Common mistakes with prepositions
*22. Depend on or upon, not from.
Don’t Say: It depends from her.
Say: It depends on (or upon) her.
Note: Rely on or upon. I can't rely on (or upon) him.
*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.
Note: 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.
*25. Different from, not than
Don’t Say: My book is different than yours.
Say: My book is different from yours.
*26. Disappointed by, about or at, not from.
(a) by/at/about:
Don’t Say: Phillipa was disappointed from the low mark she got in the test.
Say: Phillipa was disappointed by/about/at the low mark she got in the test.
(b) with/in:
Don’t Say: Jane was disappointed from her son.
Say: Jane was disappointed with/in her son.
Note: 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.
*27. Divide into parts, not in parts.
Don’t Say: I divided the cake in four parts.
Say: I divided the cake into four parts.
Note: A thing may be divided in half or in two: Paul divided the apple in half (or in two).
*28. No doubt (n) of or about, not for.
Don’t Say: I've no doubt for his ability,
Say: I've no doubt of (or about) his ability.
Note: Doubtful of: I am doubtful of his ability to pass.
*29. Dressed in, not with.
Don’t Say: The woman was dressed with black.
Say: The woman was dressed in black.
Note: The woman was in black is also correct.
*30. Exception to, not of.
Don’t Say: This is an exception of the rule.
Say: This is an exception to the rule.
Note: We say with the exception of: She liked all her subjects with the exception of physics
*31. Exchange for, not by.
Don’t Say: He exchanged his collection of matchboxes by some foreign stamps.
Say: He exchanged his collection of matchboxes for some foreign stamps.
Note: In exchange for: He gave them his old car in exchange for a new one.
*32. Fail in, not from.
Don’t Say: Steven failed from math’s last year.
Say: Steven failed in math’s last year.
*33. Full of, not with or from.
Don’t Say: The jar was full with (or from) oil.
Say: The jar was full of oil.
Note: Fill takes with: Jane filled the glass with water.
*34. Get rid of, not from.
Don’t Say: I'll be glad to get rid from him.
@EasyEnglishlessonforyou
*22. Depend on or upon, not from.
Don’t Say: It depends from her.
Say: It depends on (or upon) her.
Note: Rely on or upon. I can't rely on (or upon) him.
*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.
Note: 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.
*25. Different from, not than
Don’t Say: My book is different than yours.
Say: My book is different from yours.
*26. Disappointed by, about or at, not from.
(a) by/at/about:
Don’t Say: Phillipa was disappointed from the low mark she got in the test.
Say: Phillipa was disappointed by/about/at the low mark she got in the test.
(b) with/in:
Don’t Say: Jane was disappointed from her son.
Say: Jane was disappointed with/in her son.
Note: 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.
*27. Divide into parts, not in parts.
Don’t Say: I divided the cake in four parts.
Say: I divided the cake into four parts.
Note: A thing may be divided in half or in two: Paul divided the apple in half (or in two).
*28. No doubt (n) of or about, not for.
Don’t Say: I've no doubt for his ability,
Say: I've no doubt of (or about) his ability.
Note: Doubtful of: I am doubtful of his ability to pass.
*29. Dressed in, not with.
Don’t Say: The woman was dressed with black.
Say: The woman was dressed in black.
Note: The woman was in black is also correct.
*30. Exception to, not of.
Don’t Say: This is an exception of the rule.
Say: This is an exception to the rule.
Note: We say with the exception of: She liked all her subjects with the exception of physics
*31. Exchange for, not by.
Don’t Say: He exchanged his collection of matchboxes by some foreign stamps.
Say: He exchanged his collection of matchboxes for some foreign stamps.
Note: In exchange for: He gave them his old car in exchange for a new one.
*32. Fail in, not from.
Don’t Say: Steven failed from math’s last year.
Say: Steven failed in math’s last year.
*33. Full of, not with or from.
Don’t Say: The jar was full with (or from) oil.
Say: The jar was full of oil.
Note: Fill takes with: Jane filled the glass with water.
*34. Get rid of, not from.
Don’t Say: I'll be glad to get rid from him.
@EasyEnglishlessonforyou