2017-03-04 08:18:05
10 common mistakes with prepositions made by learners of English
A preposition is a very common little word like at, for, in, on, and to, which the dictionary defines as
a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause.
1) arrive at or arrive in
When we arrived to Claudio’s house…
You always arrive at a specific place: school, a restaurant, the airport, your aunt’s house. (You arrive in a city or a country.)
✓ When we arrived at Claudio’s house…
✓ The train arrived at Shibuya station thirty seconds late.
✓ On Friday, the president arrived in Poland.
✓ The K-pop band arrived in Phnom Penh last week.
2) at night
We often go out in the night.
You can work hard in the morning, relax in the afternoon, eat dinner in the evening, but you go out at night.
✓ We often go out at night.
✓ Krakow is beautiful at night.
3) look for or wait for
I was looking my glasses.
Giulia was waiting me at the bus stop.
If you want to find something or someone, you look for (or search for) them.
If you stay in one place until something or someone is ready, you wait for them.
✓ I was looking for my glasses.
✓ Łukasz is looking for a new job.
✓ Giulia was waiting for me at the bus stop.
✓ Tevy is waiting for her sister to finish class.
4) for [period of time]
I’ve been working here since five years
You use for with periods of time, such as:
a few minutes
t h r e e m o n t h s
t w e n t y y e a r s
You use since with specific points in time, such as:
this morning
September
the day we met
5) in [months and years]
It’s my birthday on July!
You always use in for months and years.
✓ It’s my birthday in July!
✓ Ola was born in 2004.
6) live/work/study in [cities and countries]
I live at Tokyo.
You live, work, or study in a city or a country. (You live at a specific address, work at or for a specific organization, or study at a specific university.)
✓ I live in Tokyo.
✓ Roberta works in Sassari.
✓ Hector studies in Canada.
✓ Ania lives at 34 ul. Karmelicka.
✓ Ryosuke works for Toyota.
✓ Dara studies at Phnom Penh International University.
7) on [days and dates]
It’s my birthday in Saturday!
You always use on for days and dates:
✓ It’s my birthday on Saturday!
✓ It’s my birthday on May 1st. (But remember: ü It’s my birthday in May.)
8) it depends on
It depends of what you want: Italian food or Chinese food.
Remember, you always say it depends on or depending on something or someone – or you can just say it depends.
✓ It depends on what you want: Italian food or Chinese food.
✓ We’ll go to either Disney World or the beach, depending on the weather.
✓ What do you usually have for breakfast – tea or coffee? – It depends!
9) welcome to
Welcome in Peru!
You always say welcome to any place: a house, school, organization, city, or country.
✓ Welcome to Peru!
✓ Welcome to Cagliari.
✓ Welcome to Meiji University.
✓ Welcome to the Plaza Hotel. We hope you enjoy your stay.
10) married to
He’s married with Kim.
You are always married to – or you get married to – someone. (However, you just marry someone.)
✓ He’s married to Kim.
✓ Alessandro’s getting married to Sara next summer.
✓ Haruka is marrying my old school friend.
#grammar #common_mistakes
@BriMerica
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