Common Mistakes in Learning a Preposition of Place

Prepositions are part of the grammar of everyproper place in the picture, it is easier to tell the
language. In English some of these are used to denotedifference between how the words should be used in
the placement of people and objects. In this case, thisspeaking and writing. Most online English courses do
is called a preposition of place. Even native Englishhave pictures along with instruction in this concept to
speakers have difficulty with this concept on times, somake it easier for students to understand.
it should not come as a surprise for students of EnglishThe common prepositions used to denote place in
as a second language when they have problemsEnglish in addition to Zong n? Wedged t? And pluck n?
depending on their mother tongue. This is due to theAre:
fact that there are not many rules for using- Under
prepositions in English sentences.- Between
There are rules, however for using some of the- Beside
prepositions of place, especially the prepositions Zong- Behind
n? Wedged t? And pluck n? The word Zong n?- In front of
Refers to an object or person being inside something,- Next to.
such as a room. In this sentence , Pinch sleep in aWhen students can see how these words are used
bedroom? The preposition Zong n? Shows that theby the pictures they see, they will associate the words
person sleeps inside a room. If you want to say thatwith the pictures and internalize these prepositions into
there is an object inside a box, you also use thetheir vocabulary.
preposition Zong n? So that a sample sentence couldExercises on the use of these prepositions should
be Xu he gift is in the box?include questions in which the students fill in the correct
Bian n? Refers to the surface of an object and isword to make a grammatically correct sentence as
outside the object. In the sentence Ju he plate is on thewell as looking at a picture and filling in the correct
table? The preposition pluck n? Tells you that the platepreposition for each place. In the early stages of
is laid on the table. You t? Is sometimes problematiclearning, it is helpful to provide students with a list of
for English language learners because it denotes asuch prepositions to choose from and later they can fill
place in general, such as wedged ta meeting?in the correct words based on what they have
Wedged t the airport? Or wedged t school?learned without the use of the word list.
Sometimes it means that same thing if you substituteThe online courses in English also offer students the
Zong n? For wedged t? In thse examples.opportunity to receive immediate feedback when they
It is very helpful to use pictures when teaching orcomplete the various exercises and quizzes so that
learning the concept of prepositions that denote place.they can go back to review the instruction and take
When students can see the word printed in the properthe exercises and quizzes as often as they wish until
location or a sentence in which the object is in thethey answer all the questions correctly .