Choose the correct preposition to fill in the blank:-
______ being fined, he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → besides
Complete sentence: Besides being fined, he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. The man was fined, and on top of the fine he was sent to prison: "Besides being fined, he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment."
| Option | Used to show | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) beside | Beside means next to in position. It cannot add one punishment to another. | The dog lay beside the fire. |
| (2) besides (answer) | Besides means in addition to. | Besides English, she speaks French and German. |
| (3) against | Against means in opposition to. "Against being fined" makes no sense here. | Many people spoke against the new tax. |
| (4) on | "On being fined" would mean as soon as he was fined. It describes timing, not an added punishment. | On hearing the news, she burst into tears. |