Study the following sentences. They contain some common mistakes in the use of prepositions.
Resemble
Incorrect: This resembles to that.
Correct: This resembles that.
Incorrect: The baby resembles with her mother.
Correct: The baby resembles her mother.
The verb resemble does not take a preposition before its object.
Write
Incorrect: He wrote me.
Correct: He wrote to me.
Incorrect: Write to me a letter.
Correct: Write me a letter.
When write has no direct object, we put to before the indirect object.
Explain
Incorrect: I shall explain them this.
Correct: I shall explain this to them.
The verb explain is followed by direct object + preposition + indirect object.
Invite
Incorrect: He invited me in dinner.
Correct: He invited me to dinner.
Invite takes the preposition to after it.
Reach
Incorrect: He reached to the station.
Correct: He reached the station.
The verb reach does not take a preposition before its object.
Incorrect: He is favorite with his friends.
Correct: He is a favorite with his friends.
Ask
Incorrect: She did ask any question to him.
Correct: She did not ask him any question.
Ask is usually followed by indirect object + direct object.
Waste, spend
Incorrect: We should not waste much time in trifles.
Correct: We should not waste much time on trifles.
Incorrect: He spent a lot of money in daughter’s wedding.
Correct: He spent a lot of money on his daughter’s wedding.