Misuse of Articles and Prepositions

 What are Articles and Prepositions?

Before understanding misuse, let’s briefly understand what Articles and Prepositions are:

• Articles are words like a, an, the used before nouns to show whether we are talking about something specific or general.

• Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. Examples: in, on, at, to, from, for, of, by, with, etc.

Many learners, especially beginners, often confuse or misuse these two grammar elements, resulting in grammatically incorrect sentences. Let’s explore how this happens and how to avoid such mistakes.

Misuse of Articles

1.  Using an Article When It’s Not Needed

Many learners add an article unnecessarily:

Incorrect: I went to the school for learning.
Correct: I went to school for learning.

Explanation: We do not use articles before “school,” “college,” or “prison” when we refer to their general purpose.

2.  Omitting an Article When It’s Required

Sometimes learners forget to use articles where they are necessary:

Incorrect: She adopted cat from a shelter.
Correct: She adopted a cat from a shelter.

 Explanation: “Cat” is a singular countable noun, so it needs an article like “a” or “an.”

3.  Confusing “a” and “an”

Learners often mix up “a” and “an” based on spelling instead of sound:

Incorrect: He is an university student.
Correct: He is a university student.

 Explanation: “University” starts with a vowel letter (u) but sounds like “you,” which is a consonant sound.

4.  Overusing “the”

Incorrect: She is the best teacher in the town.
Correct: She is the best teacher in town.

 Explanation: We don’t use “the” before some common phrases like “in town,” “at home,” etc., unless we are specifying something.

Misuse of Prepositions

1.  Using the Wrong Preposition

Incorrect: I am good in English.
Correct: I am good at English.

 Explanation: The correct phrase is “good at” when referring to a skill or subject.

2.  Omitting Necessary Prepositions

Incorrect: He is married a doctor.
Correct: He is married to a doctor.

 Explanation: “Married to” is the correct prepositional phrase.

3.  Extra Prepositions at the End

Incorrect: Where are you going to?
Correct: Where are you going?

Explanation: “To” is unnecessary here because “go” already implies direction.

4.  Confusing Similar Prepositions

Incorrect: I will meet you in Monday.
Correct: I will meet you on Monday.

 Explanation: We use “on” with specific days, “in” with months or years, and “at” with time.

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