Preposition Errors! From time to time people might make a mistake with the preposition they have chosen to use. Whilst English speakers will still understand what you are trying to say if you use an incorrect preposition, being able to use the correct ones will make your English sound a lot more fluent.
In this section, we are going to be looking at some common mistakes that are made when it comes to prepositions so that you can be confident these will not mistakes that you make in either your spoken or written English.
Big list of common grammar mistakes in English with examples.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions
Learn an extensive list of most common mistakes with prepositions in English and how to avoid them with example sentences and ESL printable worksheets.
Examples of common MISTAKES with PREPOSITIONS and how to correct them.
Incorrect: I cannot agree to you in this situation.
Correct: I cannot agree with you in this situation.
Incorrect: He agreed with my demands.
Correct: He agreed to my demands.
Incorrect: She is waiting the arrival of the postman.
Correct: She is waiting for the arrival of the postman.
Incorrect: Please wait inside the white line.
Correct: Please wait behind the white line.
Incorrect: I have been waiting from three hours.
Correct: I have been waiting for three hours.
Incorrect: He reached at the airport at 3 pm.
Correct: He reached the airport at 3 pm.
Incorrect: The flight will depart in 8:00 am.
Correct: The flight will depart at 8:00 am.
Incorrect: Yeah! We’re just on time to catch the train.
Correct: Yeah! We’re just in time to catch the train.
Incorrect: We should pay our bills in time.
Correct: We should pay our bills on time.
Incorrect: I bought the bag with $100.
Correct: I bought the bag for $100.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 1
Incorrect: Who is in the phone?
Correct: Who is on the phone?
Incorrect: I meet the board members in the office.
Correct: I meet the board members at the office.
Incorrect: This is the tallest building of the world.
Correct: This is the tallest building in the world.
Incorrect: I often go to school in bus.
Correct: I often go to school by bus.
Incorrect: They go to the bus station by foot.
Correct: They go to the bus station on foot.
Incorrect: I can see many flowers at the picture.
Correct: I can see many flowers in the picture.
Incorrect: Have you ever been in Singapore?
Correct: Have you ever been to Singapore?
Incorrect: The Sun rises from the East.
Correct: The Sun rises in the East.
Incorrect: Keep the leff, please.
Correct: Keep to the left, please.
Incorrect: Sophia invests her money on the stock market.
Correct: Sophia invests her money in the stock market.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 2
Incorrect: He is a student of Oxford University.
Correct: He is a student at Oxford University.
Incorrect: I saw that news on the newspapers.
Correct: I saw that news in the newspapers.
Incorrect: Open page 45 of your books.
Correct: Open your books to page 45.
Incorrect: The cat is sleeping in the sofa.
Correct: The cat is sleeping on the sofa.
Incorrect: My birthday is on October.
Correct: My birthday is in October.
Incorrect: John has been absent from Friday?
Correct: John has been absent since Friday ?
Incorrect: Sophia’s married with a doctor.
Correct: Sophia’s married to a doctor.
Incorrect: Divide it between the children in class.
Correct: Divide it among the children in class.
Incorrect: It has been snowing from Monday.
Correct: It has been snowing since Monday.
Incorrect: The key of happiness is having dreams.
Correct: The key to happiness is having dreams.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 3
Incorrect: What do you see when looking the mirror?
Correct: What do you see when looking in the mirror?
Incorrect: She met with old friends on her holiday.
Correct: She met old friends on her holiday.
Incorrect: He insisted to carry his own bag.
Correct: He insisted on carrying his own bag.
Incorrect: Lunch consisted from sandwiches and fruit.
Correct: Lunch consisted of sandwiches and fruit.
Incorrect: It depends from you.
Correct: It depends on you.
Incorrect: I need to go to home.
Correct: I need to go home.
Incorrect: Attend at your duties, please.
Correct: Attend to your duties, please.
Incorrect: I deeply regret for my mistakes.
Correct: I deeply regret my mistakes.
Incorrect: He was afraid from cats.
Correct: He was afraid of cats.
Incorrect: Adam is so different than his brother.
Correct: Adam is so different from/to his brother.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 4
Incorrect: Her work is superior than mine.
Correct: Her work is superior to mine.
Incorrect: I’ll see you at class.
Correct: I’ll see you in class.
Incorrect: You should be ashamed for yourself.
Correct: You should be ashamed of yourself.
Incorrect: Is it true that Mr.Park died from lung cancer?
Correct: Is it true that Mr. Park died of lung cancer?
Incorrect: I’m going to London in the train.
Correct: I’m going to London by train.
Incorrect: He was accused for murdering his wife.
Correct: He was accused of murdering his wife.
Incorrect: We all complained bitterly for the food.
Correct: We all complained bitterly about the food.
Incorrect: Liam failed from maths last month.
Correct: Liam failed in maths last month.
Incorrect: I had always been interested for history.
Correct: I had always been interested in history.
Incorrect: He doesn’t listen me.
Correct: He doesn’t listen to me.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 5
Incorrect: His advice was a great help for me.
Correct: His advice was a great help to me.
Incorrect: What kind of music are you interest?
Correct: What kind of music are you interested in?
Incorrect: He spoke in behalf of our class.
Correct: He spoke on behalf of our class.
Incorrect: She entered into the kitchen.
Correct: She entered the kitchen.
Incorrect: He loves with my friend.
Correct: He loves my friend.
Incorrect: Let me help you on your work.
Correct: Let me help you with your work.
Incorrect: I recommend you to take this pill.
Correct: I recommend that you take this pill.
Incorrect: Come to here with me.
Correct: Come here with me.
Incorrect: You must insure for theft and fire.
Correct: You must insure against theft and fire.
Incorrect: I’m not really good in Maths.
Correct: I am not really good at Maths.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 6
Incorrect: We went in a trip last week.
Correct: We went on a trip last week.
Incorrect: I dream with you every night.
Correct: I dream about you every night.
Incorrect: Somebody answer to my question, please.
Correct: Somebody answer my question, please.
Incorrect: The judge will decide upon the case.
Correct: The judge will decide the case.
Incorrect: Do you want to try this blue dress?
Correct: Do you want to try on this blue dress?
Incorrect: He had a daughter of his former wife.
Correct: He had a daughter by his former wife.
Incorrect: What is the time in your watch?
Correct: What is the time by your watch?
Incorrect: The answer of this question isn’t persuasive.
Correct: The answer to this question isn’t persuasive.
Incorrect: Tom is incapable to take care of himself.
Correct: Tom is incapable of taking care of himself.
Incorrect: It’s better to avoid to make him angry.
Correct: It’s better to avoid making him angry.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 7
Incorrect: Are you in home?
Correct: Are you at home?
Incorrect: I don’t remember my first day in school.
Correct: I don’t remember my first day at school.
Incorrect: We crossed the river with a boat.
Correct: We crossed the river in a boat.
Incorrect: We stood on a queue for half an hour.
Correct: We stood in a queue for half an hour.
Incorrect: I’ll stop for you in the crossroads.
Correct: I’ll stop for you at the crossroads.
Incorrect: Sign in the bottom, please.
Correct: Sign at the bottom, please.
Incorrect: He was in the bottle for five years.
Correct: He was on the bottle for five years.
Incorrect: They are weekending at the coast.
Correct: They are weekending on the coast.
Incorrect: Leave the motorway to the next exit.
Correct: Leave the motorway at the next exit.
Incorrect: Tens of thousands of soldiers died on the front line.
Correct: Tens of thousands of soldiers died at the front line.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 8
Incorrect: Cross with care on the traffic lights.
Correct: Cross with care at the traffic lights.
Incorrect: Jane is on her fourth year at university.
Correct: Jane is in her fourth year at university.
Incorrect: Her name was inscribed by the book.
Correct: Her name was inscribed in the book.
Incorrect: I put the coin at my pocket.
Correct: I put the coin in my pocket.
Incorrect: I got a good deal for my new Toyota.
Correct: I got a good deal on my new Toyota.
Incorrect: My cousin lives in 168 Oxford Street.
Correct: My cousin lives at 168 Oxford Street.
Incorrect: Have you ever been in a ship like this before?
Correct: Have you ever been on a ship like this before?
Incorrect: I listen to the radio in the way to work.
Correct: I listen to the radio on the way to work.
Incorrect: Do you like swimming on the sea?
Correct: Do you like swimming in the sea?
Incorrect: She got on the taxi.
Correct: She got into the taxi.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 9
Incorrect: I work on the morning.
Correct: I work in the morning.
Incorrect: We have two classes at the afternoon.
Correct: We have two classes in the afternoon.
Incorrect: It began to rain on the evening.
Correct: It began to rain in the evening.
Incorrect: I’ll see you in Monday.
Correct: I’ll see you on Monday.
Incorrect: Anna was born at 1st January 2013.
Correct: Anna was born on 1st January 2013.
Incorrect: We were in the 10th floor.
Correct: We were on the 10th floor.
Incorrect: I’ve set the alarm clock to go off on 7 am.
Correct: I’ve set the alarm clock to go off at 7 am.
Incorrect: The meeting terminated on 12 o’clock.
Correct: The meeting terminated at 12 o’clock.
Incorrect: He came home very late in night.
Correct: He came home very late at night.
Incorrect: I’m taking an exam at January.
Correct: I’m taking an exam in January.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 10
Incorrect: He was born on the spring of 1944.
Correct: He was born in the spring of 1944.
Incorrect: It’s very hot here on the summer.
Correct: It’s very hot here in the summer.
Incorrect: I was born on 1980.
Correct: I was born in 1980.
Incorrect: He was born at the 21st century.
Correct: He was born in the 21st century.
Incorrect: She sends me a card in my birthday.
Correct: She sends me a card on my birthday.
Incorrect: I’m at the beach in holiday.
Correct: I’m at the beach on holiday.
Incorrect: I was really happy at my wedding day.
Correct: I was really happy on my wedding day.
Incorrect: I only have a snack in lunch time.
Correct: I only have a snack at lunch time.
Incorrect: Tom has helped us on the past.
Correct: Tom has helped us in the past.
Incorrect: I’m leaving on a week.
Correct: I’m leaving in a week.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 11
Incorrect: I want to be a pilot at the future.
Correct: I want to be a pilot in the future.
Incorrect: I’ll be back at a few minutes
Correct: I’ll be back in a few minutes
Incorrect: The weather was cold at the Middle Ages.
Correct: The weather was cold in the Middle Ages.
Incorrect: I have class on an hour.
Correct: I have class in an hour.
Incorrect: John grew two inches on six months.
Correct: John grew two inches in six months.
Incorrect: I am available at that day.
Correct: I am available on that day.
Incorrect: I only have a snack in lunch time.
Correct: I only have a snack at lunch time.
Incorrect: I slept late in Sunday morning.
Correct: I slept late on Sunday morning.
Incorrect: In Christmas Day, I often send my close friends greeting cards.
Correct: On Christmas Day, I often send my close friends greeting cards..
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 12
Incorrect: I’ve been busy in exams.
Correct: I’ve been busy with exams.
Incorrect: Don’t worry too much for making mistakes.
Correct: Don’t worry too much about making mistakes.
Incorrect: We were all astonished for the results of the election.
Correct: We were all astonished at the results of the election.
Incorrect: What is the difference of these two houses?
Correct: What is the difference between these two houses?
Incorrect: Under the help of my mom, I finished the lunch quickly.
Correct: With the help of my mom, I finished the lunch quickly.
Incorrect: There was a limit in his patience, and he had crossed it.
Correct: There was a limit to his patience, and he had crossed it.
Incorrect: Keep silent and wait for your turn, please.
Correct: Keep silent and wait your turn, please.
Incorrect: The cat got in from the window to catch the mouse.
Correct: The cat got in through the window to catch the mouse.
Incorrect: The teacher has promised to look at the matter.
Correct: The teacher has promised to look into the matter.
Incorrect: The government’s interference with the strike has been criticized.
Correct: The government’s interference in the strike has been criticized.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 13
Incorrect: Leave the motorway to the next exit.
Correct: Leave the motorway at the next exit.
Incorrect: I have seen her in television, but never in the flesh.
Correct: I have seen her on television, but never in the flesh.
Incorrect: You can find all kinds of information in the internet.
Correct: You can find all kinds of information on the internet.
Incorrect: She cannot say she is jealous of pictures at a page.
Correct: She cannot say she is jealous of pictures on a page.
Incorrect: I bumped into her quite by chance at Washington Street.
Correct: I bumped into her quite by chance in Washington Street.
Incorrect: There is a public convenience in the corner of the street.
Correct: There is a public convenience at the corner of the street.
Incorrect: The TV campaign is aimed for the 16–24 age group.
Correct: The TV campaign is aimed at the 16–24 age group.
Incorrect: We arrived to his house and knocked at the door.
Correct: We arrived at his house and knocked at the door.
Incorrect: I am going to take a nine-month course of Chinese.
Correct: I am going to take a nine-month course in Chinese.
Incorrect: The president arrived in California on a helicopter yesterday.
Correct: The president arrived in California in a helicopter yesterday.
Common Mistakes with Prepositions – Image 14
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