USING PREPOSITION COMBINATIONS

USE OF PREPOSITION

A preposition is a word that links a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to some other part of the sentence.

Prepositions can be tricky for English learners. There is no definite rule or formula for choosing a preposition. In the beginning stage of learning the language, you should try to identify a preposition when reading or listening in English and recognize its usage. 

A preposition is used to show direction, location, or time, or to introduce an object.

Here are a few common prepositions and examples.

On

Used to express a surface of something:

• I put an egg on the kitchen table.
• The paper is on my desk.

Used to specify days and dates:

• The garbage truck comes on Wednesdays.
• I was born on the 14th day of June in 1988.

Used to indicate a device or machine, such as a phone or computer:

• He is on the phone right now.
• She has been on the computer since this morning.
• My favorite movie will be on TV tonight.

Used to indicate a part of the body:

• The stick hit me on my shoulder.
• He kissed me on my cheek.
• I wear a ring on my finger.

Used to indicate the state of something:

• Everything in this store is on sale.
• The building is on fire.

At

Used to point out specific time:

• I will meet you at 12 p.m.
• The bus will stop here at 5:45 p.m.

Used to indicate a place:

• There is a party at the club house.
• There were hundreds of people at the park.
• We saw a baseball game at the stadium.

Used to indicate an email address:

• Please email me at abc@defg.com.

Used to indicate an activity:

• He laughed at my acting.
• I am good at drawing a portrait.

In

Used for unspecific times during a day, month, season, year:

• She always reads newspapers in the morning.
• In the summer, we have a rainy season for three weeks.
• The new semester will start in March.

Used to indicate a location or place:

• She looked me directly in the eyes.
• I am currently staying in a hotel.
• My hometown is Los Angeles, which is in California.

Used to indicate a shape, color, or size:

• This painting is mostly in blue.
• The students stood in a circle.
• This jacket comes in four different sizes.

Used to express while doing something:

• In preparing for the final report, we revised the tone three times.
• A catch phrase needs to be impressive in marketing a product.

Used to indicate a belief, opinion, interest, or feeling:

• I believe in the next life.
•   We are not interested in gambling.

COMMON COMBINATION AND PREPOSITION

Noun + Preposition Combinations

English has many examples of prepositions coming after nouns. In such cases, the prepositions are often followed by a phrase containing a noun, as in example (a) below. They can also be followed by a noun, as in example (b), or an -ing verb, as in example (c).

(a) Scientists at the research institute think they are close to finding a solution to the problem.
(b) Everyone was surprised by his lack of concern.
(c) We need to call an expert at plumbing as soon as possible.

Verb + Preposition Combinations

Many English prepositions also follow verbs. Sometimes they introduce a phrase that contains a noun, as in example (a). They can also introduce a noun, as in example (b), or an -ing verb, as in example (c).

(a) I don't know how long we can depend on his generosity. He has already done so much for us.
(b) Many of the town's residents relied on neighbours for help during the flood.
(c) She believes in helping people who are less fortunate than her.

Adjective + Preposition Combinations

English also has many instances of prepositions coming after adjectives. In many cases, the prepositions precede phrases containing nouns, as in example (a), or pronouns, as in example (b). It is also possible for the prepositions to precede an -ing verb, as in (c).

(a) I was amazed at all the improvements.
(b) We were all shocked by his behaviour.
(c) Because the exam was more difficult than I expected, I'm worried about passing.

http://www.talkenglish.com/grammar/prepositions-on-at-in.aspx

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/410-preposition-combinations.htm

COMMONLY MISUSED WORDS and CONFUSINGLY RELATED WORDS

Confuse related word

1.ALLUDE,ELUDE :

    -Allude means "to suggest indirectly"
    -Elude means "to dodge or escape"

• Leticia can't speak to her husband without alluding to his affair with Martha Snodgrass.
• Serious relationships always seemed to elude him. 

2.CONSCIENCE,CONSCIOUS :

    - Conscience is the feeling or knowledge of right and wrong

    - Conscious refers to being awake and aware

• My conscience wouldn't allow me to compete with someone so much weaker than me.
• Molly Coddle was still conscious after banging her head on the headboard.

3.CORRESPONDENCE,CORRESPONDENTS :

     - Correspondence is written communication such as letters or news articles

     - Correspondents are those who write this communication

• Phil and Rachel continued their correspondence for years.
• Rhoda Lott has lived among the corps of foreign correspondent for several years.

4.EMOLUMENT,EMOLLIENT :

     - An emolument is a salary or other compensation for a job 

     - An emollient is a softener

• The emolument for his new position far exceeded that of Henry's last post.
• The oils secreted by the skin are emollients that keeps the skin soft.

Commonly misused word

1.AESTHETIC,ASCETIC :

    - Aesthetic relates to an appealing or unappealing visual look or atmosphere

    - Ascetic is used to express the avoidance of pleasure due to self-discipline

• The aesthetics of the building were beautiful.
• Some religions support ascetic practices.

2.ALTERNATELY,ALTERNATIVELY :

     - Alternately is an adverb that means in turn; one after the other

     - Alternatively is an adverb that means on the other hand; one or the other

• We alternately spun the wheel in the game.
• You can choose a large bookcase or, alternatively, you can buy two small ones.

3.ECONOMIC,ECONOMICAL :

    - Economic means "having to do with the economy" 

    - Economical means "financially prudent, frugal" and also figuratively in the sense "sparing use" 

•  The actor should be economic in his use of movement.
• Leading economical indicators suggest that a recession may be on the horizon.

REFERENCE :

http://www.alphadictionary.com/articles/confused_words_e.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:List_of_commonly_misused_English_words