How to handle those pesky tiny words (Part 1)

Is it Congratulations FOR your new job or Congratulations ON your new job?

Ugh.

Getting those pesky (annoying) prepositions (at, in, to, for, by) right isn’t easy for anyone.

When your native language also has prepositions, you’re confused because sometimes they’re the same and sometimes they’re different. In English it depends on the weather, but in Frenchit depends of the weather.

And when your native language doesn’t have such stupid words, you’re confused too. You have to figure out what they are and remember to use the right one.

So is there a better way than learning long lists?

Yes.

Make model sentences – that are relevant or funny to you – to memorise.

Whenever you come across a new expression or notice you keep getting one wrong, create a sentence that makes you smile and is easy to remember.

Like these examples for problem prepositions:

I like to talk about chocolate.

I like to discuss chocolate.

The doctor and I had a discussion about the amount of chocolate I eat.

They show that sometimes you don’t need a preposition. And sometimes the form of the word (verb or noun) can determine whether you do or don’t.

Also a preposition can change the meaning:

We arrived on time for the chocolate-eating competition.

means we were punctual and arrived at the correct time.

I arrived in time to eat the last chocolate.

means there was still opportunity for me to grab the last chocolate, yay.

Two more common mistakes are:

My doctor agreed with me that I should eat more chocolate.

I’m sorry for eating all the chocolate. Yeah, right.

Learning as you go using personal phrases will prompt you to use the perfect preposition.

By the way, the correct answer is:

Congratulations on your new job as chief chocolate taster.

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