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.