SECTION 8 — PREPOSITIONS (Concepts 100–111)

100. "Married to" (not "with"); "similar to" (not "with"); "different from" (not "than," in formal usage)

• Wrong: This model is different than the previous one.
• Fix: This model is different from the previous one.
• Wrong: Her views are similar with her mentor's.
• Fix: Her views are similar to her mentor's.
• Wrong: She got married with her college classmate last year.
• Fix: She got married to her college classmate last year.

101. "Depend on," "rely on," "insist on"

• Wrong: Success depends of hard work and consistency.
• Fix: Success depends on hard work and consistency.
• Wrong: The court insisted for original documents, not photocopies.
• Fix: The court insisted on original documents, not photocopies.
• Wrong: You can rely with him to complete the task on time.
• Fix: You can rely on him to complete the task on time.

102. "Since" for a point in time, "for" for a duration, "from...to/till" for a range

• Wrong: He has been working here for 2015.
• Fix: He has been working here since 2015.
• Wrong: The office remains open from 9 to till 5 on weekdays.
• Fix: The office remains open from 9 to 5 on weekdays.
• Wrong: She has been unwell since three days.
• Fix: She has been unwell for three days.

103. "In" for months/years/large areas, "on" for days/dates, "at" for exact points/times

• Wrong: The meeting is scheduled on 10 o'clock on Monday.
• Fix: The meeting is scheduled at 10 o'clock on Monday.
• Wrong: The scheme was launched at 2016 in a large public event.
• Fix: The scheme was launched in 2016 in a large public event.
• Wrong: The exam will be held in 15 August this year.
• Fix: The exam will be held on 15 August this year.

104. "Good at," "bad at," "skilled in/at," "weak in" for abilities and subjects

• Wrong: She is very good in mathematics.
• Fix: She is very good at mathematics.
• Wrong: He is weak at grammar but strong in vocabulary.
• Fix: He is weak in grammar but strong in vocabulary.
• Wrong: He is quite bad in remembering names.
• Fix: He is quite bad at remembering names.

105. "Prevent/stop/discourage someone from" doing something

• Wrong: The rain prevented us to go outside.
• Fix: The rain prevented us from going outside.
• Wrong: The warden stopped the students to enter after the gate closed.
• Fix: The warden stopped the students from entering after the gate closed.
• Wrong: His parents discouraged him to take up the risky venture.
• Fix: His parents discouraged him from taking up the risky venture.

106. Avoid stacking two prepositions where one already completes the meaning

• Wrong: Where did you get this idea from at?
• Fix: Where did you get this idea from?
• Wrong: He climbed up on to the roof to fix the antenna.
• Fix: He climbed onto the roof to fix the antenna.
• Wrong: She fell down off the ladder while cleaning the shelf.
• Fix: She fell off the ladder while cleaning the shelf.

107. "Consist of" (not "consist with"); "comprise" (no "of" needed, since "comprise" already means "consist of")

• Wrong: The committee comprises of ten members.
• Fix: The committee comprises ten members.
• Wrong: This kit consists with five separate tools.
• Fix: This kit consists of five separate tools.
• Wrong: The panel comprises of two judges and one clerk.
• Fix: The panel comprises two judges and one clerk.

108. "Arrive at" (a small place/building/point) vs. "arrive in" (a city/country)

• Wrong: We arrived in the railway station ten minutes late.
• Fix: We arrived at the railway station ten minutes late.
• Wrong: The delegation arrived at India on a two-day official visit.
• Fix: The delegation arrived in India on a two-day official visit.
• Wrong: He arrived in the office before anyone else that morning.
• Fix: He arrived at the office before anyone else that morning. Why this happens: "arrive in" and "arrive at" both describe reaching a destination, so the choice feels arbitrary — but the convention is scale-based: large areas (a country, a city) take "in," while specific points (a station, an office, a building) take "at."

109. "Apply for" (a job/position) vs. "apply to" (an institution) vs. "apply on" (does not exist as a standard collocation)

• Wrong: She applied on the manager post advertised last week.
• Fix: She applied for the manager's post advertised last week.
• Wrong: He applied in three universities for his postgraduate degree.
• Fix: He applied to three universities for his postgraduate degree.
• Wrong: They applied on the scholarship before the deadline closed.
• Fix: They applied for the scholarship before the deadline closed.

110. "Interested in" (not "interested for/about")

• Wrong: He is interested for a career in banking.
• Fix: He is interested in a career in banking.
• Wrong: She is not interested about the extra classes on weekends.
• Fix: She is not interested in the extra classes on weekends.
• Wrong: They seemed interested for the new investment scheme.
• Fix: They seemed interested in the new investment scheme.

111. "In charge of," "responsible for," "capable of" — the standard preposition attached to each fixed expression must be memorised, not guessed

• Wrong: He is in charge for the accounts department this quarter.
• Fix: He is in charge of the accounts department this quarter.
• Wrong: She is capable to handle this responsibility on her own.
• Fix: She is capable of handling this responsibility on her own.
• Wrong: He is responsible to the delay in the shipment.
• Fix: He is responsible for the delay in the shipment.

Mini Practice — Section 8

1. He is skilled with data analysis and financial modelling.
2. The flight arrived in the airport an hour late.
3. She applied in two banks for the clerical post.
4. This company depends of foreign investment for expansion.
5. He is responsible of the entire logistics team.
6. The train reached in the platform right on schedule.
7. She has been out of station since two weeks.
8. He is not interested about joining the new committee.
9. The results depend heavily of the final interview round.
10. This bouquet consists with roses, lilies, and orchids.

Answer Key

1. "skilled with" → "skilled in/at"
2. "arrived in the airport" → "arrived at the airport"
3. "applied in two banks" → "applied to two banks"
4. "depends of" → "depends on"
5. "responsible of" → "responsible for"
6. "reached in the platform" → "reached the platform" (no preposition needed with "reach")
7. "since two weeks" → "for two weeks" (duration takes "for")
8. "interested about" → "interested in"
9. "depend heavily of" → "depend heavily on"
10. "consists with" → "consists of"

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