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.