Common Errors in the Use of English Prepositions

Sharing is caring!

Learn Common Errors in the Use of English Prepositions with Pictures and Video.

If you make an error when using a preposition, it is very noticeable and can sound like broken English.

A preposition connects nouns and pronouns and serves to provide necessary details that tell the reader when, where, or how something occurred.

Common Errors in the Use of English Prepositions

Here are some examples of common errors in the usage of prepositions:

• Incorrect: I recommend you to take a long vacation.
• Correct: I recommend that you take a long vacation.

• Incorrect: Come to here.
• Correct: Come here.

• Incorrect: The sun rises from the East.
• Correct: The sun rises in the East.

• Incorrect: The thief got in from the window.
• Correct: The thief got in through the window.

• Incorrect: Let’s begin from page 10.
• Correct: Let’s begin at ( on ) page 10.

• Incorrect: Are you home tomorrow.
• Correct: Are you at home tomorrow.

• Incorrect: There is a limit in my patience.
• Correct: There is a limit to my patience.

• Incorrect: Is your house insured for fire ?
• Correct: Is your house insured against fire ?

• Incorrect: Keep the right.
• Correct: Keep to the right.

• Incorrect: What a dirty face ! Look at the mirror.
• Correct: What a dirty face ! Look in the mirror.

• Incorrect: This is the key of my room.
• Correct: This is the key to my room.

• Incorrect: It’s a novel of three volumes.
• Correct: It’s a novel in three volumes.

• Incorrect: He is a student of Harvard University.
• Correct: He is a student at Harvard University.

• Incorrect: He had a child of his former wife.
• Correct: He had a child by his former wife.

• Incorrect: I saw it on the newspapers.
•  Correct: I read ( saw ) it in the newspapers.

• Incorrect: Shall we sit in that sofa ?
• Correct: Shall we sit on that sofa ?
• Incorrect: I bought this book with 50 dollars.
• Correct: I bought this book for 50 dollars.

• Incorrect: My father is busy in his business.
  Correct: My father is busy with his business.

  Incorrect: You shouldn’t worry of getting married.
  Correct: You shouldn’t worry about getting married.

  Incorrect: She is good at cooking with her hands.
  Correct: She is good at cooking with her hands.

  Incorrect: I am afraid of ghosts.
  Correct: I am afraid of ghosts.

  Incorrect: He was sitting on the bench for hours.
  Correct: He was sitting on the bench for hours.

  Incorrect: The cat is playing with a ball of yarn.
  Correct: The cat is playing with a ball of yarn.

  Incorrect: I have a meeting with my boss at noon.
  Correct: I have a meeting with my boss at noon.

  Incorrect: I’m going to the store to buy apples.
  Correct: I’m going to the store to buy apples.

  Incorrect: She’s reading a book of history.
  Correct: She’s reading a book on history.

  Incorrect: He’s interested in music and arts.
  Correct: He’s interested in music and the arts.

  Incorrect: The cat is hiding under the sofa.
  Correct: The cat is hiding behind the sofa.

  Incorrect: The team is practicing for their game tomorrow.
  Correct: The team is practicing for their game tomorrow.

  Incorrect: She’s looking forward to see you.
  Correct: She’s looking forward to seeing you.

  Incorrect: I’m running to the gym in the morning.
  Correct: I’m running to the gym in the morning.

  Incorrect: He’s studying at the library for his exams.
  Correct: He’s studying at the library for his exams.

  Incorrect: She is fond of music.
  Correct: She is fond of listening to music.

  Incorrect: He is good in mathematics.
  Correct: He is good at mathematics.

  Incorrect: She is afraid of dogs.
  Correct: She is afraid of being bitten by dogs.

  Incorrect: I am thinking about my future.
  Correct: I am thinking about what I want to do in the future.

  Incorrect: She is thinking about quitting her job.
  Correct: She is thinking about quitting her job.

  Incorrect: He is always late for school.
  Correct: He is always late for class.

Common Errors in the Use of English Prepositions | Images

Common Errors in the Use of English Prepositions 1

Common Errors in the Use of English Prepositions 2