To determine the correct preposition for the sentence "He arrived early, so he had to wait _ _ _ _ _ _his friend," we must understand the usage of prepositions in context.
Let us analyze the given options:
- of: The preposition "of" is used to express possession, origin, or composition, such as "a friend of mine" or "made of gold." It does not fit in the context of waiting.
- for: The preposition "for" is commonly used when waiting for something or someone. It indicates the reason or the object of anticipation. For example, "waiting for a bus" or "waiting for a friend."
- with: The preposition "with" is used to indicate accompaniment or association, such as "go with a friend" or "talk with a colleague." This does not logically fit the context of the sentence because it implies being accompanied by the friend instead of waiting.
- to: The preposition "to" is typically used to indicate direction, place, or recipient, such as "to the store" or "to the teacher." It is not suitable for the expression "waiting to someone."
From the above analysis, the preposition "for" is the most appropriate choice as it correctly conveys the action of waiting in anticipation or expectation of his friend.
Therefore, the correct sentence is: "He arrived early, so he had to wait for his friend."