Fill in the blank with the appropriate preposition: She was annoyed ______ his rude nature.

Appeared in: NORCET 8 Prelims-2025

Explanation

The preposition 'at' is correctly used with the adjective 'annoyed' to express frustration or anger directed towards a specific thing, situation, or behavior.
In the sentence, the source of annoyance is 'his rude nature,' which is a behavior, not a person, making 'annoyed at' the correct grammatical choice.
This follows the standard English grammar rule distinguishing the object of the emotion: 'at' for things/behaviors and 'with' for people.

Option A: 'By' is typically used in a passive construction to indicate the agent causing the annoyance (e.g., 'She was annoyed by the noise'). 'At' is more precise for directing the emotion toward a specific behavior.
Option B: 'With' is used when the object of the annoyance is a person.
Option C: 'Annoyed on' is not a standard or grammatically correct prepositional phrase in English.

Visual 1: Chart - A chart showing common adjectives and the prepositions that follow them (e.g., angry at/with, happy about/for, interested in).
Visual 2: Infographic - An infographic with two columns, one for 'Annoyed with + [Person]' and another for 'Annoyed at + [Thing/Behavior]', with example sentences for each.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Correct usage of prepositions with the adjective 'annoyed' as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a clinical question, precise language is crucial in healthcare. Using the correct preposition ensures clear and professional communication in patient notes, handovers, and when speaking with colleagues.
Miscommunication due to grammatical errors can lead to misunderstandings about patient behaviors or conditions.
What if the sentence was about a person? If the object of annoyance was 'him,' the correct preposition would be 'with' ('She was annoyed with him'). This distinction is important for accurately describing interpersonal conflicts or patient interactions.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key adjective in the sentence, which is 'annoyed'.
Next, look at the word or phrase that follows the blank: 'his rude nature'.
Determine if this phrase refers to a person, a thing, or a behavior. 'Rude nature' is a behavior or quality.
Recall the specific grammar rule for the adjective 'annoyed': use 'with' for people and 'at' for things or behaviors.
Based on this rule, select the preposition 'at' as it correctly pairs with the behavior 'rude nature'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full NORCET 8 Prelims-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.