Which preposition does Contrary go with? The structure Contrary to

Contrary is an English word that means "opposite in nature, direction, or meaning”. So, which preposition does Contrary go with? What are the words or phrases that are used with Contrary? Let's find out in detail in the article below!

I. What is Contrary?

What is Contrary? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Contrary functions as a noun and an adjective in a sentence.

• Contrary functions as a noun, meaning: the opposite. For example: Jerry was worried that it might be too hard for me but it turned out the contrary was true. 
• Contrary functions as an adjective, meaning: opposite, not reasonable. For example: Contrary to all my expectations, my ex-boyfriend found a well-paid job and a nice girlfriend. 

II. Which preposition does Contrary go with? The structure of Contrary in English

Which preposition does Contrary go with? Let's find out the answer to this question in the table below!

From the above table, we can see that Contrary is used with the prepositions "to" and "on" to form complete structures.

III. The words/phrases used with Contrary

Let's find out the words/phrases used with Contrary below!

IV. Synonyms of Contrary

Let's list the synonyms of Contrary with PREP below!

V. Exercise on the Contrary structure in English

To remember the preposition used with Contrary, let's practice the exercise below!

1. Exercise

Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer

1. Contrary_____popular belief, caffeine can have both positive and negative effects on your health.
   1. to 
   2. on
   3. with
2. She expected him to be upset;_____the contrary, he took the news quite calmly.
   1. to 
   2. on
   3. with
3. Many people believe that technology isolates individuals, but,_____the contrary, it can also connect people across the world.
   1. to 
   2. on
   3. with
4. Contrary _____what I thought, the movie turned out to be quite enjoyable.
   1. to 
   2. on
   3. with
5. Her actions were in direct contrary_____the company's code of conduct, leading to her termination.
   1. to 
   2. on
   3. with

Exercise 2: Choose the appropriate words to fill in the blanks: contrary to, on the contrary, to the contrary

1. The scientific findings were _____ the assumptions made by the researchers.
2. _____, her decision to pursue a career in the arts was met with overwhelming support from her family.
3. Despite reports _____, she seems to be coping well in prison.
4. _____, the team's performance exceeded everyone's expectations despite initial doubts.
5. The final exam results were _____ what the students had predicted, leaving many pleasantly surprised.
6. _____ popular belief, cats can be very affectionate pets.
7. Despite the forecast, the weather turned out _____ and it was a sunny day.
8. _____ what I expected, the movie was actually quite boring.
9. He thought she would be angry, but _____, she seemed quite happy with the news.
10. _____ his usual behavior, he remained calm and composed during the crisis.

2. Answers

Exercise 1: 

1. A
2. B
3. A
4. A
5. A

Exercise 2:

1. Contrary to 
2. On the contrary
3. To the contrary
4. On the contrary
5. Contrary to
6. Contrary to
7. On the contrary
8. To the contrary
9. To the contrary
10. Contrary to

VI. Excel in Every IELTS Section

With the information on Contrary provided above, PREP hopes that Preppies will have a better understanding of what Contrary is, which preposition goes with Contrary, and the common structures of Contrary. If you want expert feedback on your progress, explore our personalized IELTS mentorship programs below:

• IELTS course: Turn Your IELTS Goals Into Reality