Typical preposition errors and correction tips
Master Ukrainian: Tips to Avoid Grammar Errors: Typical preposition errors and correction tips
Typical preposition errors often involve confusing similar prepositions or misusing prepositions with certain verbs, adjectives, or in specific contexts. Common mistakes include:
- Confusing “in” and “at” for locations (use “at” for specific places, “in” for general/enclosed spaces).
- Using “on” instead of “in” for months and years (“in March,” “in 2025” are correct).
- Incorrect use of “to” after verbs like “explain” (correct: “explain the problem to me”).
- Mixing “with” and “by” incorrectly (“painted by Picasso” vs. “painted with a brush”).
- Using “depend of” instead of “depend on,” or “married with” instead of “married to.”
- Omitting necessary prepositions, e.g., saying “go school” instead of “go to school.”
- Placing prepositions incorrectly in sentences or redundantly (e.g., “at 3 PM on the afternoon” should be “at 3 PM in the afternoon”).
- Using wrong prepositions with phrasal verbs or adjectives (e.g., “looking forward to,” not “looking forward for”).
Tips for correction:
- Practice listening to and reading correct English in context.
- Use targeted learning apps or flashcards focusing on problematic prepositions.
- Speak regularly to gain natural usage.
- Pay attention to verb-preposition combinations and exceptions.
These guidelines help reduce errors and improve fluency in English preposition usage. 1, 5, 6, 8, 9