A large number of English users struggle with prepositions in their verbal and written expressions. Sometimes, we tend to use prepositions that render our articles and speeches grammatically wrong. Today’s topic is targeted at exposing some of these erroneous expressions with their corrections.
Prepositions are words used before nouns, nouns phrases and pronouns to show relationships. They can be referred to as connectors. They also provide information to the reader or listener.
Examples
The boy is in the kitchen.
Professor Bala is on sabbatical leave.
We are under pressure to refund our clients.
More examples include: beside, between, from, through, under, toward, near, inside, off and others.
It is pertinent to note that these prepositions indicate directions, time, space and location.
Direction: Look to the left and ask for the king’s palace.
Location: Her mother’s church is located in Plateau State.
Time: The board meeting commenced at exactly 9 a.m.
Space: The cat is under my father’s car.
Prepositions are tricky and importantly, you must be careful with their use for idiomatic expressions.
Between “in the group chat” and “on the group chat”.
One of my online students was inquisitive about the right prepositional phrase between “in the group chat” and “on the group chat”. I really felt his anxiety about the correct one because I was once in his shoes. There was a day I was confused while typing this sentence: I am in the group chat. I later realized that “in” is incorrect in this context.
The emphasis is, both prepositional phrases can be used in different contexts. “On the group chat” should be used for one’s presence online. Remember, you cannot say “I am in Twitter.” Why? The reason is, “on” is the valid preposition for one’s presence on all social platforms.
Examples
I have been on Facebook since 2006. (Correct)
I have been in Facebook since 2016. (Wrong)
Hadiza is always on WhatsApp. (Correct)
Hadiza is always in WhatsApp. (Wrong)
Adamu was on TikTok throughout last week. (Correct)
Adamu was in Tiktok throughout last week (Wrong)
“In the group chat” should be used for one’s active participation through messages, voice notes and other features on the app.
Study the following examples.
The president’s messages in the group chat are provocative.
Ada’s replies to our colleague’s questions in the group chat are insulting.
IN THE CONFERENCE AND AT THE CONFERENCE
I had a memorable experience in Lafia, the state capital of Nasarawa State during a conference while serving as a corps member. I needed to text my friend to narrate the euphoric atmosphere. I began to contemplate these two prepositional phrases in our chats: I am in the conference or I am at the conference? This inspired my decision to study them carefully for subsequent use.
“In the conference” implies that you are actively engaged in the sessions either as a speaker, presenter or attendee while “at the conference” indicates that you are a mere observer. In other words, you are not an active participant. I hope my explanation is simple and comprehensible.
Examples
I participated in the conference as a guest speaker.
The observers were at the conference on electoral malpractice.
IN SCHOOL OR AT SCHOOL?
The feud between “in the school” and “at the school” will be resolved forever here. The mental stress a large number of us pass through on prepositional phrases is distressing. “In a school” is not about one’s physical presence; it’s about one’s general experience as a student.
Examples
The man got the job while in school as a lawyer in the making.
I was in school as a promising English teacher five years ago.
“At school” infers that one is physically present on the school premises. Students go to school every day; therefore, it’s grammatically correct to say that they are always at school.
Review the following sentences.
I left my bags at school because we were in a hurry. (Correct)
I left my bags in school because we were in a hurry. (Wrong)
Our lecturers were always at school throughout our first-semester break. (Correct)
Our lecturers were always in school throughout our first-semester break. (Wrong)
PREPOSITIONS FOR TRANSPORTATIONS
By, On, At, To.
I travelled to Lagos by car.
The old woman went to Abuja by train.
Many students go to school on bikes every morning.
Cynthia does not travel on a motorcycle.
Doctor Bright does not want to reach his office at night. Therefore, he needs to catch a bus at a bus stop now.
I had not been to Canada before she invited me.
The students went on an excursion to New York.
Assignment
Choose the correct answer to each of the following questions.
1. Where are you? Are you……….. school. (a) on (b) in (c) at
2. One of the corrupt students …… the group chat embarrassed the lecturer. (a) on (b) at (c) in
3. The English lecturer is ——- on YouTube. (a) in (b) at (b) on
Names of those who answered the last questions correctly
Osifo Gift, Otule Modupeoluwa, Akintayo Aishat, Idowu Rofiat, Olive Alimi, Victory Bolanle, Peter Godwin and Fakeye Oluwadarasimi.
