50 Common Preposition Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Prepositions are essential building blocks of English grammar, linking nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other parts of a sentence. Mastering prepositions is crucial for clear and effective communication, but they can be tricky due to their context-dependent nature and idiomatic usage.

This article will guide you through 50 common preposition mistakes, providing clear explanations, examples, and practical exercises to help you avoid these errors and enhance your English proficiency. Whether you’re a student, professional, or language enthusiast, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to use prepositions confidently and accurately.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition of Prepositions
• Structural Breakdown
• Types of Prepositions
• Examples of Prepositions in Use
• Usage Rules for Prepositions
• Common Preposition Mistakes
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of Prepositions

A preposition is a word that connects a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to other words in a sentence. It indicates the relationship between these elements, often expressing location, direction, time, or manner.

Prepositions are essential for building complex and meaningful sentences, providing context and clarity to your writing and speech.

Prepositions typically come before a noun or pronoun, which is called the object of the preposition. The preposition and its object form a prepositional phrase. For example, in the phrase “on the table,” “on” is the preposition and “the table” is the object of the preposition.

The function of a preposition is to show the relationship between the noun or pronoun it governs and another word in the sentence. This relationship can be spatial (e.g., “the book is on the table”), temporal (e.g., “I will see you in the morning”), or abstract (e.g., “He is interested in art”). Understanding these relationships is key to using prepositions correctly.

Structural Breakdown

Prepositions, though small words, play a significant role in structuring sentences. They form prepositional phrases, which act as adjectives or adverbs, modifying other words in the sentence.

Recognizing the structure of prepositional phrases is crucial for understanding how prepositions function.

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition followed by its object (a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase). The object of the preposition is the word or group of words that the preposition relates to the rest of the sentence. For example, in the sentence “The cat slept under the chair,” the prepositional phrase is “under the chair,” with “under” as the preposition and “the chair” as the object of the preposition.

Prepositional phrases can function as adjectives, modifying nouns or pronouns, or as adverbs, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. For example, “the book on the shelf” uses the prepositional phrase “on the shelf” as an adjective to describe the book. In the sentence “He walked to the store,” the prepositional phrase “to the store” acts as an adverb, modifying the verb “walked” by indicating direction.

Types of Prepositions

Prepositions can be categorized based on the type of relationship they express. The main types include simple prepositions, compound prepositions, and phrasal prepositions.

Each type has its own nuances and usage patterns.

Simple Prepositions

Simple prepositions are single-word prepositions like at, in, on, to, from, by, for, of, with, and over. They are the most common type of prepositions and are used to express a wide range of relationships.

Compound Prepositions

Compound prepositions, also known as complex prepositions, are formed by combining two or more words, often including a simple preposition. Examples include according to, because of, in front of, next to, on top of, and in spite of. These prepositions provide more specific information than simple prepositions.

Phrasal Prepositions

Phrasal prepositions consist of a preposition combined with other words to create a unique meaning. These are similar to compound prepositions, but often involve a verb or adjective. Examples include in addition to, along with, due to, out of, and with regard to. Understanding phrasal prepositions is essential for mastering idiomatic English.

Examples of Prepositions in Use

Understanding how prepositions are used in context is essential for mastering their usage. The following tables provide extensive examples of different types of prepositions used in various situations.

Examples of Simple Prepositions

Simple prepositions are fundamental to English grammar. They are used in a wide variety of contexts to express relationships of time, place, and manner.

The following table provides a comprehensive list of examples.

Preposition	Example Sentence
at	I will meet you at the library.
in	The book is in the bag.
on	The cat is sitting on the roof.
to	She is going to the store.
from	He is coming from Paris.
by	The letter was sent by mail.
for	This gift is for you.
of	The color of the sky is blue.
with	She is coming with me.
over	The plane flew over the city.
under	The cat is sleeping under the table.
above	The birds are flying above the clouds.
below	The fish are swimming below the surface.
through	The train went through the tunnel.
across	They walked across the street.
around	The children are playing around the tree.
during	It rained during the night.
since	I have been here since morning.
until	We will wait until the rain stops.
before	He arrived before me.
after	She arrived after him.
against	He leaned against the wall.
among	He is popular among his peers.
towards	They walked towards the beach.
without	She left without saying goodbye.

Examples of Compound Prepositions

Compound prepositions provide more specific information and are often used to express complex relationships. The following table illustrates the usage of various compound prepositions.

Preposition	Example Sentence
according to	According to the report, the economy is improving.
because of	The game was canceled because of the rain.
in front of	The car is parked in front of the house.
next to	The bank is next to the post office.
on top of	The book is on top of the desk.
in spite of	In spite of the difficulties, they succeeded.
due to	The delay was due to unforeseen circumstances.
instead of	I will have tea instead of coffee.
apart from	Apart from the weather, the trip was perfect.
as well as	He speaks English as well as French.
close to	The school is close to my house.
far from	The station is far from here.
out of	He ran out of the room.
inside of	The keys are inside of the drawer.
outside of	The dog is outside of the house.
because of	They were late because of traffic.
by means of	He succeeded by means of hard work.
in relation to	The study was conducted in relation to climate change.
in regard to	In regard to your question, I need more information.
in the event of	In the event of a fire, use the emergency exit.
on account of	The match was postponed on account of rain.
with respect to	With respect to your proposal, we need more details.
in comparison to	In comparison to last year, sales have increased.

Examples of Phrasal Prepositions

Phrasal prepositions add idiomatic flavor to the English language. These multi-word prepositions often have meanings that are not immediately obvious from their individual components.

The table below provides examples of these prepositions in context.

Preposition	Example Sentence
in addition to	In addition to English, she speaks Spanish.
along with	He came along with his friends.
due to	The flight was delayed due to bad weather.
out of	He ran out of milk.
with regard to	With regard to your request, we will consider it.
in spite of	In spite of the rain, we enjoyed the trip.
on behalf of	I am speaking on behalf of the committee.
in case of	In case of fire, break the glass.
in the event of	In the event of a power outage, use the generator.
for the sake of	For the sake of peace, we must negotiate.
by means of	He achieved success by means of hard work.
in accordance with	The project was completed in accordance with the plan.
with reference to	With reference to your letter, we are pleased to respond.
on the verge of	She was on the verge of tears.
in line with	The policy is in line with our goals.
on top of	On top of everything else, he lost his job.
in relation to	The study was conducted in relation to the environment.
with a view to	He studied hard with a view to passing the exam.
in connection with	The police are investigating the incident in connection with the robbery.
at the expense of	He succeeded at the expense of his health.
for fear of	He left early for fear of missing the train.
in contrast to	In contrast to his brother, he is very outgoing.

Usage Rules for Prepositions

Prepositions can be challenging because their usage is often idiomatic and context-dependent. However, there are some general rules and guidelines that can help you use prepositions correctly.

Prepositions of Time

The prepositions at, in, and on are commonly used to indicate time. At is used for specific times (e.g., at 3 PM), in is used for longer periods like months, years, and seasons (e.g., in July, in 2023, in the summer), and on is used for specific days and dates (e.g., on Monday, on July 4th).

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions like at, in, and on are also used to indicate place. At is used for specific locations (e.g., at the corner), in is used for enclosed spaces (e.g., in the room), and on is used for surfaces (e.g., on the table). Other prepositions like under, over, between, and among are used to describe relative positions.

Prepositions with Specific Verbs and Nouns

Certain verbs and nouns are often followed by specific prepositions. For example, we say “listen to music,” “interested in art,” and “dependent on others.” These combinations are often idiomatic and must be learned through exposure and practice.

Ending Sentences with Prepositions

The rule against ending sentences with prepositions is a stylistic guideline rather than a strict grammatical rule. While it’s often preferable to avoid it, ending a sentence with a preposition is acceptable if it sounds more natural. For example, “What are you looking at?” is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts.

Common Preposition Mistakes

Preposition errors are common among English learners. Recognizing these common mistakes and understanding the correct usage can significantly improve your accuracy.

Incorrect Use of “In” vs. “On”

One common mistake is confusing in and on when referring to locations. Remember that in is used for enclosed spaces, while on is used for surfaces.

Incorrect: The picture is in the wall.

Correct: The picture is on the wall.

Incorrect Use of “To” vs. “For”

Another common error is mixing up to and for when indicating direction or purpose. Use to to indicate direction and for to indicate purpose.

Incorrect: I am going for the store.

Correct: I am going to the store.

Incorrect: This gift is to you.

Correct: This gift is for you.

Omission of Necessary Prepositions

Sometimes, learners omit prepositions that are necessary for grammatical correctness.

Incorrect: I am interested art.

Correct: I am interested in art.

Unnecessary Prepositions

Conversely, adding prepositions where they are not needed is also a common mistake.

Incorrect: Where are you going to at?

Correct: Where are you going?

Confusing “Between” and “Among”

Use between when referring to two things and among when referring to three or more.

Incorrect: The secret is between all of us.

Correct: The secret is among all of us.

Incorrect: The negotiation was among the two countries.

Correct: The negotiation was between the two countries.

Table of Common Preposition Mistakes

The following table provides a detailed comparison of common preposition mistakes and their corrections, helping you identify and avoid these errors in your own writing and speech.

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
I am good at English.	I am good in English.	“Good in” is typically used for school subjects. “Good at” is also acceptable.
He arrived in Monday.	He arrived on Monday.	Use “on” with days of the week.
She lives at New York.	She lives in New York.	Use “in” with cities and countries.
The book is underneath the table.	The book is under the table.	“Underneath” is often redundant; “under” is sufficient.
I agree to you.	I agree with you.	Use “agree with” to express agreement with a person.
He is afraid from spiders.	He is afraid of spiders.	Use “afraid of” to express fear.
She is married with him.	She is married to him.	Use “married to” to indicate who someone is married to.
I am waiting for you since morning.	I have been waiting for you since morning.	Use the present perfect continuous tense with “since.”
He is different than me.	He is different from me.	Use “different from” for comparisons.
The cat jumped off of the roof.	The cat jumped off the roof.	“Off of” is redundant; “off” is sufficient.
She insisted to go.	She insisted on going.	Use “insist on” followed by a gerund.
I am looking forward to see you.	I am looking forward to seeing you.	“Looking forward to” is followed by a gerund.
He succeeded in hard work.	He succeeded through hard work.	Use “through” to indicate the means by which something is achieved.
She is dependent of her parents.	She is dependent on her parents.	Use “dependent on” to indicate reliance.
He is interested on learning new things.	He is interested in learning new things.	Use “interested in” followed by a gerund.
I prefer coffee than tea.	I prefer coffee to tea.	Use “prefer…to” for comparisons.
The accident resulted to his death.	The accident resulted in his death.	Use “result in” to indicate the outcome.
He is senior than me.	He is senior to me.	Use “senior to” for comparisons of seniority.
She is worried for her exam.	She is worried about her exam.	Use “worried about” to express concern.
He is jealous from her success.	He is jealous of her success.	Use “jealous of” to express envy.

Practice Exercises

Reinforce your understanding of prepositions with these practice exercises. Each exercise focuses on different aspects of preposition usage.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Preposition

Choose the correct preposition from the options provided to complete each sentence. This exercise will help you practice using prepositions of time, place, and direction.

Question	Options	Answer
1. I will meet you _______ the park.	(a) at, (b) in, (c) on	(a) at
2. The book is _______ the table.	(a) at, (b) in, (c) on	(c) on
3. She is going _______ the store.	(a) to, (b) for, (c) with	(a) to
4. He is coming _______ Paris.	(a) to, (b) from, (c) with	(b) from
5. The meeting is _______ 3 PM.	(a) at, (b) in, (c) on	(a) at
6. We will arrive _______ the morning.	(a) at, (b) in, (c) on	(b) in
7. The party is _______ Friday.	(a) at, (b) in, (c) on	(c) on
8. The cat is hiding _______ the bed.	(a) over, (b) under, (c) above	(b) under
9. They are walking _______ the beach.	(a) towards, (b) among, (c) against	(a) towards
10. She left _______ saying goodbye.	(a) with, (b) without, (c) for	(b) without

Exercise 2: Correct the Preposition Errors

Identify and correct the preposition errors in the following sentences. This exercise will help you recognize and fix common preposition mistakes.

Question	Answer
1. I am good at English.	I am good in English. (or at)
2. He arrived in Monday.	He arrived on Monday.
3. She lives at New York.	She lives in New York.
4. I agree to you.	I agree with you.
5. He is afraid from spiders.	He is afraid of spiders.
6. She is married with him.	She is married to him.
7. I am waiting for you since morning.	I have been waiting for you since morning.
8. He insisted to go.	He insisted on going.
9. I prefer coffee than tea.	I prefer coffee to tea.
10. She is worried for her exam.	She is worried about her exam.

Exercise 3: Using Compound and Phrasal Prepositions

Complete the sentences using appropriate compound or phrasal prepositions. This exercise will help you understand and use more complex prepositional structures.

Question	Answer
1. _______ English, she speaks French.	In addition to
2. The game was canceled _______ the rain.	Because of
3. He came _______ his friends.	Along with
4. The flight was delayed _______ bad weather.	Due to
5. I am speaking _______ the committee.	On behalf of
6. _______ fire, break the glass.	In case of
7. He succeeded _______ hard work.	By means of
8. _______ your request, we will consider it.	With regard to
9. She was _______ tears.	On the verge of
10. The policy is _______ our goals.	In line with

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, understanding more nuanced aspects of preposition usage can further refine their English skills. This includes exploring preposition stranding, prepositional verbs, and the use of prepositions in formal writing.

Preposition Stranding

Preposition stranding refers to the practice of ending a sentence with a preposition. While traditionally discouraged, it is now widely accepted in modern English, especially in informal contexts. For example, “Who are you talking to?” is a common and acceptable sentence, even though it ends with the preposition “to.”

Prepositional Verbs

Prepositional verbs are verbs that are always followed by a specific preposition. The combination of the verb and preposition creates a unique meaning that is different from the individual meanings of the verb and preposition. Examples include “look at,” “listen to,” and “rely on.” These combinations must be memorized and used correctly.

Formal vs. Informal Usage

In formal writing, it is generally preferred to avoid ending sentences with prepositions and to choose more precise and formal prepositional phrases. For example, instead of saying “What are you looking at?” you might write “At what are you looking?” However, in most everyday situations, ending a sentence with a preposition is perfectly acceptable and often sounds more natural.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about prepositions, along with detailed answers to help clarify common points of confusion.

1. What is the difference between a preposition and an adverb?

   Prepositions always have an object (a noun or pronoun), forming a prepositional phrase. Adverbs, on the other hand, modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs and do not have an object. For example, in “The cat is on the table,” “on” is a preposition because it is followed by the object “the table.” In “The cat jumped down,” “down” is an adverb because it modifies the verb “jumped” and has no object.

2. How can I improve my preposition usage?

   The best way to improve your preposition usage is through extensive reading and listening. Pay attention to how native speakers use prepositions in different contexts and try to incorporate these patterns into your own writing and speech. Practice exercises and feedback from a teacher or language partner can also be helpful.

3. Are there any rules for which preposition to use with specific words?

   While there are some general guidelines, many preposition combinations are idiomatic and must be learned through memorization and practice. Look up common preposition combinations in a dictionary or grammar guide and pay attention to how they are used in context.

4. Is it always wrong to end a sentence with a preposition?

   No, it is not always wrong. While traditionally discouraged in formal writing, ending a sentence with a preposition is often acceptable and even preferred in informal contexts. The key is to consider the audience and purpose of your writing and choose the phrasing that sounds most natural and clear.

5. What are some common prepositional phrases?

   Some common prepositional phrases include “on the table,” “in the morning,” “at the store,” “for you,” “with me,” and “by the door.” These phrases are used frequently in everyday English and are essential for building complex sentences.

6. How do I know when to use ‘in,’ ‘on,’ or ‘at’ for time?

   Use ‘in’ for general times of day, months, years, seasons, and periods of time (e.g., in the morning, in July, in 2024, in the summer, in the past). Use ‘on’ for specific days and dates (e.g., on Monday, on July 4th, on my birthday). Use ‘at’ for specific times (e.g., at 3 PM, at noon, at night).

7. How do I know when to use ‘in,’ ‘on,’ or ‘at’ for place?

   Use ‘in’ for enclosed spaces or general areas (e.g., in the room, in the garden, in the city). Use ‘on’ for surfaces (e.g., on the table, on the wall, on the floor). Use ‘at’ for specific points or addresses (e.g., at the corner, at the entrance, at 123 Main Street).

8. What is the difference between “beside” and “besides”?

   “Beside” is a preposition that means “next to” (e.g., “The chair is beside the table.”). “Besides” can be a preposition or an adverb. As a preposition, it means “in addition to” (e.g., “Besides English, she speaks Spanish.”). As an adverb, it means “also” or “furthermore” (e.g., “I don’t want to go, besides, I’m tired.”).

9. How can I avoid using unnecessary prepositions?

   Pay close attention to the verbs and nouns you are using. Some words already imply the preposition, making it redundant. For example, instead of saying “enter into the room,” simply say “enter the room.” Train yourself to recognize these redundancies and eliminate unnecessary words.

Conclusion

Mastering prepositions is vital for achieving fluency and accuracy

in English. While they can be challenging due to their context-dependent and idiomatic nature, understanding the different types of prepositions, their usage rules, and common mistakes can significantly improve your English proficiency.

By studying the examples, completing the exercises, and reviewing the frequently asked questions provided in this guide, you can confidently use prepositions in your writing and speech. Remember to continue practicing and paying attention to preposition usage in authentic English contexts to further refine your skills.

With consistent effort, you can master prepositions and communicate effectively in any situation.