00 / Confusables
Prepositions
Arrive in or arrive at, depend on, married to — the small words that go with the verb.
20sets
01 / arrive in vs arrive at
Arrive in is for large geographical areas like cities and countries, while arrive at is for specific buildings or points.
Side by side
reaching a city or country
The flight will arrive in Tokyo early tomorrow morning.
arrive at
reaching a building or point
Please try to arrive at the office before the meeting starts.
Watch out
Wrong: We will arrive at London at six o'clock.Right: We will arrive in London at six o'clock.
Wrong: The guests should arrive in the hotel by noon.Right: The guests should arrive at the hotel by noon.
Remember
In for the map, at for the spot.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
We expect to France by the end of the week.
- 2.
The band will London tonight before their sold out stadium show starts tomorrow.
- 3.
Most players the training ground early to sync their data with the fitness app.
- 4.
Digital nomads often Portugal to work remotely while enjoying the sunny coastal weather.
- 5.
They should the station just in time for the train.
02 / depend on vs depend of
English requires the preposition 'on' after the verb depend, whereas 'of' is never used in this construction.
Side by side
depend on
to rely on or be determined by
The success of the outdoor concert will depend on the weather tomorrow.
depend of
Not English
an incorrect prepositional pairing in English
Watch out
Wrong: The final price will depend of how many items you decide to buy.Right: The final price will depend on how many items you decide to buy.
Remember
Depend on relies on 'on'.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Learners often mistakenly use when they should use the correct preposition instead.
- 2.
Modern remote workers often a stable fiber connection to attend daily video calls.
- 3.
Professional athletes usually personalized fitness apps to track their recovery and nutrition.
- 4.
Children often their parents for financial support during university.
03 / interested in vs interested by
Interested in describes a lasting curiosity or hobby, while interested by describes a reaction to a specific stimulus or event.
Side by side
interested in
Having a long-term curiosity or hobby.
She has always been interested in ancient history and archeology.
interested by
Intrigued by a specific, external cause.
The scientists were interested by the unusual results of the second trial.
Watch out
Wrong: I have been interested by jazz music since I was a child.Right: I have been interested in jazz music since I was a child.
Remember
In = Inside your mind. By = Caused by the thing.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Most young professionals are remote work options to improve their daily work-life balance.
- 2.
I was his strange reaction to the news yesterday.
- 3.
Are you joining the local photography club this weekend?
- 4.
She has been sustainable fashion for years and only buys clothes from second-hand apps.
- 5.
The gamer was the new physics engine shown in the latest open-world trailer.
04 / good at vs good in
Good at describes proficiency in a specific skill or activity, while good in describes performance within a physical space or a structured environment.
Side by side
good at
Proficient in a specific skill or activity.
She is exceptionally good at explaining complex financial concepts to new clients.
good in
Performing well within a specific context.
He is usually very good in interviews despite his lack of experience.
Watch out
Wrong: My brother is very good in playing the piano.Right: My brother is very good at playing the piano.
Wrong: She was always good at school and got high marks.Right: She was always good in school and got high marks.
Remember
Good at a skill; good in a place.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
The professional gamer is exceptionally predicting his opponents movements during high-stakes matches.
- 2.
The actor was that movie but the script was terrible.
- 3.
She proved to be very the new remote work environment despite the lack of face-to-face interaction.
- 4.
Modern electric cars are remarkably accelerating quickly while maintaining a silent cabin experience.
- 5.
Most students in this class are already quite public speaking.
05 / afraid of vs afraid from
Afraid of is the standard English collocation, while afraid from is a non-standard error.
Side by side
afraid of
feeling fear or anxiety about something
Many children are afraid of the dark when they go to sleep.
afraid from
Not English
an incorrect prepositional pairing for fear
Watch out
Wrong: He has always been afraid from spiders and snakes.Right: He has always been afraid of spiders and snakes.
Remember
Afraid of is the only correct choice.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Early adopters of electric cars were often running out of battery mid-trip.
- 2.
Many remote workers are losing their connection during an important video call.
- 3.
She is not taking risks in her professional career.
- 4.
He incorrectly wrote that he was the outcome of the football match.
06 / married to vs married with
Married to identifies the spouse, while married with identifies the children or circumstances of the household.
Side by side
married to
joining one person to another
She has been married to a professional chef for over ten years.
married with
having children within a marriage
He is currently married with two young daughters and a son.
Watch out
Wrong: My sister is married with a doctor she met at university.Right: My sister is married to a doctor she met at university.
Remember
To for the spouse; With for the kids.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Many professional gamers feel they are effectively their streaming schedules during major tournaments.
- 2.
The software engineer lives in a quiet suburb and is three young children.
- 3.
They are happily three children and a golden retriever.
- 4.
He is his high school sweetheart and they live in London.
- 5.
The lead guitarist of that indie band is a famous documentary filmmaker from London.
07 / different from vs different than
Different from is the standard prepositional choice for comparisons, while different than is a common American alternative often used before a full clause.
Side by side
different from
The standard way to compare two things.
The new office layout is quite different from the one we had before.
different than
An American variant used before clauses.
The movie ended in a way that was different than I expected.
Watch out
Wrong: The results of the second test were different than the first one.Right: The results of the second test were different from the first one.
Remember
From is for things; Than is for thoughts.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Her teaching style is very the way my previous tutor worked.
- 2.
The new electric car model is surprisingly the prototype shown at the trade show last year.
- 3.
Living in a quiet rural town is entirely the fast-paced lifestyle of a major coastal city.
- 4.
The ending of the streaming series was much more dark the fans had originally predicted.
- 5.
Living in a small town is I thought it would be.
08 / similar to vs similar with
Similar to is the standard prepositional phrase for comparisons, while similar with is an incorrect construction often caused by native language interference.
Side by side
similar to
sharing qualities with something else
The new software interface is remarkably similar to the previous version.
similar with
Not English
an incorrect, non-standard prepositional pairing
Watch out
Wrong: The results of the second study were very similar with the first one.Right: The results of the second study were very similar to the first one.
Remember
Similar to is the only correct choice.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Many learners mistakenly believe the phrase is rather than using the correct preposition to.
- 2.
The new electric car model is remarkably the prototype shown at the trade fair last year.
- 3.
The interface on this fitness app is very the one I used for tracking my runs.
- 4.
Her management style is very the one my old boss used.
09 / responsible for vs responsible of
Responsible for is the standard prepositional phrase, while responsible of is a non-standard error.
Side by side
responsible for
Having the duty to handle something.
The project manager is responsible for meeting the final deadline.
responsible of
Not English
An incorrect form of the phrase.
Watch out
Wrong: She is the person responsible of the marketing budget.Right: She is the person responsible for the marketing budget.
Remember
Responsible for the task.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
The city council is installing new charging stations for electric cars this year.
- 2.
The lead developer is maintaining the security of the company's remote work servers.
- 3.
Saying he is the mistake is a common error made by many language learners.
- 4.
Who is the broken window in the lobby?
10 / depend on vs rely on
Depend on describes a logical or causal connection, while rely on implies a personal need for support or trust.
Side by side
depend on
to be determined by something else
The success of our outdoor event will depend on the weather tomorrow.
rely on
to need or trust someone's support
I rely on my assistant to manage my schedule throughout the week.
Watch out
Wrong: The price of the house will rely on the current market value.Right: The price of the house will depend on the current market value.
Wrong: I depend on my parents for financial help while I am studying.Right: I rely on my parents for financial help while I am studying.
Remember
Depend = Logic. Rely = Trust.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Whether we hire more staff will the final budget report.
- 2.
Small businesses often local customers to stay profitable during winter.
- 3.
Professional athletes often wearable fitness trackers to monitor their recovery after training.
- 4.
The frame rates in this new game the power of your graphics card.
- 5.
Many remote workers a stable internet connection to attend video calls every morning.
11 / listen to vs hear
Listen to is a deliberate action requiring a preposition; hear is the passive perception of sound.
Side by side
Watch out
Wrong: Can you listen to the birds singing in the garden?Right: Can you hear the birds singing in the garden?
Remember
Listen is a choice; hear is a sense.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
You should the latest episode of that fitness podcast during your morning run today.
- 2.
Many remote workers prefer to lo-fi beats while they focus on their daily tasks.
- 3.
Please the instructions carefully before you start the exam.
- 4.
Drivers of electric cars often a faint hum when the vehicle accelerates on city streets.
- 5.
I could the neighbors arguing through the thin walls of the apartment.
12 / explain to vs explain about
Explain to identifies the recipient of the information, while explain about identifies the general topic or circumstances.
Side by side
explain to
Directing information toward a specific listener.
I need you to explain to the manager why the report is late.
explain about
Providing details regarding a subject or situation.
She called the office to explain about the technical issues with her laptop.
Watch out
Wrong: Could you please explain about me how to use this software?Right: Could you please explain to me how to use this software?
Wrong: He tried to explain to his absence, but no one was listening.Right: He tried to explain about his absence, but no one was listening.
Remember
Explain to a person; explain about a situation.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
The witness began to the events leading up to the accident.
- 2.
The doctor took ten minutes to the patient how the medicine works.
- 3.
The developer had to the client why the video call app crashed during the demo.
- 4.
The fitness coach will the benefits of tracking sleep through the new mobile app.
- 5.
I need you to the group chat why we are switching to electric cars.
13 / discuss vs talk about
Discuss is a transitive verb that takes a direct object, while talk about requires a prepositional phrase.
Side by side
to examine a topic through speech
The committee will discuss the new budget proposal during the next meeting.
talk about
to speak regarding a specific subject
They spent the entire afternoon talking about their plans for the summer.
Remember
Discuss the plan; talk about the plan.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
The city council needs to the plan for adding more electric car charging stations.
- 2.
Many fitness influencers the benefits of using wearable tech to track daily activity.
- 3.
The developers will the new gameplay mechanics during the live stream on Friday evening.
- 4.
I would like to the issues we encountered last week.
- 5.
We need to the terms of the contract before signing anything.
14 / enter vs enter into
Enter takes a physical location as a direct object, while enter into requires a preposition to discuss abstract commitments or formal processes.
Side by side
to physically go inside a place
Please wait for the signal before you enter the examination hall.
to start a formal agreement or process
Both companies decided to enter into a long-term partnership last month.
Watch out
Wrong: You must enter into the room quietly while the baby is sleeping.Right: You must enter the room quietly while the baby is sleeping.
Wrong: The two nations will enter a new trade agreement next week.Right: The two nations will enter into a new trade agreement next week.
Remember
Enter a room; enter into a deal.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Both gaming companies decided to a formal agreement to share their latest streaming technology.
- 2.
Users must a new contract before they can access the premium features of the app.
- 3.
The security guard watched the suspects the building through the side door.
- 4.
The fitness coach watched the athletes the gym to begin their morning training session.
- 5.
The government refuses to negotiations until the strike ends.
15 / reach vs arrive at/in
Reach is a transitive verb that takes a direct object, while arrive is intransitive and requires a preposition like at or in to connect to a destination.
Side by side
to get to a specific destination
The hikers managed to reach the summit just before the sun started to set.
arrive at/in
Not English
to reach a destination or location
Remember
Reach the place; arrive at the space.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
We should the hotel by midnight if the traffic stays light.
- 2.
The delivery driver will the city center before the lunch rush begins today.
- 3.
Modern electric cars can now a distance of four hundred miles on a single full charge.
- 4.
Players must the final level of the game to unlock the secret digital soundtrack.
16 / contact vs contact with
Contact is a transitive verb that takes a direct object, while contact with is a noun phrase used after a verb like have or make.
Side by side
to communicate with someone directly
Please contact the technical support team if the software fails to load.
contact with
the state of communicating or touching
The pilot lost contact with the control tower during the heavy storm.
Watch out
Wrong: I need to contact with the director before I sign the contract.Right: I need to contact the director before I sign the contract.
Wrong: The astronaut finally made contact the base station on Earth.Right: The astronaut finally made contact with the base station on Earth.
Remember
Contact someone (verb). Have contact with someone (noun).
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
I will my manager to discuss the new project timeline tomorrow.
- 2.
The remote team lost the project manager during the storm that hit the city center.
- 3.
Fans often try to the streaming star by sending messages during the live gaming broadcast.
- 4.
We have maintained regular our suppliers throughout the entire year.
- 5.
If the electric car battery fails, you should the technical support team through the official app.
17 / request vs ask for
Request is a formal transitive verb, while ask for is the standard phrasal verb for everyday needs.
Side by side
Watch out
Wrong: The client asked for a formal written proposal.Right: The client requested a formal written proposal.
Wrong: I will request for a new laptop tomorrow.Right: I will ask for a new laptop tomorrow.
Remember
Request is for the office; ask for is for the coffee shop.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
You should a refund if the streaming service keeps buffering during the football match.
- 2.
Please a formal receipt if you need to be reimbursed for travel.
- 3.
Did you remember to the manager when you arrived at the store?
- 4.
The HR manager sent an official email to a formal copy of your remote work agreement.
- 5.
Many players in the community chat new skins in the next update to the game.
18 / order vs ask for
Order is for commercial transactions where you pay for a specific item; ask for is a general request for anything.
Side by side
Watch out
Wrong: The customer wants to ask for a steak and a side salad.Right: The customer wants to order a steak and a side salad.
Wrong: I would like to order some help with these heavy boxes.Right: I would like to ask for some help with these heavy boxes.
Remember
Order = Buy. Ask for = Request.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Many residents choose to a new electric car charger through a government subsidy program.
- 2.
Did you directions when you got lost in the city center?
- 3.
You can use the mobile app to a vegan pizza before the football match starts tonight.
- 4.
The developer had to more time to fix the bugs in the latest gaming update.
- 5.
You can the new smartphone online starting next Monday morning.
19 / wait for vs wait
Wait for requires a direct object to identify the person or thing expected, while wait is intransitive and stands alone.
Side by side
Watch out
Wrong: I will wait you outside the cinema after the movie finishes.Right: I will wait for you outside the cinema after the movie finishes.
Remember
Wait for + Who/What. Wait = Stop.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
They asked us to in the lobby until the manager was ready.
- 2.
Modern electric car owners often a fast charger to become available at busy motorway stations.
- 3.
Please me at the entrance if you arrive before the show starts.
- 4.
The delivery app shows that the driver is nearby so you should by the front door.
- 5.
Fans of the streaming series must the final episode to drop next Friday at midnight.
20 / look at vs watch
Look at is the act of directing your eyes toward a stationary target; watch is the act of observing something in motion or progress over time.
Side by side
Watch out
Wrong: Could you watch my new passport photo and tell me if it's okay?Right: Could you look at my new passport photo and tell me if it's okay?
Wrong: I spent the whole evening looking at the football game on television.Right: I spent the whole evening watching the football game on television.
Remember
Look at a photo; watch a film.
Quick check
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
You should the battery level on your electric car before the long trip.
- 2.
She stopped to the painting for a few minutes in the gallery.
- 3.
I stayed up late to the final match of the tournament last night.
- 4.
Please the graph on the shared screen to see the remote work trends.
- 5.
Many fans gather in the city square to the championship football match together.