Prepositions and Conjunctions

Prepositions and conjunctions are the smallest words on the exam and the source of some of its trickiest items. Prepositions are largely idiomatic: there is no rule that explains why we are interested in something but fond of it; you simply have to know the pairing. Conjunctions, on the other hand, follow clear structural rules about joining and punctuating clauses. The CSE tests both in error-identification items ("agree with the plan" or "agree to the plan"?) and in sentence-correction items where the punctuation around however or because decides the answer.

Idiomatic prepositions: the pairings to memorize

English verbs, adjectives, and nouns each take specific prepositions. Learn these high-frequency pairs:

Expression	Example
agree with (a person), agree to (a proposal), agree on (a matter)	The union agreed with the mediator and agreed to the compromise.
angry with (a person), angry at (a situation)	She was angry with the supplier, not at the whole system.
capable of	capable of finishing the task
composed of / consists of	The panel is composed of five members. / The panel consists of five members. (Never "is comprised of" in formal usage; comprise takes no of: "The panel comprises five members.")
different from	different from the old policy (from, not than, in formal writing)
in accordance with	in accordance with the guidelines
independent of	independent of political influence
interested in	interested in the vacancy
preferable to	Digital filing is preferable to manual filing.
responsible for (a duty), responsible to (a superior)	The cashier is responsible for collections and responsible to the treasurer.
similar to	similar to last year's format
comply with	comply with the directive
result in (an outcome), result from (a cause)	The typhoon resulted in delays; the delays resulted from the typhoon.
superior to / inferior to	The new process is superior to the old one. (Never "superior than.")
wait for (a thing or person), wait on (serve)	We waited for the signatory.

Worked example 1. Find the error: "The new filing system is different than the one prescribed in the 2020 manual." Formal English requires different from, not different than. Corrected: "different from the one prescribed."

Commonly confused prepositions

Beside vs. besides. Beside means "next to" (physical position); besides means "in addition to" or "apart from." "Carlo sat beside the stenographer." "Besides the fare, the trip cost nothing."

Among vs. between. Use between for two parties or for multiple parties considered pairwise in a specific relationship ("a treaty between the three nations" is acceptable because each pair relates directly); use among for a group treated collectively: "The bonus was divided among the twenty employees," but "divided between the two co-authors."

In vs. on vs. at for time and place. In months, years, cities, and enclosed spaces (in July, in Cebu, in the vault). On days, dates, and surfaces (on Monday, on June 12, on the desk). At clock times and specific points (at 3 p.m., at the entrance).

Since vs. from. Since marks a starting point continuing to now (with perfect tenses): "employed since 2018." From...to marks a bounded span: "from 2018 to 2022."

Despite vs. in spite of vs. although. Despite and in spite of are prepositions followed by a noun or -ing form: "Despite the rain, the ceremony proceeded." Although is a conjunction followed by a clause: "Although it rained, the ceremony proceeded." Never write "despite of."

Due to vs. because of. Strictly, due to follows a linking verb ("The delay was due to the brownout"), while because of modifies a verb ("The flight was canceled because of the storm"). The CSE occasionally rewards this distinction.

Worked example 2. Choose the correct word: "______ his low grade in one subject, Ben still ranked first overall." (a) Despite of (b) Although (c) Despite (d) Because "His low grade" is a noun phrase, so it needs a preposition: Despite. "Despite of" does not exist, and although would need a full clause. Answer: (c).

The three conjunction families

1. Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) join equals: word to word, phrase to phrase, or independent clause to independent clause. When they join two independent clauses, put a comma before the conjunction: "The report was late, so the meeting was moved." No comma is needed when they join mere phrases: "The report was late but complete."

2. Subordinating conjunctions (because, although, since, if, unless, while, when, after, before, until, whereas, as soon as) attach a dependent clause to a main clause. Punctuation rule: dependent clause first, comma after it; main clause first, usually no comma. "Because the system was down, releasing was suspended." vs. "Releasing was suspended because the system was down."

3. Conjunctive adverbs (however, therefore, moreover, consequently, nevertheless, furthermore, otherwise, meanwhile, thus, instead) are NOT true conjunctions. They cannot glue two independent clauses with just a comma. Joining two sentences with one requires a semicolon before it and a comma after it: "The budget was approved; however, the release was delayed."

Joiner type	Pattern	Example
Coordinating	clause, + FANBOYS + clause	The form was complete, and the fee was paid.
Subordinating	Sub-clause, + main clause	Although the form was complete, the fee was unpaid.
Conjunctive adverb	clause; + adverb, + clause	The form was complete; however, the fee was unpaid.

Using a comma alone where a semicolon is needed creates a comma splice: "The budget was approved, however, the release was delayed" is wrong.

Worked example 3. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? (a) The applicant passed the exam, however, she missed the interview. (b) The applicant passed the exam; however, she missed the interview. (c) The applicant passed the exam however; she missed the interview. (d) The applicant passed the exam, however she missed the interview. However joins two independent clauses, so it needs a semicolon before and a comma after. Answer: (b).

Meaning matters: choosing the right connector

Beyond punctuation, the CSE tests whether the connector expresses the right logic.

• Contrast: but, yet, although, whereas, however, nevertheless
• Cause and effect: because, since, so, therefore, consequently, as a result
• Addition: and, moreover, furthermore, besides, in addition
• Condition: if, unless, provided that, in case
• Time: when, while, after, before, as soon as, until

Unless means "if not," a frequent trap: "You cannot claim the check unless you present an ID" means no ID, no check. While can mean "during the time that" or "whereas"; if a sentence uses while for contrast, make sure the contrast reading is clear.

Worked example 4. Choose the best connector: "The office adopted the queuing app; ______, average waiting time dropped by half." (a) however (b) otherwise (c) meanwhile (d) consequently The second clause is a result of the first, so the cause-effect adverb consequently fits. However would signal contrast that is not there. Answer: (d).

Worked example 5. Find the error: "Neither the memo or the attachment was received by the records section." Neither pairs with nor, never with or. Corrected: "Neither the memo nor the attachment was received." (Note the singular verb agreeing with the nearer subject.)

Common traps

• Despite of / regardless to: the correct forms are despite (no of), in spite of, and regardless of.
• Comprised of: write "composed of" or "comprises." "The team comprises eight members."
• Superior than / preferable than: both take to.
• Between you and I: prepositions take object pronouns: between you and me.
• Cope up with: the idiom is cope with; there is no up.
• Discuss about / request for (as a verb): discuss and request are transitive: "discuss the agenda," "request a copy." (The noun request does take for: "a request for a copy.")
• Comma splice with however/therefore: always check the punctuation before a conjunctive adverb that sits between two full clauses.
• And yet redundancy and but however doubling: use one contrast marker, not two: "She was tired, but she finished the audit," not "but however she finished."
• In regards to: the standard forms are with regard to, in regard to, or regarding.

Exam strategy

1. When a preposition is underlined, test the idiom, not the meaning of the sentence. Ask: what preposition does this exact verb or adjective demand?
2. When two clauses are joined, name the joiner's family first: FANBOYS need a comma, subordinators need none (or a comma only when the dependent clause comes first), conjunctive adverbs need a semicolon.
3. Check pair integrity instantly: neither/nor, either/or, not only/but also, both/and, whether/or.
4. Read for logic: does the connector say contrast when the clauses agree, or cause when there is none? A grammatical sentence with the wrong logic is still the wrong answer.
5. Memorize the trap list above; these exact idioms recur across civil service reviewers because they recur in real bureaucratic writing.

Small words, big points. Ten seconds spent naming the idiom or the conjunction family will settle most of these items with certainty.