Home of English Grammar

Free Guide (Updated for 2022)

  • Home
  • Download Lessons
  • Grammar Rules
  • Online Exercises
  • Online Tools
    • Grammar Checker
    • Word Counter
  • Guides
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Style Guide / Common mistakes in the use of prepositions

Common mistakes in the use of prepositions

February 6, 2013 - pdf

Although prepositions are small words, they are very important ones. In this lesson, we will explain some common mistakes in the use of prepositions.

Incorrect: Although he is clever, he lacks of experience.

Correct: Although he is clever, he lacks experience.

Incorrect: The train is now approaching to Boston.

Correct: The train is now approaching Boston.

Incorrect: We were not allowed to enter into the house.

Correct: We were not allowed to enter the house.

Explanations

The verbs lack, approach and enter are directly followed by objects without prepositions. Other verbs that do not normally take prepositions are: discuss, marry and resemble.

Incorrect: See you on next Friday.

Correct: See you next Friday.

Incorrect: I will never forget meeting her on that afternoon.

Correct: I will never forget meeting her that afternoon.

Explanation

Prepositions are not used before a number of common time expressions beginning next, last, this, one etc.

Incorrect: Of what color are her eyes?

Correct: What color are her eyes?

Incorrect: He is of just the right height to be a good soldier.

Correct: He is just the right height to be a good soldier.

Explanation

Expressions containing words like height, weight, length, size, color, age etc., are usually connected to the subject by the verb be without a preposition.

Incorrect: I am going to home.

Correct: I am going home.

Explanation

We do not use to before home.

Incorrect:  To where shall I send it?

Correct: Where shall I send it to?

Explanation

The structures where …to?, what…like? and what…for? have a fixed word order. It is not possible to move the preposition to the beginning of the clause.

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
1,127,749 
185,564 

Check Your Grammar

GrammarCheck.net - Try online
Hint → Bookmark GrammarCheck for future use.

Latest Exercises

  • Verbs Exercise May 3, 2022
  • Other, Another Or Others May 2, 2022
  • Conjunctions Exercise April 30, 2022
  • Gap Filling Exercise April 28, 2022
  • Prepositions Quiz April 27, 2022
  • Subject-Verb Concord Quiz April 25, 2022
  • Pronouns Exercise April 22, 2022
  • Phrasal Verbs Exercise April 21, 2022
  • Conjunctions Exercise April 20, 2022

Topics

  • Adjectives
  • Adverbs
  • Business Writing
  • Commas
  • Conjunctions
  • Creative Writing
  • Difference
  • Essay Writing
  • Exercises
  • Learning
  • Lessons
  • Nouns
  • Prepositions
  • Pronouns
  • Proofreading
  • Punctuation
  • Quiz
  • Spelling
  • Style Guide
  • Teaching
  • Terms
  • Verbs
  • Words
  • Writing

Quiz

  • Can you correct these 14 basic grammar mistakes?
  • What kind of writer are you?

Copyright © 2022 · EnglishGrammar.org
Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Sitemap