Introduction

Prepositions are one of the most challenging areas of English for Arabic speakers. Because Arabic and English use prepositions differently, direct translation often leads to errors.

This guide covers the most common preposition mistakes Arabic speakers make and provides practical tips to avoid them.

المقدمة

تُعد حروف الجر من أكثر المجالات صعوبة في اللغة الإنجليزية للناطقين بالعربية. لأن اللغة العربية والإنجليزية تستخدمان حروف الجر بشكل مختلف، غالبًا ما تؤدي الترجمة المباشرة إلى الأخطاء.

يغطي هذا الدليل الأخطاء الأكثر شيوعًا في استخدام حروف الجر التي يقع فيها الناطقون بالعربية، ويقدم نصائح عملية لتجنبها.

The Mistake: Confusing in, on, and at for time expressions.

Examples:

• ❌ I wake up at the morning. → ✅ I wake up in the morning.
• ❌ We will meet in Monday. → ✅ We will meet on Monday.
• ❌ She was born on 1995. → ✅ She was born in 1995.
• ❌ I have a meeting in 3:00 PM. → ✅ I have a meeting at 3:00 PM.

Rules:

• AT → specific times: at 5 o’clock, at midnight, at noon
• ON → days/dates: on Monday, on July 5th, on my birthday
• IN → months, years, seasons, parts of day: in January, in 2024, in summer, in the morning

Exceptions:

• At night (not in night)
• At the weekend (British)
• On the weekend (American)

Tip: Think of AT as a point, ON as a surface, and IN as an enclosed space.

الخطأ: الخلط بين in, on, at في تعبيرات الوقت.

أمثلة:

• ❌ I wake up at the morning. → ✅ I wake up in the morning.
• ❌ We will meet in Monday. → ✅ We will meet on Monday.
• ❌ She was born on 1995. → ✅ She was born in 1995.
• ❌ I have a meeting in 3:00 PM. → ✅ I have a meeting at 3:00 PM.

القواعد:

• AT → أوقات محددة: at 5 o’clock, at midnight, at noon
• ON → أيام/تواريخ: on Monday, on July 5th, on my birthday
• IN → أشهر، سنوات، فصول، أجزاء اليوم: in January, in 2024, in summer, in the morning

استثناءات:

• At night (ليس in night)
• At the weekend (بريطانية)
• On the weekend (أمريكية)

نصيحة: اعتبر AT نقطة، و ON سطح، و IN مساحة مغلقة.

The Mistake: Using the wrong preposition for location.

Examples:

• ❌ I live on Dubai. → ✅ I live in Dubai.
• ❌ The book is in the table. → ✅ The book is on the table.
• ❌ She is in the office? → ✅ She is at the office?
• ❌ I met him on the bus stop. → ✅ I met him at the bus stop.

Rules:

• AT → specific points/locations: at the door, at the bus stop, at home
• ON → surfaces: on the table, on the wall, on the floor
• IN → enclosed spaces/cities/countries: in the room, in Dubai, in the car

Exceptions:

• On a bus/plane/train (not in)
• At home/work/school (not in)
• In bed/hospital/prison (not at)

Tip for Arabic speakers: Arabic uses “في” (fi) for most locations. English distinguishes between in/on/at based on the context.

الخطأ: استخدام حرف جر خاطئ للمكان.

أمثلة:

• ❌ I live on Dubai. → ✅ I live in Dubai.
• ❌ The book is in the table. → ✅ The book is on the table.
• ❌ She is in the office? → ✅ She is at the office?
• ❌ I met him on the bus stop. → ✅ I met him at the bus stop.

القواعد:

• AT → نقاط/مواقع محددة: at the door, at the bus stop, at home
• ON → أسطح: on the table, on the wall, on the floor
• IN → مساحات مغلقة/مدن/دول: in the room, in Dubai, in the car

استثناءات:

• On a bus/plane/train (ليس in)
• At home/work/school (ليس in)
• In bed/hospital/prison (ليس at)

نصيحة للناطقين بالعربية: اللغة العربية تستخدم “في” لمعظم المواقع. الإنجليزية تفرق بين in/on/at حسب السياق.

The Mistake: Using the wrong preposition after certain verbs.

Common Errors:

• ❌ I need to discuss about the problem. → ✅ I need to discuss the problem. (NO preposition)
• ❌ She is married with a doctor. → ✅ She is married to a doctor.
• ❌ I agree with this idea? → ✅ I agree to this idea.
• ❌ It depends of you. → ✅ It depends on you.
• ❌ I am good in English. → ✅ I am good at English.
• ❌ She is interested for music. → ✅ She is interested in music.

Correct Verb + Preposition Pairs:

• Agree with (a person): I agree with you.
• Agree to (a plan/suggestion): I agree to the proposal.
• Ask for: I asked for help.
• Believe in: I believe in honesty.
• Belong to: This belongs to me.
• Depend on: It depends on the weather.
• Listen to: Listen to the teacher.
• Look at: Look at the board.
• Look for: I’m looking for my keys.
• Wait for: Wait for me.
• Think about: I’m thinking about you.
• Think of: I think of you often.
• Pay for: I paid for the dinner.
• Apologize for: I apologize for the delay.

Tip: Learn verbs together with their prepositions as fixed phrases.

الخطأ: استخدام حرف جر خاطئ بعد بعض الأفعال.

أخطاء شائعة:

• ❌ I need to discuss about the problem. → ✅ I need to discuss the problem. (بدون حرف جر)
• ❌ She is married with a doctor. → ✅ She is married to a doctor.
• ❌ I agree with this idea? → ✅ I agree to this idea.
• ❌ It depends of you. → ✅ It depends on you.
• ❌ I am good in English. → ✅ I am good at English.
• ❌ She is interested for music. → ✅ She is interested in music.

أزواج الفعل + حرف الجر الصحيحة:

• Agree with (شخص): I agree with you.
• Agree to (خطة/اقتراح): I agree to the proposal.
• Ask for: I asked for help.
• Believe in: I believe in honesty.
• Belong to: This belongs to me.
• Depend on: It depends on the weather.
• Listen to: Listen to the teacher.
• Look at: Look at the board.
• Look for: I’m looking for my keys.
• Wait for: Wait for me.
• Think about: I’m thinking about you.
• Think of: I think of you often.
• Pay for: I paid for the dinner.
• Apologize for: I apologize for the delay.

نصيحة: تعلم الأفعال مع حروف الجر الخاصة بها كعبارات ثابتة.

The Mistake: Using the wrong preposition after adjectives.

Common Errors:

• ❌ I am afraid from spiders. → ✅ I am afraid of spiders.
• ❌ She is different than her sister. → ✅ She is different from her sister.
• ❌ He is famous for? → ✅ He is famous for his music.
• ❌ I am proud from my children. → ✅ I am proud of my children.
• ❌ She is good in math. → ✅ She is good at math.

Correct Adjective + Preposition Pairs:

• Afraid of: I’m afraid of heights.
• Angry with (a person): I’m angry with him.
• Angry about (something): I’m angry about the delay.
• Bored with: I’m bored with this game.
• Different from: This is different from that.
• Famous for: Paris is famous for the Eiffel Tower.
• Good at: She is good at sports.
• Interested in: I’m interested in history.
• Jealous of: He is jealous of his brother.
• Married to: She is married to Ahmed.
• Proud of: I’m proud of you.
• Responsible for: He is responsible for the team.
• Similar to: This is similar to that.
• Sorry for: I’m sorry for the mistake.
• Sure about: Are you sure about that?
• Tired of: I’m tired of waiting.
• Worried about: She is worried about the exam.

Tip: Treat adjective + preposition as fixed combinations, like vocabulary items.

الخطأ: استخدام حرف جر خاطئ بعد الصفات.

أخطاء شائعة:

• ❌ I am afraid from spiders. → ✅ I am afraid of spiders.
• ❌ She is different than her sister. → ✅ She is different from her sister.
• ❌ He is famous for? → ✅ He is famous for his music.
• ❌ I am proud from my children. → ✅ I am proud of my children.
• ❌ She is good in math. → ✅ She is good at math.

أزواج الصفة + حرف الجر الصحيحة:

• Afraid of: I’m afraid of heights.
• Angry with (شخص): I’m angry with him.
• Angry about (شيء): I’m angry about the delay.
• Bored with: I’m bored with this game.
• Different from: This is different from that.
• Famous for: Paris is famous for the Eiffel Tower.
• Good at: She is good at sports.
• Interested in: I’m interested in history.
• Jealous of: He is jealous of his brother.
• Married to: She is married to Ahmed.
• Proud of: I’m proud of you.
• Responsible for: He is responsible for the team.
• Similar to: This is similar to that.
• Sorry for: I’m sorry for the mistake.
• Sure about: Are you sure about that?
• Tired of: I’m tired of waiting.
• Worried about: She is worried about the exam.

نصيحة: تعامل مع الصفة + حرف الجر كتركيبات ثابتة، مثل مفردات.

The Mistake: Using the wrong preposition with certain nouns.

Common Errors:

• ❌ I have an advantage for you. → ✅ I have an advantage over you.
• ❌ The reason of the problem is… → ✅ The reason for the problem is…
• ❌ I have experience in this field. → ✅ I have experience in this field. (Correct!)
• ❌ She has a fear from heights. → ✅ She has a fear of heights.

Correct Noun + Preposition Pairs:

• Advantage of: The advantage of this plan is…
• Advantage over: We have an advantage over them.
• Cause of: What is the cause of the problem?
• Difference between: The difference between the two is…
• Experience in: She has experience in marketing.
• Fear of: He has a fear of heights.
• Interest in: She showed an interest in art.
• Key to: What is the key to success?
• Knowledge of: He has good knowledge of English.
• Need for: There is a need for more teachers.
• Reason for: What is the reason for the delay?
• Responsibility for: He has responsibility for the project.
• Solution to: What is the solution to this problem?

Tip: Learn nouns together with their prepositions to build natural English.

الخطأ: استخدام حرف جر خاطئ مع بعض الأسماء.

أخطاء شائعة:

• ❌ I have an advantage for you. → ✅ I have an advantage over you.
• ❌ The reason of the problem is… → ✅ The reason for the problem is…
• ❌ I have experience in this field. → ✅ I have experience in this field. (صحيح!)
• ❌ She has a fear from heights. → ✅ She has a fear of heights.

أزواج الاسم + حرف الجر الصحيحة:

• Advantage of: The advantage of this plan is…
• Advantage over: We have an advantage over them.
• Cause of: What is the cause of the problem?
• Difference between: The difference between the two is…
• Experience in: She has experience in marketing.
• Fear of: He has a fear of heights.
• Interest in: She showed an interest in art.
• Key to: What is the key to success?
• Knowledge of: He has good knowledge of English.
• Need for: There is a need for more teachers.
• Reason for: What is the reason for the delay?
• Responsibility for: He has responsibility for the project.
• Solution to: What is the solution to this problem?

نصيحة: تعلم الأسماء مع حروف الجر الخاصة بها لبناء لغة إنجليزية طبيعية.

The Mistake: Adding a preposition when it’s not needed.

Common Errors:

• ❌ Let’s discuss about the project. → ✅ Let’s discuss the project.
• ❌ I called to him yesterday. → ✅ I called him yesterday.
• ❌ She married with him. → ✅ She married him.
• ❌ I reached to the station. → ✅ I reached the station.
• ❌ We contacted with them. → ✅ We contacted them.
• ❌ He entered into the room. → ✅ He entered the room.
• ❌ I requested for help. → ✅ I requested help.

Verbs that take NO preposition:

• Call: I called her. (NOT call to her)
• Contact: Please contact us. (NOT contact with us)
• Discuss: We discussed the matter. (NOT discuss about)
• Enter: He entered the building. (NOT enter into)
• Marry: She married him. (NOT marry with him)
• Reach: We reached the airport. (NOT reach to)
• Request: I requested permission. (NOT request for)
• Resemble: She resembles her mother. (NOT resemble to)

Tip: If you’re unsure, check a dictionary. Many Arabic speakers add prepositions because Arabic uses them in these cases.

الخطأ: إضافة حرف جر عندما لا يكون مطلوبًا.

أخطاء شائعة:

• ❌ Let’s discuss about the project. → ✅ Let’s discuss the project.
• ❌ I called to him yesterday. → ✅ I called him yesterday.
• ❌ She married with him. → ✅ She married him.
• ❌ I reached to the station. → ✅ I reached the station.
• ❌ We contacted with them. → ✅ We contacted them.
• ❌ He entered into the room. → ✅ He entered the room.
• ❌ I requested for help. → ✅ I requested help.

أفعال لا تأخذ حرف جر:

• Call: I called her. (وليس call to her)
• Contact: Please contact us. (وليس contact with us)
• Discuss: We discussed the matter. (وليس discuss about)
• Enter: He entered the building. (وليس enter into)
• Marry: She married him. (وليس marry with him)
• Reach: We reached the airport. (وليس reach to)
• Request: I requested permission. (وليس request for)
• Resemble: She resembles her mother. (وليس resemble to)

نصيحة: إذا كنت غير متأكد، راجع القاموس. كثير من الناطقين بالعربية يضيفون حروف جر لأن العربية تستخدمها في هذه الحالات.