Chapter 4 of 518% of exam
Prepositions and Articles
C1 tests prepositions in idiomatic and abstract phrases and articles in nuanced or generic reference. This chapter reviews advanced usage.
Prepositions in Abstract and Idiomatic Phrases
Fixed phrases such as 'at the expense of', 'in the wake of', 'on the verge of', 'in accordance with' and 'devoid of' are common at C1. The preposition is fixed and often non-literal.
Generic and Nuanced Article Use
Articles can change meaning: 'a knowledge of French' (some) vs 'the knowledge that...' (specific); 'the rich' (a whole class). Abstract nouns often take no article unless specified.