Understanding Prepositions: In, On, With

Question:

Which preposition should be used in the following sentence: "She is holding a cup ______ her hand (in, on, with)?"

Answer:

The correct preposition to use in the sentence is on.

Prepositions are words that show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence. They help to clarify the position or location of an object in relation to another object. In this case, the preposition "on" is used to indicate that the cup is physically resting on the hand of the person.

In is used to indicate that something is inside a closed space or within the boundaries of something. For example, "The keys are in the drawer."

On is used to show that something is physically in contact with or supported by another object. For example, "The book is on the table."

With is used to indicate the means or instrument by which an action is carried out. For example, "She cut the paper with scissors."

In the given sentence, the correct preposition is "on" because the cup is resting on the hand of the person. Choosing the right preposition is essential for conveying accurate meaning in sentences and avoiding confusion.