Complete the following text with suitable prepositions:
Gen Z refers (a) ______ the group of people born after 1996. They are called so because they are digital natives who have grown (b) _______ with technology like smartphones and the internet. Normally, Gen Z kids are fond (c) _______ using digital devices and gadgets daily. They are also very good (d) _____ using online apps and looking (e) ________ information whenever they need. This generation is absorbed (f) ________ important issues like politics, social inequality and even environmental concerns. Gen Z is different (g) _______ other generations because they are always connected (h) _______ social media and other online platforms. They enjoy learning (i) _______ new things (j) _________ videos and websites.
(a) to (b) up (c) of (d) at (e) for (f) in (g) from (h) to (i) about (j) through
Gen Z refers (a) to the group of people born after 1996. They are called so because they are digital natives who have grown (b) up with technology like smartphones and the internet. Normally, Gen Z kids are fond (c) of using digital devices and gadgets daily. They are also very good (d) at using online apps and looking (e) for information whenever they need. This generation is absorbed (f) in important issues like politics, social inequality and even environmental concerns. Gen Z is different (g) from other generations because they are always connected (h) to social media and other online platforms. They enjoy learning (i) about new things (j) through videos and websites.
In formal English, the conjunction "as" is used to introduce a clause or a phrase that indicates a comparison or the manner in which something is done. In this sentence, "as in the old days" describes how the evening was spent, implying "in the way it was done in the old days."
Conversely, "like" is primarily used as a preposition to mean "similar to" or "in the manner of," and is typically followed by a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase. While "like" is often used informally in place of "as" or "as if," it is generally considered incorrect in standard written English when introducing a clause or an adverbial phrase of comparison.
For example:
Incorrect: She sings like she is a professional.
Correct: She sings as if she is a professional.
Correct: She sings like a professional. (Here, 'like' is a preposition followed by a noun phrase 'a professional'.)
Therefore, "as in the old days" is the grammatically correct and more formal choice for this context.
In English grammar, the verb 'call' can be used in several ways, and its usage dictates whether a preposition is required. When 'call' means 'to telephone someone', it functions as a transitive verb and directly takes an object without any preposition. For example, one would say "Please call Mr. Khan" to mean telephoning him.
Conversely, if 'call' is used to mean 'to pay a brief visit to someone', it typically forms a phrasal verb with the preposition 'on', as in "to call on someone". For instance, "We will call on our neighbours tomorrow."
Given the structure "Please call – Mr. Khan tomorrow morning", the most common and grammatically appropriate interpretation is that Mr. Khan should be telephoned. Therefore, no preposition is needed in the blank, and the sentence correctly reads "Please call Mr. Khan tomorrow morning."