Misuse of Articles and Prepositions
Articles and prepositions are small words that cause big problems for many English learners. This guide will help you identify and correct some of the most common mistakes.
Common Mistakes with Articles (a, an, the)
Using articles incorrectly can make sentences sound unnatural.
| Mistake Type | Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omitting a Required Article | "She adopted dog from the shelter." | "She adopted a dog from the shelter." | Singular countable nouns like "dog" need an article. |
| Using an Article When Not Needed | "I go to the school by bus." | "I go to school by bus." | No article is needed when referring to the general concept of places like school, college, or prison. |
| Confusing "a" and "an" | "He is an university student." | "He is a university student." | The choice depends on the sound, not the letter. "University" starts with a "y" sound. |
Common Mistakes with Prepositions (in, on, at, etc.)
The wrong preposition can change the meaning of your sentence.
| Mistake Type | Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrong Preposition for Skills | "I am good in playing guitar." | "I am good at playing guitar." | Use "at" to talk about skills. |
| Wrong Preposition for Days/Time | "The meeting is in Monday at 10am." | "The meeting is on Monday at 10am." | Use "on" for days and "at" for specific times. |
| Omitting a Preposition | "She is married a lawyer." | "She is married to a lawyer." | The correct phrase is "married to someone". |
Tips to Avoid These Mistakes
- Always consider if a noun is specific (use "the") or general (use "a/an").
- Memorize common prepositional phrases (e.g., interested in, depend on, listen to).
- Read and listen to authentic English content to develop a natural feel for correct usage.
- When in doubt, use a grammar checker, but try to understand the correction it suggests.