Using the wrong preposition
Mistakes are often made by using the wrong preposition after certain words. The following list includes the words which most often give trouble:
1: Absorbed (very much interested) in, not at
Don't say, The man was absorbed at his work.
Say: The man was absorbed in his work.
2: accuse of, not for.
Don't say : she accused the man in stealing.
Say: She accused the man of stealing.
It should be noted that the man was charged with murder.
3: accustomed to, not with
Don't say :I'm accustomed with hot weather.
Say: I'm accustomed to hot weather.
Note: He is also used to the heat.
4:Afraid of, not from
Don't say: Laura is afraid from the dog.
Say: Laura is afraid of the dog.
5: Aim at, not on or against.
Don't say, She aimed on (or against) the target.
Say: She aimed at the target.
Note Use the preposition at to denote a direction: throw at, shout at, fire at, shoot at. Shoot (without the at) means to kill. He shot a bird (he hit and killed it).
6: angry with, not against.
Don't say, The teacher was angry against him.
Say: The teacher was angry with him.
Note 1: We get angry with a person, but not at a thing. He was angry at the weather (not with the weather).
Note 2: also annoyed with, vexed with, or indignant with a person, but at a thing.
7: anxious about, troubled about, not for
Don't say.' They're troubled for his health.
Say, They're anxious about his health.
Note: Anxious means wishing very much for success. Parents are anxious for their children's success.
8: Arrive at, not to
Don't say, We arrived in the village at night.
Say: We arrived at the village at night.
Note: Use countries and large cities. Mr. Smith has arrived in London (or New York). India, etc.)
9: Ashamed of, not from
Don't say, He's now ashamed from his conduct.
Say, He's now ashamed of his conduct.
Note :that it isn't correct to use ashamed instead of shy. Ashamed means feeling shame or guilt about something. Shy means feeling nervous around someone. Instead of saying I'm ashamed (or shamed) of my teacher, say I'm shy of her.
10: Believe in it, not to
Don't say, We believe to God.
Say: We believe in God.
Note: To believe in means to have faith in. To believe (without the in) means to regard something as true: I believe everything he says.
11: boast of or about, not for
Don't say ,James boasted for his strength.
Say, James boasted of (or about) his strength.
12: Careful of, with, or about, not for
Don't say, Elke's very careful for her health.
Say, Elke's very careful of her health.
Or, you should be more careful with your money.
He takes care of his money.
13: Travel by train, etc., not with the train, etc.
Don't say, He travelled with the train yesterday.
Say, He travelled by train yesterday.
Note: We say: by train, by boat, by plane, by bike; also, by land, by sea,by air, by bus; in a bus or on a bus; by car or in a car; by taxi or in a taxi; on horseback, on a donkey, on a bicycle; on foot.
14: Complain about, not for.
Don't say :Annette complained about the weather.
Say: Annette complained about the weather.
Note :When talking about illness, we use the word "complain. We say she complained of a sore throat.
15: composed of, not from
Don't say: Our class is composed from thirty students.
Say: Our class is composed of thirty students.
16: Confidence in, not to
Don't say, I have great confidence to you.
Say, "I have great confidence in you.
Note: in confidence: Let me tell you something in confidence (as a secret).
17: :Conform to, not with.
Don't say, We must conform to the rules.
We must conform wth the rules.
Note: comply with We'll comply with your request.
18: Congratulate on, not for.
Don't say, I congratulate you for your success.
Say: I congratulate you on your success.
19: Consist of, not from.
Don't say, A year consists from twelve months.
Say: A year consists of twelve months.
Note: Take great care never to use the passive form.
20: Covered with, not by
Don't say, The mountains are covered by snow.
Say: The mountains are covered with snow.
21: Cure of, not from
Don't say, The man was cured from from illness.
Say: The man was cured of his illness.
Note: The noun cure means that there is no cure for that disease.
22: Depend on or upon, not from.
Don't say, It depends from her.
Say: It depends on (or upon) her.
Note :Rely on or upon: I can't rely on (or upon) him.
23 :Deprive of, not from.
Don't say that Nelson Mandela was deprived from his freedom.
Say, Nelson Mandela was deprived of his freedom.
24: Die of an illness, not from an illness.
Don't say, Many people have died from malaria.
Say: Many people have died of malaria.
Note :People die of illness, of hunger, of thirst, of or from wounds; from overwork; by violence, by sword, by pestilence; in battle; for their country,for a cause; through neglect; on the scaffold; at the stake.
25: Different from, not than
Don't say, My book is different than yours.
Say, "My book is different from yours.
