CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2022
REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES AFTER FILLING IN THE BLANKS WITH APPROPRIATE PREPOSITIONS
Despite regular practice he never seems to win ———- tennis.
Despite regular practice, he never seems to win at tennis.
“Win at” is used to indicate success or victory in a particular activity or competition.
———- luck, we should be in Islamabad by 5 p.m.
With luck, we should be in Islamabad by 5 p.m.
The phrase “with luck” indicates that the achievement of reaching Islamabad by 5 p.m. relies on the presence or assistance of luck.
He went ———– his own accord: nobody forced him to go.
He went of his own accord: nobody forced him to go.
“Of his own accord” means voluntarily or by one’s own choice, without being compelled or forced by others.
My husband brought me some flowers today. He must be ———– something!
My husband brought me some flowers today. He must be up to something!
The phrase “up to something” suggests that someone is doing things secretly or with a hidden motive.
My younger son tripped ———— the cat and fell downstairs.
My younger son tripped over the cat and fell downstairs.
The phrase “tripped over” indicates stumbling or losing balance due to an obstacle in one’s path, in this case, the cat.
You look really ———- the weather. Are you ill?
You look really under the weather. Are you ill?
“Under the weather” means feeling unwell or not in good health.
The car went ———- the brow of the hill and was soon out of sight.
The car went over the brow of the hill and was soon out of sight.
“Over” here indicates the movement of the car from one side or top of the hill to the other side, descending and disappearing from view.
He told that his career was ———- ruins because of pandemic.
He told me that his career was in ruins because of the pandemic.
“In ruins” implies that something has been severely damaged or destroyed, in this case, his career due to the effects of the pandemic.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2021
REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES AFTER FILLING IN THE BLANKS WITH APPROPRIATE PREPOSITIONS
The knavish wolf was able_____ convince the pig to let him _____ his home.
The knavish wolf was able to convince the pig to let him into his home.
The first blank requires the preposition “to” after the word “able,” indicating the ability or capacity to do something. The second blank requires the preposition “into” to show the direction of entry or movement toward the inside of the pig’s home.
I looked this word ____ in the dictionary, but I still don’t understand it.
I looked this word up in the dictionary, but I still don’t understand it.
The phrase “looked up” is used when searching for information or a word in a reference source like a dictionary.
I need to learn these verbs ___ heart ___ tomorrow.
I need to learn these verbs by heart by tomorrow.
“By heart” means to learn or memorize something thoroughly or completely.
The morgue is redolent___ the odor of deceased individuals.
The morgue is redolent of the odor of deceased individuals.
The word “redolent” means strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something, and when followed by “of,” it indicates what the scent or odor is reminiscent of or characterized by.
He is cogitating___ some means of revenge.
He is cogitating on some means of revenge.
“Cogitating on” refers to deeply thinking about or pondering something, in this case, contemplating or considering various means of seeking revenge.
He was reticent___ do anything about the problem.
He was reticent to do anything about the problem.
“Reticent to” refers to being hesitant or unwilling to take action or speak about something.
His body is impervious___ moisture.
His body is impervious to moisture.
“Impervious to” means not allowing something to pass through or affect, in this case, his body is resistant or immune to moisture.
Ahmad applied ___ the bank for a loan.
Ahmad applied to the bank for a loan.
When applying for something, you typically apply to the specific institution or entity offering the service or opportunity.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2020
REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES AFTER FILLING IN THE BLANKS WITH APPROPRIATE PREPOSITION
I was annoyed ——– him.
I was annoyed with him.
The preposition “with” is used to express annoyance directed toward a person or thing.
This train is bound ——- Gujrat.
This train is bound for Gujrat.
The phrase “bound for” is used to indicate the destination or the place to which something is traveling or heading.
The pistol went ——- by accident.
The pistol went off by accident.
The phrase “went off” is often used to describe the accidental discharge of a firearm or explosive.
He kept ——- asking silly questions
He kept on asking silly questions.
The addition of “on” after “kept” emphasizes the continuous or persistent nature of the action—repeatedly asking silly questions in this context.
He was knocked ——- by the bus.
He was knocked down by the bus.
The phrase “knocked down” is commonly used to describe someone being hit or struck by a vehicle, causing them to fall to the ground.
Do not meddle ——- my affairs.
Do not meddle in my affairs.
The preposition “in” is used to indicate involvement in or interference with someone’s affairs or matters.
The meeting was put ——– by the Chairman.
The meeting was put off by the Chairman.
The phrasal verb “put off” means to postpone or delay something.
He rounded ——– his speech with a quote from Ghalib.
He rounded off his speech with a quote from Ghalib.
The phrase “rounded off” is used to indicate concluding or finishing something, often a speech or a discussion, by adding a final point or remark.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2019
REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES AFTER FILLING IN THE BLANKS WITH APPROPRIATE PREPOSITION
What time do we arrive ______our destination?
What time do we arrive at our destination?
The preposition “at” is used to denote a specific point or location, such as arriving at a destination.
We are flying ______some rough weather; please fasten your seat belts.
We are flying through some rough weather; please fasten your seat belts.
The word “through” is used to indicate movement within or through something, in this case, rough weather.
It is warming up; ______noon we should be able to go swimming.
It is warming up; by noon we should be able to go swimming.
The word “by” in this context refers to a point in time (noon) by which something is expected or planned to happen.
My parents are not responsible ______my actions.
My parents are not responsible for my actions.
The preposition “for” is used to indicate the reason or cause behind something, in this case, your actions.
This pan is ______cooking omelettes.
This pan is for cooking omelettes.
The preposition “for” is used to express purpose or intended use in this context, indicating what the pan is specifically used for—cooking omelettes.
______ poor attendance, this course is being cancelled
Due to poor attendance, this course is being canceled.
The phrase “due to” is used to show the reason or cause behind an action or situation.
The police took the men in ______questioning.
The police took the men in for questioning.
The preposition “for” in this context is used to indicate the purpose or reason for taking the men into custody—to question them.
The woman you gave the book ______is my aunt.
The woman you gave the book to is my aunt.
The preposition “to” is used to indicate the recipient of an action—in this case, the woman who received the book.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2018
REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES AFTER FILLING IN THE BLANKS WITH APPROPRIATE PREPOSITION
_____ a Ford he has a Fiat car
“Besides owning a Ford, he has a Fiat car.”
Here, “besides” is used to indicate an additional fact or detail—having a Fiat car alongside owning a Ford.
I saw him felling a big tree _____ a hatchet.
I saw him felling a big tree with a hatchet.
The preposition “with” is used to indicate the tool or instrument used to perform an action, in this case, the hatchet used for felling the tree.
I must start _____ dawn to reach the station in time.
I must start by dawn to reach the station in time.
The word “by” indicates the time at or before which an action needs to be taken—in this case, starting before dawn to reach the station on time.
I have known him _____ a long time.
I have known him for a long time.
The preposition “for” is used to indicate the duration or length of time for which an action or state has been ongoing—in this case, knowing someone for a long period.
“Will you walk _______ my parlour?”
“Will you walk into my parlour?”
The phrase “into” is used to denote movement towards the inside of a place, in this case, inviting someone to enter a parlour or room.
The public are cautioned ________ pickpockets.
The public are cautioned against pickpockets.
The word “against” is used to indicate opposition or guarding against something, in this case, cautioning the public to be aware and vigilant regarding pickpockets.
CSS – PRECIS AND COMPOSITION PAPER 2017
REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES AFTER FILLING IN THE BLANKS WITH APPROPRIATE PREPOSITIONS
I cannot buy this car _____ this price.
I cannot buy this car at this price.
The preposition “at” is used to indicate a specific price or rate for something.
Send these books _____ my home address.
Send these books to my home address.
The preposition “to” is used to indicate the destination or recipient of the action—sending the books to a specific location, in this case, the home address.
Monkeys live _____ trees.
Monkeys live in trees.
The preposition “in” is used to indicate location or position within something—in this case, where monkeys reside.
I said it _____ his face.
I said it to his face.
The preposition “to” is used here to indicate the direction of the action, specifically expressing something directly to someone’s face.
The manager _______the receipt of my letter promptly.
“The manager acknowledged the receipt of my letter promptly.”
Acknowledging something means confirming or recognizing its existence or receipt.
Most foreign students don’t like American coffee, and ________ .
“Most foreign students don’t like American coffee, and neither do I.”
In the given sentence, the phrase “Most foreign students don’t like American coffee” presents a negative statement. When agreeing with a negative statement, the correct structure would be “neither + auxiliary/modal verb + subject.”
In this case, “neither do I” is the correct structure to express agreement with the negative statement about the dislike of American coffee by most foreign students. The phrase “neither do I” mirrors the negative form used in the first part of the sentence and expresses agreement with it.
We________ take care of our parents when they are old.
We ought to take care of our parents when they are old.
In the context of the sentence, the phrase “ought to” implies a moral or social obligation. When discussing responsibilities or duties, particularly towards family members like parents, “ought to” signifies a strong sense of duty or responsibility. In this case, the sentence suggests a moral obligation to take care of parents in their old age, making “ought to” the most appropriate choice among the options given.
Yousaf ________in the garden the whole of yesterday.
Yousaf dug in the garden the whole of yesterday.
This choice indicates a past action that occurred during a specific time frame (“the whole of yesterday”) without the need for a perfect tense (like “has dug,” “had dug,” etc.).