Common mistakes with prepositions
*22. Depend on or upon, not from.
Donāt Say:Ā It depends from her.
Say:Ā It depends on (or upon) her.
Ā
Note:Ā Rely on or upon. I can't rely on (or upon) him.
Ā
*23. Deprive of, not from.
Donāt Say:Ā Ā Nelson Mandela was deprived from his freedom.
Say:Ā Ā Nelson Mandela was deprived of his freedom.
Ā
*24. Die of an illness, not from an illness.
Donāt Say:Ā Ā Many people have died from malaria. Ā
Say:Ā Many people have died of malaria.
Ā
Note:Ā People die of illness, of hunger, of thirst, of or from wounds; from overwork; by violence, by the sword, by pestilence; in battle; for their country, for a cause; through neglect; on the scaffold; at the stake.
Ā
*25. Different from, not than
Donāt Say:Ā Ā My book is different than yours.
Say:Ā My book is different from yours.
Ā
*26. Disappointed by, about or at, not from.
(a) Ā Ā by/at/about:
Donāt Say:Ā Ā Phillipa was disappointed from the low mark she got in the test.
Say:Ā Phillipa was disappointed by/about/at the low mark she got in the test.
Ā
(b) Ā with/in:
Donāt Say:Ā Jane was disappointed from her son.
Say:Ā Jane was disappointed with/in her son.
Ā
Note:Ā Before a person we use with or in, before a thing we use at, about or by and before a gerund we use at; Keith is very disappointed at not winning the prize. We use that (optional before a new clause): I was disappointed (that) I didn't get an invitation.
Ā
*27. Divide into parts, not in parts.
Donāt Say:Ā I divided the cake in four parts.
Say:Ā I divided the cake into four parts.
Ā
Note:Ā A thing may be divided in half or in two: Paul divided the apple in half (or in two).
Ā
*28. No doubt (n) of or about, not for.
Donāt Say:Ā Ā I've no doubt for his ability,
Say:Ā I've no doubt of (or about) his ability.
Ā
Note:Ā Doubtful of: I am doubtful of his ability to pass.
Ā
*29. Dressed in, not with.
Donāt Say:Ā The woman was dressed with black.
Say:Ā The woman was dressed in black.
Ā
Note:Ā The woman was in black is also correct.
Ā
*30. Exception to, not of.
Donāt Say:Ā This is an exception of the rule. Ā
Say:Ā This is an exception to the rule.
Ā
Note:Ā We say with the exception of: She liked all her subjects with the exception of physics
Ā
*31. Exchange for, not by.
Donāt Say:Ā He exchanged his collection of matchboxes by some foreign stamps.
Say:Ā He exchanged his collection of matchboxes for some foreign stamps.
Ā
Note:Ā In exchange for: He gave them his old car in exchange for a new one.
Ā
*32. Fail in, not from.
Donāt Say:Ā Ā Steven failed from mathās last year.
Say:Ā Steven failed in mathās last year.
Ā
*33. Full of, not with or from.
Donāt Say:Ā The jar was full with (or from) oil. Ā Ā Ā Ā
Say:Ā The jar was full of oil.
Ā
Note:Ā Fill takes with: Jane filled the glass with water.
Ā
*34. Get rid of, not from.
Donāt Say:Ā Ā I'll be glad to get rid from him. Ā Ā
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