10 Common Mistakes with Verbs and Prepositions: Call, Wait For, Listen To, Arrive In
What is a verb? The action word in a sentence.
What is a preposition? The small word that drives you crazy: in, on, at, to, with, for, by, before, after.
In English, there are three kinds of mistakes people make because of native language interference:
1. ADDING a preposition when no preposition is needed.
2. MISSING a preposition when we need one.
3. USING the WRONG preposition when English uses a different one.
In this lesson, we fix 10 very common verbs that cause all three types of mistakes. Master these, and your spoken and written English instantly sounds more native and professional.
The 10 Mistakes and Correct Forms
CATEGORY A: Mistakes Where We REMOVE the Extra Preposition (No Preposition Needed)
1. I called TO my friend. → I called my friend.
Word Meaning: Call = to telephone someone, to contact by phone.
Phrasal Verb Meaning: Call up: telephone. Call back: return a call.
Type: Extra preposition – REMOVE TO.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| I called my friend. | Correct: No to. I telephoned my friend. |
| I called my boss. | Called boss – business context. |
| I called my parents. | Family call. |
| I called my colleague. | Colleague = person who works with you. |
| I called the office. | Called a place – office. |
| I called room service. | Hotel service to bring food. Phrasal: Call room service = request service. |
| She called me yesterday. | No to between called and me. |
| Did you call the client? | No to. |
| I will call you later. | Future: call you. |
| He called his team for meeting. | Called team = summoned. |
2. They reached TO an agreement. → They reached an agreement.
Word Meaning: Reach an agreement = to come to agreement, decide together after discussion. Reach a place = arrive at place. Reach someone = manage to contact someone.
Phrasal Verb: Reach out to: contact, try to communicate.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| They reached an agreement. | Correct: No to. Came to agreement. |
| We reached an agreement after 2 hours. | Business negotiation result. |
| The team reached a decision. | Similar: reach a decision, no to. |
| I reached home safely. | Reached home = arrived home, no to. |
| She reached the office at 9am. | Reached place = arrived. |
| I reached the security guard by phone. | Reached someone = managed to contact. |
| Did you reach the manager? | Contact manager? |
| We couldn’t reach an agreement. | Negative: no agreement. |
3. Did you contact TO the manager? → Did you contact the manager?
Word Meaning: Contact = to communicate with, get in touch with.
Phrasal Verb: Get in touch with: contact.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Did you contact the manager? | Correct: No to. |
| I contacted the client. | Contacted client – business. |
| Please contact the police. | Emergency contact. |
| Have you contacted HR? | HR = Human Resources. |
| She contacted me by email. | No to between contacted and me. |
| Contact us for more information. | Business phrase: contact us. |
| I will contact you tomorrow. | Future contact. |
| Did you contact customer service? | Service department. |
4. We discussed ABOUT the project. → We discussed the project.
Word Meaning: Discuss = to talk about, have conversation about topic in detail.
Note: Discuss already includes “about” in meaning, so don’t add about.
Phrasal Verb: Talk about: discuss (talk about is correct, discuss about is wrong).
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| We discussed the project. | Correct: No about. |
| We discussed the idea. | Discussed idea. |
| They discussed the proposal. | Proposal = suggested plan. |
| We discussed their offer. | Business offer. |
| Let’s discuss politics. | Discuss topic politics. |
| We discussed the budget yesterday. | Past discussion. |
| The team discussed the issue for hours. | Long discussion. |
| Have you discussed this with your boss? | Discuss this with someone – with is allowed, about is not. |
5. Have you answered TO their question? → Have you answered their question?
Word Meaning: Answer = to reply, give response to question, email, enquiry.
Phrasal Verb: Answer back: reply rudely. British enquiry = American inquiry = question for information.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Have you answered their question? | Correct: No to. |
| Have you answered their email? | Answer email – common business. |
| I answered the enquiry. | Enquiry = formal question. Can spell enquiry (UK) or inquiry (US). |
| She answered the student. | Answer someone. |
| He answered the professor. | Answer professor. |
| I answered my boss immediately. | Answer boss. |
| Did you answer the call? | Answer phone call. |
| Please answer my question. | Request to answer. |
6. Did he tell TO you something? → Did he tell you something?
Word Meaning: Tell = to inform someone, say something to someone. Tell someone something – no to.
Phrasal Verb: Tell off: scold. Common Indian student mistake: tell to you.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Did he tell you something? | Correct: No to. Tell + person directly. |
| I told him to call me later. | Told him to call me – tell someone to do something. |
| I told them to come over sometime. | Come over = come to my house/place to visit. |
| She told me the news. | Tell someone news. |
| Did she tell you about meeting? | Tell you about… |
| He told us to wait. | Tell us to wait. |
| Please tell me the truth. | Request truth. |
| I told my colleague about project. | Tell colleague about. |
CATEGORY B: Mistakes Where We ADD Missing Preposition
7. We’re waiting his email. → We’re waiting FOR his email.
Word Meaning: Wait for = to stay expecting someone or something. Wait = stay.
Phrasal Verb: Wait for: expect, await. Wait up: stay awake waiting.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| We’re waiting for his email. | Correct: Need for. |
| I waited for her response. | Waited for response – something. |
| I waited for Mary. | Waited for someone – Mary. |
| I waited for the call. | Waited for call. |
| Are you waiting for someone? | Question: waiting for person? |
| She is waiting for the bus. | Waiting for bus. |
| We are waiting for the results. | Waiting for results. |
| Please wait for me! | Request: wait for me. |
| Don’t wait for me to start. | Negative instruction. |
| I have been waiting for you for an hour. | Present perfect continuous. |
8. She’s listening the music. → She’s listening TO the music.
Word Meaning: Listen to = to pay attention to sound, hear intentionally.
Type: Very common – many languages don’t use preposition here, English always needs TO.
Phrasal Verb: Listen to: pay attention to sound. Listen up: pay attention.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| She’s listening to the music. | Correct: Need to. |
| I listened to the teacher. | Listen to someone: teacher, professor. |
| I listened to the lecture. | Listen to something: lecture, song. |
| I listened to the song twice. | Song listening. |
| Are you listening to me? | Question: paying attention? |
| She listens to podcasts every day. | Habit: podcasts. |
| He listened to her advice. | Listened to advice. |
| We should listen to customers. | Business advice. |
| I am listening to you now. | Present continuous. |
| Listen to me carefully! | Imperative. |
CATEGORY C: Mistakes Where We CHANGE Wrong Preposition
9. I’m arriving TO London tomorrow. → I’m arriving IN London tomorrow.
Word Meaning: Arrive = to reach destination. Two correct prepositions: Arrive IN for cities, countries, continents. Arrive AT for specific places like airport, café, office.
Phrasal Verb: Arrive in/at: reach.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| I’m arriving in London tomorrow. | City = IN. Very common mistake because many languages use TO. |
| I arrived in Paris. | City = IN. |
| I arrived in Brazil. | Country = IN. |
| She arrived in Europe last week. | Continent = IN. |
| I arrived at the airport. | Specific place = AT. |
| I arrived at the café. | Specific small place = AT. |
| He arrived at the office late. | Office = AT. |
| What time did you arrive at the station? | Station = AT. |
| We arrived in New York at midnight. | City IN + specific time. |
| They arrived at the hotel in London. | Hotel AT + city IN London – both in one sentence! |
Special Lesson: Arrive in = city/country/continent. Arrive at = specific point (airport, café, office, station, hotel). Arrive home (no preposition) = special.
10. We went IN bus. → We went BY bus.
Word Meaning: By = indicates mode of transportation. Go by bus/train/plane/taxi/subway. Exception: On foot (not by foot).
Phrasal Verb: Go by: travel by means of. Go on foot: walk.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| We went by bus. | Correct: BY for transport. |
| I went by train. | By train. |
| She went by taxi. | By taxi. |
| They went by plane. | By plane / by air. |
| We went by subway. | By subway/metro. |
| He went on foot. | Exception! Walk = on foot, not by foot. |
| Did you go by bus or by train? | Question about transport mode. |
| I go to work by bus. | Habitual transport. |
| She came by car. | Came by car. |
| We traveled by bus across country. | Travel by bus. |
Grammatical Explanation: Structure, Tense, Negative, WH-Questions
General Structures:
No Preposition Verbs: Subject + Verb + Object (call, reach, contact, discuss, answer, tell)
- I called my friend.
- We reached an agreement.
Preposition Required Verbs: Subject + Verb + Preposition + Object (wait for, listen to, arrive in/at, go by)
- We are waiting for his email.
- She is listening to music.
- I arrived in London.
1. Tense Variations:
- Present Simple: I call my friend. / I wait for his email. / I listen to music. / I arrive in London by bus.
- Past Simple: I called my friend. / I waited for email. / I listened to music. / I arrived in London.
- Present Continuous: I’m calling my friend. / I’m waiting for email. / I’m listening to music. / I’m arriving in London tomorrow.
- Present Perfect: I have called my friend. / I have waited for email. / I have listened to lecture. / Have you answered their question? / Have you arrived in Paris?
- Future: I will call my friend. / I will wait for you. / I will arrive in London tomorrow. / I will go by bus.
2. Negative Structure:
- I didn’t call my friend. (No to ever)
- We aren’t waiting for his email. / We didn’t wait for…
- They didn’t reach an agreement. (No to)
- She isn’t listening to the music.
- I didn’t contact the manager. (No to)
- We didn’t discuss the project. (No about)
- I didn’t arrive in London yet. / I didn’t arrive at airport.
- I haven’t answered their question. (No to)
- He didn’t tell me anything. (No to)
- We didn’t go by bus, we went on foot.
3. WH-Question Structure:
- Who: Who did you call? – I called my friend. Who did you contact? – Manager.
- What: What are you waiting for? – His email. What are you listening to? – Music. What did you discuss? – Project.
- Did: Did you contact the manager? Did you call your friend? Did he tell you something? Did you reach an agreement?
- Have: Have you answered their question? Have you arrived in London?
- How: How did you go? – I went by bus. How did you arrive? – I arrived in Paris by plane.
- Where: Where did you arrive? – I arrived in London / at the airport.
American/British Notes:
- Same for all 10 in both American and British.
- Enquiry (UK) / Inquiry (US) – both pronounced same, both take no preposition after answer: answer the enquiry/inquiry.
- Arrive in/at same both sides.
Exercise Part
Exercise A: Correct the Mistake – Remove, Add, or Change?
- I called to my friend.
- We’re waiting his email.
- They reached to an agreement.
- She’s listening the music.
- Did you contact to the manager?
- We discussed about the project.
- I’m arriving to London tomorrow.
- Have you answered to their question?
- Did he tell to you something?
- We went in bus.
Answers: 1-I called my friend (remove to), 2-waiting for his email (add for), 3-reached an agreement (remove to), 4-listening to the music (add to), 5-contact the manager (remove to), 6-discussed the project (remove about), 7-arriving in London (change to to in), 8-answered their question (remove to), 9-tell you something (remove to), 10-went by bus (change in to by)
Exercise B: Choose Correct Preposition or No Preposition
- I listened ___ the teacher.
- I waited ___ her response.
- I arrived ___ the airport / ___ Paris.
- I went ___ train / ___ foot.
- I called ___ my colleague / ___ room service.
Answers: 1-to, 2-for, 3-at, in, 4-by, on, 5-no prep, no prep
Exercise C: Say It Aloud – Repetition Practice
Repeat after me 3 times each (pronunciation + grammar learning):
- I called my friend. I called my boss. I called room service.
- We’re waiting for his email. I waited for Mary.
- They reached an agreement.
- She’s listening to the music. I listened to the teacher.
- Did you contact the manager?
- We discussed the project.
- I’m arriving in London. I arrived at the airport.
- Have you answered their question?
- Did he tell you something? I told him to call me later.
- I went by bus. I went on foot.
Exercise D: Write Personal Sentences
Make sentences true for you:
- I called…
- I’m waiting for…
- I reached…
- I’m listening to…
- I contacted…
- We discussed…
- I arrived in… at…
- I answered…
- I told…
- I went by…
Special Tips
1. The No-Preposition List Memory Trick: Memorize 6 verbs that NEVER take preposition before object: Call, Reach, Contact, Discuss, Answer, Tell. Create acronym: CRCDAT? Better sentence: “Can Really Clever Dogs Answer Tricks?” Call Reach Contact Discuss Answer Tell – all NO preposition. Write on sticky note.
2. The For/To/By/In Trick for Added/Changed:
- Wait FOR – You wait FOR something you want. FOR = wanting.
- Listen TO – You listen TO sound goes TO your ears. TO = direction to ears.
- Arrive IN big area (city, country, continent = INside big area), Arrive AT small point (airport, café = AT point).
- Go BY vehicle (BY = near, using), but ON foot (you stand ON your feet) – only exception.
3. The Spanish/Indian/Hindi Speakers Tip:
- Spanish speakers: In Spanish “llamar a mi amigo” uses a, but English “call my friend” no a/to. “Escuchar música” no to, but English “listen TO music” needs to. “Llegar a Londres” uses a, English “arrive IN London” uses in, not to. Write these 3 contrasts.
- Indian language speakers: “Tell to you” is very common – remove to: “tell you”. “Discuss about” common – remove about.
- Practice saying word endings: “answered” not “answer”. Spanish speakers often drop -ed: “Have you answer?” Should be “Have you answered?” Say ending -d clearly.
4. The Ear Training Tip: Repeat correct forms aloud 5 times each day for a week. Your ear will start to hear “I called to my friend” as wrong, like native speaker. Brain learns grammar by hearing yourself say correct version: “I called my friend, I called my friend…” Record yourself.
Competitive Exam Suggestions (IELTS, TOEFL, GRE)
1. IELTS Listening & Writing – Preposition Errors Are Band 6 Killers: In IELTS Listening Section 1, you hear “I arrived in London” and you must write “in”. Writing “to London” = wrong, lose mark. In IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2, “discussed about” is flagged as common error and drops Grammar score from 7 to 6. “Contact to” also error. Memorize no-preposition list: call, contact, discuss, answer, tell, reach = no preposition. IELTS examiners specifically look for these.
2. IELTS Speaking – Fluency and Grammar: In Speaking, saying “I called to my friend” sounds non-native and lowers Grammar to 5.5. Correct “I called my friend” sounds native. Saying “I went in bus” is marked as preposition error. Correct “I went by bus” or “I went on foot” shows accurate preposition use, helps push to Band 7.
3. TOEFL Grammar & Sentence Correction – High Frequency: TOEFL iBT Grammar and Writing sections test these exact 10: “discuss about” is always wrong, should be “discuss”. “Contact to” wrong. “Arrive to” wrong – should be arrive in (city) or at (place). “Wait his email” wrong – wait for. “Listen music” wrong – listen to. These are favorite TOEFL traps because they are direct translations from many languages.
4. GRE & Business Email Professionalism: In business emails, writing “I contacted to the client” or “We discussed about project” looks unprofessional to American manager and can cost job. Correct business: “I contacted the client”, “We discussed the project”, “I arrived at the airport”, “I went by train”. In GRE Text Completion, “arrive in” vs “arrive at” distinction tested. For professionals: Write “I called room service” not “called to room service” – small error makes big impression difference.
Master these 10: 6 with NO preposition (call, reach, contact, discuss, answer, tell), 2 with ADD (wait for, listen to), 2 with CHANGE (arrive in/at, go by/on foot). Review daily for one week and you will never make these mistakes again.
