English Grammar and Preposition Rules

Vocabulary and rule-based flashcards reviewing English prepositions, tense distinctions, conditionals, and modal expressions.

Depend on

The correct preposition to follow "depend"; "depend of" is incorrect.

Married to

The correct construction used to indicate marriage to someone; "married with" is incorrect.

Interested in

The correct preposition combination for expressing interest; "interested to" and "interested about" are incorrect.

Good at vs. Good for

"Good at" indicates an ability or skill, whereas "good for" means beneficial or healthy for someone or something.

Different from

The standard construction for expressing difference; UK English also accepts "different to", and US English also accepts "different than".

Explain something TO someone

The required construction when using the verb "explain"; "explain me" is incorrect.

Discuss

A transitive verb used directly with the object without a preposition (e.g., "discuss the problem"); "discuss about" is incorrect.

Enter

Takes a direct object without a preposition when entering a space (e.g., "enter the room"); "enter in" is incorrect.

Listen to

The preposition required when "listen" takes an object; without an object, use "listen" alone.

Arrive in vs. Arrive at

"Arrive in" is used for cities and countries; "arrive at" is used for specific places such as an airport or hotel. "Arrive to" is never used.

On (days and dates)

The preposition used before specific days of the week and calendar dates (e.g., "on Monday", "on 5 May").

At the weekend / On the weekend

"At the weekend" is standard in British English (UK), while "on the weekend" is standard in American English (US); both are natural.

In (years, months, seasons)

The preposition used with years, months, and seasons (e.g., "in 1985", "in May", "in winter").

At night

The fixed preposition used for night; contrasts with "in the morning", "in the afternoon", and "in the evening".

On time vs. In time

"On time" means punctual; "in time" means early enough before a deadline or to do something.

At the end of vs. In the end

"At the end of" refers to the final point of something; "in the end" means finally or after all.

On vs. In (transportation)

"On" is used for larger, public, or open transport (bus, train, plane, ship, bike); "in" is used for small, private vehicles (car, taxi).

Since vs. For (time)

"Since" marks the starting point in time; "for" expresses the duration of time.

Ago

A time marker used exclusively with the past simple to indicate time elapsed in the past (e.g., "three years ago").

Until (till)

Indicates that a continuous action continues up to a specific point in time.

By (deadline)

Indicates a deadline meaning no later than a specific time or day.

During vs. For

"During" is followed by a noun indicating when an event occurs; "for" is followed by a duration of time.

Angry with vs. Angry about

"Angry with" is used for a person (US also uses "at"); "angry about" is used for a situation or thing.

Responsible for

The standard prepositional pairing used to express responsibility for a duty, role, or task.

Typical of

The correct construction used to describe characteristic behavior; "typical for" is incorrect in this sense.

Agree with / Agree on / Agree to

"Agree with" is used for a person or opinion; "agree on" is used for a topic or price; "agree to" means to accept a proposal or condition.

Look forward to + -ing

A phrasal construction where "to" functions as a preposition, requiring the following verb to take the -ing form.

Be used to + -ing

A construction meaning to be accustomed to something, followed by a noun or a verb ending in -ing.

Pay for

The preposition used when stating the item or service purchased (e.g., "pay for the tickets"); "pay the bill" is used without "for".

At (addresses)

The preposition used for complete street addresses with a number (e.g., "at 22 Baker Street"); streets without a number take "in" (UK) or "on" (US).

On (broadcast & telecommunication media)

The preposition used for electronic or broadcast media: "on TV", "on the radio", "on the internet", "on the phone".

In (print media)

The preposition used for printed reading materials: "in the newspaper", "in a book", "in a magazine".

On foot vs. By car

"On foot" is used for walking; "by car/train/bus" is used for transit without an article. If an article or possessive is present, use "in" (e.g., "in my car").

In charge of

A fixed prepositional idiom meaning responsible for or leading a group/task.

On fire

A fixed prepositional idiom meaning burning or in flames.

On one's way

A fixed prepositional idiom meaning traveling toward a destination or en route.

Get on/off vs. Get in/out of

"Get on/off" is used for trains, buses, and planes; "get in/out of" is used for cars and taxis.

On purpose vs. By mistake

"On purpose" means intentionally or deliberately; its opposite is "by mistake" or "by accident".

Solution to vs. Reason for

Nouns like "solution", "answer", and "key" take the preposition "to"; "reason" takes the preposition "for".

Increase in vs. Increase of

"Increase in" indicates the area or thing that changes (e.g., "increase in prices"); "increase of" indicates the specific numerical extent (e.g., "increase of 5%").

Tired of vs. Tired from

"Tired of" means fed up or bored with something; "tired from" means physically or mentally exhausted because of an activity.

Present Perfect Simple (stative duration)

Used with stative verbs like "know" to express a state that began in the past and continues into the present (e.g., "I've known him since we were kids").

Past Simple (finished time)

Used when an action occurs at a finished, specified point in the past (e.g., "yesterday"); never use the present perfect with finished time markers.

Present Perfect Continuous (recent activity with visible results)

Used to describe a recent activity that has visible present effects or consequences (e.g., "I'm tired, I've been running").

Present Perfect Simple vs. Continuous (unfinished period)

Present perfect simple focuses on a completed numerical result within an unfinished period; present perfect continuous emphasizes the ongoing duration of the activity.

Past Perfect

A verb form (had + past participle) used to indicate an action that was completed before another past event.

Past Perfect Continuous

A verb form (had been + -ing) used to emphasize the duration of an ongoing action up to a specific moment in the past.

Future Perfect

A verb form (will have + past participle) used to express that an action will be completed prior to a designated point in the future.

Future Perfect Continuous

A verb form (will have been + -ing) used to highlight the continuous duration of an action up to a future point in time.

Be going to (prediction)

Used to make a future prediction based directly on visible or present evidence (e.g., "Look at those clouds! It is going to rain").

Will (spontaneous decision)

Used to express an unplanned decision made spontaneously at the exact moment of speaking.

Present Continuous (future arrangements)

Used to speak about personal plans and arrangements that are already agreed upon or fixed for the future.

Present Simple (official schedules)

Used to refer to scheduled events, timetables, or official programs set in the future (e.g., train departures).

Future Time Clauses (Present Simple)

Clauses introduced by conjunctions such as "when", "as soon as", "until", or "before" use the present simple rather than "will" to express future actions.

Was/Were going to

Used to express a future-in-the-past intention or plan that was ultimately unfulfilled or not carried out.

Future Continuous

A verb form ('ll be + -ing) expressing an action that will be actively in progress at a specific time in the future.

Used to vs. Would

"Used to" applies to both past actions and past states; "would" is only used for past repeated actions, never for past states.

Get used to + -ing

A phrase signifying the process of becoming accustomed to something over time.

Stative Verbs (continuous restrictions)

Verbs expressing opinions, perception, or possession (e.g., "think", "taste", possessive "have") do not take the continuous form unless they express an active dynamic process.

Present Continuous + Always

Used to express recurring habits or behaviors that cause irritation or annoyance to the speaker.

Third Conditional

Formed with "if + past perfect, would have + past participle" to express an unreal or hypothetical situation in the past.

Second Conditional ("Were")

Formed with "if + were, would + base verb"; in formal/correct registers, "were" is used for all persons including first and third person singular.

Zero Conditional

Formed with present simple in both clauses to state general truths, scientific facts, or inevitable consequences.

Mixed Conditional (past condition, present result)

Combines an unreal past condition ("if + past perfect") with a hypothetical present consequence ("would + base form").

Mixed Conditional (present condition, past result)

Combines an ongoing present characteristic ("if + past subjunctive") with an unreal past consequence ("would have + past participle").

Wish + Past Simple

Used to express a desire for things to be different in the present.

Wish + Past Perfect

Used to express regret concerning an action, event, or failure in the past.

Wish + Would

Used to communicate annoyance, frustration, or a desire for someone else to change their behavior.

It's (high) time + Past Simple

A subjunctive-like structure used to convey that something ought to be done immediately or is overdue.

Would rather (different vs. same subject)

Takes a past simple verb when followed by a different subject; takes a bare infinitive (without "to") when the subject remains the same.

Negative Inversion (Hardly / No sooner)

A formal grammatical inversion following negative adverbials ("Hardly had I… when", "No sooner had she… than") requiring auxiliary-subject inversion.

Should have + Past Participle

Used to express a past reproach, regret, or advice about an event that did not happen.

Must have + Past Participle

Used to make a certain, positive deduction or logical conclusion about an event in the past.

Can't have + Past Participle

Used to express a certain, negative deduction regarding an impossibility in the past.

Needn't have vs. Didn't need to

"Needn't have + past participle" means an action was performed unnecessarily; "didn't need to" means the action was unnecessary and therefore was not done.

The first time + Present Perfect

The standard construction used to express that an occurrence represents someone's initial experience of something.

Been to vs. Gone to

"Been to" signifies that the subject visited a place and has returned; "gone to" indicates that the subject is currently still at that place.

How long + Present Perfect

The question form used with stative verbs to ask about duration extending into the present; never phrased as "How long do you know".