The three main pillars of this section are Prepositions, Phrasal Verbs, and Adjectives.

 

In the KPSC Group C exam, Fill in the Blanks is a high-stakes section. It doesn't just test your vocabulary; it tests your understanding of Collocations (words that naturally go together) and Functional Grammar.

The three main pillars of this section are Prepositions, Phrasal Verbs, and Adjectives.

1. The Preposition Masterlist

Prepositions are the most frequently tested element. They show the relationship between a noun and the rest of the sentence.

A. Fixed Prepositions (The "KPSC Essentials")

Certain words are "married" to specific prepositions. Using anything else is an error.

Abstain / Refrain + from: "You must abstain from smoking."

According + to: "According to the report, the project is late."

Accustomed + to: "He is accustomed to hard work."

Afraid / Aware / Beware + of: "Beware of pickpockets."

Congratulate + on: "I congratulate you on your success." (Never say "congratulate for").

Different + from: "This book is different from that one."

Interested + in: "She is interested in classical music."

Prefer + to: "I prefer tea to coffee."

B. Prepositions of Time and Place

At: Specific points (At 5 PM, At the door, At the end).

On: Days and Surfaces (On Monday, On the table, On Republic Day).

In: Enclosed spaces, months, years, and large areas (In the room, In January, In Bengaluru).

2. Choosing the Right Adjective (Degrees of Comparison)

When filling blanks with adjectives, you must look for "clue words" that tell you which degree to use.

Positive Degree: Used for one person/thing. (No clue word).

Example: "He is a brave soldier."

Comparative Degree: Used for comparing two things. (Clue word: than).

Example: "He is braver than his brother."

Superlative Degree: Used for comparing more than two. (Clue word: the).

Example: "He is the bravest of all."

3. Verb-Based Fillers (Subject-Verb & Tense)

You must ensure the verb form matches the time marker in the sentence.

Since/For: Usually requires a Perfect Tense.

Blank: "I _______ (live) here since 2010." → have been living.

Yesterday/Ago: Requires Simple Past.

Blank: "He _______ (leave) for Delhi yesterday." → left.

4. Practice Exercise: 20 KPSC-Style Questions

Instructions: Choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank.

He is blind _______ his own faults.

A) with

B) to

C) of

D) for

Answer: B (Blind to means ignoring something).

The plane took _______ at 6:00 AM.

A) up

B) on

C) off

D) away

Answer: C (Take off is a phrasal verb for aircraft).

If you had worked hard, you _______ passed.

A) will have

B) would have

C) can have

D) should

Answer: B (Third Conditional structure).

I have been waiting for you _______ two hours.

A) since

B) from

C) for

D) at

Answer: C (Duration = for).

The boy was charged _______ theft.

A) of

B) with

C) for

D) by

Answer: B (Fixed: Charged with).

Kashmir is the _______ place in India.

A) beautiful

B) more beautiful

C) most beautiful

D) beautifully

Answer: C (Used after 'the').

He is married _______ my cousin.

A) with

B) to

C) by

D) for

Answer: B (Fixed: Married to).

Don't loiter _______ the street.

A) in

B) on

C) about

D) into

Answer: C (Loiter about means to linger aimlessly).

She died _______ overwork.

A) of

B) from

C) with

D) by

Answer: B (Died of a disease; Died from a cause like overwork or hunger).

The teacher was angry _______ the student.

A) with

B) at

C) on

D) for

Answer: A (Angry with a person; Angry at a thing/situation).

Neither of the two candidates _______ fit for the post.

A) are

B) were

C) is

D) have been

Answer: C (Neither is singular).

He deals _______ silk goods.

A) with

B) in

C) at

D) out

Answer: B (Deal in means to trade; Deal with means to handle a person/problem).

We must adapt ourselves _______ changing circumstances.

A) with

B) to

C) for

D) by

Answer: B (Fixed: Adapt to).

The cat is hiding _______ the table.

A) below

B) under

C) beneath

D) down

Answer: B

It has been raining heavily _______ yesterday.

A) for

B) since

C) from

D) to

Answer: B (Point of time = since).

The rich should be kind _______ the poor.

A) with

B) at

C) for

D) to

Answer: D

He prevents me _______ going there.

A) to

B) for

C) from

D) by

Answer: C (Fixed: Prevent from).

He is _______ than his brother.

A) senior

B) older

C) eldest

D) old

Answer: B (Senior takes 'to'; Older takes 'than').

Bread and butter _______ a wholesome food.

A) are

B) is

C) were

D) have been

Answer: B (Single unit).

I am looking forward _______ meeting you.

A) to

B) for

C) at

D) with

Answer: A (Fixed phrase: Look forward to).

Summary Table: Confusing Preposition Pairs:

Word Preposition 1 Preposition 2

Agree With (a person) To (a proposal)

Angry With (a person) At (a thing)

Compare With (similar things) To (dissimilar things)

Die Of (disease) From (external cause)

Live On (food/income) In (a place)