How to Avoid Common Preposition Errors: Tips for Learners And Scholars

Prepositions can be tricky for ESL (English as Second Language) learners. In English, many prepositions have multiple meanings. It’s important to learn how to use them correctly to avoid making common mistakes. In this article, we will discuss some of the most common preposition errors and give you tips on how to avoid them!

What Are Prepositions?

Prepositions are words that indicate relationships between other words in a sentence. They can be used to show location, direction, time, or other relationships. Here are some examples of prepositions: in, at, on, with, from, and by.

Errors Related To Prepositions

• One of the most common mistakes made with prepositions is using the wrong preposition for the meaning you want to convey. For example, if you want to say that you are going to the store “by foot,” you would use the preposition “on.” If you want to say that you are going to the store “by car,” you would use the preposition “in.”
• Another common mistake is using a preposition when it is not needed. For example, the sentence “I’m going to school” does not require a preposition. However, if you wanted to say “I’m going to school by bus,” you would need to use the preposition “by.”

Time, Days, Months, and Years (At, On, and In)

When talking about time, the prepositions “at,” “on,” and “in” can be used.

“At” is used when referring to a specific time. For example:

• I have an appointment at three o’clock.
• The store closes at nine o’clock.

“On” is used when referring to days and dates. For example:

• I was born on August 29th.
• We will go on vacation next week.

“In” is used when referring to months, years, centuries, and long periods. For example:

• I will graduate in May.
• The first Olympics were held in Greece in ancient times.

Tips To Avoid Errors in Prepositions

Here are some tips on how to avoid common preposition errors:

• Pay attention to the meaning of the sentence you want to say. This will help you choose the correct preposition.
• If you are unsure which preposition to use, try looking up the definition in a dictionary.
• Remember that not all sentences need a preposition. If you are unsure whether or not to use one, try rephrasing the sentence without the preposition.
• Practice makes perfect! The more you use prepositions, the easier it will be to choose the correct one.

We hope that these tips will help you avoid common preposition errors. Practice using them in your writing and speaking, and soon you’ll be a pro! Thanks for reading.

Conclusion

Prepositions are used to show relationship between subject and object in a sentence. Although they are widely used, they are very  a major source of confusion for students and professionals alike. In this lesson, some of the most common errors in prepositions are outlined so that one can avoid them in their writing.