Common Mistake in English and How to Avoid them.
Mistakes are often made by using the wrong preposition after certain words. The following list includes the words which most often give trouble:
We believe that you can speak English Correctly after avoiding these mistakes.
1. Boast of or about, not for.
- Don’t say: James boasted for his strength.
- Say: James boasted of (or about) his strength.
2. 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.
Or: You should be more careful with your money.
Note: Take care of: He takes care of his money
3. Travel by train, etc., not with the train, etc.
- Don’t say: He travelled with the train yesterday.
- Say: He travelled by train yesterday.
Note: We say: by train, by boat, by plane, by bike; also, by land, by sea, by air, by bus; in a bus or on a bus; by car or in a car, by taxi or in a taxi; on horse-back, on a donkey, on a bicycle; on foot.
4. Complain about, not for.
- Don’t say: Annette complained for the weather.
- Say: Annette complained about the weather.
Note: When talking about illness we use complain of. We say: She complained of a sore throat.
5. Composed of, not from.
- Don’t say: Our class is composed from thirty students.
- Say: Our class is composed of thirty students.
6. Confidence in, not to.
Don’t say: I have great confidence to you.
Say: I have great confidence in you.
Note: In confidence: Let me Tell you something in confidence (= a secret)
7. Conform to, not with.
- Don’t say: We must conform with the rules.
- Say. We must conform to the rules.
Note: comply takes with. We’ll comply with your request.
8. Congratulate on, not for.
- Don’t say: I congratulate you for your success.
- Say: I congratulate you on your success.
9. Consist of, not from.
- Don’t say: A year consists from twelve months.
- Say: A year consists of twelve months.
Note: Take great care never to use consist in the passive form.
10. Covered with, not by.
- Don’t say: The mountains are covered by snow.
- Say: The mountains are covered with/in snow
