Prepositions cause more small, persistent errors than almost any other area of English grammar — not because the rules are complicated, but because there often isn't a logical rule at all. Which preposition follows a verb or adjective is largely a matter of fixed convention (called collocation), and it frequently does not match the equivalent construction in other languages. This guide walks through 10 of the most common preposition mistakes, why they happen, and how to fix them for good.
1. "Married to" not "Married with"
✗ She is married with a doctor.
✓ She is married to a doctor.
Note that "married with children" is a separate, correct fixed phrase meaning you have children — but when referring to your spouse, English always uses "married to."
2. "Depend on" not "Depend of"
✗ It depends of the weather.
✓ It depends on the weather.
3. "Arrive at/in" not "Arrive to"
✗ We arrived to the airport late.
✓ We arrived at the airport late. (specific place) | We arrived in London late. (city/country)
4. "Discuss" Takes No Preposition
✗ Let's discuss about the budget.
✓ Let's discuss the budget.
This happens because the equivalent verb in many other languages requires a preposition, while "discuss" in English is transitive and takes a direct object with no preposition at all.
5. "Good at" for Skills
✗ She is good in maths.
✓ She is good at maths.
6. "Interested in" not "Interested for/on"
✗ I am interested for learning languages.
✓ I am interested in learning languages.
7. "Different from/to" (British) not "Different than" (in most British contexts)
This result is different from what we expected. (British and American) | This result is different than what we expected. (common in American English)
8. "At the Weekend" (British) vs "On the Weekend" (American)
| Expression | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend | at the weekend | on the weekend |
| Different | different from/to | different from/than |
| Write to someone | write to someone | write someone (no preposition) |
9. "In Time" vs "On Time"
The train arrived on time. (at the expected/scheduled time) | We got to the station just in time to catch it. (before it was too late)
10. "Listen to" not "Hear/Listen" with No Preposition (Object Cases)
✗ I like listen music.
✓ I like listening to music.
Because preposition choice is largely determined by fixed collocation rather than logic, the fastest fix is to memorise each verb or adjective together with its preposition as a single chunk — "depend on," "good at," "interested in" — rather than trying to derive the correct preposition from a general rule.
Exercise — Choose the Correct Preposition
Fill each gap with the correct preposition.
- The success of the project depends _____ good planning.
- We arrived _____ the hotel just before midnight.
- She is very good _____ solving problems quickly.
- He has been married _____ Anna for ten years.
- Let's discuss _____ the schedule tomorrow morning. (careful — this one needs no preposition!)
To reinforce correct preposition use in context, try LexFizz's Cloze Dropdown and Complete the Sentence exercises, and see our full guides on Prepositions, Prepositions of Time, and Prepositions of Place.
Practise prepositions in context now
Use Cloze Dropdown to choose the correct preposition in real sentences — free, no sign-up needed.
Try Cloze Dropdown →Frequently Asked Questions
Why are prepositions so difficult for English learners?
Prepositions rarely translate directly between languages, and the correct choice in English often depends on fixed collocation (which preposition normally follows a particular verb or adjective) rather than logical rules, so they must largely be learned word by word.
Is it "married to" or "married with"?
The correct form is "married to" (e.g. "She is married to a doctor"). "Married with children" is a separate, correct phrase meaning you have children, but "married with [a person]" is incorrect.
Is it "depend on" or "depend of"?
The correct form is always "depend on" (e.g. "It depends on the weather"). "Depend of" is a common error, often influenced by other languages where the equivalent verb takes "of."
Is it "arrive at" or "arrive to"?
English uses "arrive at" for specific places or events ("arrive at the airport", "arrive at a conclusion") and "arrive in" for cities or countries ("arrive in London"). "Arrive to" is not correct in standard English.
How can I memorise verb + preposition combinations effectively?
Learn the whole phrase as a single unit ("depend on", not just "depend"), keep a dedicated list of verb-preposition pairs in your vocabulary journal, and read example sentences rather than memorising isolated rules.
Do prepositions of time follow logical rules?
Partially. There is a general pattern — "in" for months/years/longer periods, "on" for days and dates, "at" for specific clock times — but many fixed expressions ("at night", "in the morning") do not follow the pattern exactly and must be learned individually.
Why do learners often add unnecessary prepositions, like "discuss about"?
This usually happens because the equivalent verb in the learner's first language requires a preposition, while the English verb is transitive and takes a direct object with no preposition, as in "discuss the issue" (not "discuss about the issue").
Is it "good at" or "good in" for skills?
"Good at" is used for skills and activities ("good at maths", "good at swimming"). "Good in" is used in more limited contexts, such as describing performance within a specific situation ("good in a crisis").
What is a good strategy for correcting preposition mistakes in my own writing?
Keep a personal list of the specific preposition errors you repeat most often, check each one in a learner's dictionary (which lists correct prepositions after each verb/adjective entry), and proofread your writing specifically for those recurring patterns.
Are preposition rules the same in British and American English?
Mostly, but there are some differences: British English uses "at the weekend" while American English uses "on the weekend"; British English says "different from/to" while American English commonly uses "different than."