Common Mistakes in English
14
Come or go by train, etc., not with the train,etc.
Don't say : He came with the train yesterday.
Say : He came by train yesterday.
NOTE. We say : "by train," "by tram," "by boat," "by aeroplane," "by land," "by sea," "by air," "by bus," "in a bus," "on a bus," "by motor-car," "in a motor-car," "by taxi," "in a taxi," "in a cab," "in a carriage," "on horse-back," "on a donkey," "on a bicycle," "on foot".
13
Careful of, not for.
Don't say : He is very careful for his health.
Say :He is very careful of his health.
NOTE. Also "take care of" as, "He takes care of his money."
12
Boast of or about, not for.
Don't say : He boasted for his riches.
Say : He boasted of (or about) his riches.
11
Benefit by,, not from.
Don't say : She has benefited from the change.
Say : She has benefited by the change.
NOTE. But a person gets or derives benefit from: as, "She
got (or derived) much benefit from the change."
10
Believe in, not to.
Don't say : Christians believe to Jesus Christ.
Say : Christians believe in Jesus Christ.
NOTE. "To believe in" means to have faith in; while "to believe"
(without the in) means to regard as true: as, "I quite believe what he
says."
9
Ashamed of, not from.
Don't say : He is now ashamed from his conduct.
Say : He now ashamed of his conduct.
NOTE. It is not proper to use "Ashamed of" in the meaning of "shy". Thus. instead of "I am ashamed of my teacher." you should say, "I am shy of my teacher."
8
Arrive at, not to.
Don't say : We arrived to the village at night.
Say : We arrived at the village at night.
NOTE. "Arrive in" is used of countriesa and large cities: as, "Mr. Smith has arrived in London (New York, India, etc.)"
7
Anxious (=troubled) about, not for.
Don't say : They are anxious for his health.
Say : They are anxious about his health.
NOTE. But "anxious" meaning "wishing very much" takes "for": as, "Parents are anxious for their children's success."
6
Angree with, not against.
Don't say : The teacher was angry against him.
Say : The teacher was angry with him
NOTE 1. We get angry "with" a person, but "at" a thing: as, "He
was angry at the weather" (not: "with the weather").
NOTE 2. Also "Annoyed with", "vexed with," "indignant with" a person, but "at" a thing.
5
Aim at, not on or against.
Don't say : He aimed at (or against) the bird.
Say : He aimed at the bird.
NOTE. The preposition at is often used to denote direction: as, "throw at," "shout at," "fire at," "shoot at." But "shoot" (without the at) means to kill: as, "He shot a bird"(=he hit and killed it).
3
Accustomed to, not with.
Don't say : I am accustomed with hot weather.
Say : I am accustomed to hot weather.
NOTE. Also "used to": as, "He is used to the heat."
Say : He aimed at the bird.
NOTE. The preposition at is often used to denote direction: as, "throw at," "shout at," "fire at," "shoot at." But "shoot" (without the at) means to kill: as, "He shot a bird"(=he hit and killed it).
4
Afraid of, not from.
Don't say : The girl is afraid from the dog.
Say : The girl is afraid of the dog.
Say : The girl is afraid of the dog.
Accustomed to, not with.
Don't say : I am accustomed with hot weather.
Say : I am accustomed to hot weather.
NOTE. Also "used to": as, "He is used to the heat."
2
Accuse of, not for.
Don't say : He accused the man for stealing.
Say : He
accused the man of stealing.
NOTE. But "charge" takes "with" as, "The man was
charged with murder."
1
Adsorbed ( = very much interested) in, not at.
Don't say : The man was absorbed at his work.
Say : The man was
absorbed in his work.