Question

Find the correct preposition :
He is fond --------- his mother.

• A. in
• B. for
• C. with
• D. of

Hint:

"Fond" and "Of" are best friends in English grammar! They are inseparable when expressing affection. Whenever you see fond, blindly look for of to complete the pair!

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept: In English grammar, certain adjectives, verbs, and nouns are tightly coupled with specific prepositions. These are known as

dependent prepositions or fixed prepositional phrases. The adjective

"fond" (which means having a liking, deep affection, or warmth for someone or something) must always be paired with one specific preposition to function correctly in standard English.

Grammatical Rule:

• The fixed construction is always:

Subject + be verb (am/is/are/was/were) + fond + of + Object

• Example: "She is fond of music," "They are fond of swimming."

• In this question, the sentence reads "He is fond --------- his mother". Following this rule, the preposition

"of" must follow the adjective "fond" to denote the target of his affection.

Analysis of Options:

• Option (A) is incorrect because "fond in" is ungrammatical and does not exist in standard English syntax.

• Option (B) is incorrect because people frequently make the mistake of using "for" due to translations from native languages (thinking "affection for someone" translates to "fond for someone"). However, grammatically, "fond for" is completely incorrect.

• Option (C) is incorrect because "fond with" violates standard dependent preposition rules.

• Option (D) is correct because "fond of" is the only grammatically acceptable and recognized fixed combination.