Grammar Scholar : Understand everything about Prepositions (Part -II)

By Gaurav Singh Bhadouria|Updated : May 4th, 2020

In our previous Session, we discussed 'What are Prepositions, Its type and some very important rules of it".In this part of the Grammar Scholar series, Continuing the Preposition chapter, we will discuss Common Errors in Use of Prepositions. Let's get straight into this part of Grammar scholar.

 Grammar Scholar: Prepositions

We use Prepositions to show various kinds of relations among the words in sentences. Some of the most important among them are as mentioned below :

1)Time

  • You must return before sunset.
  • Wait till tomorrow.
  • We waited for hours.

2) Place

  • She ran across the road
  • The boy fell among the bushes
  • The thief was hiding behind the almirah.

3)Reason and Purpose

  • She died of malaria.
  • He trembled with anger.
  • Smoking is injurious to health.

4)Method and manner

  • The letter came by post.
  • He cut the cake with a knife.
  • They succeeded by hard work.

5)Possession

  • He is a man of principles.
  • Mumbai is the financial capital of India.
  • I saw a boy with red hair.

6)Direction and Motion

  • He fell into the well.
  • She walked towards the market.

Common Mistakes in Usage of Verb with Prepositions 

Below are some very common mistakes that candidates do in use of Prepositions :

1) Verbs After which No prepositions are used :

A) Resemble: We do not use any preposition after the verb 'Resemble'. It means Resemble does not take a preposition before its object.

  • Incorrect: This painting resembles to that painting which we saw yesterday.
  • Correct: This painting resembles that painting which we saw yesterday.

  • Incorrect: The baby resembles with her mother.
  • Correct: The baby resembles her mother.

B)  Enter: We do not use any Prepositions after 'Enter' 

  • Incorrect - We entered into the compound.
  • Correct - We entered the compound.

C) Discuss : 

  • Incorrect - Let’s discuss about your plans.
  • Correct - Let’s discuss your plans.

D) Lack :

  • Incorrect - She lacks in tact.
  • Correct -She lacks tact

Same as these verbs, No prepositions are used with the verbs given below :

  • Access
  • Affect
  • Contact
  • Seek
  • Reach
  • Oppose
  • Research
  • Respect
  • Obey

2) Write: When write has no direct object, we put to before the indirect object.

  • Incorrect: He wrote me.
  • Correct: He wrote to me.

  • Incorrect: Write to me a letter.
  • Correct: Write me a letter.

3)Explain: The verb explain is followed by direct object + preposition + indirect object.

  • Incorrect: I shall explain them this.
  • Correct: I shall explain this to them.

4)Invite: Invite takes the preposition to after it.

  • Incorrect: He invited me to dinner.
  • Correct: He invited me to dinner.

5)Reach: The verb reach does not take a preposition before its object.

  • Incorrect: He reached to the station.
  • Correct: He reached the station.

6)Ask: Ask is usually followed by an indirect object + direct object.

  • Incorrect: She did ask any question to him.
  • Correct: She did not ask him any question.

7)Waste, spend

  • Incorrect: We should not waste much time in small things of less importance.
  • Correct: We should not waste much time on small things of less importance.

  • Incorrect: He spent a lot of money in daughter’s wedding.
  • Correct: He spent a lot of money on his daughter’s wedding.

Common Errors in Use of Prepositions

Some of the most common mistakes in the use of prepositions :

1) The prepositions in and on are used to show position. To say where things are going, we use into and onto.

  • Incorrect: The ball rolled slowly in the goal.
  • Correct: The ball rolled slowly into the goal.
  • Incorrect: She ran in the room crying.
  • Correct: She ran into the room crying.

2) We use in to say how soon something will happen. Within means ‘inside’ or ‘not beyond’.

  • Incorrect: The train will arrive within five minutes.
  • Correct: The train will arrive in five minutes.

  • Incorrect: You need to complete this project in a month.
  • Correct: You need to complete this project within a month.
  • Incorrect: If you don’t live by your income, you will have to pay huge debts.
  • Correct: If you don’t live within your income, you will have to pay huge debts.

3) Through is used for movement in a three-dimensional space.

  • Incorrect: The ball went to the window and fell on the ground.
  • Correct: The ball went through the window and fell on the ground.

4) For Days, we use 'On', For Dates, we use 'On', For months we use, 'In', For seasons we use 'In', For a particular time, we use 'At'. For morning and evening, we use 'In'. For 'night', we use 'At'.

At: at 7 o'clock; at midday; at dinner; at Christmas
In: in the evening; in Easter week; in September; in (the) winter; in 1864; in the 20th century
On: on Friday; on April 1st; on Christmas Day

  • Incorrect: He wrote the book in a month’s time.
  • Correct: He wrote the book in a month.

  • Incorrect: We usually go and see Grandmother on Sunday.
  • Correct: We usually go and see Grandmother on Sundays.

5)Care for means ‘like’ or ‘be fond of’. If you care about something, you feel that it is important or interesting.

  • Incorrect: I don’t care for your opinion.
  • Correct: I don’t care about your opinion.

6) 'Look at' is used to gaze in a specified direction. 'To Look into' is used to investigate something.

  • Incorrect: The manager has promised to look at the matter.
  • Correct: To manager has promised to look into the matter.

  • Incorrect: What are you looking in?
  • Correct: What are you looking at?

 7) Since is used for 'Point of Time'. From is used for 'Period of Time'.

  • Incorrect: It has been raining from Monday.
  • Correct: It has been raining since Monday.

8) One of the major error that candidates do is the use of with after 'speaking' -

  • Incorrect: Who is the girl you were speaking with?
  • Correct: Who is the girl you were speaking to?

Now, try to solve the following questions and post your answers in Comment Section :

  1. What are you doing ______ Saturday?
  2. I am leaving _____ the afternoon. Maybe ____ three o'clock pm. I am coming back ______ Sunday evening.
  3. The woman is looking ____ her daughter.
  4. Do you think it is a good idea to ban smoking ______Public Places?
  5. I'll be ready to leave ____ about twenty minutes.

SBI PO Notification can be out anytime soon. To help you with its preparation beforehand, we have launched a new course headed bu Gradeup top faculties. If you are also preparing for SBI PO 2020 take the free trial of the course now.

SBI PRO Course 2020 Batch 2 (Bilingual)

Check the contents of the course:

  • A comprehensive course with 90-Day Study Plan covering entire syllabus
  • All topics covered through Live Class, Quizzes & Weekly Doubt Resolution
  • Increase your speed and accuracy with Weekly Assessments & Mock Tests along with Live Analysis
  • Expert faculty with decades of experience for Banking exams and other competitive exams

Prep Smart, Score Better, Go Gradeup!

 

Comments

write a comment

PO, Clerk, SO, Insurance

BankingIBPS POIBPS ClerkSBI POIBPS SOSBI ClerkRBIIDBI SOIBPS RRBLIC

Follow us for latest updates