T&T 004 Preposition Collocations with nouns and verbs

T&T 004
TEXT: Preposition Collocations with nouns and 
verbs 

It is often difficult to give explanations for the use of prepositions, and they are one of the most common types of mistake for learners. One way to learn is to get a 'feel' for the usage of a particular word by looking at multiple examples. A good way to do this is to use the Web Concordancer to study collocates (words which are often used together with other words). Click on the links to do this for the following words.

		Collocation Examples
1	X	He refused to comment the problem.
	√ :	He refused to comment on the problem.
		Explanation:  'comment' collocates with 'on'
2	X	What is the reason of Hong Kong's air pollution?
	√ :	What is the reason for Hong Kong's air pollution?
		Explanation:  'reason' collocates with 'for'
3	X	Can we meet to discuss about the policy changes?
	√ :	Can we meet to discuss the policy changes?
		Explanation:  'discuss' does not collocate with 'about'
4	X	Graduates should consider on their career goals.
	√ :	Graduates should consider their career goals.
		Explanation:  'consider' does not collocate with 'on'
5	X	They were asked to participate the interviews.
	√ :	They were asked to participate in the interviews.
		Explanation:  'participate' collocates with 'in'
6	X	Obviously you need to adapt changing circumstances.
	√ :	Obviously you need to adapt to changing circumstances.
		Explanation:  'adapt' collocates with 'to'
7	X	Applicants who filled the questionnaire were then chosen randomly.
	√ :	Applicants who filled out the questionnaire were then chosen randomly.
		Explanation:  'fill' collocates with 'out'
8	X	This figure could reflect their dissatisfaction of the lack of training.
	√ :	This figure could reflect their dissatisfaction with the lack of training.
		Explanation:  'dissatisfaction' collocates with 'with'
9	X	What are the main differences of US English and the English spoken in the UK?
	√ :	What are the main differences between US English and the English spoken in the UK?
		Explanation:  'differences' collocates with 'between'
10	X	Some authorities are now claiming that chocolate may be good to you in moderate quantities.
	√ :	Some authorities are now claiming that chocolate may be good for you in moderate quantities.
		Explanation:  ' be good' collocates with 'for' with this meaning
11	X	The USA made a formal complaint on that country's environmental policy.
	√ :	The USA made a formal complaint about that country's environmental policy.
		Explanation:  'complaint' collocates with 'about'
12	X	Pay attention on that company's press releases. They may be looking for new employees soon.
	√ :	Pay attention to that company's press releases. They may be looking for new employees soon.
		Explanation:  'attention' collocates with 'to'
13	X	The cleaners demanded for a pay rise because of the recent rise in prices.
	√ :	The cleaners demanded a pay rise because of the recent rise in prices.
		Explanation:  'demanded' does not collocate with 'for'
14	X	People can use credit cards to pay goods on the web.
	√ :	People can use credit cards to pay for goods on the web.
		Explanation:  'pay' collocates with 'for'
15	X	If on line learning can be developed, it seems to me that education will be more effective than the past.
	√ :	If on line learning can be developed, it seems to me that education will be more effective than in the past.
		Explanation:  With reference to time adverbials such as 'the past',  the left collocate is 'in'
16	X	Education in the internet can save a lot of resources.
	√ :	Education on the internet can save a lot of resources.
		Explanation:  'on' is a left collocate with 'internet'
17	X	In my point of view, I do not think the government should censor the Internet.
	√ :	From my point of view, I do not think the government should censor the Internet.
		Explanation:  'from' is a left collocate with 'point of view'
18	X	All Hong Kong people were concerned on the recent economic crisis.
	√ :	All Hong Kong people were concerned about the recent economic crisis.
		Explanation:  'concerned' collocates with 'about'
19	X	In some universities more than 2000 students are enrolled the same course.
	√ :	In some universities more than 2000 students are enrolled on the same course.
		Explanation:  'enroll' collocates with 'on' or 'in'
19	X	They want to get a job in the earliest possible opportunity.
	√ :	They want to get a job at the earliest possible opportunity.
		Explanation:  'earliest' collocates with 'at' (left collocate)
20	X	This implies that the present situation of Hong Kong does not allow graduates to get their first preference jobs easily.
	√ :	This implies that the present situation in Hong Kong does not allow graduates to get their first preference jobs easily.
		Explanation:  'in' collocates with 'Hong Kong'
21	X	Because of the economic downturn, students tended to apply more jobs than last year.
	√ :	Because of the economic downturn, students tended to apply for more jobs than last year.
		Explanation:  'apply' collocates with 'for'
22	X	Concerning about job seeking skills, the findings presented in Table 5 show that one-third of the subjects felt they needed more help in their interview techniques.
	√ :	Concerning job seeking skills, the findings presented in Table 5 show that one-third of the subjects felt they needed more help in their interview techniques.
		Explanation:   'concerning' does not collocate with 'about'
23	X	24% of the subjects claimed that they needed help on English speaking skills.
	√ :	24% of the subjects claimed that they needed help with English speaking skills.
		Explanation:  'help' collocates with 'with'
24	X	This figure could reflect their dissatisfaction of the lack of training.
	√ :	This figure could reflect their dissatisfaction with the lack of training.
		Explanation:  'dissatisfaction' collocates with 'with'

http://www.edict.com.hk/vlc/errorcorrection/prepositions.htm