Common Prepositions in English Grammar – Learn Usage of For, To, At, and From

Prepositions are small but powerful words in English grammar that show the relationship between other words in a sentence. They tell us about time, place, direction, purpose, or cause. For example, we say “I’m waiting for you” or “I’m listening to music.” In both cases, the prepositions for and to connect the action to the object and give the sentence its full meaning.

In this article, we will explore the correct use of four important prepositions — for, to, at, and from — with examples of common verbs that naturally go with each. These combinations are called verb-preposition collocations, and mastering them helps students sound more fluent and natural in English.

Preposition “For” — Purpose, Support, and Waiting

The preposition for is often used to show purpose, support, or waiting for something or someone. It connects the action of the verb to the object that benefits from it.

Common Verb + For Combinations:

• Wait for: I’m waiting for the bus.
• Apply for: She applied for the job yesterday.
• Ask for: He asked for a glass of water.
• Pay for: We paid for the tickets online.
• Look for: They are looking for their lost keys.

Explanation:

• Wait for → means to stay until something happens.
• Apply for → to submit a request (especially for jobs, scholarships, or courses).
• Ask for → to request something politely.
• Pay for → to give money in exchange for something.
• Look for → to search for something.

These expressions are very common in daily conversations and academic writing. Using the correct preposition “for” ensures your sentence is grammatically accurate.

Preposition “To” — Direction, Connection, and Communication

The preposition to usually expresses direction, connection, or communication. It is one of the most used prepositions in English, often used after verbs related to talking, listening, and agreeing.

Common Verb + To Combinations:

• Talk to: I talked to my teacher about the project.
• Speak to: She spoke to her parents yesterday.
• Listen to: Always listen to good advice.
• Agree to: He agreed to the plan.
• Go to: We went to the park.

Explanation:

• Talk to / Speak to → used when communicating directly with someone.
• Listen to → means to pay attention to what someone or something is saying.
• Agree to → to accept an idea, offer, or suggestion.
• Go to → to move toward a place or direction.

Many learners mistakenly say “listen music” instead of “listen to music.” Always remember — “listen” must be followed by “to.”

Preposition “At” — Focus, Direction, and Reaction

The preposition at indicates a point in space, time, or focus. When used with verbs, it often refers to reacting to something, directing attention, or arriving at a place.

Common Verb + At Combinations:

• Smile at: She smiled at the baby.
• Look at: He looked at the stars.
• Good at: She is good at painting.
• Point at: He pointed at the board.
• Arrive at: They arrived at the station on time.

Explanation:

• Smile at → shows direction of emotion or expression.
• Look at → means to direct your eyes toward something.
• Good at → used to describe skill or talent.
• Point at → indicates showing or identifying something.
• Arrive at → used for small places like stations, airports, or schools.

A helpful tip: use arrive at for smaller locations and arrive in for larger areas like cities or countries.
Example: Arrive at school but arrive in Delhi.

Preposition “From” — Origin, Source, and Separation

The preposition from indicates where something starts, originates, or separates. It is commonly used with verbs showing recovery, hiding, or saving.

Common Verb + From Combinations:

• Recover from: He recovered from the flu quickly.
• Hide from: The cat hid from the dog.
• Suffer from: Many people suffer from allergies.
• Save from: The lifeguard saved the child from drowning.
• Make from: Cheese is made from milk.

Explanation:

• Recover from → means to get better after illness or difficulty.
• Hide from → to keep out of sight or avoid someone/something.
• Suffer from → to experience pain, illness, or hardship.
• Save from → to protect someone or something from danger.
• Make from → describes the material or substance used to create something.

Always use “from” when showing a source or cause — it helps express where something begins or comes from.

Summary Table of Prepositions and Their Common Uses

Preposition	Common Verbs	Example Sentence	Meaning/Usage
for	wait, apply, ask, pay, look	She applied for the internship.	Purpose or benefit
to	talk, speak, listen, agree, go	Please listen to your teacher.	Direction or communication
at	smile, look, good, point, arrive	He is good at football.	Focus or location
from	recover, hide, suffer, save, make	The artist recovered from burnout.	Origin or separation

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. ❌ Wait me here. → ✅ Wait for me here.
2. ❌ Listen music. → ✅ Listen to music.
3. ❌ She’s good in painting. → ✅ She’s good at painting.
4. ❌ He recovered of fever. → ✅ He recovered from fever.

Learning prepositions takes practice because their usage often doesn’t translate directly from other languages. Reading and listening to natural English helps you internalize them.

How to Remember Prepositions Easily

Here are some memory tips for learners:

• Think of “for” as purpose or benefit → I did it for you.
• Think of “to” as direction → Go to school.
• Think of “at” as a target → Look at the sky.
• Think of “from” as a source → Learn from mistakes.

You can create flashcards or practice with daily phrases like “apply for a job,” “agree to help,” “smile at friends,” or “recover from illness.” Repetition makes it easier to remember the right combinations.

Importance of Prepositions in English Grammar

Prepositions might look small, but they are essential for expressing complete and meaningful ideas. A wrong preposition can change the entire meaning of a sentence. For example:

• “She looked for me” means she searched for me.
• “She looked at me” means she directed her eyes toward me.

Both are grammatically correct but express very different meanings. That’s why understanding context and collocation is important for correct usage.

Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct prepositions: for, to, at, or from.

1. I’m waiting ___ my results.
2. She is good ___ mathematics.
3. Please listen ___ the instructions carefully.
4. He recovered ___ his injury.
5. They applied ___ the new course.
6. She smiled ___ me when I entered the room.
7. We went ___ the museum on Sunday.
8. The table is made ___ wood.

Answers: 1. for, 2. at, 3. to, 4. from, 5. for, 6. at, 7. to, 8. from

FAQ

Q1. What is a preposition?

A preposition is a word that connects a noun, pronoun, or phrase to another part of the sentence, showing direction, place, time, cause, or possession.

Q2. Why do some verbs require specific prepositions?

Certain verbs naturally “collocate” with specific prepositions in English due to long-established usage patterns. For example, we always say “listen to” and not “listen with.”

Q3. How can I learn prepositions faster?

The best way is through practice, reading, and listening. Make short sentences using each preposition daily. Use visuals or charts like the one shown in the image to remember easily.

Q4. Are prepositions the same in British and American English?

Mostly yes, but there are minor differences. For example, British English uses at the weekend, while American English says on the weekend.

Q5. What’s the difference between ‘arrive at’ and ‘arrive in’?

Use arrive at for smaller places (station, school, airport) and arrive in for cities or countries (arrive in London).

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