Common mistakes in IELTS – Using the wrong preposition (Part 2)

Common mistakes in IELTS – Using the wrong preposition (Part 2)

41. Insist on, not to

Don’t say: He always insisted to his opinion.

✓ Say: He always insisted on his opinion.

Note: Persist takes in –> We persisted in his silly ideas.

42. Interested in, not for

Don’t say: She’s not interested for her work.

✓ Say: She’s not interested in her work.

Note: Also take an interest in –> She takes a great interest in music.

43. Jealous of, not from

Don’t say: He’s very jealous from his brother.

✓ Say: He’s very jealous of his brother.

44. Leave for a place, not to a place

Don’t say: They’re leaving to England soon.

✓ Say: They’re leaving for England soon.

45. Live on, not from

Don’t say: He lives from his brother’s money.

✓ Say. He lives on his brother’s money.

Note: Feed on –> Some buds feed on insects.

46. Look at, not to

Don’t say: Look to this beautiful picture.

✓ Say: Look at this beautiful picture.

Note: Also gaze at stare at, etc. But look after (= take care of), look for (= try to find), look over (= examine), look into (= examine closely), look on of upon (= consider), look down on (= have a low opinion of), look up to (= respect), look out for (= expect), look forward to (= expect with pleasure), look to (= rely on)

47. to, not with

Don’t say: Angela was married with a rich man.

✓ Say: Angela was married to a rich man.

Note: Also engaged to –> Sally was engaged to Peter for a year before they got married.

48. Opposite to, not from

Don’t say: Their house is opposite from ours.

✓ Say: Their house is opposite to ours.

Note: “Opposite ours” is also correct

49. Pass by a place, not from a place

Don’t say: Will you pass from the post-office?

✓ Say: Will you pass by the post-office?

Note: Also “past the post-office” is correct.

50. Play for a team, not with a team

Don’t say: He plays regularly with that team.

✓ Say: He plays regularly for that team.

51. Pleased with, not from

Don’t say:The teacher is pleased from me.

✓ Say: The teacher is pleased with me.

Note: We say pleased at or pleased with if an abstract noun or a cause follows –> They were pleased at (or with) what he said; They were pleased at (for, with) her results.

52. Popular with, not among

Don’t say: John’s popular among his friends.

✓ Say: John’s popular with his friends.

53. Prefer to, not from

Don’t say: I prefer a blue pen from a red one.

✓ Say: I prefer a blue pen to a red one.

Note: Also preferable to –> This car is preferable to my old one.

54. Preside at or over, not in

Don’t say: Who presided in the last meeting?

✓Say: Who presided at (or over) the last meeting?

55. Proud of, not for

Don’t say: He’s very proud for his promotion.

✓ Say: He’s very proud of his promotion.

Note: We say take pride in –> A craftsman tikes a pride in his work.

56. Rejoice at or in, not for

Don’t say: We rejoiced for her success.

✓ Say: We rejoiced at (or in) her success.

57. Related to, not with

Don’t say: Are you related with Simon in any way?

✓ Say: Are you related to Simon in any way?

Note: Also relation to –> Is he any relation to you?

58. Repent of, not from

Don’t say: He repented from his crime.

✓ Say: He repented of his crime.

Note: Repentance takes for –> He feels repentance for his sift.

59. Satisfied with, not from

Don’t say: Are you satisfied from your marks?

✓ Say: Are you satisfied with your marks?

Note: Also content with, delighted with, unhappy with, happy with, displeased with, dissatisfied with, disgusted with

60. Similar to, not with

Don’t say: Your house is similar with mine.

✓ Say: Your house is similar to mine.

61. Sit at a desk etc., not on a desk etc.

Don’t say: The bank manager was sitting on his desk.

✓ Say: The bank manager was sitting at his desk.

Note: Also sit at a table. But on a chair, on a bench, on a sofa, etc; in an arm-chair, in a tree or up a tree –> A bird sometimes perches (= sits) on a tree.

62. Spend on, not for

Don’t say: I spend a lot of time for my computer.

✓ Say: I spend a lot of time on my computer.

63. Succeed in, not at

Don’t say: I hope he’ll succeed at his work.

✓ Say: I hope he’ll succeed in his work.

Note: A person succeeds to a property, a title or an office –> Queen Elizabeth is succeeded to the throne in 1952. Also one person can succeed another.

64. Superior to, not from or than

Don’t say: This is superior from (or than) that.

✓ Say: This is superior to that.

Note: Also inferior to, junior to, senior to, subsequent to, prior to

65. Sure of, not for

Don’t say: I’m quite sure for her honesty.

✓ Say: I’m quite sure of her honesty.

Note: Also certain of –> I’m quite certain of it.

66. Surprised at or by, not for

Don’t say: Harold was surprised for the loud bang.

✓ Say: Harold was surprised at/by the loud bang.

Note: Also astonished at/by, amazed at/by, alarmed at/by, puzzled at/by, shocked at/by

67. Suspect of, not for

Don’t say: I suspect Kate for stealing the pen.

✓ Say: I suspect Kate of stealing the pen.

Note: Also suspicious of –> Dogs are suspicious of strangers.

68. Take by, not from

Don’t say: Robert took his brother from the hand.

✓ Say: Robert took his brother by the hand.

Note: Also hold by, catch by, seize by, snatch by, grasp by

69. Tie to, not on

Don’t say: The girl tied the string on the kite.

✓ Say: The girl tied the string to the kite.

Note: Also bind to –> The prisoner was bound to the stake.

70. Tired of, not from

Don’t say: The boys are tired from eating boiled eggs.

✓ Say: The boys are tired of eating boiled eggs.

71. Translate into, not to

Don’t say: Translate this passage to English.

✓ Say: Translate this passage into English.

72. Tremble with cold, etc., not from cold, etc.

Don’t say: The man was trembling from cold.

✓ Say: The man was trembling with cold.

Note: Also shake with and shiver with –> The thief was shaking with fear.

73. Warn (a person) of danger, not about danger

Don’t say: They were warned about the danger.

✓ Say They were warned of the danger.

Note 1: Use warn about for specific things –> They warned us about the bumps in the road.

Note 2: We warn a person against a fault –> His teacher warned him against breaking the rules.

74. Write in ink, not with ink

Don’t say: I’ve written the letter with ink

✓ Say: I’ve written the letter in ink.

Note: We use in when we are referring to the final work –> ” The drawing was done in charcoal. Dora writes her fatten in green ink.” When we are referring to the instrument used we use with –> ” The children are learning to write with a pen. Helen prefers to paint with a thin brush.”