Superfluous Prepositions: Identifying and Eliminating Unnecessary Words
Learn to identify and remove superfluous prepositions following transitive verbs like discuss, order, and describe. Essential for SSC and Banking error spotting.
The Concept of Excess Weight
In our previous lessons, we explored how Fixed Prepositions act like a permanent glue between certain words. However, sometimes we add prepositions where they are not needed at all. These unnecessary words are called Superfluous Prepositions.
The word “superfluous” simply means more than enough or unnecessary. In English grammar, adding an extra preposition can change a perfectly correct sentence into a common error. This often happens because we try to translate sentences literally from our mother tongue into English.
The Transitive Verb Rule
As we learned in our study of verbs, a Transitive Verb is an action word that needs a direct object to complete its meaning. Because these verbs act directly upon the object, they do not need a prepositional “bridge.”
Most learners make mistakes here because they mentally translate phrases from Hindi or other regional languages. For example, in Hindi, we say “baate karna” (to talk about). When we use the English word Discuss, which already means “to talk about,” we accidentally add the word “about” again.
Analogy · The Direct Delivery Expand analogy
Think of a Transitive Verb like a courier delivering a package directly to your doorstep. He does not need a middleman to hand over the parcel. Adding a Superfluous Preposition is like hiring an extra person just to stand between the courier and the door. It adds no value and only creates confusion.
The “Big Four” Exam Favorites
The following four verbs are the most frequent targets in competitive exams. You must ensure no preposition follows them when they are used as verbs.
| Verb | Common Error (Incorrect) | Correct Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Discuss | Discuss about the plan | Discuss the plan |
| Describe | Describe about the incident | Describe the incident |
| Order | Order for a coffee | Order a coffee |
| Investigate | Investigate into the matter | Investigate the matter |
Movement and Similarity Verbs
Another group of verbs that often trap aspirants involves physical movement or describing how things look.
Physical Movement: Enter and Reach
When you move into a physical space, the verb Enter already contains the meaning of “moving into.” Therefore, using “into” is redundant.
- Incorrect: He entered into the classroom.
தவறானது: He entered into the classroom. गलत: He entered into the classroom. - Correct: He entered the classroom.
சரியானது: He entered the classroom. सही: He entered the classroom.
Important Exception: You can use Enter into when talking about abstract things like an Agreement, a Contract, or a Partnership. This is a favorite “trap” used by examiners.
Similarly, the verb Reach does not take “to” or “at.”
- Incorrect: We reached at the station late.
தவறானது: We reached at the station late. गलत: We reached at the station late. - Correct: We reached the station late.
சரியானது: We reached the station late. सही: We reached the station late.
Similarity and Duty: Resemble, Marry, and Obey
The verb Resemble means “to look like” and Marry describes a union. Both act directly on their objects in active voice.
Incorrect: She resembles to her mother.
தவறானது: She resembles to her mother. गलत: She resembles to her mother. Correct: She resembles her mother.
சரியானது: She resembles her mother. सही: She resembles her mother. Incorrect: He married with her.
தவறானது: He married with her. गलत: He married with her. Correct: He married her.
சரியானது: He married her. सही: He married her.
A common “MTI” error occurs with Obey. In many Indian languages, we translate it as “following the order of.” This leads students to add “to.”
- Incorrect: You must obey to your parents.
தவறானது: You must obey to your parents. गलत: You must obey to your parents. - Correct: You must obey your parents.
சரியானது: You must obey your parents. सही: You must obey your parents.
The Noun versus Verb Trap
This is the most critical section for high-level exams like SBI PO or SSC CGL Tier 2. Many words require a preposition when they act as a Noun, but they must have no preposition when they act as a Verb.
| Word | used as a Verb (No Preposition) | used as a Noun (Needs Preposition) |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | The army attacked the city. | The attack on the city was fierce. |
| Lack | He lacks confidence. | There is a lack of confidence. |
| Order | I ordered a new book. | I placed an order for a new book. |
| Emphasis/Stress | He emphasized the point. | He laid emphasis on the point. |
| Request | He requested a leave. | He made a request for a leave. |
| Answer | Please answer the question. | Give an answer to the question. |
| Control | She controlled the crowd. | She had control over the crowd. |
| Violation | He violated the rules. | It was a violation of the rules. |
Special Verb: Hamper
The verb Hamper (to hinder or delay) is often incorrectly followed by “on.”
- Incorrect: Lack of sleep will hamper on your health.
தவறானது: Lack of sleep will hamper on your health. गलत: Lack of sleep will hamper on your health. - Correct: Lack of sleep will hamper your health.
சரியானது: Lack of sleep will hamper your health. सही: Lack of sleep will hamper your health.
Communication: Tell vs. Say
One of the simplest traps is the use of Tell. It is a transitive verb that needs an object immediately. Unlike Say, it never takes “to.”
- Incorrect: He told to me a secret.
தவறானது: He told to me a secret. गलत: He told to me a secret. - Correct: He told me a secret. (But: He said to me…)
சரியானது: He told me a secret. (ஆனால்: He said to me…) सही: He told me a secret. (लेकिन: He said to me…)
Always check the position of the word. If it is performing the action, it is a verb and needs no preposition. If it is naming a thing or an event, it is a noun and likely needs one.
Common Redundant Phrases
Apart from specific verbs, some general phrases in Indian English use extra words that are considered errors in formal exams.
- Return back: “Return” already means to come back. Use only Return.
Return back: “Return” என்றால் ஏற்கனவே திரும்பி வருதல் என்று பொருள். எனவே Return என்பதை மட்டும் பயன்படுத்தவும். Return back: “Return” का अर्थ पहले से ही वापस आना (come back) है। केवल Return का उपयोग करें। - Example: He will return (not return back) tomorrow.
உதாரணம்: He will return (return back அல்ல) tomorrow. उदाहरण: He will return (return back नहीं) tomorrow.
- Example: He will return (not return back) tomorrow.
- Repeat again: “Repeat” means to say or do again. Use only Repeat.
Repeat again: “Repeat” என்பது மீண்டும் ஒருமுறை சொல்லுதல் அல்லது செய்தல் என்று பொருள்படும். எனவே Repeat மட்டுமே போதுமானது. Repeat again: “Repeat” का अर्थ है फिर से कहना या करना। केवल Repeat का उपयोग करें। - Example: Please repeat (not repeat again) the question.
உதாரணம்: Please repeat (repeat again அல்ல) the question. उदाहरण: Please repeat (repeat again नहीं) the question।
- Example: Please repeat (not repeat again) the question.
- Comprise of: “Comprise” means consist of. Use only Comprise.
Comprise of: “Comprise” என்றால் “உள்ளடங்கியது” என்று பொருள். எனவே Comprise மட்டுமே பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும். Comprise of: “Comprise” का अर्थ है “से बना होना” (consist of)। केवल Comprise का उपयोग करें। - Example: The team comprises (not comprises of) eleven players.
உதாரணம்: The team comprises (comprises of அல்ல) eleven players. उदाहरण: The team comprises (comprises of नहीं) eleven players.
- Example: The team comprises (not comprises of) eleven players.
- Flee away: “Flee” means to run away. Use only Flee.
Flee away: “Flee” என்பது “தப்பி ஓடுதல்” என்ற பொருளைக் கொண்டது. எனவே Flee மட்டுமே போதுமானது. Flee away: “Flee” का अर्थ है भाग जाना (run away)। केवल Flee का उपयोग करें। - Example: The thief fled (not fled away) when he saw the police.
உதாரணம்: The thief fled (fled away அல்ல) when he saw the police. उदाहरण: The thief fled (fled away नहीं) when he saw the police.
- Example: The thief fled (not fled away) when he saw the police.
Key Takeaways
- Superfluous Prepositions are unnecessary words that create redundancy in a sentence.
Superfluous Prepositions என்பவை ஒரு வாக்கியத்தில் தேவையற்ற மீண்டும் மீண்டும் வரும் (redundancy) தன்மையை உருவாக்கும் சொற்கள் ஆகும். अतिरिक्त पूर्वसर्ग (Superfluous Prepositions) वे अनावश्यक शब्द हैं जो एक वाक्य में फालतू दोहराव पैदा करते हैं। - Transitive Verbs like discuss, describe, and order take a direct object without any preposition.
Discuss, describe மற்றும் order போன்ற Transitive Verbs, எந்தவொரு முன்மொழிச்சொல்லும் இன்றி ஒரு நேரடிச் செயப்படுபொருளை (direct object) ஏற்றுக் கொள்கின்றன. सकर्मक क्रियाएँ (Transitive Verbs) जैसे discuss, describe और order बिना किसी पूर्वसर्ग के सीधे कर्म (direct object) लेती हैं। - Words like Attack, Order, and Lack take no preposition when used as verbs, but they require one when used as nouns.
Attack, Order மற்றும் Lack போன்ற சொற்கள் வினைச்சொற்களாகப் (verbs) பயன்படுத்தப்படும் போது முன்மொழிச்சொல்லை ஏற்பதில்லை, ஆனால் பெயர்ச்சொற்களாகப் (nouns) பயன்படுத்தப்படும் போது முன்மொழிச்சொல் தேவைப்படுகிறது. Attack, Order और Lack जैसे शब्द क्रिया के रूप में उपयोग किए जाने पर कोई पूर्वसर्ग नहीं लेते हैं, लेकिन संज्ञा (noun) के रूप में उपयोग किए जाने पर उन्हें एक पूर्वसर्ग की आवश्यकता होती है। - Avoid using “into” with Enter for physical places, but use it for abstract agreements or contracts.
உடல் ரீதியான இடங்களுக்கு Enter என்பதைப் பயன்படுத்தும் போது “into” என்பதைத் தவிர்க்கவும், ஆனால் உடன்படிக்கைகள் அல்லது ஒப்பந்தங்களுக்கு இதைப் பயன்படுத்தலாம். भौतिक स्थानों के लिए Enter के साथ “into” का उपयोग करने से बचें, लेकिन अमूर्त समझौतों या अनुबंधों के लिए इसका उपयोग करें। - Redundant phrases like Return back or Repeat again are common errors in competitive exams.
Return back அல்லது Repeat again போன்ற தேவையற்றச் சொற்றொடர்கள் போட்டித் தேர்வுகளில் கேட்கப்படும் பொதுவான பிழைகளாகும். Return back या Repeat again जैसे फालतू वाक्यांश प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं में होने वाली सामान्य गलतियाँ हैं। - In our next chapter, we will shift our focus from prepositions to Conjunctions and learn how they connect complex thoughts together.
நமது அடுத்த அதிகாரத்தில், முன்மொழிச்சொற்களில் இருந்து இணைப்புச் சொற்கள் (Conjunctions) மீது நமது கவனத்தைத் திருப்புவோம், மேலும் அவை எவ்வாறு சிக்கலான கருத்துக்களை ஒன்றாக இணைக்கின்றன என்பதைக் கற்றுக்கொள்வோம். अपने अगले अध्याय में, हम अपना ध्यान पूर्वसर्गों से हटाकर संयोजकों (Conjunctions) पर केंद्रित करेंगे और सीखेंगे कि वे जटिल विचारों को एक साथ कैसे जोड़ते हैं।
Check Your Understanding
Test your knowledge with these practice questions
Superfluous Prepositions: Identifying and Eliminating Unnecessary Words - Practice Quiz
Test your mastery of superfluous prepositions. Identify transitive verbs that do not take prepositions and spot redundant phrases in competitive exam scenarios.
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