Description:
Prepositions are words such as "for," "of," "from," "through," and "by."
Preposition questions can be difficult because they rely primarily on common
usage and sound.
Approach
If you notice that a preposition is underlined in a grammar question,
make sure it is used in the "normal" way. Trust your ear to make sure the idioms work!
1) Spot the wrongly used prepositions in the following sentences:
The principal of the school talked at me for most of ninth period.
You probably noticed that we can't say "talked at." The sentence
should read: "The principal talked to me for most of ninth period."
Although many people are conscious of the prevalence of poverty in the world,
much of the population is not conscious about current attempts to address the problem.
This one is a little tricker. Which is the proper phrase, "conscious of"
or "conscious about?"
"Conscious of" is the correct choice.
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2) Common Idiomatic Phrases with Prepositions
| WRONG EXPRESSION |
CORRECT EXPRESSION |
| preoccupied in |
preoccupied with |
| occupied to |
occupied with |
| determine about... (ie. "Determine about the water quality...") |
determine... (ie. "Determine the water quality...") |
| think of it that |
think of it as |
| Contrasting with |
In contrast to |
| Either... and... (ie. "You must choose either chocolate and vanilla.") |
Either... or... (ie. "You must choose either chocolate or vanilla.") |
| Necessary in |
"Necessary to" or "Necessary for" |
| Regarded to be |
Regarded as |
| Prefer... more than... (ie. "I prefer Ford more than Chevy.") |
Prefer... to... (ie. "I prefer Ford to Chevy.") |
| Protested over (ie. "The students protested over the tution increase.") |
Protested (ie. "The students protested the tution increase.") |
| Consistent / Inconsistent to |
Consistent / Inconsistent with |
| Listen at |
Listen to |
| In a place that |
In a place where |
| Similar with |
Similar to |
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