English for Effective Communication

It is not only what you say that matter, it is how you say it.

Verbs and Prepositions

Incorrect use of prepositions in English is very common for non-native speakers. And this has two main reasons:

1. Non-native speakers focus more on the main parts of a sentence, i.e. the verb, the nouns, the adjectives etc.. rather than on the smaller parts of a sentence, like prepositions.

2. Non-native speakers translate the verb and preposition from their own language to English, and frequently the preposition is different or there isn't a preposition with the verb in their language.

Verbs and Prepositions

Below are a number of examples of verbs and their prepositions which are often different in other languages:

'to thank somebody'

When we use this in English and give the reason, the preposition is 'for':

'I thank you for your understanding in this matter.'

 

Verbs and Prepositions

'to attend'

Like many verbs in English, 'to attend' has different meanings. It can mean 'to go to something', e.g. 'I'm going to a party'. Unlike in other languages, it doesn't use a preposition before the object/noun:

'I attended a meeting in Scotland last week.' the receptionist about something he was not

happy about in the hotel.In the second sentence, the receptionist was the thing he wasn't happy about and he told another person.

Verbs and Prepositions

'to complain'

In some cases, the use of different prepositions after a verb changes the meaning of the sentence. For example, think about the difference in meaning between the following two uses of the verb 'to complain':

'He complained to the receptionist in the hotel.'

'He complained about the receptionist in the hotel.'

In the first sentence, he told the receptionist about something he was not happy about in the hotel.In the second sentence, the receptionist was the thing he wasn't happy about and he told another person.

Phrasal Verbs

What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb; the combination creates a meaning different from the original verb alone.

Example :  To get = to obtain

I need to get a new battery for my camera.

To get together = to meet 

Why don’t we all get together for lunch one day?

Verbs

How to use “prevent”

The Lease does not provide for a period of time during which the Tenant is prevented to use the Premises.

The Lease does not provide for a period of time during which the Tenant is prevented from using the Premises.

Verbs

WRONGThe Lease does not provide for a period of time during which the Tenant is prevented to use the Premises.

RIGHTThe Lease does not provide for a period of time during which the Tenant is prevented from using the Premises.

Verbs

How to use “prevent”

The crew should be provided with training on how to prevent sea contamination.

The crew should be provided with training on how to prevent from sea contamination.

Verbs

RIGHTThe crew should be provided with training on how to prevent sea contamination.

WRONGThe crew should be provided with training on how to prevent from sea contamination.

Although the verb “prevent” takes the preposition “from”, it can also be used with no preposition. The rules are as follows:

“prevent” + somethingThe soldiers prevented the evacuation.The automatic breathalyser prevents driving under the influence of alcohol.

“prevent” somebody from + -ingThe soldiers prevented the refugees from evacuating.The automatic breathalyser prevents drivers from driving under the influence of alcohol.

Verbs

The word “prohibit” works in exactly the same way:

“prohibit” + something

The law prohibits the construction of public buildings without adequate fire exits.The school rules prohibit smoking.

“prohibit” somebody from + -ingThere are no specific provisions in the law that would prohibit an employer from summarily dismissing an employee due to his/her misconduct.

The verb “ban” also works in the same way:

The government banned the advertising of tobacco products in 2002.

The court convicted him of hooliganism and banned him from attending football matches.

Verbs

Attached or enclosed?

Please find the template agreement enclosed to this email.

Please find the template agreement attached to this email.

Verbs

Attached or enclosed?

WRONGPlease find the template agreement enclosed to this email.

RIGHTPlease find the template agreement attached to this email.

Verbs

Emails have attachments – an attachment is attached to an email.

Letters, or anything else sent by post or courier, have enclosures – an enclosure is enclosed with a letter.

For example:

Please sign the POA enclosed with this letter and return it to us as soon as possible. 

The difference between “by” and “until”

Write the report until 5 pm.

Write the report by 5 pm. 

The difference between “by” and “until”

WRONGWrite the report until 5 pm.

RIGHTWrite the report by 5 pm. 

Write the report until 5 pm means “Start writing the report now, continue writing it until 5 pm, then stop writing it regardless of whether it is finished or not.”

Write the report by 5 pm means “Make sure that at 5 pm the report is written and finished”.

As a preposition of time “by” means “on or before”.E.g. We will send you the documents by Friday.

Use “by” when you refer to a deadline.

“Until” means “up to a particular time”.E.g. We have until Friday to send out the documents.

Use “until” when you refer to the period of time before a deadline.

“By” is used to describe an action or event that happens on or before a particular moment.E.g. We expect to know the judgment by the end of November.

“Until” is used to describe a state or situation in the period of time up to a particular moment.E.g. The court proceedings are expected to last until November.

You may think of “until” as referring to the moment a state or situation changes.E.g. Comments on the draft may be submitted until 30 April 2012.

Here’s a summary:

1.         I can do it by 5 pm.            Now   → do it and finish it →   5 pm

(it will be finished)

2.         I can do it until 5 pm.            Now   →       do it       →   5 pm

(I’ll stop even if I haven’t finished)

3.         I can’t do it by 5 pm.            Now   → do it / not do it →   5 pm

(either way it won’t be finished)

4.         I can’t do it until 5 pm.            Now   →  can’t do it  →   5 pm

(I’ll start)

Write “wait until” NOT “wait with”

The company does not have to wait with the redundancies until the termination period ends.

The company does not have to wait until the termination period ends before making the redundancies.

Write “wait until” NOT “wait with”

WRONGThe company does not have to wait with the redundancies until the termination period ends.

RIGHTThe company does not have to wait until the termination period ends before making the redundancies.

This mistake is very common among speakers of Slavic languages. It results from applying Slavic-language sentence structure to English sentences.

Here is an example of Polish sentence structure:Musimy poczekać z ostateczną oceną do maja 2012 r.

It is wrong to use the same sentence structure in English, i.e.:We must wait with a final assessment until May 2012.

The correct English translation uses a different structure, i.e.:We must wait until May 2012 before making a final assessment.

The rule is as follows:

WRONG:     “wait with X until Y”RIGHT:       “wait until Y before –ing X”

More examples:

As we cannot exclude that the registry court will

ask for further amendments in this respect, we suggest waiting until the registry court accepts the amended version of the Statute before making the appointments.

As we cannot exclude that the registry court will ask for further amendments in this respect, we suggest waiting with the appointments until the registry court accepts the amended version of the Statute.

More examples:

RIGHTAs we cannot exclude that the registry court will ask for further amendments in this respect, we suggest waiting until the registry court accepts the amended version of the Statute before making the appointments.

WRONGAs we cannot exclude that the registry court will ask for further amendments in this respect, we suggest waiting with the appointments until the registry court accepts the amended version of the Statute.

As the case has not yet been finally resolved, it seems advisable to wait with the analysis until the court issues the judgment.

As the case has not yet been finally resolved, it seems advisable to wait until the court issues the judgment before conducting the analysis.

WRONGAs the case has not yet been finally resolved, it seems advisable to wait with the analysis until the court issues the judgment.

RIGHTAs the case has not yet been finally resolved, it seems advisable to wait until the court issues the judgment before conducting the analysis.

We are already prepared to apply for a temporary residence permit for him, but we must wait with filing this application until he arrives to Ukraine.

We are already prepared to apply for a temporary residence permit for him, but we must wait until he arrives in Ukraine before filing this application. 

WRONGWe are already prepared to apply for a temporary residence permit for him, but we must wait with filing this application until he arrives to Ukraine.

RIGHTWe are already prepared to apply for a temporary residence permit for him, but we must wait until he arrives in Ukraine before filing this application. 

Please instruct whether we should start the registration proceedings of the three Supervisory Board members now or wait with it until you have delivered the documents on the appointment of the other two members.

Please instruct whether we should start the registration proceedings of the three Supervisory Board members now or wait until you have delivered the documents on the appointment of the other two members [before starting it].

WRONGPlease instruct whether we should start the registration proceedings of the three Supervisory Board members now or wait with it until you have delivered the documents on the appointment of the other two members.

RIGHTPlease instruct whether we should start the registration proceedings of the three Supervisory Board members now or wait until you have delivered the documents on the appointment of the other two members [before starting it].

As of

“As of” is a little phrase but I have a lot to say about it. Although it is very common in business writing it can create ambiguity if used incorrectly.

Ambiguity is caused by the fact that “as of” has three different meanings: on, since or from, depending on the context.

Have a look at these sentences:

The contract enters into force as of 1 January 2013. = on

The contract has been effective as of 1 August 2011. = since 

The contract is effective as of 1 January 2013. = from 

Consider this sentence:

The Company purchased 7,000 m3 of wood as of 16 September 2011.

Does this mean the Company purchased (Past Simple) the wood on 16 September 2011, or does it mean the Company has purchased (Present Perfect) the wood since 16 September 2011? The fact that the writer used the Present Simple might lead the reader to think that all the wood was bought on 16 September. But was the writer aware of his choice of tense use?

Consider this sentence:

The Company purchased 7,000 m3 of wood as of 16 September 2011.

Does this mean the Company purchased (Past Simple) the wood on 16 September 2011, or does it mean the Company has purchased (Present Perfect) the wood since 16 September 2011? The fact that the writer used the Present Simple might lead the reader to think that all the wood was bought on 16 September. But was the writer aware of his choice of tense use?

*the writer should have written “has purchased”.

“At” a meeting, NOT “on” a meeting

Never say on a meeting. The correct way to say it is at a meeting. This is a very common mistake among speakers of Slavic languages.

WRONGWe amended the documents according to the instructions you gave us on the meeting.

RIGHTWe amended the documents according to the instructions you gave us at the meeting.

When is it correct to use “to” plus –ing? (part 1)

I look forward to talk to you on Friday afternoon.

I look forward to talking to you on Friday afternoon. 

When is it correct to use “to” plus –ing? (part 1)

WRONGI look forward to talk to you on Friday afternoon.

RIGHTI look forward to talking to you on Friday afternoon. As the example above shows, sometimes it is correct

to use “to” plus the –ing form of a verb. 

Many non-native English speakers are reluctant to use –ing after “to”. Maybe this is because you learnt at school that after “to” a verb should always be in the infinitive.

  This is only half true. “To” actually has two

uses – EITHER as an infinitive marker (i.e. to show that the next word is an infinitive verb – e.g. The Company wishes to purchase the shares), OR as a preposition (e.g. He has gone to lunch).

When “to” acts as a preposition it is usually followed by an –ing form (which in this case is a gerund) or a noun/noun phrase, as in these examples:

  There is no obstacle to register the company.

There is no obstacle to registering the company.

There is no obstacle to the registration of the

company.

When “to” acts as a preposition it is usually followed by an –ing form (which in this case is a gerund) or a noun/noun phrase, as in these examples:

  WRONGThere is no obstacle to register the company.

RIGHT (-ing form)There is no obstacle to registering the company.

RIGHT (noun phrase)There is no obstacle to the registration of the

company.

I do not recommend committing yourself to purchase the shares

yet.

I do not recommend committing yourself to purchasing the shares

yet.

I do not recommend committing yourself to the purchase of the

shares yet.  Public procurement legislation has undergone some major changes

in recent years due to implement EU public procurement directives.

WRONGI do not recommend committing yourself to purchase the shares

yet.

RIGHT (-ing form)I do not recommend committing yourself to purchasing the shares

yet.

RIGHT (noun phrase)I do not recommend committing yourself to the purchase of the

shares yet.  WRONGPublic procurement legislation has undergone some major changes

in recent years due to implement EU public procurement directives.

Public procurement legislation has undergone some major changes in

recent years due to implementing EU public procurement directives.

Public procurement legislation has undergone some major changes in

recent years due to the implementation of EU public procurement directives.

  I look forward to hear from you.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I look forward to your reply.

RIGHT (-ing form)Public procurement legislation has undergone some major changes in

recent years due to implementing EU public procurement directives.

RIGHT (noun phrase)Public procurement legislation has undergone some major changes in

recent years due to the implementation of EU public procurement directives.

  WRONGI look forward to hear from you.

RIGHT (-ing form)I look forward to hearing from you.

RIGHT (noun phrase)I look forward to your reply.

Thank You

Prepared by: Marie Rossett