at' for precise clock times, 'on' for days and dates, and 'in' for longer periods such as months, years, and seasons. Recognizing which category a time expression falls into, a point, a day, or a duration, is the key to correctly selecting among 'at', 'on', and 'in' in exam questions.

The correct answer is 'in' because 'in' is the standard preposition used with years, months, seasons, and other longer time periods, as in 'in 1990', 'in December', or 'in winter'. This completes the three-part time-preposition system alongside 'at' for exact times and 'on' for specific days and dates. Since years are treated as broad time frames rather than single points, 'in' is required here, and confusing this with 'at' or 'on' is a frequent and heavily tested error in competitive English exams.