"Good at" or "Good in"? Stop Making These Preposition Mistakes!
Prepositions are small words, but using the wrong one can change your meaning completely!
📝 Transcript
Click any sentence to jump to that moment in the video. Use the 🔊 button to hear the pronunciation.
Hey, if you are learning English, you have probably found a grammar problem that feels wrong. Many people find it hard. But don't worry, today we will make it easy to understand. Do you know this problem?
You say something that sounds right, like 'I listen music'. Then someone tells you it's wrong. It's confusing, right? Especially because in many other languages, this is correct. But in English, you must say 'listen to music'.
So, why do we use that small word 'to'? Why is it suddenly so important? That little word is what we will learn about today. Okay, let's think about this in a new way.
Let's forget grammar rules for a moment. We can call these small words 'bridge words'. Their job is to help some verbs connect to the next part of a sentence. This is an easy way to understand it. Here is the main idea: Some verbs in English are not strong alone. They cannot reach
the next part of the sentence. They need a helper, a special bridge word, to connect. You can almost see the problem.
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📖 Vocabulary
Key vocabulary from this episode with part of speech, meaning, and example sentences. Practice along with the video above.
to experience something difficult or unexpected
I often run into problems with my computer.
the feeling of being annoyed or upset because you cannot change or achieve something
Learning a new language can sometimes cause frustration.
to suddenly understand something clearly
After the explanation, the grammar rule finally made it click for me.
seeming reasonable and sensible
It's logical to study hard if you want to pass the exam.
a word that connects a verb to the next part of the sentence (like a preposition)
In 'listen to music', 'to' is a bridge word.
a preposition that always goes with a specific verb or adjective
'For' in 'wait for' is a dependent preposition.
two or more things that are offered or sold together and must be accepted together
Some verbs and prepositions are a package deal; they always go together.
to remember something very well and permanently
Try to lock these new words into your brain.
to speak in a way that seems normal and fluent to native speakers
Using correct prepositions will make your English sound natural.
| Word | Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| run into | phrase | to experience something difficult or unexpected | I often run into problems with my computer. |
| frustration | noun | the feeling of being annoyed or upset because you cannot change or achieve something | Learning a new language can sometimes cause frustration. |
| make it click | phrase | to suddenly understand something clearly | After the explanation, the grammar rule finally made it click for me. |
| logical | adjective | seeming reasonable and sensible | It's logical to study hard if you want to pass the exam. |
| the deal with | phrase | the reason for a situation or problem | What's the deal with this strange noise? |
| bridge word | phrase | a word that connects a verb to the next part of the sentence (like a preposition) | In 'listen to music', 'to' is a bridge word. |
| dependent preposition | phrase | a preposition that always goes with a specific verb or adjective | 'For' in 'wait for' is a dependent preposition. |
| package deal | phrase | two or more things that are offered or sold together and must be accepted together | Some verbs and prepositions are a package deal; they always go together. |
| lock into your brain | phrase | to remember something very well and permanently | Try to lock these new words into your brain. |
| sound natural | phrase | to speak in a way that seems normal and fluent to native speakers | Using correct prepositions will make your English sound natural. |
✏️ Exercises
Test your understanding with fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice questions. Click "Check" to see the answer.
You always listen ___ music in English.
What does 'make it click' mean?
I need to wait ___ my friend at the station.
If two things are a 'package deal', it means:
She likes to think ___ her future plans.
I need to pay ___ the dinner now.
Which preposition completes the sentence: 'You can always rely ___ me.'?
He likes to talk ___ his dog every day.
What is 'frustration'?
Whether we go to the park depends ___ the weather.
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