Confused Prepositions

Confused Prepositions 

1.  At and In
(a) At
Incorrect: I spent my holydays in Kyrenia.
Correct: I spent my holydays at Kyrenia.
(b) In
  Incorrect: He lives at London.
  Correct: He lives in London.
Note: "In" used before the names or countries and large cities, or before the name of the place in which one is at the time of speaking. "At" is used before the names of small towns and villages, or in speaking of a distant place.
2.  To and At
(a) To
Incorrect: We come at school every morning.
Correct: We come to school every morning.
(b) At
Incorrect: Someone is standing to the door.
Correct: Someone is standing at the door.
Note: "To" is used to express motion from one place to another while "at" is used to denote position or rest.
3.  After for In
Incorrect: I may be able to go after a week.
Correct : I may be able to go in a week.
Note: When we are speaking of a space of time in the future, we must use "in" and not "after."
4. In for Within
Incorrect: I will come back in an hour.
Correct: I will come back within an hour.
Note: "In" means after the end of; "within" means before the end of.
5. To and Till
(a) To
Incorrect: We walked till the river and back.
Correct: We walked to the river and back.
(b) Till
Incorrect: I shall stay here to next month.
Correct: I shall stay here till next month.
Note: "To" is used with distance and "till" with time.
6. In and Into
(a) In
Incorrect: He spent all the day into his room.
Correct: He spent all the day in his room.
(b) Into
Incorrect: He came in the room and sat down.
Correct: He came into the room and sat down.
Note: "In" denotes inside something,  while "into" denotes towards the inside of something.
7. On, At, In
(a) On
Incorrect: He will arrive at Monday.
Correct: He will arrive on Monday.
(b) At
Incorrect: I usually get up on 5 o'clock.
Correct: I usually get up at 5 o'clock.
(c) In
Incorrect: He talkes a walk at the afternoon.
Correct: He takes a walk in the afternoon.
Note: "On" is used with the days of the week or month.
"At" is used with the exact time.
"In" is used with a period of time.
8. For and At
(a) For
Incorrect: I bought a book at ten shillings.
Correct: I bought a book for ten shillings.
(b) At
Incorrect: I cannot buy it for such a price.
Correct: I cannot buy it at such a price.
Note: "For" is used if the actual sum is mentioned. "At" is used if the actual sum is not given.
9. Between and Among
(a) Between
Incorrect: There was a fight among two boys.
Correct: There was a fight between two boys.
(b) Among
Incorrect: Divide the mangoes between them.
Correct: Divide the mangoes among them.
Note: "Between" used for only two on the other hand "among" used for more than two.
10. Beside and Besides
(a) Beside
Incorrect: He sat besides me.
Correct: He sat beside me.
(b) Besides
Incorrect: We study Japanese beside English.
Correct: We study Japanese besides English.
Note: "Beside" means 'by the side of ' and "Besides" means 'in addition to'.
11. Except for Besides
Incorrect: I have other books except these.
Correct: I have other books besides these.
Note: Except means leaving out.
12. By for with
Incorrect: The man shot the bird by a gun.
Correct: The man shot the bird with a gun.
Note: when the action is done we use "With" and "by" denotes the doer of the action.  as- The bird was shot by the man.
13. From for by
Incorrect: Mary was punished from her father.
Correct: Mary was punished by her father.
Note: By should be used after the passive voice to show the doer of the action.
14. From for of or on
Incorrect: He is the tallest from all the boys.
Correct: He is the tallest of all the boys.
      or- He is the tallest boy in the class.
Note: Adjectives in the superlative degree are proceded by the and followed by "of" or "in".
15. For for About
Incorrect: The teacher spoke for bad habits.
Correct: The teacher spoke about bad habits.
16. Since for For
Incorrect: He has lived here since two years.
Correct: He has lived here for two years.
Note: "for' is placed before words  or phrases denoting a period of time.
17. From for Since
Incorrect: He has been ill from last Monday.
Correct: He has been ill since last Monday.
Note: "Since" placed before words or phrases denoting a point of time.

CORRECTION

CORRECTION

Rule 1:- Sentence এ yesterday উল্লেখ থাকলে past tense ও everyday উল্লেখ থাকলে present indefinite tense হবে।

I have received your letter yesterday.

Ans. I received your letter yesterday.

She is preparing her lesson every day.

Ans. She prepares her lesson every day.

Rule 2:- একটি Sentence এ দুইবার interrogative হবে না।প্রথম Sentence টি interrogative ও পরেরটি Assertive হবে। Auxiliary verb কে Subject এর পর বসালে  Sentence টি Assertive হবে।

Can you tell me what is a canal?

Ans. Can you tell me what a canal is?

Did he ask you why did you not go?

Ans. Did he ask you why you did not go?

Do you know where is the post office?

Ans. Do you know where the post office is?

Rule 3:- একটি Sentence এ দুইবার Negative হবে না। অর্থাৎ Negative words যেমনঃ- unless, until প্রভৃতির পর  not হবে না।

Unless you do not work hand, you can`t prosper in life.

Ans. Unless you work hand you can`t prosper in life.

Wait here until I do not come.

Ans. Wait here until I come.

Rule 4:- একটি Sentence এ দুইটি Future tense থাকলে, প্রথম Sentence টি Present tense ও পরেরটি Future tenseহবে।

            If you will go to Cox`Bazar, you will See the Bay of Bengal.

Ans. If you go to Cox`Bazar, you will See the Bay of Bengal.

            If it will rain tomorrow, I will not go to town.

            Ans. If it rain tomorrow, I will not go to town.

Rule 5:- একটি Sentence এ দুইটি  Conjunction বসে না।

He asked me that why I was absent.

Ans. He asked me why I was absent.

Rule 6:- কোন Sentence এর Subject one থাকলে তার possessive his  না হয়ে ones হবে।

One should do his duty.

Ans. One should do ones duty.

One should not give his opinion was ked.

Ans. One should not give ones opinion was ked.

Rule 7:- যে সমস্ত Sentence এ মাঝখানে Relative conjunction who বা that থাকে, তার পূর্বের কর্তা (antecedent) অনুযায়ী verb হবে। অর্থাৎ who এর ঠিক পূর্বে যে pronoun থাকবে, তার number এর সাথে সঙ্গতি রেখে পরবর্তী verb বসবে।

Allah helps Those who helps themselves.

Ans. Allah helps those who help themselves.

# উপরের Sentence এ who এর পূর্বের pronoun আছে those এবং এটি plural number তাই পরবর্তী verb ও plural হবে।

Allah helps him who try themselves.

Ans. Allah helps him who tries himself.  
#এই Sentence এ who  এর পূর্বে pronoun আছে him এবং এটি 3^rd person singular number. তাই পরবর্তী verb ও singular হবে।

It is I who is to blame.

Ans. It is I who am to blame.

Note: I এর পর is না হয়ে am বসে।

I is not one of those who believe everything I hear.

Ans. I am not one of those who believe everything I hear.

Rule 8:- Sentence এ subject এর পূর্বে যদি many a থাকে তবে subject টি 3^rd person singular number হবে এবং verb ও singular number হবে।

Many a men ruin their career through laziness.

Ans. Many a man ruins his career through laziness.

Rule 9:- Subject এর number অনুযায়ী তার possessive হবে।

Everybody should do their work.

Ans. Everybody should do his work.

Cowards die many times before his death.

Ans. Cowards die many times before their death.        

Rule 10:- দুইটি Subject as well as, along with ও together with দ্বারা যুক্ত থাকলে, প্রথম subject অনুযায়ী verb বসবে।

Rahim as well his friends have come here.

Ans. Rahim as well as his friends has come here.

Rule 11:- Fewer ও less   এ দুটি Adjective নিয়ে অনেক সময় Sentence এ ভুল ধরা পড়ে। সংখ্যাবাচক শব্দের সাথে Fewer এবং পরিমাণবাচক শব্দের সাথে less বসে।

You should have made less mistake today.

Ans. You should have make fewer mistake tody.

No less thon fifty men died.

Ans. No fewer than fifty men died.

There are less people here than usual.

Ans. There are fewer people here than usual.

Rule 12:- Due to ও owing to এ দুটির শব্দ দ্বারা ভুল ঘটে। এটির সহজ কথা হচ্ছে যে Incorrect sentence এ due to থাকলে owing to বসে।

He come late due to an accident.

Ans. He come late owing to an accident.

Note: Sentence এ due adjective হিসাবে to be verb এর পরে বসে। owing to মূল verb (action verb) এর পরে Adjetive ও Adverb হিসাবে বসে। সুতরাং due to sentence এর noun কে এবং owing to verb কে modify করে।

He succeeded due to hand lab our.

Ans. He succeeded owing to hand lab our.

Or His success was due to (owing to) his hand lab our.

Rule 13:- Hung ও Hang এর ব্যবহার Hung অর্থ কোন কিছু টানানো বা ঝুলানো। Hang অর্থ ফাঁসিতে ঝুলানো।

He was hung for murder.   

Ans. He was hanged for murder.

Get the picture hanged in your room.

Ans. Get the picture hung in your room.

Rule 14:- Subject একবচন হলে verb ও একবচন হবে।

The quality of the mangoes are not good.  

Ans. The quality of the mangoes is not good.  

Rule 15:- দুটি জিনিসের তুলনা বুঝালে comparative degree তে than এর পর that of বা those of বসে।

The rice of Bangladesh is better than Burma. 

Ans. The rice of Bangladesh is better than that of Barma.

The mangos of Rajshahi are better than Dinajpur.

Ans. The mangos of Rajshahi are better than those of Dinajpur.

Note: একবচনে that of এবং বহুবচনে those of বসে।

Rule 16:- কিছু verb এর সঠিক ব্যবহার না করার ফলে sentence ভুল হয়। যেমনঃ-

কাউকে বোবা বা মিথ্যাবাদী বলা- call.

বক্তৃতা দেওয়া- make ev deliver.

Dictionary তে শব্দ দেখা- Look up.

পরীক্ষার খাতা দেখা- Look over.

রোগীর নাড়ী দেখা- Feel. 

চোরকে পুলিশের কাছে দেওয়া- hand over.

পরীক্ষা দেওয়া- appear at.

ঘড়ির চাবি দেওয়া- wind up.

এ সকল verb গুলো tense অনুযায়ী past tense হয়।

            He told me a liar.

Ans. He called me a liar.

He told me a fool.

Ans. He called me a fool.

See the word in the dictionary.

Ans. Look up the word in the dictionary.

The doctor saw the pulse of the patient.

Ans. The doctor felt the pulse of the patient.

I shall give B.A Examination this yeat.

Ans. I shall appear at B.A Examination this year.

Rule 17:- Sentence এ relative conjunction যথা who, which ও that থাকলে দ্বিতীয় clause (sentence) এ subject বসে না।

            The pen which I lost yesterday is was red.

            Ans. The pen which I lost yesterday was red.

            The boy who come here yesterday he was known to me.

            Ans. The boy who come here yesterday was known to me.

Rule 18:- No sooner এর পর had ও পরে conjunction than বসে।

            No sooner the father entered the room when the son left.

            Ans. No sooner had the father entered the room than the son left.

Rule 19:- Junior, Senior, inferior, Superior ও prefer বা preferable এর পর comparative degree এ than না বসে to বসে।  

            I prefer to read than to write.

            Ans. I prefer reading to writing.

            He is more senior than me.

            Ans. He is senior to me.

Rule 20:- কতিপয় verbs †hgb discuss, resign, resemble ও ascend এর পর preposition বসে না।

            The girl resemble to her mother.

            Ans. The girl resemble her mother.

            We shall discuss about the mother.

            Ans. We shall discuss the mother.

            He has resigned  from his post.

            Ans. He has resigned his post.

Rule 21:- একটি Sentence এ একার্থবোধক (same meaning) দুইটি word বসে না।  

            Salma is comparatively bether today.

            Ans. Salma is bether today.

            The reason of my silence is due to illness.

            Ans. The reason of my silence is illness.

Rule 22:- একটি Sentence এ subject অনুযায়ী verb বসে। subject যে number ও person হবে verb ও ঠিক সেই number ও person হবে।

            He is a good boy.

            They are good boys.

            The cow eats grass.

            He goes to college.

            We go to college.

            I have a car.

            The cost of paper and printing is high.

            The colour of the flowers is charming.

            The quality of the mangos were not good.

            Ans. The quality of the mangos was not good.

            The number of the boys are small.

            Ans. The number of the boys is small.

Rule 23:- দুই বা ততোধিক Singular subject যদি and দ্বারা যুক্ত হয়, তবে verb এর plural number হবে।  

            He and I are friends.

            Karim and Rahaman are good boys.

Rule 24:- And দ্বারা যুক্ত দুই বা দুইয়ের অধিক singular noun যদি একই ব্যক্তি বা বস্তু নির্দেশ করে, তবে verb টিও অবশ্যই singular হবে।   

            My friend, guide and benefactor her come.

            The principal and chairman was present at the meeting.

            কিন্তু

            The principal and the chairman were present at the meeting.

Note:- Subject গুলোর প্রত্যেকটির পূর্বে যদি  the  থাকে তবে পৃথক পৃথক ব্যক্তি বা বস্তু বুঝায় সে ক্ষেত্রে  verb plural বসে।

            The poet and the novelist have come. (পৃথক ব্যক্তি)

            The author and publisher is an honorable man (একই ব্যক্তি)

            A blue and red pencil is wanted.

            Incorrect: The principal and secretary are present.

            Correct: The principal and secretary is present.

Rule 25:- And দ্বারা যুক্ত subject গুলো যদি একটি একক অর্থ বা ধারনা বুঝায়, বা সমষ্টিগত ভাবে একটি অর্থ বুঝায় তবে verb singular হবে। যেমনঃ-   

Bread and butter is all I want.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Rice and curry is my favorite food.

A hue and curry was raised.

The crown and glory of life is character.

The long and short of the story is this.

Incorrect: The horse and carriage are waiting at the door.

Correct: The horse and carriage is waiting at the door.

Rule 26:- দুইটি Subject as well as, along with, together with  প্রভৃতি conjunction দ্বারা যুক্ত হলে, প্রথম subject এর number ও person অনুযায়ী verb বসে।   

            The man as well as his sons are well.

Ans. The man as well as his sons is well.

The dacoit together with his followers were captured.

Ans. The dacoit together with his followers was captured.

Ramjan as well as his brothers deserve praises.

Ans. Ranjan as well as his brothers deserves praise.

 Rule 27:- দেশ বা পুস্তকের নাম plural number থাকলে ও এগুলোর পরে verb singular হবে।   

            Gulliver’s travels is an interesting book.

            The united states of America is prosperous country.  

Rule 28:- Plural subject দ্বারা নির্দিষ্ট পরিমাণ বুঝালে singular verb বষে।   

            Sixty miles is a good distance.

            Fifty thousand taka is a good sum.

# কিন্তু Word বা phrase যদি এক unit না বুঝিয়ে ভিন্ন ভিন্ন unit বুঝায় তবে verb plural হবে।

            Ten years have passed since I met him in Dhaka.

Two twenty five paisa coins are needed to make a phone call from the public telephone box.

Two thirds of the members were present.

তেমনি

The number of students in this college is increasing day by day.

 কিন্তু

A number of students have applied for admission to this college (এখানে A number দ্বারা plural বুঝাচ্ছে)

The variety of foods and vegetables displayed is the exhibition was attractive.

কিন্তু

A variety of fruits and vegetables displayed in the exhibition were attractive.

Note:- The number of ও the variety of  এর পরে singular verb বসে এবং A number of ও a variety of এর পরে plural verb বসে।

Rule 29:- Half of, the rest of, two thirds of, three-fourths of  প্রভৃতি অংশবাচক word বা phrase গুলো singular number এর আগে বসলে verb singular number হবে এবং plural noun এর আগে verb plural হবে।

Half of the sugar is missing from the pot. কিন্ত, Half of the books were novels.

Part of the banana is rotten কিন্ত,part of the mangoes are rotten.

            Two – thirds of the milk has been spoiled.

            Three – fourths of the money was spent as food and clothes. 

Rule 30:- Committee, council, commission, Board, Government, parliament, jury প্রভৃতি collective Noun এর পরে singular verb বসে।   

            The committee has elected its chairman.

            The board is unanimous.

            কিন্তু এগুলো Nouns of multitude  হিসাবে ব্যবহৃত হলে, plural verb হবে।

Rule 31:- And দ্বারা যুক্ত দুইটি singular subject এর পূর্বে যদি each every বা no words থাকে তবে তাদের verb singular হয় যেমনঃ-

Each boy each girl was given pries.

No man, no woman and no child was present there.    

            No friend and no relative cares for me.

            No bus and no rickshaw was seen.

Rule 32:- And দ্বারা যুক্ত দুইটি Subject এর একটি Positive ও অপরটি Negative হলে, প্রথম Subject অনুয়ায়ী verb বসে।

You and not Rasid have done.

Mahbub and not I is to blame.

Rule 33:- Each, either, neither subject  এর পূর্বে বসলে verb singular হয়।

Each of the boys was present.

Either of them is guilty.

Neither of the girls is pretty.

Rule 34:- দুই বা ততোধিক Subjects যদি or বা nor, either – or, neither – nor দ্বারা যুক্ত থাকে, তখন Singular verb হয়।

Either you of he was absent.

Neither he nor his son was present here.

Rule 35:- Either – or ও Neither – nor দ্বারা যুক্ত দুইটি subject এর মধ্যে যদি plural subjects থাকে, তবে তা পরে বসবে এবং verb টিও plural হবে।

Neither the moon nor the stars were visible.

Either he or his sons have done this.

Rule 36:- Artillery, Aristocracy, gentry, cattle, mankind, public, peasantry, poultry, people, vermin প্রভৃতি singular মনে হলেও plural verb বসে।  

Cattle are graying in the field.

Mankind are faced with danger.

The aristocracy have lost their influence.

Rule 37:- Gallows ,mathematics, politics, physics, news, wages প্রভৃতি দেখতে plural মনে হলেও এগুলোর পর singular verb বসে। 

            The news is bad.

            The wages of sin is death.

            Mathematics is my favorite subject.

            Physics is a difficult subject.

Rule 38:- Adjective যদি subject হয় এবং সেই Adjcetive শ্রেণীর সকলকে বুঝায়, তবে verb টি plural হয়। যেমনঃ-

            The rich are not always happy.

            The great are honored everywhere.

Blessed are the poor.

Rule 39:- Relative pronoun ও antecedent অনুযায়ী verb বসে।

            It is I who am to blame.

            It is you who have done this.

Rule 40:- One of  এর পর plural noun থাকলেও singular verb বসে।  

            One of the boys is my friend.

            One of the members her propose this.

Rule 41:- একটি sentence এ ভিন্ন ভিন্ন persons থাকলে প্রথমে 2^nd person তারপর 3^rd person এবং সর্বশেষ 1^st person (231) বসে।

            You, he and I must go there.

            You, he and I are incited.

কিন্তু দোষ স্বীকার বুঝালে প্রথমে 1^st person তারপর 2^nd person এবং সর্বশেষ 3^rd person বসে।  

I, you and Habib are guilty.

I, you and he are to blame.

Rule 42:- অন্যান্য Noun  এবং pronoun এর সংগে 1^st person থাকলে তাদের পরিবর্তে 1^st person এর pronoun বেসে। কিন্তু 2^nd person ও 3^rd person একসংগে থাকলে তাদের পরিবর্তে 2^nd person এর pronoun বসে।

            My father and I did his best.

            Ans. My father and I did our best.

You and your students did their best.

Ans. You and your students did your best.

Rule 43:- একটি principal verb এর ভিন্ন ভিন্ন Tense এ দুইটি Auxiliary verb থাকলে, principal verb টির Tense এরুপ ভিন্ন ভিন্ন হবে। মূল কথা Auxiliary verb এর পর অবশ্যই মূল verb বসবে।

            Do you think such a thing is, her, or will happen.

            Do you think such a think is happening has happened or will happen.

            I never have of ever will go there.

            I have never gone there nor will ever go there.

Rule 44:- একই Subject দুইটি principal verb এবং একটি Auxiliary verb দ্বারা কাজ চলতে পারে। যেমনঃ-

            I have lost a book but got a pen. (got have got)

            কিন্তু ভিন্ন ভিন্ন Subject থাকলে দুইটি principal verb এর জন্য দুইটি Auxiliary verb এর প্রয়োজন হয়।

            I have resigned and a new man has been appointed.

Rule 45:- ‘More than one’ words গুলো singular হিসেবে ব্যবহৃত হয়।  

       More than one boy was present there.

কিন্তু more than two plural হবে- more than two boys were present there.

Rule 46:- As, such এবং the same এর পর as বসে।

            He is as brave like a lion.

            Ans. He is as brave as a lion.

            Such men who are idle cannot shire  in life.

            Ans. Such men as are idle cannot shire in life.

            Choose only such friends whom you can trust.

            Ans. Choose only such friends as you can trust.

            This is the same thing which has been happening for a long time.

Ans. This is the same thing as (for that) has been happening for a long time.

Note: The same এর পর verb উল্লেখ থাকলে, এর পর as বা that উভয়ই বসতে পারে। কিন্তু verbউল্লেখ না থাকলে শুধু as বসে।

Rule 47:- Anticipatory on Introductory It এর পরে verb সর্বদা singular হয়। যেমনঃ- 

            It was Rahim (on, I, you they) that did this.

            It is these books that we want.

Rule 48:- All এর পর সর্বদা plural verb বসে। কিন্তু কিছু কিছু প্রবাদ বাক্যে singular verb বসে।

            All that glitters is not gold.

            All is well that ends well.

Rule 49:- Infinitive, Gerund, verbal noun, clause অথবা phrase subject হিসাবে ব্যবহৃত হলে verb টি third person singular হবে। যেমনঃ-     

            To tell a lies is a great sin.

            Telling lies is a sin.

            Begging is not good.

            The reading of history fives one knowledge.

            That he is ill is known to all.

            Success at any cost was his aim.

             MD. LOKMAN HOSSAIN 
                     B.A (HON`S) M.A in English