Understanding the Correct Preposition with 'Applicable'

When we talk about rules, laws, or conditions that apply to a specific person, group, or situation, we commonly use certain prepositions. The word applicable means relevant or appropriate. The question asks which preposition correctly completes the sentence: "Is the rule applicable _________ all of us ?" We need to choose the preposition that shows the rule's relevance or application towards "all of us".

Analyzing Preposition Options for 'Applicable'

Let's look at the given options for this fill in the blank question:

• at: The preposition "at" is typically used for specific points in time or location (e.g., at 3 o'clock, at the corner). It is not standardly used with "applicable" in this context.
• on: The preposition "on" is often used to indicate position on a surface or topic (e.g., the book is on the table, a discussion on politics). While something can be "binding on" someone, "applicable on" is not the correct prepositional phrase for something applying *to* people in this sense.
• to: The preposition "to" is often used to show direction, a recipient, or relevance towards something or someone. The phrase "applicable to" is a very common and correct collocation used to indicate that something applies to a particular person, group, or case.
• in: The preposition "in" is used for locations within something, periods of time, or conditions (e.g., in the room, in the morning, in trouble). It is not used with "applicable" to show that a rule applies to people.

Why 'Applicable to' is the Correct Choice in English Grammar

In standard English grammar, the adjective applicable is almost always followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating the person, group, or situation to which something applies. The structure is typically "applicable to [someone or something]".

For example:

• This law is applicable to all citizens.
• The new policy is not applicable to temporary staff.
• Are these terms applicable to your case?

In the given sentence, "Is the rule applicable _________ all of us ?", the rule is applying or is relevant to "all of us" (a group of people). Therefore, the correct preposition to use is 'to'. The phrase "applicable to all of us" correctly conveys that the rule is relevant for or binding on everyone in the group.

Understanding these common prepositions and their usage in English grammar is key to correctly filling in the blanks in such sentences.