Which Sentence Must Be Revised To Eliminate The Preposition At The End?

Which Sentence Must Be Revised To Eliminate The Preposition At The End?

A) The teacher explained what the project was about.

B) The book is on the table.

C) That’s the student I was talking to.

D) That’s the jacket I was looking for.

Correct Answer: C)

That's the student I was talking to.

Explanation

In formal English writing, prepositions (like from, to, about) are avoided at the end of the sentence. It makes the grammar weak and even makes it informal. In the above options, the one that seems most informal is option C. Hence, it should be rewritten as

• C) That’s the student to whom I was talking.

Doing so removes the preposition at the end without affecting its meaning.

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Why Not the Other Options?

• A) The teacher explained what the project was about.
• While “about” is a preposition at the end, it's now widely accepted in both spoken and written English. Rearranging it would make the sentence more awkward and would be counterproductive.

• B) The book is on the table.

• The preposition here is “on,” which is not at the end of the sentence. Hence its not needed to change it.

• D) That’s the jacket I was looking for.

• The sentence ends with a “for” which is indeed a preposition. However, turning it over to the formal sentence, “That’s the jacket for which I was looking,” would make it overly formal and affect its clarity, too.

Important FAQ’s

Q1: Is it grammatically incorrect to end a sentence with a preposition?

A: No — it’s not incorrect. Ending a sentence with a preposition was avoided or is avoided in some cases as it makes the sentences confusing or informal. However modern english has accepted such situations and use them during informal, casual scenarios and even in some formal ones.

Q2: When should I avoid ending a sentence with a preposition?

A: Ending a sentence with a preposition is generally avoided during Formal cases. So if you are writing an academic work or something professional.

Q3: What’s a dangling preposition?

A: A dangling preposition occurs when a preposition is left at the end without a clear object. It’s not wrong in casual speech and is even commonly used there. However, in professional work, it can reduce the clarity and make the work difficult to understand.

Q4: What are some common prepositions that end sentences?

A: Some common prepositions that end sentences and are generally used includes to, for, with, about, at, in, on, and from.

For example

• “Who are you talking to?”
• “This is the friend I was telling you about.”

Q5: Is it ever better to revise a sentence to move the preposition?

A: Yes, it is better to revise a sentence to move the preposition, especially in:

• Formal academic writing
• Legal documents
• Business reports

For example:

• Informal: “Here is the document you asked for.”
• Formal: “Here is the document for which you asked.”

Q6: Do all grammar styles agree on this?

A: Not always. Traditional grammar styles like Strunk and White recommend avoiding any and all terminal prepositions. However, the Modern Grammar styles like Oxford-English accept them as long as they improve the logical flow of the sentence.

Q7: Can I use prepositions at the end of academic essays?

A: Sparingly — yes, if it maintains clarity and fluency. However, it's recommended to put the preposition earlier, as that would make the essay more polished.

Q8: How do I know if I should revise or not?

A: Read these few examples:

• “What are you looking at?”
• “Who are you talking to?”
• “This is the friend I was telling you about.”

Then ask yourself this. Does it sound clear? Would a revision make it stiff or overly formal? Are you writing for a casual audience or a formal one?

If you're writing an email to a professor, a research paper, or a resume, go for a formal writing style and avoid such prepositions. If it’s a blog post, narrative, or casual conversation, ending with a preposition is just fine.