Learn preposition for verbs with common usage and common mistake examples. Also see Spanish meaning of different prepositions.

1. Spoken English
Mixed Preposition (for Verbs)
By
Ash Vyas

2. Preposition
•A preposition is a short word used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other
words within a sentence.
•They are normally placed directly before the noun.
•There are 100+ prepositions in English language.
•Do not write first character of preposition in capital. Always write preposition in
small letters.

3. Types of Prepositions
•Preposition of Time
•Preposition of Place
•All other (Mixed Preposition)

4. List of Single Word Prepositions – Most Common
Preposition Spanish
Translation
Preposition Spanish
Translation
Preposition Spanish
Translation
about acerca de beside junto a near cerca
above encima between Entre of de
across a través de beyond más allá off apagado
after después by por on en
against en contra despite A pesar de onto sobre
along a lo largo down abajo opposite opuesto
among entre during durante out fuera
around alrededor except excepto outside fuera de
as como for para over encima
at at from de past pasado

5. List of Single Word Prepositions – Most Common
Preposition Spanish
Translation
Preposition Spanish
Translation
Preposition Spanish
Translation
to to before antes de round redondo
towards hacia behind detrás since ya que
under debajo below abajo than que
underneath debajo beneath debajo through mediante
unlike diferente a in en without sin
until hasta inside dentro with con
up arriba into dentro within dentro
upon sobre like me gusta via vía

6. List of Groups of Words work as a Single Prepositions – Most Common
Preposition Spanish
Translation
Preposition Spanish
Translation
Preposition Spanish
Translation
ahead of
antes de except for
excepto por owing to
debido a
apart from
aparte de in addition to
además de such as
como
as for
como para in front of
en frente de up to
hasta
as well as
tanto como in place of
en lugar de out of
fuera de
because of
porque in spite of
a pesar de outside of
fuera de
due to
debido a
inside of
dentro de
on account of
por cuenta
de
instead of
en lugar de on top of
encima de near to
cerca

7. Tips to Use Common Preposition
The following verbs don't need a preposition so don't use preposition with them.
1. Tell / Inform
•Ash told/informed to me about the situation -> Wrong
•Ash told/informed me about the situation -> Right
2. Call / Phone / Ring
•Please call/phone/ (give a ) ring to the HR department -> Wrong
•Please call/phone/ (give a ) ring the HR department -> Right

8. Tips to Use Common Preposition
3. Answer / Discuss / Contact
• Ash answered to my question -> Wrong
•Ash answered my question -> Right
• Manager discussed about the improvement areas-> Wrong
•Manager discussed the improvement areas -> Right
• Now our team will contact to/with him -> Wrong
•Now our team will contact him -> Right

9. Tips to Use Common Preposition
The following verbs lose the preposition if you change the word order.
Read / Write / Teach / Send
•HR read the new policies to staff -> HR read staff the new policies
•Ash wrote the MOM for him -> Ash wrote him the MOM
•You can teach grammar to class -> You can teach class grammar
•I sent that email to him -> I sent him that email

10. Tips to Use Common Preposition
Change:
This word can be used with preposition ‘in’ or ‘to’.
Change in = change that happens without our intentional actions
Example: Change in diet can cause pimples.
Change to = change that we make purposely
Example: Change to routine can resolve many health problems.

11. Tips to Use Common Preposition
Adjective Preposition Example(s)
aware, full of
They weren’t aware of the event.
different, separate from
Is Spanish very different from English?
due, similar to
Your dress is similar to one of mine.
familiar, wrong with
What’s wrong with your mood today?
good at We were really good at maxing excuses.
interested in
Lots of people are interested in digital marketing these days.
responsible, good for
You are responsible for your success and failure.
worried, excited about
I’m really excited about the seminar next week.
surprised at / by
We were really surprised at/by her behavior.
Cause Of
Does anyone know the cause of the pollution?
a few adjectives commonly have a specific preposition. List of such common
adjective preposition pair

12. Tips to Use Common Preposition
Noun Preposition Example(s)
age, attempt, point at
18 is the age at which you are allowed to get driving license.
She is making her last attempt at the graduate school.
need, reason,
responsibility
for
What’s the reason for your resignation?
Nobody seems to have responsibility for the pollution control.
changes, differences,
increase
in Changes in society have meant that people started taking
responsibilities.
There’s been a steady increase in the value of the good employees.
inquiry, investigation,
research
into The police inquiry into that matter continues.
She did some research into the progress of new development.
cause, example, way of
This is an example of international collaboration.
We need to find another way of improving ourselves.
approach, reaction,
response
to
My reaction to it was just let it be the way it is!
Her response to the change was weird.
a few nouns commonly have a specific preposition. List of such common noun
preposition pair

13. Common mistakes with prepositions:
Noun Preposition Example(s)
Address of
Wrong get the address to your nearest colleges.
Right get the address of your nearest colleges.
awareness of
Wrong There is a growing awareness about skill development
Right There is a growing awareness of skill development
advertisement for
Wrong I saw an advertisement of/about a Digital Marketer
Right I saw an advertisement for a Digital Marketer
congratulations on
Wrong Congratulations for/to your new job!
Right Congratulations on your new job!
course in
Wrong I’d like to do a course of digital marketing
Right I’d like to do a course in digital marketing
exhibition of
Wrong We went to see an exhibition about handicraft items
Right We went to see an exhibition of handicraft items

14. Common mistakes with prepositions:
Noun Preposition Example(s)
information on/about
Wrong Could you give us some information of your family?
Right Could you give us some information on/about your family?
interest in
Wrong He seems to have less interest to work.
Right He seems to have less interest in work.
invitation to
Wrong The invitation of the inauguration is here
Right The invitation to the inauguration is here
lesson in
Wrong I need some lessons of Search Engine Optimization.
Right I need some lessons in Search Engine Optimization.
member of
Wrong Anyone can become a member in this committee
Right Anyone can become a member of this committee
method of
Wrong the best method to improvement is self discipline
Right the best method of improvement is self discipline

15. Common mistakes with prepositions:
Noun Preposition Example(s)
place in
Wrong I’d love to show you some of the nice places of Gujarat
Right I’d love to show you some of the nice places in Gujarat.
possibility of
Wrong
The possibility to make contact with other professionals is high
in events.
Right
The possibility of making contact with other professionals is high
in events.
problem of
Wrong The problem to find a good employee is common
Right The problem of finding a good employee is common
reason for
Wrong What is the reason of all these procedures?
Right What is the reason for all these procedures?
risk of
Wrong We all know the risks for/about getting sick due to lack of sleep.
Right We all know the risks of getting sick due to lack of sleep.

16. Common mistakes with prepositions:
Noun Preposition Example(s)
translation into
Wrong Ash did translation in English from Spanish doc
Right Ash did translation into English from Spanish doc
visit to
Wrong The visit in/of the city center was mesmerizing.
Right The visit to the city center was mesmerizing.

17. Any Questions?
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