UNNECESSARY WORDS - UNNECESSARY PREPOSITIONS

Dialog

Alright, listen up, you. I'm going to test your English. Pay attention, because if you get it wrong, it's not my fault if you sound like an idiot later.

Oh. Okay. I'll try my best. I hope I get them right.

Whatever. Let's start with this one. I'll give you a sentence, and you tell me if it's correct. Got it?

Here's the first one: Please answer my question. Is that sentence correct?

Yes, I think so. That sounds right to me.

Of course it is. You don't need 'to' when you use 'answer' as a verb. 'Answer' already means 'reply to'. It's simple English, honestly. Though, if you were using 'answer' as a noun, like 'his answer', then you would need 'to'. Tricky, but you should still try to remember it. For me, I mean.

Next. Do not approach to that house. What about that one? Correct?

Oh. That sounds... a bit off, maybe? No, wait, 'approach to'... it feels okay. I'm not sure. Is it correct?

Honestly, you're hopeless sometimes. No, it's not correct! 'Approach' means 'come near to'. So 'to' is already part of the meaning. You just say 'approach that house'. You really need to listen more carefully if you want to pass.

Right, try this: I asked the teacher about it. Is it right?

Yes, that's definitely right. I use that all the time.

Good, at least you got one right without too much fuss. You don't say 'asked to the teacher'. The verb 'ask' doesn't need 'to' when you're saying who you asked. See? Not so hard when you actually know what you're doing.

They attacked against the enemy. What do you think? Correct?

Hmm, 'attacked against'. Yes, that makes sense. They attacked against them. So, correct.

Wrong again! You really aren't trying, are you? 'Attack' already means 'go and fight against'. So 'against' is completely unnecessary. Just 'they attacked the enemy'. It's not rocket science.

Now, this sentence: The book comprises five chapters. Is that correct?

Yes, that sounds fine. I think that's how you say it.

It is. 'Comprises' means 'consists of', so you don't need the 'of' after it. Some people put it there, but they're wrong. Don't be like them. Be like me.

We entered into the classroom. What about that sentence? Is it right?

'Entered into'... yeah, that sounds normal. I think it's correct.

Ugh, you always pick the wrong one when I give you a choice. 'Enter' means 'go into'. So 'into' is already there, mentally. You just 'enter the classroom'. Simple. But, and this is important, you do 'enter into' a conversation or a debate. See? English is tricky, but you'll get it if you just pay attention. Maybe.

Here's one: I have finished my work. Correct?

Yes, that's correct. I say that.

Good. 'Finished' means 'come to the end of', so 'from' is just extra noise. You've finished your work, not finished from your work. Keep it simple.

He left from England last week. Is that correct?

Left from... yeah, that sounds natural. I'm pretty sure that's correct.

You are pretty sure, and you are pretty wrong. 'Leave' means 'depart from', so you don't need to add 'from' after it. It's 'he left England last week'. Honestly, you'd think this would be obvious.

We should obey our teachers. Is that sentence okay?

Yes, that's absolutely correct.

Yes, it is. And you should try it sometimes. 'Obey' means 'act according to', so you don't need 'to'. Just 'obey our teachers'. It's not hard when you know the rules.

He permitted to him to stay here. Is that one correct?

'Permitted to him'... it sounds a bit formal, but I think it's right.

You thought wrong. 'Permit' means 'give permission to', so you don't add another 'to' for the person. It's 'he permitted him to stay here'. 'Allow' is similar, like 'he allowed him to stay here'. See? You just have to learn these things.

We reached the school early. What about that?

Yes, that's correct. I say that often.

Good. 'Reach' means 'arrive at', so 'at' is not needed. You just 'reach the school'. You're getting better at these, I suppose. A little bit.

Does he resemble to his father? And this? Correct or not?

Hmm. 'Resemble to'... I hear people say that sometimes. So, yes? It's correct?

No! You listen to the wrong people. 'Resemble' means 'be similar to', so you don't need 'to'. It's just 'Does he resemble his father?'. You need to be more careful with these. Although, if you say 'resemblance', like 'he has no resemblance to his father', then 'to' is fine. Why is it always so complicated? But you still have to learn it.

Next: I told him to come at once. Is that right?

Yes, that's definitely right. No extra words there.

Correct. 'Tell' means 'say to', so you don't need 'to' again. Just 'I told him'. See? You're actually listening sometimes. Maybe I don't have to explain everything twice to you.

He hid behind of a large tree. What about that sentence? Correct?

'Behind of'... that sounds normal. I think it's correct.

No! 'Behind' already means 'at the back of'. You don't need 'of'. It's just 'he hid behind a large tree'. Honestly, you make it harder than it is.

The boys went inside the room. Is that okay?

Yes, that's correct.

Exactly. 'Inside' means 'on the inner side of', so 'of' is unnecessary. You're finally getting the hang of these 'unnecessary word' ones. I knew you could do it if you just applied yourself.

They stood outside of the door. Correct or not?

Hmm. 'Outside of'... I'm going to say no. It just sounds like 'outside the door'.

Well, well, you actually got it! 'Outside' means 'out of', so 'of' is redundant. You just say 'they stood outside the door'. You're not completely hopeless after all, I suppose.

Last one. The earth goes round the sun. Is that sentence okay?

Yes! That's definitely right. I remember that from science class.

Well done, for once you remembered something useful! 'Round' already means 'on all sides of', so 'of' is not needed. 'Around' is also used the same way. See, you can learn these things when you try. Maybe you're not entirely hopeless after all. But don't get a big head about it.

Thank you! I actually feel a bit better about my English now. You explain things really clearly.

Don't get ahead of yourself. You still make loads of mistakes. But... maybe you're not completely awful. Now, pay attention because we're doing this again tomorrow.

Summary

• 291. Answer (= reply to). Don't say: Please answer to my question Say: Please answer my question. NOTE. But the noun "answer' takes to'': as, "His answer to my question was wrong."
• 292. Approach (= come near to) Don't say: Do not approach to that house.. Say: Do not approach that house.
• 293. Ask (= put a question to). Don't say: I asked to the teacher about it. Say: I asked the teacher about it.
• 294. Attack (= go and fight against). Don't say: They attacked against the enemy. Say: They attacked the enemy. attack on the enemy.' 65
• 295. Comprise (= consist of). Don't say: The book comprises of five chapters. Say: The book comprises five chapters.d
• 296. Enter (= go into). Don't say: We entered into the classroom. Say: We entered the classroom. NOTE. But we enter "into" a conversation, a debate, or a discussion.
• 297. Finish (= come to the end of).. Don't say: I have finished from my work.. Say: I have finished my work.
• 298. Leave (-- depart from). Don't say: He left from England last week. Say: He left England last week.
• 299. Obey (=- act according to). Don't say: We should obey to our teachers.. Say: We should obey our teachers.
• 300. Permit (-- give permission to). Don't say: He permitted to him to stay here Say: He permitted him to stay here. NOTE. "Allow' is similar in meaning and use to "permit": as,. "He allowed him to stay here.".
• 301. Reach (--: arrive at). Don't say: We reached at the school carly Say: We reached the schcol carly.
• 302. Resemble (= be similar to). Don't say: Does he resemble to his father? 65 UNNECESSARY WORDS Say: Does he resemble his father?. has no resemblance to his father'; "There is no resemblance between them."
• 303. Tell (= say to). Don't say: I told to him to come at once. Say: I told him to come at once
• 304. Behind (=- at the back of). Don't say: He hid behind of a large tree. Say: He hid behind a large tree.
• 305. Inside (- on the inner side of). Don't say: The boys went inside of the room. Say: The boys went inside the room.
• 306. Outside (= out of). Don't say: They stood outside of the door. Say: They stood outside the door.
• 307. Round (= on all sides of). Don't say: The earth goes round of the sun. Say: The earth goes round the sun. NOTE. "Around" is similar in meaning and use to "round." (See Exercises 90 and 91 on pages 181182.)

Reference: T. J. FITIKIDES, "COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH" p65 - p67