English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (GAB)
ON OBLIGATORY PREPOSITIONS
Sometimes, prepositions are erroneously omitted where they form obligatory parts of the structures. Instances are given below:
1. Dispose of a thing, not dispose a thing:
He will dispose of all his property (not, He will dispose all his property)
2. Knock at the door, not knock the door:
Who’s knocking at the door? (not, Who is knocking the door?).
3. Reply to a person, not, reply a person:
He has not replied to my letter.(not, He has not replied my letter).
4. Supply a person with something, not supply a person something:
Can you supply me with all I need? (not, Can you supply me all I need)
Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (GAB)
Academic Advisor, Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan;
&
Doctoral Student of English, University of Ibadan.
