Choose the correct preposition, out of the four options, to fill in the blank…
2014
Choose the correct preposition, out of the four options, to fill in the blank in the following sentence:
He should not be covetous _____ others' riches.
- A.
on
- B.
off
- C.
of
- D.
for
Attempted by 60 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
Many English adjectives are bound to a specific preposition (a fixed collocation), and that preposition is fixed by usage, not by logic. The adjective 'covetous' means 'eagerly desirous of something that belongs to another'. The thing desired is introduced by a single conventional preposition that must be memorised as part of the phrase.
Application
In 'He should not be covetous _____ others' riches', the blank links the adjective 'covetous' to the thing desired ('others' riches'). The conventional preposition that 'covetous' takes is 'of', giving 'covetous of others' riches' — meaning he should not greedily desire what belongs to others.
Why the other prepositions fail
'on' marks a surface or a topic, not the object of desire.
'off' marks separation or removal — the opposite of longing for something.
'for' marks purpose or a beneficiary and is not the preposition fixed to 'covetous'.
Completed sentence: 'He should not be covetous of others' riches.'
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