Common mistakes ❌ with confusing prepositions.
In English we use prepositions with time, space and also idiomatically with no obvious logic. Yes🤭, I can hear you 🙉 😄: “Why do you say on the bus🚌 but in the car 🚗? It makes no sense!” “Why do you say at night, 🌃 but in the morning🌅? That’s crazy!” “Why do you say on television📺 when you’re talking about what you’re seeing AT the TV (that’s the French) or IN the TV (for the Portuguese speakers)?”
Liz Aldam
9/28/20251 min read
The thing is, English prepositions don’t always follow rules. Many learners try to translate directly, which leads to mistakes and a mistake can make you sound unnatural. Prepositions are tiny words, but they can change a sentence.
To make things clearer, let’s break down some typical preposition mix-ups with easy examples. 👇
Good at vs. Good in
❌ She’s good in math.
✅ She’s good at math. ➗➖🟰
We use good at for skills or abilities. Are you good at English? 😁
Interested in vs. Interested by
❌ I’m interested by history.
✅ I’m interested in history. 🦖
Interested in is the correct collocation.
Married with vs. Married to
❌ She’s married with a doctor.
✅ She’s married to a doctor. 🧑🏽⚕️
Married with means having children (e.g., married with two kids).
On the bus vs. In the bus
❌ I’m in the bus.
✅ I’m on the bus. 🚌
We say on for public transport (bus, train, plane). In is used for cars and taxis.
At vs. In (places)
❌ I’m in the airport now.
✅ I’m at the airport now. 🛫
Use at for locations as points, in is correct but for locating someone inside spaces.
Wait for vs. Wait
❌ I’m waiting you.
✅ I’m waiting for you. 🫵🏻
We always need for after wait when followed by a person or thing.
Discuss about vs. Discuss
❌ We discussed about the problem.
✅ We discussed the problem. 😵💫
Discuss does not need a preposition. But we can have a discussion about something.
In conclusion, with a bit of attention and practice, these common mistakes can be easily avoided. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll start using prepositions correctly and confidently.
If you’re interested in😉having more help with your English, I’m waiting for your call or message! ☺️
Liz Aldam – English Language Specialist
Phone: +33 6 16 90 60 38
Whatsapp: +55 (12) 98294-1433
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