Using the wrong preposition

Mistakes are often made by using the wrong preposition after certain words. The following list includes the words which most often give trouble:

1. Absorbed (- very much interested) in, not at.

Don't say: The man was absorbed at his work.

Say: The man was absorbed in his work.


2. Accuse of, not for.

Don't say: She accused the man for stealing.

Say: She accused the man of stealing.

3. Accustomed to, not with.

Don't say: I'm accustomed with hot weather.

Say: I'm accustomed to hot weather.

4. Afraid of, not from.

Don't say: Laura is afraid from the dog.

Say: Laura is afraid of the dog.


5. Aim at, not on or against.

Don't say: She aimed on {or against) the target.

Say: She aimed at the target.


6. Angry with, not against.

Don't say: The teacher was angry against him.

Say: The teacher was angry with him.

7. Anxious (= troubled) about, not for.

Don't say.'They're anxious for his health.

Say: They're anxious about his health.

8. Arrive at, not to.

Don't say: We arrived to the village at night.

Say: We arrived at the village at night.

9. Ashamed of, not from.

Don't say: He's now ashamed from his conduct.

Say: He's now ashamed of his conduct. 


10. Believe in, not to.

Don't say: We believe to God.

Say: We believe in God.

11. Boast of or about, not for.

Don't say: James boasted for his strength.

Say: James boasted of (or about) his strength.


12. Careful of, with or about, not for.

Don't say: Elke's very careful for her health.

Say: Elke's very careful of/about her health.

13. Travel by train, etc., not with the train, etc.

Don't say: He travelled with the train yesterday.

Say: He travelled by train yesterday.

14. Complain about, not for.

Don't say: Annette complained for the weather.

Say: Annette complained about the weather.

15. Composed of, not from.

Don't soy: Our class is composed from thirty students.

Say: Our class is composed of thirty students. 


16. Confidence in, not to.

Don't say: I have great confidence to you.

Say: I have great confidence in you.

17. Conform to, not with.

Don't say:'We must conform with the rules.

Say. We must conform to the rules.

18. Congratulate on, not for.

Don't say: I congratulate you for your success.

Say: I congratulate you on your success.


19. Consist of, not from.

Don't say: A year consists from twelve months.

Say: A year consists of twelve months.

20. Covered with, not by.

Don't say: The mountains are covered by snow.

Say: The mountains are covered with/in snow.


21. Cure of, not from.

Don't say: The man was cured from his illness.

Say: The man was cured of his illness.

22. Depend on or upon, not from.

Don't say: It depends from her.

Say: It depends on (or upon) her. 


23. Deprive of, not from.

Don't say: Nelson Mandela was deprived from his freedom.

Say: Nelson Mandela was deprived of his freedom.


24. Die of an illness, not from an illness.

Don't say: Many people have died.from malaria.

Say: Many people have died of malaria.