৩১তম BCS — Prepositions

This exam tested 3 questions from this topic — preposition 'since', 'to' with introduce, and 'in contrast to'.

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Q28: They suffered much ___ tornado had hit their village.

Options: (a) Until • (b) Since ✓ • (c) as if • (d) let alone

Core rule (one line)

Since = 'because' / 'from the time that'. With past perfect, it indicates a prior event causing the present effect.

Sentence structure

Pattern	Meaning
'X happened since Y had happened'	Y is the cause/earlier event
'They suffered (effect) since tornado had hit (cause)'	Suffering ← because of tornado

Multiple uses of 'since'

Usage	Example
Preposition (time)	'I've lived here since 2010.'
Conjunction (time)	'I've waited since you left.'
Conjunction (reason)	'Since it rained, we stayed in.'
Adverb	'I haven't seen him since.'

Memory trick

• 'Since' = either time OR reason — context decides
• Past perfect after 'since' (had + V3) → reason use is dominant

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Q35: Wordsworth introduced the readers ___ a new kind of poetry.

Options: (a) With • (b) At • (c) To ✓ • (d) by

Core rule

Fixed pattern: introduce somebody TO something = make someone aware of something for the first time.

Common verb + preposition combinations

Verb	Preposition	Example
introduce	to	He introduced me to his sister
familiar	with	I'm familiar with this topic
accustomed	to	She is accustomed to noise
acquainted	with	We are acquainted with them
compare	to/with	Compare this to that
differ	from	This differs from that
consist	of	Cake consists of flour
insist	on	He insisted on going
depend	on	Success depends on effort
confide	in	She confided in me

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Q36: ___ his earlier study, the professor's new study indicates a general warning trend in global weather.

Options: (a) In contrast of • (b) In contrast to ✓ • (c) In contrast by • (d) In contrast as

Core rule

In contrast to = the fixed phrase. (Also acceptable: 'in contrast with' — less common in academic writing.)

Common 'contrast' phrases

Phrase	Use
In contrast to/with X	Comparing X to something different
By contrast	Standalone transition (adverb)
Contrary to	+ noun (oppositional)
As opposed to	+ noun (clearly contrasting)
Unlike	+ noun (different from)

Common mistakes

• ❌ 'In contrast of' — never used
• ❌ 'In contrast by' — never used
• ❌ 'On the contrary' (used differently — to refute, not just to compare)

Exam shortcut

• Verb 'introduce' → 'to'
• 'Contrast' → 'to' or 'with' (never 'of'/'by'/'as')
• 'Acquainted/familiar' → 'with'
• 'Accustomed' → 'to'

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টপিকটি গভীরে শিখুন

Prepositions — মূল লেকচার শিট — Time/Place/Direction prepositions, Verb + Prep combinations (200+), Adjective + Prep (100+), Noun + Prep (50+), commonly confused pairs (in/at/on, between/among, beside/besides, since/for, by/until)।