Prepositions
Arrive in or arrive at, depend on, married to — the small words that go with the verb.
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.
arrive at
reaching a building or point
Please try to arrive at the office before the meeting starts.
-
We will arrive at London at six o'clock.
We will arrive in London at six o'clock.
-
The guests should arrive in the hotel by noon.
The guests should arrive at the hotel by noon.
Remember In for the map, at for the spot.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
We expect to France by the end of the week.
- 2.
They should the station just in time for the train.
depend on vs depend of
English requires the preposition 'on' after the verb depend, whereas 'of' is never used in this construction.
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
-
The final price will depend of how many items you decide to buy.
The final price will depend on how many items you decide to buy.
Remember Depend on relies on 'on'.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Children often their parents for financial support during university.
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.
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.
-
I have been interested by jazz music since I was a child.
I have been interested in jazz music since I was a child.
Remember In = Inside your mind. By = Caused by the thing.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Are you joining the local photography club this weekend?
- 2.
I was his strange reaction to the news yesterday.
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.
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.
-
My brother is very good in playing the piano.
My brother is very good at playing the piano.
-
She was always good at school and got high marks.
She was always good in school and got high marks.
Remember Good at a skill; good in a place.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Most students in this class are already quite public speaking.
- 2.
The actor was that movie but the script was terrible.
afraid of vs afraid from
Afraid of is the standard English collocation, while afraid from is a non-standard error.
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
-
He has always been afraid from spiders and snakes.
He has always been afraid of spiders and snakes.
Remember Afraid of is the only correct choice.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
She is not taking risks in her professional career.
married to vs married with
Married to identifies the spouse, while married with identifies the children or circumstances of the household.
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.
-
My sister is married with a doctor she met at university.
My sister is married to a doctor she met at university.
Remember To for the spouse; With for the kids.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
He is his high school sweetheart and they live in London.
- 2.
They are happily three children and a golden retriever.
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.
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.
-
The results of the second test were different than the first one.
The results of the second test were different from the first one.
Remember From is for things; Than is for thoughts.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Her teaching style is very the way my previous tutor worked.
- 2.
Living in a small town is I thought it would be.
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.
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
-
The results of the second study were very similar with the first one.
The results of the second study were very similar to the first one.
Remember Similar to is the only correct choice.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Her management style is very the one my old boss used.
responsible for vs responsible of
Responsible for is the standard prepositional phrase, while responsible of is a non-standard error.
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.
-
She is the person responsible of the marketing budget.
She is the person responsible for the marketing budget.
Remember Responsible for the task.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Who is the broken window in the lobby?
depend on vs rely on
Depend on describes a logical or causal connection, while rely on implies a personal need for support or trust.
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.
-
The price of the house will rely on the current market value.
The price of the house will depend on the current market value.
-
I depend on my parents for financial help while I am studying.
I rely on my parents for financial help while I am studying.
Remember Depend = Logic. Rely = Trust.
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.
listen to vs hear
Listen to is a deliberate action requiring a preposition; hear is the passive perception of sound.
paying attention to a sound
I like to listen to podcasts while I walk the dog every morning.
noticing a sound with your ears
Did you hear that strange noise coming from the kitchen just now?
-
Can you listen to the birds singing in the garden?
Can you hear the birds singing in the garden?
Remember Listen is a choice; hear is a sense.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Please the instructions carefully before you start the exam.
- 2.
I could the neighbors arguing through the thin walls of the apartment.
explain to vs explain about
Explain to identifies the recipient of the information, while explain about identifies the general topic or circumstances.
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.
-
Could you please explain about me how to use this software?
Could you please explain to me how to use this software?
-
He tried to explain to his absence, but no one was listening.
He tried to explain about his absence, but no one was listening.
Remember Explain to a person; explain about a situation.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
The doctor took ten minutes to the patient how the medicine works.
- 2.
The witness began to the events leading up to the accident.
discuss vs talk about
Discuss is a transitive verb that takes a direct object, while talk about requires a prepositional phrase.
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.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
We need to the terms of the contract before signing anything.
- 2.
I would like to the issues we encountered last week.
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.
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.
-
You must enter into the room quietly while the baby is sleeping.
You must enter the room quietly while the baby is sleeping.
-
The two nations will enter a new trade agreement next week.
The two nations will enter into a new trade agreement next week.
Remember Enter a room; enter into a deal.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
The security guard watched the suspects the building through the side door.
- 2.
The government refuses to negotiations until the strike ends.
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.
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.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
We should the hotel by midnight if the traffic stays light.
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.
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.
-
I need to contact with the director before I sign the contract.
I need to contact the director before I sign the contract.
-
The astronaut finally made contact the base station on Earth.
The astronaut finally made contact with the base station on Earth.
Remember Contact someone (verb). Have contact with someone (noun).
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
I will my manager to discuss the new project timeline tomorrow.
- 2.
We have maintained regular our suppliers throughout the entire year.
request vs ask for
Request is a formal transitive verb, while ask for is the standard phrasal verb for everyday needs.
to formally ask for something
The department head will request a budget increase during the next board meeting.
to say you want something
I need to ask for a glass of water before the presentation starts.
-
The client asked for a formal written proposal.
The client requested a formal written proposal.
-
I will request for a new laptop tomorrow.
I will ask for a new laptop tomorrow.
Remember Request is for the office; ask for is for the coffee shop.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Please a formal receipt if you need to be reimbursed for travel.
- 2.
Did you remember to the manager when you arrived at the store?
order vs ask for
Order is for commercial transactions where you pay for a specific item; ask for is a general request for anything.
Requesting goods or services for payment.
We decided to order two large pizzas for the office party tonight.
Requesting something to be given or done.
I need to ask for a glass of water before the meeting starts.
-
The customer wants to ask for a steak and a side salad.
The customer wants to order a steak and a side salad.
-
I would like to order some help with these heavy boxes.
I would like to ask for some help with these heavy boxes.
Remember Order = Buy. Ask for = Request.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
You can the new smartphone online starting next Monday morning.
- 2.
Did you directions when you got lost in the city center?
wait for vs wait
Wait for requires a direct object to identify the person or thing expected, while wait is intransitive and stands alone.
expecting a specific person or thing
We had to wait for the bus for nearly forty minutes in the rain.
staying in place or delaying action
I don't mind if we have to wait a little longer for the results.
-
I will wait you outside the cinema after the movie finishes.
I will wait for you outside the cinema after the movie finishes.
Remember Wait for + Who/What. Wait = Stop.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
Please me at the entrance if you arrive before the show starts.
- 2.
They asked us to in the lobby until the manager was ready.
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.
directing your eyes toward a target
Please look at the diagram on page twenty-four before we continue the lesson.
observing something that is moving or changing
We sat on the bench to watch the children playing in the park.
-
Could you watch my new passport photo and tell me if it's okay?
Could you look at my new passport photo and tell me if it's okay?
-
I spent the whole evening looking at the football game on television.
I spent the whole evening watching the football game on television.
Remember Look at a photo; watch a film.
Fill the gap with one of the two options.
- 1.
She stopped to the painting for a few minutes in the gallery.
- 2.
I stayed up late to the final match of the tournament last night.