You know the meanings of “interested” and “in,” yet “interested on” still appears in your draft. Learning the adjective by itself may not be enough. Recording “interested in something” gives you a pattern you can reuse when you write.
The prepositions chapter of Jobin Thomas’s Systematic PTE Grammar Practice covers time, place and common word combinations, followed by exercises and explanations. This guide focuses on learning those combinations in complete phrases rather than memorising a disconnected list of small words.
Keep the word and its usual pattern together
Record “depend on,” “responsible for” and “participate in” as units. Then add an example you understand: “The timetable depends on room availability.” That sentence shows both the preposition and the kind of information that follows it.
A single translation may not show the English pattern. Try replacing the example’s final phrase while keeping the structure: “The timetable depends on staff availability.” This helps you practise using the combination beyond one memorised sentence.
Notice when a related noun uses a different structure
The verb “discuss” commonly takes a direct object: “We discussed the proposal.” The noun can appear in “a discussion about the proposal.” Carrying “about” into the verb pattern produces the common error “We discussed about the proposal.”
Another useful comparison is “respond to a question” and “answer a question.” The meanings are related, but the grammatical patterns differ. Learn the structure of the word you are actually using, not a preposition borrowed from a synonym.
Original pattern comparison
Verb: The tutor explained the task to the group.
Noun: The tutor gave the group an explanation of the task.
Verb: The students discussed the example.
Noun: The students had a discussion about the example.
Underline the complete structure, including the person or thing that follows it.
Check what follows the preposition
A preposition can be followed by a noun phrase or an “-ing” form: “interested in the workshop” and “interested in attending the workshop.” The phrase “look forward to” also takes this pattern: “I look forward to meeting the group.”
The “to” in that phrase is a preposition, not the beginning of an infinitive. Compare it with “I hope to meet the group,” where “to meet” is an infinitive. The word before the phrase helps determine the structure.
Choose the missing word or remove it
1. The group participated ___ the workshop.
2. We discussed ___ the next exercise.
3. I look forward to ___ the new material. (read/reading)
4. The organiser provided us ___ a schedule.
Answers: 1 in. 2 no preposition. 3 reading. 4 with. Read each corrected sentence aloud, then write a different example using the same pattern.
Use meaning to distinguish time expressions
Some prepositions change the message in a predictable way. “Send the draft by Friday” gives a deadline. “Work on the draft until Friday” describes an activity continuing up to that point. Swapping “by” and “until” would not preserve the same instruction.
Keep clear examples of these contrasts in your notes. For routine scheduling, compare “at nine,” “on Monday” and “in October.” When a phrase is unfamiliar, check an example from a reliable dictionary rather than extending a rule to every situation.
Make your error record specific
Instead of writing “prepositions are weak,” record the exact pattern you need to practise. Include your original error, a corrected sentence and one new sentence. Review by completing the phrase before looking at the answer.
Choose three patterns from your latest draft. Use each in a sentence about work or study, then change the topic while keeping the same grammatical relationship.
Explore PTE Grammar — Course 3 for practice connected to Systematic PTE Grammar Practice. Compare the course outline with your error record and use the relevant exercises to strengthen patterns you can apply in your own writing.
Your next step
PTE Grammar — Course 3
Explore the complete course outline and related practice topics.
Source: PTE GR 102.epub, Jobins Training. Examples labelled original or illustrative were written for this article. Independent exam preparation; no affiliation with or endorsement by the examining body. Practice does not predict an official score.