ERRORS IN  PREPOSITIONS
 
  A preposition is a word which is used before a noun, a noun phrase or a pronoun, connecting it to another word. Even advanced learners of English find prepositions difficult, as a one to one translation is usually not possible. One preposition in your native language might have several translations depending on the situation. There are hardly any rules as to when to use which preposition. The only way to learn prepositions is looking them up in a dictionary and enhancing reading habits. One important thing to note is that a preposition is followed by a "noun"; it is never followed by a verb.
  
  1.    Preposition is not used after certain verbs: order, describe, discu-ss, marry, meet, attend, tell, etc
      E.g. John married with Maggie in the church. (Incorrect)
      John married Maggie in the church. (Correct)
  
  2.    Preposition is not used after await.
      E.g. He is awaiting for you. (Incorrect)
      He is awaiting you. (Correct)
  
  3.    'Beside' means by the side of, 'besides' means in addition to.
      E.g. He sat besides me. (Incorrect)
      He sat beside me. (Correct)
  
  4.    Agree with a person, agree to a thing.
      E.g. They agree to him. (Incorrect)
      They agree with him. (Correct)
  
  5.    Angry with a person, angry at a thing.
      E.g. I am angry with his behaviour. (Incorrect)
      I am angry at his behaviour. (Correct)
  
  6.    Time expressions beginning with-this, that, next, last are used without a preposition.
      E.g. He will return in this month. (Incorrect)
      He will return this month. (Correct)
  
  7.    No preposition is used after yesterday, today and tomorrow.
      E.g. I will meet you on tomorrow. (Incorrect)
      I will meet you tomorrow. (Correct)
  
  8.    'On time' means at the time arranged, not before, not after. 'In time' is not late.
      E.g. The class started on time.
      The students should be in time for the class.
  
  9.    'At the beginning' is exactly at the beginning. 'In the beginning' means in the early stages.
      E.g. At the beginning of the book you find a table of contents.
      In the beginning our company had a small apartment. Later we had a big building.
  
  10.    'At the end' is exactly at the end. 'In the end' means after sometime.
      E.g. At the end of the book there is the index.
      At first he was very enthusiastic but in the end he changed his mind.
  
  11.    'Between' is used when we refer to two persons or things. 'Among' is used when we refer to more than two persons or things.
      E.g. I stood between Sita and Gita.
      The girls quarreled among themselves.
  
  12.    'For' is used for a period of time. 'Since' is used for a point in time.
      E.g. Ravi has been waiting for three hours.
      Ravi has been waiting since 6'O clock.
  
  13.    Do not use the Preposition 'to' after tell, show, or promise.
      E.g. Do not tell to anyone. (Incorrect)
      Do not tell anyone. (Correct)
  
  Practice test
  1.    You should be pleased ____ the results.
      a) With    b) for    c) over    d) at
  
  2.    The bus stops just ____ the traffic lights.
      a) down b) to    c) before d) of
  
  3.    I've spent two years ____ that company.
      a) to     b) for     c) at     d) off
  
  4.    The police chased___the thieves.
      a) behind     b) along
      c) after         d) of
  
  5.    From the apartment we could walk ____ to the sea.
      a) beyond     b) below
      c) down     d) into
  
  6.    We were delighted___her news.
      a) for     b) by     c) of    d) in
  
  7.    The proposal is ____ consideration at the moment.
      a) for     b) with     c) under     d) up
  
  8.    The shares have risen ____ six Euros each.
      a) up     b) at     c) to     d) in
  
  9.    It was sunny all ____ the summer months.
      a) through     b) between
      c) round     d) around
  
  10.    My brother's really ____ snowboarding - he goes every winter.
      a) for     b) over    c) into     d) at
  Answers:
  
      1) a; 2) c; 3) c; 4) c; 5) c;
      6) b; 7) c; 8) c; 9) a; 10) c.
  
  IDIOMS AND PHRASES
  Idioms and phrases are recognized through experience. Sometimes ordinary words fail to embody the experience or catch the spirit of the special situation. Phrases are rather interesting and they add flavour to our language. Idioms and phrases are meant to enrich a language. Thus, in order to have a native's command over English, it is necessary to understand idioms. An idiom is a phrase where the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words.
  
  An idiom's figurative meaning is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. Idioms are numerous and they occur frequently in all languages. They are often metaphorical and make the language more colourful. People use them to express something more vividly and often more briefly. They serve as an image or mental picture.
  E.g. Let the cat out of the bag: If you let the cat out of the bag, you reveal a secret.
  Cry over split milk: Worry over things that have already happened and that cannot be changed.
  
  Practice test
  In these questions, four alternatives are given for the idiom/ phrase given in bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/ phrase.
  
  1.    A few days before his death, he made a clean breast of everything.
      a) Confessed
      b) Took off his shirt
      c) Suffered    d) Spoke ill
  2.    I am done for.
      a) Ruined    b) Rewarded
      c) Answered    d) Questioned
  
  3.    For a healthy and lasting friendship one must be on the level.
      a) Equally rich
      b) Mentally compatible
      c) Honest and sincere
      d) Ready for sacrifices
  
  4.    The foolish young man soon made ducks and drakes of the vast property his father left him.
      a) Squandered    b) Distributed
      c) Spent    d) Gave in charity
  
  5.    All his ventures went to the winds.
      a) Dissipated    b) Spread all over
      c) Got speed of the winds
      d)    Became well-known
  
  6.    You have to raise your voice a little when talking to him. He's a little hard of hearing.
      a) Stubborn
      b)    Quiet when he speaks
      c) Deaf
      d) Distracted
  
  7.    I've been working hard for the last few months trying to make ends meet, but something I'm not even expecting always comes up and I have to pay for it.
      a)    make enough money to pay for expenses
      b)    survive
      c)    meet my family's needs
      d)    make good business
  
  8.    Everybody thought Julie and Robert were a happy couple, but it was all just make believe.
      a) modesty
      b) pretending
      c) reality  d) denial
  
  9.    She should give him a taste of his own medicine.
      a)    she got medicine for him
      b)    she should tell him not to take drugs
      c)    she should taste medicine before giving it to him
      d)    she should do to him what he did to her
  
  10.    It was raining cats and dogs when we got off the bus.
      a)    There were cats and dogs descending from the sky.
      b)    We were getting wet
      c)    It was raining on cats and dogs
      d)    It was raining heavily
  Answers:
      1) a; 2) a; 3) a; 4) a; 5) a;
      6) c; 7) a; 8) b; 9) d; 10) d.