Choose the correct preposition from the given options in the following sentence:
She is sitting next ........ her brother in the second row.

Question

Choose the correct preposition from the given options in the following sentence:
 She is sitting next ........ her brother in the second row.

Accepted Answer

In the given sentence, "She is sitting next ........ her brother in the second row," the task is to choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence meaningfully. The correct answer is Option 3: "To."

1. **Explanation for Option 3 ("To"):**
   - The phrase "next to" is a commonly used prepositional phrase in English that indicates proximity or adjacency. It means that someone or something is immediately beside another person or object. In this context, "She is sitting next to her brother" implies that she is sitting directly beside her brother in the second row. This usage is standard and widely accepted in English to convey the idea of being adjacent or alongside.

2. **Explanation for why other options are incorrect:**
   - **Option 1 ("By"):** While "by" can sometimes indicate proximity, it is not as precise as "next to" when describing someone sitting directly beside another person. "By" can imply a general closeness but does not specifically convey the idea of being immediately adjacent.
   - **Option 2 ("Towards"):** "Towards" indicates direction rather than position. It suggests movement in the direction of something but does not describe a static position of sitting beside someone.
   - **Option 4 ("On"):** "On" is used to indicate a position atop a surface, which does not fit the context of sitting beside someone. It would be incorrect to say "sitting next on her brother," as it does not convey the intended meaning of adjacency.

Therefore, Option 3 ("To") is the correct choice because it accurately and precisely describes the position of sitting directly beside her brother in the second row.