Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
At night when there are no clouds _____ the sky you can see many stars.
A) on
B) in
C) at
D) to
E) besides

Answer 1

Hint: This question is about prepositions. Prepositions are words used in a sentence to link different nouns, pronouns, or phrases with one another. Without prepositions, one cannot infer the text as they add the locational information about the subject with the rest of the sentence. There are different types of prepositions and each has its own unique use.

Complete answer:
Let us analyze the given options:
Option (A) on- This is incorrect because it is used to indicate position on top of something, but the given sentence is talking about position within some area.
Option (B) in- This is the correct because it is used to describe a position within an area, and sky is an area.
Option (C) at- This is the incorrect because it is used to describe a position seen as a point, but we require a position within an area.
Option (D) to- This is incorrect because it is used to indicate a goal or direction, not position. This is not required here.
Option (E) besides- This is incorrect because it refers to a proximity, not location. Therefore, it can not be used in here.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note: Tips to use when working with prepositions:
- Always try to understand the relationship between the subject and the sentence. This will give the reader some clues about what type of preposition is required.
- Read the whole sentence properly to identify the required elements to use prepositions. Improper reading can lead to a wrong preposition being used.
- Always decide the preposition based on the sense of the sentence and not just the nouns or pronouns. Keep in mind the fact that the usage of prepositions is as important as verbs, nouns, etc.