Common Mistakes with Dependent Prepositions

We all want to speak English correctly and naturally. If you still translate your thoughts in your own language word by word into English, there is a high chance you could be building some very common phrases inaccurately.

Why are dependent prepositions important?

Prepositions are hard to guess in a foreign language. You just have to remember how to use them. In English, some verbs prefer particular prepositions (without any logical connection), and we call them dependent.

Dependent prepositions are the ones which belong to verbs, adjectives, or nouns. They don’t form a new phrase, and they are often not translated into other languages or used differently in them.

For example, do you say

We are arriving in Amsterdam or We are arriving to Amsterdam?

When are you meeting him? or When are you meeting with him?

She asked a coffee or She asked for a coffee?

Can be confusing, right? Don’t jump to making your decision based on how the sentence is said in your own language.

In today’s lesson, I will show you which mistakes to avoid in using dependent prepositions after verbs.

Watch this video about 5 most common mistakes with dependent prepositions

And even more most common mistakes with dependent prepositions

Incorrect	Correct	Example
accuse in	accuse of	She is *accusing* him of being lazy. What *are* you *accusing* me of?
arrive to	arrive in + cities, countries arrive at + all other places	When *does* the train *arrive* in Prague? We *are* now *arriving* in Vienna – please wait till the train stops. They *arrived* at the station at 3.30. She *arrived* at the office later than expected.
ask + something	ask for + something	She *asked* *for* a cup of coffee. I have to *ask* *for* your help again.
belong + somebody	belong to somebody	Who *does* this fish *belong* to? ‘I *belong* to you, and you *belong* to me too.’
depend of	depend on	She doesn’t want to *depend* on her parents. What *does* your decision *depend* on?
discuss about	discuss + something	Let’s *discuss* our plans. They *are* *discussing* the terms of the contract.
divide on	divide into	I *have* *divided* my presentation *into* 3 parts. This cake can’t be *divided* *into* 12 parts.
enter to	enter + some place	She *has* just *entered* the best university in the country. When he *entered* the room, nobody was talking.
graduate + something / of something	graduate from	I *graduated* *from* university not long ago. It’s been quite a while since we *graduated* *from* university.
lack in / of	lack + something	She *lacks* patience – is she really a teacher? Your son *lacks* discipline.
laugh on	laugh at	Don’t *laugh* at me – I am feeling stupid. What *are* you *laughing* at?
listen + something or somebody	listen to	Why *are* you *listening* to him? What *are* you *listening* to? She never *listens* to anybody.
live at / study at / work at + city or country	live in / study in / work in + city or country	*Does* you brother really *live* in Japan? I am going to *work* in Singapore next year. Hector *is studying* medicine in Italy.
look forward for	look forward to + Ving	I *am looking forward* to hearing from you. She *looked forward* to her trip to Italy but then it got cancelled.
meet with	meet + somebody	I *met* him at university 10 years ago. *Have* you *met* my brother?
spend for	spend on spend + Ving	What do you *spend* all your money on? She *has spent* a fortune on clothes this year. I mostly *spend* weekends *reading. We spent* two hours *discussing* the details of the contract.
wait + something or somebody	wait for	Will you *wait* *for* me? I *am waiting* *for* the test results.