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. Prevent from + -ing.

  • Don’t say: The rain prevented me to go.
  • Say: The rain prevented me from going.

2. Succeed in + -ing.

  • Don’t say: Paula succeeded to win the prize.
  • Say: Paula succeeded in winning the prize.

3. Think of + -ing.

  • Don’t say: J often think to go to England.
  • Say: I often think of going to England.

4. Tired of t- -ing.

  • Don’t say: The customer got tired to wait,
  • Say: The customer got tired of waiting.

5. Used to + -ing.

  • Don’t say: She’s used to get up early.
  • Say: She’s used to getting up early.

6. Avoid + -ing.

  • Don’t say: You can’t avoid to make mistakes.
  • Say: You can’t avoid making mistakes.

Note: Also can’t help (= can’t avoid)

  • Example: I can’t help laughing.

7. Enjoy + -ing.

  • Don’t say: i enjoy to play football.
  • Say: I enjoy playing football.

Note: Use the gerund or to + infinitive after verbs meaning to like or to dislike

Example: He likes reading English books, or He likes to read English books.

 

8. Excuse + -ing.

  • Don’t say: Please excuse me to be so late.
  • Say: Please excuse my being so late. Or: Please excuse me for being so late.

9. Finish + -ing.

  • Don’t say: Have you finished to speak?
  • Say: Have you finished speaking?

Note: To + infinitive or the gerund follow verbs meaning to begin

  • Example: She began to speak, or She began speaking.

10. Go on (continue) + -ing.

  • Don’t say: The music went on to play all day.
  • Say: The music went on playing all day.

Note: Also keep on

  • Example: She kept on playing the piano