USING A WRONG PREPOSITION 02

Dialog

Right, you. Pay attention. We're doing English today, and you clearly need the help. First up. Is it correct to say: It depends from himself?

Um, I think... It depends from himself? It sounds a bit formal, maybe, so it could be right?

Oh, for goodness sake, no! It's not right at all. You never say depends from. It should be depends on or depends upon himself. When something depends, it relies on something, and we use on for that connection. Honestly, it's basic.

Next. He was deprived from his freedom. Correct or incorrect?

That one... it sounds a bit wrong, doesn't it? I think it should be of. He was deprived of his freedom. Is that better?

Huh. You actually got one right. Good job. Yes, it's of. When you deprive someone, you take something away from them, so it's of what was taken. Not from. See? You're not completely hopeless after all.

Listen carefully for this one. Many people have died from malaria. Is that sentence grammatically sound?

Died from malaria? People say that all the time. So, yes, I think it's sound.

Wrong again, you dolt! It's not sound! You die of an illness, not from it. It's just how we say it in English, to show the illness is the cause. So, it's died of malaria. Try to remember the common ones.

My book is different than yours. What's wrong with that?

Different than? No, that doesn't sound right at all. It should be different from yours.

Exactly! Finally, some sense. We always say different from. Things are different from each other, not than. Don't let anyone try to tell you otherwise, you'll sound silly.

Alright, your turn. I was disappointed from his work. What do you make of that?

Disappointed from? No, it's disappointed in. Like, I was disappointed in my exam results.

Hey! Watch it, you. But yes, you're right. It's disappointed in a thing when you see it's not what you expected. We only use disappointed of when you fail to get something, like disappointed of our hopes. But for his work, it's definitely in. Don't try to get clever with the exceptions yet.

Moving on. I divided the cake in four parts. Is that how you'd say it?

Divided the cake in four parts... Hmm. I think it should be into four parts. You divide things into pieces.

Spot on. You divide something into parts because you are making a change, putting it into new sections. Unless you're just dividing it in half or in two, then "in" is fine. For specific parts, it's into. Pretty clever for you.

Okay. I have no doubt for his ability. Is that correct?

No doubt for... I think it should be of or about. I have no doubt of his ability.

Correct. When you're talking about doubt as a noun, it's of or about. It connects the doubt to the thing you're doubting. Not for. You're doing surprisingly well today. Don't let it go to your head, though.

How about this: The woman was dressed with black. What do you think?

Dressed with black? No, that's definitely wrong. It should be dressed in black. Or you could just say she was in black.

Excellent! You wear clothes in a colour or material. You're not dressed with them as if they're some sort of decoration. So, in. See? Some of these are easy when you actually try.

Right, your turn. This is an exception of the rule. Yes or no?

Exception of the rule... No, it's an exception to the rule. Like it's an exception to what normally happens.

Precisely. An exception is always to a rule, not of it. It means it goes against the rule. We say "with the exception of," but that's a different phrase. Just remember to for an exception by itself.

Next. They exchanged wheat by machinery. Is that correct?

Exchanged by machinery? No, it sounds like the machinery did the exchanging. It should be exchanged wheat for machinery.

That's right. When you exchange one thing for another, you give one and receive the other for it. Not by, which implies the method. You're actually listening for once, which is a miracle.

He failed from mathematics last year. What do you say?

Failed from? No, you fail in a subject. He failed in mathematics.

Unbelievable. You're on a roll. Yes, you fail in a subject or an exam. Not from. Failing from something makes no sense. Keep it up.

The jar was full with oil. Is that good English?

Full with oil... No, it's full of oil. Everything is full of something.

You got it. Things are full of things. It's the standard way to express what something contains. No with, no from. Simple, really, if you just think for a second.

I shall be glad to get rid from him. Correct?

Get rid from him? No, it's get rid of him. You want to get something of your presence.

Yes, you do. You get rid of someone or something. Always of. You don't want to make mistakes with that one, do you? Especially if you want to get rid of something annoying.

I am glad from the news. Is that right?

Glad from the news... No, you're glad of or about the news. Not from.

Excellent. You're glad of or about news or an event. It expresses your feeling towards it. But if you're talking about a result, it's glad at. For now, remember of or about. You're doing better than I expected, actually. Don't tell anyone I said that.

My brother is good in mathematics. Your opinion?

Good in mathematics? No, you're good at something. Good at mathematics.

Right you are. You are good at a skill or a subject. If you said "good in class," that means your behaviour is good. But for ability, it's at. Good distinction. You almost sound smart.

You must guard from bad habits. Is that how we say it?

Guard from bad habits... No, you guard against bad habits. You protect yourself against them.

Exactly. You guard against something you want to prevent or protect yourself from. Not from. It makes perfect sense when you think about it. Good.

He was found guilty for murder. True or false?

Guilty for murder? No, it's guilty of murder. The guilt is of the crime.

You're quick today. Yes, you're guilty of a crime. The crime is what you are found guilty of. Keep that one straight in your head.

He is independent from his parents. What's wrong with that?

Independent from his parents? No, he is independent of his parents. It means he doesn't rely on them.

Very good. You are independent of something or someone when you don't depend on them. It's a key word. Don't confuse it with from. You're actually explaining things well.

They are indifferent for politics. Correct?

Indifferent for politics? No, it's indifferent to politics. They don't care about it.

Exactly. When you're indifferent, you're usually indifferent to something. It's like you're not affected by it. Another good one. Keep your brain working.

He always insisted to his opinion. Is that right?

Insisted to his opinion? No, you insist on your opinion. You stick on it.

That's the one. You insist on something because you are firm about it, you stand on it. Not to. You're not giving up, are you? Good.

She is not interested for her work. What's the mistake?

Not interested for her work? That's wrong. It should be interested in her work.

Correct. You are interested in something. It means your attention is in it. Easy peasy, if you just bother to pay attention.

He is very jealous from his brother. Yes or no?

Jealous from his brother? No, it's jealous of his brother. The feeling is of that person.

Spot on. You are jealous of someone or something. It's a common feeling, and a common mistake if you use from. Don't mess that one up.

They are leaving to England soon. Right?

Leaving to England? No, it's leaving for England. You leave for a destination.

You're absolutely right. You leave for a place, meaning that's your destination. Not to. You're not going to leave this lesson early, are you? I didn't think so.

He lives from his brother's money. Is that proper?

Lives from his brother's money? No, he lives on his brother's money. It's what he relies on.

Perfect. You live on something, meaning that's what sustains you or supports you. Good explanation. You're actually quite capable when you put your mind to it.

Look to this beautiful picture. Your thoughts?

Look to this picture? No, it's look at this picture. You look at something to see it.

That's right. You look at something. It means you direct your gaze towards it. There are lots of "look" phrases, but for simply seeing something, it's at. Don't mix them up, you.

Last one. She was married with a rich man. Is that correct English?

Married with a rich man? No, it's married to a rich man. You're married to a person.

And that's exactly correct. You are married to someone. It's a strong connection. You didn't give up at the end, did you? I suppose you're not completely useless after all.

Summary

• 23. Depend on or upon, not from.
• 24. Deprive of, not from.
• 25. Die of an illness, not from an illness.
• 26. Different from, not than.
• 27. Disappointed in, not from. (NOTE. We are disappointed in a thing when we see that it is not what we expected or desired, but we are disappointed of a thing when we fail to get it: as, "We were disappointed of our hopes.")
• 28. Divide into parts, not in parts. (NOTE. But a thing may be divided "in half" or "in two": as, "He divided the apple in half (or in two).")
• 29. Doubt (n.) of or about, not for. (NOTE. Also "doubtful of": as, "I am doubtful of his ability to pass.")
• 30. Dressed in, not with. (NOTE. "The woman was in black," is also correct.)
• 31. Exception to, not of. (NOTE. But we say "with the exception of": as, "He liked all his studies with the exception of Latin.")
• 32. Exchange for, not by.
• 33. Fail in, not from.
• 34. Full of, not with or from.
• 35. Get rid of, not from.
• 36. Glad of or about, not from or with. (NOTE. But a person is "glad at" a result: as, "He is glad at having received a good mark.")
• 37. Good at, not in. (NOTE. But "weak in": as, "He is weak in grammar." NOTE 2. He is good in class" means that his conduct is good.)
• 38. Guard against, not from.
• 39. Guilty of, not for.
• 40. Independent of, not from.
• 41. Indifferent to, not for.
• 42. Insist on, not to.
• 43. Interested in, not for.
• 44. Jealous of, not from.
• 45. Leave for a place, not to a place.
• 46. Live on, not from. (NOTE. Also "feed on": as, "Some birds feed on insects.")
• 47. Look at, not to.
• 48. Married to, not with.

Reference: T. J. FITIKIDES, "COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH" p5 - p8