If you are preparing for the SSC Stenographer Exam 2026, mastering fixed prepositions can easily improve your English score in Fill in the Blanks, Error Spotting, and Sentence Improvement questions.
Many SSC candidates lose marks not because they don’t know grammar, but because they use the wrong preposition with a word. In English, certain words naturally “pair” with certain prepositions. These are called fixed prepositions.
For example:
- Correct: He is good at English.
- Incorrect: He is good in English.
These are pairs of words that are “married” to each other. If you use the wrong partner, the sentence breaks. Here is your definitive checklist of the 50+ most frequent fixed prepositions seen in SSC papers over the last decade. SSC repeatedly asks these combinations in exams. So, learning the most common fixed prepositions is one of the smartest ways to boost your score quickly.
Note: Although focused on SSC exams, this lesson is also useful for any other exams or anyone who wants to master fixed prepositions.
Table of Contents
The “To” Group (The Largest Category)
These are among the most frequently asked combinations in SSC exams. The exam often tries to confuse students by replacing to with with, than, or for. Here is a list of 16 pairs of “To” group:
| Word | Fixed Preposition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Accustomed | to | He is accustomed to working late at night. |
| Addicted | to | Many students are addicted to social media. |
| Adjacent | to | The office is adjacent to the main hall. |
| Beneficial | to | Daily practice is beneficial to SSC aspirants. |
| Blind | to | She is blind to her son’s mistakes. |
| Contrary | to | Contrary to popular belief, grammar can be easy. |
| Devoted | to | He is devoted to stenography practice. |
| Entitled | to | You are entitled to receive the certificate. |
| Indebted | to | I am indebted to my teacher for guidance. |
| Junior/Senior | to | He is senior to me in the department. |
| Key | to | Revision is the key to success. |
| Object | to | Did anyone object to the proposal? |
| Prefer | to | I prefer shorthand to typing. |
| Prone | to | Beginners are prone to spelling mistakes. |
| Relevant | to | This topic is relevant to SSC exams. |
| Yield | to | Never yield to exam pressure. |
The “From” Group (Prohibition & Separation)
These words usually imply staying away from something or being stopped. Here is a list of 10 fixed prepositions with “From” with examples:
| Word | Fixed Preposition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Abstain | from | Abstain from wasting time online. |
| Refrain | from | Refrain from talking during the test. |
| Prevent | from | The rain prevented him from attending class. |
| Prohibit | from | Students are prohibited from using phones. |
| Exempt | from | She was exempted from the fee. |
| Emerge | from | The idea emerged from discussion. |
| Differ | from | This book differs from the previous edition. |
| Debar | from | He was debarred from the examination. |
| Derive | from | Many English words are derived from Latin. |
| Protect | from | Use sunscreen to protect your skin from the heat. |
The “Of” & “With” Group (Traits & Emotions)
These often describe a state of being or a feeling.
A list of 10 Words with ‘Of’:
| Word | Fixed Preposition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Afraid | of | She is afraid of failure. |
| Aware | of | Candidates must be aware of exam rules. |
| Beware | of | Beware of fake study materials online. |
| Capable | of | He is capable of scoring high marks. |
| Fond | of | She is fond of reading grammar books. |
| Full | of | The classroom was full of students. |
| Guilty | of | He was found guilty of cheating. |
| Short | of | We are short of time today. |
| Tired | of | Students often get tired of memorising rules. |
| Worthy | of | Hard work is worthy of appreciation. |
A list of 7 Words with ‘With’:
| Word | Fixed Preposition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Acquainted | with | Are you acquainted with the syllabus? |
| Comply | with | Candidates must comply with instructions. |
| Contented | with | He is contented with his results. |
| Disgusted | with | She was disgusted with his behaviour. |
| Gifted | with | He is gifted with a sharp memory. |
| Infested | with | The area was infested with mosquitoes. |
| Satisfied | with | The teacher was satisfied with the answer. |
Other Important Fixed Prepositions
These are extremely important for SSC Steno, CGL, CHSL, and other competitive exams. Here is a list of 16 words with different prepositions:
| Word | Fixed Preposition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Believe | in | I believe in hard work. |
| Persist | in | She persisted in solving the problem. |
| Succeed | in | Practice helps students succeed in exams. |
| Congratulate | on | Everyone congratulated him on his success. |
| Depend | on | Success depends on consistency. |
| Insist | on | He insisted on checking the answer again. |
| Good/Bad | at | She is good at English grammar. |
| Angry | with | The teacher was angry with the student. |
| Angry | at | He was angry at the situation. |
| Agree | with | I agree with your opinion. |
| Agree | to | She agreed to the proposal. |
| Interested | in | Many students are interested in government jobs. |
| Laugh | at | Do not laugh at others’ mistakes. |
| Listen | to | Always listen to your mentor carefully. |
| Famous | for | Manipur is famous for its natural beauty. |
| Deal | with | This chapter deals with grammar rules. |
Preparation Tips for SSC Steno
1. Learn in Groups
You can memorise fixed prepositions easily by studying them in categories such as:
- Words with “to”
- Words with “from”
- Words with “of”
2. Practice Through Questions
You can also memorise them through practice. Try solving like:
- Error Spotting questions
- Fill in the Blanks
- Sentence Improvement exercises
3. Read English Daily
Reading newspapers, blogs, and editorials helps you naturally remember the combinations.
4. Maintain a Grammar Notebook
Write any difficult combinations separately and revise them later.
Quick Revision Quiz
Choose the right preposition for the blank:
1. She is capable ___ solving difficult grammar questions.
A) to
B) of
C) with
2. The teacher insisted ___ completing the homework on time.
A) in
B) with
C) on
3. Many students are addicted ___ mobile games.
A) to
B) with
C) at
4. Candidates must comply ___ the examination rules.
A) to
B) with
C) from
5. He was congratulated ___ his excellent performance.
A) for
B) at
C) on
Answers
- B) of
- C) on
- A) to
- B) with
- C) on
Final Words
Fixed prepositions may seem small, but they can make a huge difference in your SSC Steno score. Instead of trying to memorise hundreds of grammar rules, focus on mastering these commonly used combinations and practising them regularly.
Even learning 10–15 combinations every week can significantly improve your accuracy in the English section.
To maximise your English score in the exam, you don’t have to read many books randomly. Start with only 3 exam-focused books on grammar, vocabulary, and previous years’ solved papers. Check out our review of the Best English Books for the SSC Stenographer Exam.
