Prepositions are small but mighty elements of the English language. They serve as essential connectors, linking nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence. Despite their significance, prepositions can often cause confusion, even for native English speakers. For language learners, mastering prepositions is a crucial step toward achieving fluency. This article will delve into common prepositional errors, providing clear explanations and examples to help you avoid these pitfalls.
Misuse of Prepositions of Time
One of the most frequent areas of error involves prepositions of time. These prepositions include “in,” “on,” and “at,” each of which has specific rules governing its use.
“In” for Months, Years, Decades, and Centuries
The preposition “in” is used to refer to long periods of time, such as months, years, decades, and centuries.
**Correct Usage:**
– I was born in July.
– She graduated in 2010.
– The company was founded in the 1990s.
– The Renaissance occurred in the 15th century.
**Common Error:**
– I was born at July. (Incorrect)
“On” for Days and Dates
The preposition “on” is used to refer to specific days and dates.
**Correct Usage:**
– I have a meeting on Monday.
– Her birthday is on December 25th.
**Common Error:**
– I have a meeting in Monday. (Incorrect)
“At” for Specific Times
The preposition “at” is used to refer to precise times.
**Correct Usage:**
– The train arrives at 6:00 PM.
– She usually wakes up at dawn.
**Common Error:**
– The train arrives in 6:00 PM. (Incorrect)
Misuse of Prepositions of Place
Prepositions of place, such as “in,” “on,” and “at,” can be equally confusing. Each preposition serves a distinct function when describing locations.
“In” for Enclosed Spaces
The preposition “in” is used to describe something that is inside an enclosed space.
**Correct Usage:**
– The cat is in the box.
– She lives in New York City.
**Common Error:**
– The cat is at the box. (Incorrect)
“On” for Surfaces
The preposition “on” is used to describe something that is on a surface.
**Correct Usage:**
– The book is on the table.
– The painting hangs on the wall.
**Common Error:**
– The book is in the table. (Incorrect)
“At” for Specific Points
The preposition “at” is used to describe a specific point or location.
**Correct Usage:**
– I’ll meet you at the bus stop.
– She is waiting at the entrance.
**Common Error:**
– I’ll meet you in the bus stop. (Incorrect)
Prepositional Phrases with Verbs
Certain verbs are often paired with specific prepositions, forming prepositional phrases. Misusing these prepositions can change the meaning of the verb or make the sentence grammatically incorrect.
“Depend on” vs. “Depend of”
The correct prepositional phrase is “depend on,” not “depend of.”
**Correct Usage:**
– Success depends on hard work.
**Common Error:**
– Success depends of hard work. (Incorrect)
“Look at” vs. “Look to”
“Look at” and “look to” are both correct but have different meanings. “Look at” means to direct your eyes toward something, while “look to” means to rely on or expect something from someone.
**Correct Usage:**
– Look at the sky; it’s so clear today.
– We look to our mentors for guidance.
**Common Error:**
– Look to the sky; it’s so clear today. (Incorrect if the intended meaning is to direct your eyes toward something)
Idiomatic Expressions with Prepositions
Idiomatic expressions often include specific prepositions. Misusing these prepositions can lead to confusion or a change in meaning.
“In the end” vs. “At the end”
“In the end” means eventually or finally, while “at the end” refers to the final point of something.
**Correct Usage:**
– In the end, we decided to stay home.
– At the end of the movie, everyone clapped.
**Common Error:**
– At the end, we decided to stay home. (Incorrect if the intended meaning is eventually or finally)
“By accident” vs. “On accident”
The correct idiomatic expression is “by accident,” not “on accident.”
**Correct Usage:**
– I broke the vase by accident.
**Common Error:**
– I broke the vase on accident. (Incorrect)
Prepositions in Questions
Forming questions often requires moving the preposition to the end of the sentence, especially in informal speech. However, some learners mistakenly place the preposition at the beginning or leave it out entirely.
Prepositions at the End of Questions
**Correct Usage:**
– What are you talking about?
– Who are you going with?
**Common Error:**
– About what are you talking? (Correct but overly formal)
– Who are you going? (Incorrect)
Prepositions with Whom
When using “whom,” the preposition can either precede “whom” or follow the verb, though the latter is more common in informal speech.
**Correct Usage:**
– With whom are you going? (Formal)
– Who are you going with? (Informal)
**Common Error:**
– Who are you going? (Incorrect)
Prepositions in Passive Voice
In passive voice constructions, the preposition “by” is often used to indicate the agent performing the action. Misusing this preposition can make the sentence grammatically incorrect.
Using “By” in Passive Voice
**Correct Usage:**
– The book was written by George Orwell.
– The cake was baked by my mother.
**Common Error:**
– The book was written with George Orwell. (Incorrect)
– The cake was baked from my mother. (Incorrect)
Prepositions in Relative Clauses
Relative clauses often require specific prepositions, depending on the verb or adjective used. Misplacing these prepositions can lead to confusion or grammatical errors.
Prepositions with “Which”
**Correct Usage:**
– The house in which I grew up is now a museum.
– The project on which we are working is nearly complete.
**Common Error:**
– The house which I grew up in is now a museum. (Incorrect in formal writing, though acceptable in informal speech)
– The project which we are working on is nearly complete. (Incorrect in formal writing, though acceptable in informal speech)
Prepositions in Comparative and Superlative Forms
When making comparisons, prepositions like “than” and “to” are often used. Misusing these prepositions can lead to incorrect comparisons.
“Different from” vs. “Different than”
The correct prepositional phrase is “different from,” although “different than” is also commonly used in American English.
**Correct Usage:**
– This book is different from the one I read last week.
**Common Error:**
– This book is different than the one I read last week. (Acceptable in American English but not in British English)
“Prefer to” vs. “Prefer than”
The correct prepositional phrase is “prefer to,” not “prefer than.”
**Correct Usage:**
– I prefer coffee to tea.
**Common Error:**
– I prefer coffee than tea. (Incorrect)
Conclusion
Mastering prepositions is a challenging but essential part of learning English. These small words can significantly impact the meaning and clarity of your sentences. By understanding the common errors discussed in this article, you can improve your prepositional usage and enhance your overall fluency. Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you read, write, and speak English, the more natural your use of prepositions will become. Happy learning!
