Key Takeaways:
What Common Chinese Prepositions Mistakes Should Students Watch Out For?
- 在 (zài), 到 (dào), and 从 (cóng) are often confused because they relate to place or time but serve different grammatical roles.
- 给 (gěi) and 对 (duì) are commonly mixed up, especially when expressing emotions or attitudes.
- 跟 (gēn) and 和 (hé) are not interchangeable; one shows action done together, while the other links nouns.
- 为了 (wèi le) and 因为 (yīn wèi) are frequently misused when students confuse purpose with reason.
- 对于 (duì yú) is often omitted in formal writing, leading to sentences that sound incomplete or informal.
- Incorrect word order with 在 (zài) + location is a common exam error influenced by English sentence structure.
Introduction
As students enter Sec 1 and begin secondary-level Chinese, some parents may notice a sudden drop in their children’s confidence and grades. This is not always due to vocabulary or comprehension, but rather, the weak mastery of Chinese language fundamentals. Secondary-level Chinese places greater emphasis on sentence structure, grammar accuracy, and precise language use, rather than simple word recognition.
While many students cope well at the primary level through memorisation or familiarity with common phrases, Sec 1 assessments require them to apply grammar rules accurately in new and unfamiliar contexts. One area that frequently exposes this gap is the use of Chinese prepositions (介词 jiè cí).
This article covers common preposition mistakes in exams and shares tips to help Sec 1 students apply them correctly.
How Prepositions Work
While English prepositions generally follow predictable patterns, Chinese prepositions operate within fixed sentence structures. They can also change meaning depending on context. When students are unsure how to apply these rules, mistakes commonly appear in cloze passages, comprehension responses, sentence manipulation, and composition writing. While structured school lessons introduce these concepts, supplementary support such as Sec 1 Chinese tuition can help students reinforce their understanding and practise applying them correctly.
What are the Common Exam Errors Involving Prepositions?
1. Mixing Up 在 (zài), 到 (dào) and 从 (cóng)
These three prepositions are frequently tested and often confused. In exam questions, they are often placed together as options. 在 (zài) indicates where an action takes place, 到 (dào) shows movement towards an endpoint, and 从 (cóng) introduces a starting point.
Examples:
在 (zài) — “at / in” (location or time)
例：我在学校。(I am at school)
到 (dào) — “to / until” (movement or time endpoint)
例：我到学校。(I go to school / I arrive at school– depending on context)
从 (cóng) — “from” (starting point)
例：我从家里走来。(I walk here from home)
Common mistake:
我在学校走。(I walk at school) — wrong
在 (zài) is used to indicate a static location, not movement towards a place. As 在 (zài) does not express direction or an endpoint, the sentence feels incomplete and unnatural in Chinese.
To describe movement towards a place, 到 (dào) should be used instead:
我走到学校。 (I walk to school) — correct
Exam tip:
If the sentence shows movement from one place to another, 在 (zài) is almost always incorrect. This distinction is a core part of Chinese grammar for exams.
2. Confusing 给 (gěi) and 对 (duì)
Another frequent error involves emotional or abstract expressions. This mistake often occurs because both 给 (gěi) and 对 (duì) can be translated as “to” in English, leading students to rely on direct translation rather than sentence function. However, 给 (gěi) is used for actions involving giving or doing something for someone, while 对 (duì) is used to express emotions, attitudes, or responses toward a person or situation.
Examples:
给 (gěi) — giving or doing something for someone
例：老师给我一本书。(The teacher gives me a book)
对 (duì) — attitude, emotion, or response
例：他对我很好。(He is very good to me)
Common mistake:
我给这件事很担心。(I am very worried about this matter) — wrong
While this is the intended meaning in English, the sentence is grammatically incorrect in Chinese. 给 (gěi) is used for actions such as giving something or doing something for someone, not for expressing emotions or feelings. In this context, the sentence describes an emotional response, not an action.
我对这件事很担心。(I am very worried about this matter) — correct
对 (duì) is the correct preposition when expressing emotions, attitudes, or reactions toward a person or situation. Therefore, this correctly shows how the speaker feels about the matter.
Exam tip:
If the sentence expresses feelings, opinions, or attitudes, 对 (duì) is the safer and usually correct choice.
3. Using 跟 (gēn) and 和 (hé) Incorrectly
While both words can translate to “with” or “and” in English, their functions differ. 跟 (gēn) is used to show that two people are doing an action together and must be followed by a verb or action phrase. On the other hand, 和 (hé) is used to link nouns and does not indicate an action by itself.
Examples:
跟 (gēn) — doing an action together
例：我跟朋友一起吃饭。(I’m eating with my friend)
和 (hé) — linking nouns
例：我和朋友。(My friend and I)
Common mistake:
我和妈妈去学校。(My mother and I go to school) — wrong
和 (hé) only connects people or things, but it does not show that an action is done together. Since 去学校 (go to school) is an action carried out together, 跟 (gēn) is the correct preposition to use.
我跟妈妈去学校。(I go to school with my mother) — correct
跟 (gēn) should be used before the verb to correctly express joint action.
Exam tip:
If the sentence includes an action done together, use 跟 (gēn). This distinction often appears in Chinese cloze passage techniques where only one option fits grammatically.
4. Misusing 为了 (wèi le) and 因为 (yīn wèi)
Purpose and reason are frequently mixed up. This confusion happens because 为了 (wèi le) and 因为 (yīn wèi) both describe a relationship between actions, but they serve different functions in a sentence.
为了 (wèi le) introduces a purpose or goal, while 因为 (yīn wèi) explains a reason or cause of something. When students rely on English translation alone, they may choose the wrong connector, resulting in illogical sentence flow.
Examples:
为了 (wèi le) — purpose
例：为了考试，我努力复习。(I diligently revise for examinations)
因为 (yīn wèi) — reason
例：因为下雨，所以我没去。(Because of the rain, I did not go)
Common mistake:
因为考得好，我努力学习。(Because of good results, I study hard) — wrong
This sentence is incorrect because 因为 (yīn wèi) is used to explain a reason that has already happened, while 努力学习 is an action taken to achieve a result. In this sentence, “doing well in exams” cannot be the reason for “studying hard”. The correct relationship should show purpose, not cause, which is why 为了 (wèi le) should be used instead.
Exam tip:
Students should ask themselves if an action happens because of something or in order to achieve something. This simple check prevents many errors.
5. Forgetting 对于 (duì yú) in Formal Sentences
As students move into secondary school, composition writing requires a more formal and structured tone. 对于 (duì yú) is commonly used to introduce a topic, viewpoint, or group of people in formal written Chinese.
When students omit 对于 (duì yú), sentences may still be understandable, but they often sound incomplete or informal. This is likely to lower marks for language accuracy and expression. Using 对于 (duì yú) correctly helps students present ideas more clearly and meet the expectations of secondary-level writing.
Examples:
这个问题学生来说很重要。(This issue is very important to students) — wrong
The sentence is missing the preposition 对于 (duì yú), which is needed to correctly introduce the group being discussed. Without 对于, the phrase 学生来说 is grammatically incomplete and sounds unnatural in formal Chinese writing.
对于学生来说，这个问题很重要。(For students, this issue is very important) — correct
对于 (duì yú) is used to clearly introduce a viewpoint, topic, or audience, especially in formal or exam-related writing such as compositions. It helps structure the sentence logically and makes the relationship between the subject and the group explicit.
Exam tip:
As secondary-level composition and situational writing require a more structured and formal tone, mastering the use of 对于 helps students express ideas more clearly and meet exam expectations. With the right guidance, such as focused Chinese tuition for secondary students, learners can strengthen their control of these formal structures in writing tasks.
6. Incorrect Word Order with 在 (zài) + Location
When it comes to Chinese prepositions, 在 (zài) + location is used to set the place before the action happens. This means the location must appear before the verb, not after it. Placing 在 (zài) correctly helps the reader understand where the action takes place from the start.
Correct structure:
Subject + 在 + place + verb + object
我 (subject) 在 (at) 学校 (place) 吃 (verb) 午餐 (object)。(I have lunch at school)
Common mistake:
我吃午餐在学校。(I am at school eat lunch) — wrong
- Follows English word order (verb first, location after)
Chinese sentences follow a fixed structure where the location is placed before the verb, using 在 (zài) to set the scene first. This tells the reader where the action happens before describing what happens. When students place the location after the verb, the sentence follows English word order instead of Chinese grammar, making it sound unnatural and grammatically incorrect
Exam tip:
在 (zài) + location almost always comes before the verb. Word order errors are easy marks lost in sentence correction questions.
Why Avoiding These Mistakes Matters
At Sec 1, exam questions place greater emphasis on accuracy, sentence structure, and proper grammar usage. When students have weak foundations in Chinese prepositions, these errors can gradually affect comprehension accuracy, sentence correction, and composition clarity.
While structured school lessons introduce these grammar foundations, consistent reinforcement is often needed. This is why many parents turn to secondary Chinese tuition in Singapore. At Choice Hua Sheng Education Centre, students move beyond memorisation to develop structured thinking and exam-ready language skills. Our tutors help your child analyse language use and truly master prepositions as they progress through secondary school.
Get in touch to learn more about our programmes.
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