5 Challenging English Prepositions to Master

A preposition is an essential part of speech that illustrates the connection between the subject and the object in a sentence, helping to clarify their relationship.

In English, prepositions are usually used with nouns and pronouns, but they are also used with verbs.

English boasts around 80 to 100 prepositions, with some of the most widely used being: about, above, according to, across, after, against, along, amid, among, around, at, before, behind, below, beside, besides, between, beyond, by, concerning, down, during, except, for, from, in, into, like, of, off, on, over, past, since, through, toward, underneath, until, up, upon, with, within, and without. Understanding these common prepositions can greatly enhance your grasp of the language!

In this article, I highlight five challenging prepositions in English that frequently perplex learners. Understanding these tricky words can greatly enhance your grasp of the language and boost your confidence in using it.

     1. Into vs. In to

In everyday conversation, the first pair of prepositions frequently causes confusion, as they can only be distinguished by the context in which they are used or a brief pause in speech.

The preposition into indicates direction or motion, as in going inside of something.

For example:

• He put his wallet into his pocket. –
• We drove into the city. –

Don’t confuse this with in to, which is two separate prepositions, and is not the phrase in order to.

For example: A customer came in to order a pizza. –

•  In order to get ice, you need to freeze some water. –

     2. Ask for vs. Ask to

To distinguish between these two phrases, it’s important to consider the context. When you’re asking for something (a noun), use “ask for.” However, if you’re requesting to perform an action (a verb), opt for “ask to.” Understanding this difference will help clarify your requests.

And now some examples:

• I asked for a doughnut and orange juice. –
• She will ask to ride horses for her birthday. –

     3. Think of vs. Think about

The first verb-preposition combination refers to “having an idea or mental image of someone or something,” often indicating a fleeting thought. In contrast, “to think about” means to focus intently on a specific subject to comprehend it, retain it, or make a decision regarding it.

For example:

• Think of a number between one and ten. –
• This beautiful scene made me think about our last holiday. –

     4. Heard of vs. Heard about

The phrasal verbs “heard of” and “heard about” both refer to gaining knowledge about a topic, but they convey slightly different nuances. “Heard of” suggests a general awareness of something’s existence, whereas “heard about” indicates that you’ve acquired more detailed information and specifics regarding that subject. While they can often be used interchangeably, understanding these distinctions can enhance your communication.

For example:

• I have heard of the band Orange Waffles. – (I know that this music group exists)
• I have heard about the band Orange Waffles. – (I know some facts or information about them)

     5. Among vs. Between

Among is used to describe several things, while between is used to describe only two things.

For example:

• An elk stood among the trees. – (there were many trees).
• Anne’s shop is between the library and a diner. – (two things).

You can read a more detailed discussion of the difference between among and between here.

Enjoy learning English! Until we meet again!