Common error exercise - Prepositions

FYP – Common Error Examples from Student Work

The following 10 sentences, taken from PolyU students' work, all contain an error in prepositions. Correct the sentences in the answerbox below.
Then click to see the correct sentence and feedback.

1.	Using the internet, people can buy things on other countries.
	Correct sentence: Using the internet, people can buy things on from other countries. We use 'from' to indicate the origin of something; where something comes from.
2.	This research will emphasise on analysis of the current and prospective retail market of China.
	Correct sentence: This research will emphasise on analysis of the current and prospective retail market of China. 'Emphasise' is usually followed by the object. In the passive, we can say something is emphasised by something/someone else . Emphasis – a noun – may be followed by 'on' 'They place the emphasis on teaching…'
3.	They were also asked whether they prefer to Chinese or Japanese writers.
	Correct sentence: They were also asked whether they prefer to Chinese or Japanese writers. 'Prefer' is usually followed by the object. In the passive, we can say something is preferred by someone. Prefer can be followed by a noun phrase (prefer something), or by an infinitive (prefer to eat / to do / to go…).
4.	Except coats or sweaters, students are not permitted to wear outer clothing such as jackets or cardigans.
	Correct sentence: Except for coats or sweaters, students are not permitted to wear outer clothing such as jackets or cardigans. 'Except for' is the most common way to express this concept.. "Excepting' or 'with the exception of' are also possible.
5.	They also suggest that research should be the critical instrument to the process of theory building.
	Correct sentence: They also suggest that research should be the critical instrument to in the process of theory building. Try using a concordancer to determine which prepositions can precede “the process of”.) Click here for the Virtual language centre's concordancer. http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/concordance/ then type 'in the process of' into the Web Concordancer box on screen.
6.	The former site supervisor refused to comment this issue.
	Correct sentence: The former site supervisor refused to comment on this issue. Try using a concordancer to determine which prepositions can follow “to comment”. Click here for the Virtual language centre's concordancer. http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/concordance/ then type ‘to comment’ into the Web Concordancer box on screen.
7.	One third of the nurses had more than five years experience in caring post-operation and cancer patients.
	Correct sentence: One third of the nurses had more than five years experience in caring for post-operation and cancer patients. To 'care for' someone is a phrasal verb and the preposition is necessary.
8.	The next course will start on June 2003.
	Correct sentence: The next course will start on in June 2003. We use in for non-specific times during a day, a month, a season, a year or an event.
9.	The respondents felt that the book did not suit to their learning objectives.
	Correct sentence: The respondents felt that the book did not suit to their learning objectives. 'To suit' is usually followed directly by the object with no preposition.
10.	He mentioned that Japanese was presented in two types of script by this book.
	Correct sentence: He mentioned that Japanese was presented in two types of script by in this book. Preposition of place or location.