Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[ddh33]

They don't follow specific rules and I find it hard to decide which one to use for a specific context. I know that's instinctive for native speakers.

1. My teacher said I was wrong, where I wrote in my essay, "computers have made great improvements on people's lives." Should have used "in." I remember "improvements on something" is correct, although I know "in people's lives" is also correct.

2. of/for/in,etc. I don't know which one to use. They all sound right.

He is the commander of/for/in the army.

What are the meanings of/for/in art?

I also would like to know how rigid the rules are. It seems like people use different prepositions for the same phrase. How wrong is it if I don't use proper prepositions?
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Duheng Deng -- I'm from China. Although I've been in the States for 2 years, I still have problems with English from time to time. Let's help each other out.

[lotus]

1. My teacher said I was wrong, where I wrote in my essay, "computers have made great improvements on people's lives." Should have used "in." I remember "improvements on something" is correct, although I know "in people's lives" is also correct.

"In" is more proper. I would rephrase the sentence:

Computers have greatly improved people's lives.


2. of/for/in,etc. I don't know which one to use. They all sound right.

He is the commander of/for/in the army.

They are all correct. "Of" is more common.

What are the meanings of/for/in art?

rephrase: What is the meaning (of) art?

Using the proper preposition is important. It can change the meaning significantly. It may seem that people are using different prepositions for the same phrase if one does not hear it correctly or use it under the proper context. Let's take of/for/in art:

He is a student of Art.
He sacrificed his life for Art.
He is totally immersed in Art.

The three sentences convey almost the same meaning (only in a differing degree). But, you cannot replace any of the prepositions with another without it being incorrect or sounding very weird.

So, using the proper preposition is very important - but takes practice.


--lotus

[ddh33]

You are very helpful, lotus. Thank you very much.

Are you a teacher?
_________________
Duheng Deng -- I'm from China. Although I've been in the States for 2 years, I still have problems with English from time to time. Let's help each other out.