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.