Examples on using wrong prepositions

Die

If an illness or disease is the cause of one’s death, usually the verb ‘die’ is followed by the preposition ‘of’.

Incorrect: The man died from cholera.

Correct: The man died of cholera.

Note: Causes like ‘hunger’ and ‘thirst’ are also preceded by the same preposition.

For example:

 Many people died of hunger during the famine.

Note: This verb may also be followed by other prepositions.

 Many passengers died from their wounds.

He may die from overwork.

They died by violence.

Many soldiers died in battle/poverty.

They died for their country.

The child died through neglect.

He died on the scaffold.

He died at the stake.

Different

Incorrect: My pen is different with yours.

Correct: My pen is different from yours.

Note: This adjective is often followed by ‘then’ or ‘to’.

For example:

The two sister are quite are different to each other.

His dress was different than mine.

Note:The noun ‘difference’ is followed by ‘between’.

Incorrect: There is no difference in the two boys.

Correct: There is no difference between the two boys.

Disappointed (= unhappy)

This adjective is followed by several prepositions. 

For example:

He was deeply disappointed about/at losing the game.

My parents will be disappointed with/in me if I fail the exam.

Incorrect: I was disappointed by his work.

Correct: I was disappointed at/in his work.

Incorrect: We were disappointed in our hopes.

Correct: We were disappointed of our hopes.

Note: We are disappointed of a thing when we fail to get it.

Divide

Incorrect: Divide the cake in four parts.

Correct: Divide the cake into four parts.

Note: But a thing may be divided ‘in half’ or ‘in two’.

Incorrect: He divided the apple into half.

Correct: He divided the apple in half.

Incorrect: The money will be equally divided into the three people.

Correct: The money will be equally divided between/among the three people.

Note: When two people are involved, the preposition ‘among’ cannot be used. 

Incorrect: 15 divided with 3 are 5.

Correct: 15 divided by 3 is 5.

Incorrect: A low wall divides our garden with their.

Correct: A low wall divides our garden from theirs.

Doubt

Incorrect: I have no doubt for his honesty.

Correct: I have no doubt of/about his honesty.

Note: The adjective ‘doubtful’ also takes the preposition ‘about’ it. 

For example:

I am doubtful about her ability to pass the exam.

Dressed

Incorrect: The girl was dressed with black.

Correct: The girl was dressed in black.

Note: Instead of saying ‘She was in black dress’ we can also say ‘She was in black, ‘Dress’ can also be used as a verb. 

For example:

She always dresses in black.

Exception

Incorrect: This is an exception of the rule.

Correct: This is an exception to the rule.

Note: There is a phase, namely 'with the exception of' to mean 'except'.

Incorrect: I enjoy every subject with the exception to Chemistry.

Correct: I enjoy every subject with the exception of (=except) Chemistry.

Exchange (= give and receive in return)

Incorrect: Can I exchange my dollars by pounds?

Correct: Can I exchange my dollars for pounds?

Incorrect: I exchanged seats for Rakia.

Correct: I exchanged seats with Rakia.

Note: The noun ‘exchange’ is also followed by ‘for’ in the phrase ‘in exchange for’.

For example: 

He gave me an apple in exchange for two bananas.

Fail

Incorrect: He failed at the exam.

Correct: He failed in the exam.

Note: ‘Fail’ can also be used as a transitive verb.

For example:

 He failed the exam last year.

Full

Incorrect: The jug is full with/form water.

 Correct: The jug is full of water.

Note: But the verb ‘fill’ is followed by ‘with’.

Incorrect: She filled the jug of water.

Correct: She filled the jug with water.

Incorrect: He was filled by dread.

Correct: He was filled with dread.

Get rid (= free oneself)

Incorrect: I am trying to get rid from her.

Correct: I am trying to get rid of her.

Note: ‘rid’ can also be used as a verb and then also it takes the same preposition after it. 

For example:

One day we shall be able to rid the world of this terrible disease.

Note: The past simple form of ‘rid’ is ‘rid’ or ‘ridded’. Its past participle form is ‘rid’ and present participle is ‘ridding’.

Good

Incorrect: He is very good in mathematics.

Correct: He is very good at mathematics.

Note: The adjective ‘bad’, ‘clever’, ‘quick’ and ‘slow’ are also followed by ‘at’. 

For example:

I am bad at drawing.

He is very clever at making things.

She is quick at learning.

The boy is very slow at learning.

But the adjective ‘weak’ is usually followed by ‘in’. 

For example:

Incorrect: He is weak at grammar.

Correct: He is weak in grammar.

Guard

Incorrect: You should guard from bad habits.

Correct: You should guard against bad habits.

Incorrect: The dog guarded the house for intruders.

Correct: The dog guarded the house against intruders.

Note: When ‘guard’ is used as a noun:

Incorrect: Be in your guard against thieves.

Correct: Be on your guard against thieves.

Guilty (= having broken a low or disobeyed a rules)

Incorrect: The jury found him guilty for murder.

Correct: The jury found him guilty of murder.

Note: This word may also be used in the sense of showing a feeling of guilty or shame. In that sense it will be followed by ‘about’. 

For example:

Incorrect: I feel guilty of breaking your cup.

Correct: I feel guilty about breaking your cup.

Independent

Incorrect: Bangladesh became independent from Pakistan in 1971.

Correct: Bangladesh became independent of Pakistan in 1971.

Note: But the noun form of the word takes a different preposition.

Incorrect: Bangladesh gained independence of Pakistan in 1971.

Correct: Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1971.

The antonym ‘dependent’ takes ‘on’ after’ it. 

For example:

A child is always dependent on his/her parents.

Indifferent (= not interest; not caring) 

Incorrect: He is indifferent at politics.

Correct: He is indifferent to politics.

Incorrect: I was totally indifferent with the cold.

Correct: I was totally indifferent to/towards the cold.

Note: The noun 'indifference' also takes the same preposition. 

For example:

        He showed complete indifference to/towards me.

The antonym of ‘indifference’ is not ‘difference’.

Insist (= declare firmly)

Incorrect: He insisted to his innocence.

Correct: He insisted on his innocence.

Incorrect: She insisted for going there.

Correct: She insisted on going there.

Note: But the word ‘persist’ is different from ‘insist’ and it also takes a different preposition. 

For example:

        Incorrect: He persisted on his foolish ideas.

           Correct: He persisted in his foolish ideas.

Interested (= having or showing interest)

Incorrect: He is not interested with/for his work.

Correct: He is not interested in his work.

Incorrect: Are you interested to football?

Correct: Are you interested in football?

Note: The noun form ‘interest’ takes the same preposition. 

For example:

 

I have no interest in politics.

He takes a great interest in music.

Jealous (= envious)

Incorrect: He is very jealous with me.

Correct: he is very jealous of me.

Incorrect: They are jealous for my success.

Correct: they are jealous of my success.

Leave (= to go away)

When we leave a place to go to another place, we use ‘for’ before the goal.

Incorrect: We are now leaving to the party.

Correct: We are now leaving for the party.

Note: We take leave of someone to say goodbye to them.

In that case:

Incorrect: We took leave from him.

Correct: We took leave of him.

Live

Incorrect:  The cow lives from grass.

Correct: The cow lives on grass.

Note: Like ‘live’, ‘feed’ is also followed by ‘on’. 

For example:

Some birds feed on insects.

Examples on using wrong prepositions

Confidence (= a strong belief)

Incorrect: I have every confidence about your ability.

Correct: I have every confidence in your ability.

Note: The phrase ‘in confidence’ is used to mean ‘as a secret'. 

For example:

 I am telling you this in confidence.

The adjective form ‘confident’ is followed by ‘of’.

Incorrect: I am confident about success.

Correct: I am confident of success.

 Conform (= to obey)

Incorrect:You should conform with the rules.

Correct: You should conform to the rules.

 Note: But the verb ‘comply’ takes 'with' after it. 

For example:

We must comply with your request.

 Congratulate

Incorrect: We congratulate you in your success.

Correct: We congratulate you on your success.

Incorrect: I congratulated her about standing first in the exam.

Correct: I congratulated her on standing first in the exam.

Note: The preposition ‘for’ is sometimes used after ‘congratulate’. 

For example:

I congratulate you for your thesis.

Consist (= to be made up)

Incorrect: His family consists from six members.

Correct: His family consists of six members.

Note: This verb is used neither in progressive forms nor in the passive voice.

Incorrect: The team is consisting of six members.

Correct: The team consists of six members.

Incorrect: The board is consisted of ten directors.

Correct: The board consists of ten director.

Cover

Incorrect: We covered the body by a sheet.

Correct: We covered the body with a sheet.

Incorrect: The Mountains were covered by snow.

Correct: The Mountains were covered with snow.

 Note: The verb can be used both in the active voice and in the passive voice.

 Cure

 Incorrect: This medicine will cure you from cough.

Correct: This medicine will cure you of your cough.

Note: But ‘cure’ as a noun is followed by ‘for’.

Incorrect: There is no cure of this disease.

Correct: There is no cure for this disease.

Depend (= rely)

Incorrect: Everything depends from you.

 Correct: Everything depends on/upon you.

Note: The verb ‘rely’ also takes the same preposition after it.

Incorrect: I cannot rely to you.

Correct: I cannot rely on/upon you.

 Deprive (= to take away)

Incorrect: He was deprived from his paternal property.

Correct: He was deprived of his paternal property.

Incorrect: This law will deprive us from our basic rights.

Correct: This law will deprive us of our basic right.

Note: This verb can be used both in the active voice and in the passive voice.

Examples on using wrong prepositions

Absorbed (= very much interested)

Incorrect: The girl absorbed at her work.

Correct: The girl is absorbed in her work.

Incorrect: I was absorbed with the book.

Correct: I was absorbed in the book.

 Accuse (=to charge someone with doing wrong)

Incorrect: He was accused for murder.

Correct: He was accused of murder.

Incorrect: Are you accusing me with cheating.

Correct: Are you accusing me of cheating?

Note: But the verb ‘charge’ is followed by the preposition ‘with’.

Incorrect: He was charged of/for murder.

Correct: He was charged with murder.

 Accustomed (=used)

Incorrect: they are accustomed with hot weather.

Correct: They are accustomed to hot weather.

Incorrect: I am not accustomed for getting up so early.

Correct: I am not accustomed to getting up so early.

Note: The adjective ‘used’ is also followed by ‘to’. 

For example: 

 He was used to smoking.

But when ‘used to’ is used as a modal, it is followed by an infinitive. 

For example: 

 He used to smoke.

 They used to visit me regularly.

 Afraid (= full of fear; frightened)

Incorrect: Rashid was afraid from/with the dog.

Correct: Rashid was afraid of the dog.

Incorrect: He is afraid in his job.

Correct: He is afraid for his job.

(= afraid that he may lose it)

 Aim

Incorrect: He aimed on/against the bird.

Correct: He aimed at the bird.

Note:  The verb 'shoot' may also be followed by 'at' to denote direction.

For example: He shot at the man.

But 'shoot' without 'at' means 'to kill by shooting'.

For example: He shot the dog. (=He shot it dead)

Complain (= to express feelings of annoyance)

Incorrect: They always complain for this kind of bad weather.

Correct: They always complain of this kind of bad weather.

Incorrect: They complained against us with the police.

Correct: They complained about us to the police.

Complaint

 Incorrect: They lodged a complaint about us to the police.

Correct: They lodged a complaint against us to the police.

Composed(= formed)

Incorrect: Water is composed with/form hydrogen and oxygen.

Correct: Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.

Incorrect: The class is composed by 50 students.

Correct: The class is composed of 50 students.