Preposition Combinations Grammar Quiz
12 multiple-choice questions on verb + preposition and adjective + preposition collocations: depend on, result in, insist on, responsible for, interested in, capable of and more. B2 level.
This quiz checks how confidently you can apply Preposition Combinations at B2 level, with questions built around real forms such as depend on, resulted in, to demand something firmly, interested in and able to do something rather than abstract rule statements. Each question presents a full example sentence, so you have to judge which form fits the meaning and structure correctly instead of recalling a rule in isolation.
If a question catches you out, the FAQ section below explains the underlying rule in more detail, including common mistakes learners make with this point. Reviewing the explanation immediately after an incorrect answer, then retrying the quiz on a different day, builds more durable grammar knowledge than repeating the same 12 questions back to back.
Keep practising preposition combinations.
Preposition Combinations — FAQ
What are preposition combinations in English grammar?
Preposition combinations are fixed pairings of a verb or adjective with a specific preposition. For example, 'depend on', 'insist on', 'responsible for' and 'capable of' are all preposition combinations. Native speakers use these pairings automatically, but learners must memorise them because there is no single rule that governs which preposition follows which word — the choice is largely idiomatic.
What is the difference between verb + preposition and adjective + preposition combinations?
A verb + preposition combination pairs an action word with a preposition: for example, 'apologise for', 'complain about', 'agree with'. An adjective + preposition combination pairs a describing word with a preposition: for example, 'afraid of', 'capable of', 'responsible for', 'familiar with', 'interested in'. Both types are essential at B2 level because they appear frequently in formal writing, academic texts and professional conversation.
Why is 'depend on' correct and not 'depend of' or 'depend about'?
In English, the preposition that follows 'depend' is fixed by convention and long usage: it is always 'on'. Saying 'depend of' or 'depend about' sounds unnatural to native speakers even though there is no logical grammatical reason why 'on' was chosen over the alternatives. This is why preposition combinations are best learned as fixed chunks rather than derived from rules.
What does 'result in' mean and how is it different from 'result from'?
'Result in' introduces the consequence: 'The fire resulted in extensive damage.' 'Result from' introduces the cause: 'The fire resulted from a gas leak.' The direction of the relationship is reversed. Many learners confuse the two, so it helps to remember: 'in' points forward to the outcome, 'from' points back to the origin.
How can I remember which preposition follows 'responsible'?
'Responsible for' is the standard combination. A helpful mnemonic is that you are 'responsible for' the things that fall under your control or duty — the preposition 'for' suggests purpose or cause. Compare: 'She is responsible for training new staff.' The adjective 'responsible' never combines with 'of', 'about' or 'with' in standard British or American English.
Is it 'interested in' or 'interested about'?
The correct form is 'interested in'. This is one of the most common adjective + preposition combinations at B2 level: 'She is interested in renewable energy.' The form 'interested about' is a very frequent error among learners, possibly influenced by languages where the equivalent adjective takes a different preposition. Always use 'in' with 'interested'.
What is the difference between 'agree with' and 'agree on'?
'Agree with' is used when you share someone's opinion or when something suits you: 'I agree with your analysis.' 'Agree on' is used when two or more parties reach a shared decision about a specific topic: 'They agreed on a price.' At B2 level, 'agree with' (a person or idea) is the more common pattern tested in grammar quizzes and examinations.
How do I use 'apologise for' correctly in a sentence?
'Apologise for' is followed by a noun or gerund (the -ing form of a verb): 'She apologised for her mistake.' / 'He apologised for arriving late.' It is NOT followed by an infinitive. A common error is 'apologise to do something' — this is incorrect. Remember: apologise for + noun/gerund, and apologise to + person.
What is the difference between 'afraid of' and 'scared of'?
Both 'afraid of' and 'scared of' mean frightened by something, and both take the preposition 'of'. 'Afraid of' is slightly more formal and is more common in written English: 'He is afraid of heights.' 'Scared of' is more colloquial: 'She is scared of spiders.' Both are correct in everyday use. The key point for grammar quizzes is that both adjectives require 'of', not 'from' or 'about'.
How can B2 learners practise preposition combinations effectively?
The most effective strategies for B2 learners include: (1) Learning combinations as fixed chunks rather than isolated words. (2) Creating example sentences for each new combination and writing them down. (3) Doing gap-fill and multiple-choice exercises like this quiz to reinforce memory. (4) Reading authentic English texts and noticing preposition combinations in context. (5) Using a collocation dictionary or corpus resource to check which preposition follows a particular word.