Chapter 5 of 9

🔗 Articles, Prepositions & Connectors

4 min+15 XP

Articles (a, an, the) and prepositions are the most common error categoryfor Singapore students due to mother tongue influence. Don't worry -- once you spot the patterns, they become second nature!

Common Mistake	Correct Form	Tip
✗Teacher asked us to submit assignment by Friday.	✓The teacher asked us to submit the assignment by Friday.	In Singapore English, articles are often dropped. In Standard English, use "the" when referring to a specific teacher or assignment already known to the listener.
✗I saw cat near school gate. Cat was sleeping.	✓I saw a cat near the school gate. The cat was sleeping.	Use "a" when introducing a noun for the first time, then "the" for subsequent mentions.
✗She waited for a hour at the MRT station.	✓She waited for an hour at the MRT station.	The "h" in "hour" is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound. Use "an" before vowel sounds.
✗The homework is an essential part of the learning.	✓Homework is an essential part of learning.	When speaking about homework or learning in general (not a specific instance), do not use "the".
✗She is tallest student in class.	✓She is the tallest student in the class.	Superlative adjectives (tallest, best, most) always require "the" before them.
✗The assembly is in the school hall in 8 a.m.	✓The assembly is at the school hall at 8 a.m.	Use "at" for specific points in time (at 8 a.m.) and specific locations (at the school hall). "In" is used for enclosed spaces or longer periods.
✗The O-Level results will be released on January.	✓The O-Level results will be released in January.	Use "in" with months, years, decades, and centuries. Use "on" only with specific dates.
✗The school reopens in Monday, 2 January.	✓The school reopens on Monday, 2 January.	Use "on" with days of the week and specific dates.
✗She go school by bus every day.	✓She goes to school by bus every day.	In Singlish, "go school" is common, but Standard English requires "go to school". The preposition "to" indicates direction.
✗He has been studying since three hours.	✓He has been studying for three hours.	"For" is used with a duration (three hours, two weeks). "Since" is used with a point in time (since Monday, since 2023).

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🔗Key Takeaway

Articles and prepositions are the MOST tested error types. Master the patterns: "go to school" (not "go school"), "interested in" (not "interested on").