Chicago Style Workout 52: Prepositions

/ February 23, 2021

Two snowpersons gesture at each other on a snowy field. One says to the other, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" The other responds: "No, Bill, you shall not."

The Object of This Quiz Is Prepositions

For this quiz we return to the grammar chapter—specifically, paragraphs 5.178–201, which cover prepositions. The main job of prepositions is to set up other words, an important job that usually goes unnoticed (except, maybe, at the end of a sentence).

The first half of the quiz tests your general knowledge of prepositions; the second half considers certain words and the prepositions they’re usually paired with.

(Hint: The first paragraph of this post begins with a preposition; the second ends with one.)

Subscribers to The Chicago Manual of Style Online may click through to the linked sections of the Manual (cited in the answers). (We also offer a 30-day free trial of CMOS Online.)

Note: Style guides and dictionaries sometimes disagree. This quiz is designed to test your knowledge of The Chicago Manual of Style.

Now updated to refer and link to the 18th edition.

Chicago Style Workout 52: Prepositions

1. The object of a preposition is usually
2. Sometimes the best place for a preposition is at the end of a sentence.
3. The word “than” functions as a preposition in only one of the following two sentences. Which one?
4. “We’d love to see the cathedrals of Paris.” In this sentence, the prepositional phrase “of Paris” functions as
5. In “we sat down,” the word down is a preposition whose object is understood.
6. In “the discussions centered _____ editing,” the verb centered is best followed by the preposition
7. The verb “compare” is followed by “to” when the comparison is
8. In most cases, “different from” is preferable to “different than.”
9. We never fully reconciled ____ the lack of Wi-Fi in our basement apartment.
10. The author was vexed ____ all the changes involving prepositions.

 

Photo © nickolya / Adobe Stock. Text added for post.

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