Common Mistakes in English Grammar

Mistake: Using the wrong preposition with collocations

One common mistake in English grammar is using the wrong preposition with collocations. Collocations are words that are commonly used together and have a specific, established meaning. Using the incorrect preposition can change the meaning of the collocation or make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

For example, many learners make the mistake of using the preposition "to" instead of "in" when talking about someone arriving at a house. The correct collocation is "arrival in the house," not "arrival to the house." Here's an example to illustrate the correct usage:

• Incorrect: John's arrival to the house surprised everyone.
• Correct: John's arrival in the house surprised everyone.

In this case, using the incorrect preposition "to" changes the meaning of the sentence. It suggests that John arrived with the purpose of going to the house, rather than being inside it.

Another common mistake is using "at" instead of "to" when talking about sending something to someone. The correct collocation is "send to," not "send at." Here's an example:

• Incorrect: I'll send the package at you tomorrow.
• Correct: I'll send the package to you tomorrow.

Using the incorrect preposition "at" in this sentence is grammatically incorrect and can confuse the reader. The correct preposition "to" indicates the direction of the action, which is sending the package to the recipient.

It's important to pay attention to the correct prepositions when using collocations to ensure clear communication and grammatically correct sentences.

Linguix Grammar Checker is a helpful tool that can assist in identifying and correcting such common mistakes in English grammar.