Question

Choose the appropriate preposition and fill in the blank:
The woman sitting opposite me on the train kept staring ______ me.
A. At
B. To
C. Along
D. Into

Answer 1

Hint: Prepositions are words or phrases that are used before a noun to specify the time, direction, space, place in a particular sentence to make it meaningful. Example: in, on, under, since etc.
Some example sentences of prepositions are:
“You will find the book on the table”.
“The necklace is inside the box”.
“Push it towards the wall”.
In the given sentence , the woman is staring. Therefore, we will use a preposition to determine the point or place where she is starting. Let us see which option fulfils our purpose.

Complete answer:
Let us analyse each option individually in detail to know the correct answer.

A. At: This option ‘at’ is used to indicate a point, place, location, position. Example: Look at me, I am talking to you. By implying this option, the sentence becomes “The woman sitting opposite me on the train kept staring at me”, this makes a meaningful sentence as the preposition ‘at’ is specifying that the woman is staring at the speaker. Therefore, this is the correct option.

B. To: This option ‘to’ is the preposition of movement which specifies that there is movement toward a specific direction. By implying this option, the sentence becomes “The woman sitting opposite me on the train kept staring at me”, this doesn’t make a meaningful sentence. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

C. Along: The preposition ‘along’ determines the course of something , through, conformity. By implying this option, the sentence becomes “The woman sitting opposite me on the train kept staring along me”, this doesn’t make a meaningful sentence. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

D. Into: The preposition ‘into’ determines something in inward direction, towards, continuation into time or space. By implying this option, the sentence becomes “The woman sitting opposite me on the train kept staring into me”, this doesn’t make a meaningful sentence. Therefore, this is not the correct option.


Hence, the correct answer is Option ‘A’.

Note: At a large, there are three types of prepositions:
1. Preposition of time: on, in, at, after , before, throughout etc. Example: You better reach before the teacher.
2. Preposition of place: on, in, at , under , over, inside, outside, above , below etc. Example: I found it under the table.
3. Preposition of movement or direction : up, down, through, across etc. Example: The store is situated across the street.