Chapter 5 of 518% of exam
Common Usage Errors
This chapter targets the small but high-frequency usage points that separate accurate English from near-misses: prepositions of time, countable vs. uncountable quantifiers, and gerunds after prepositions.
Prepositions of Time
Use 'since' with a point in time (since 2010) and 'for' with a duration (for ten years). These pair naturally with the present perfect to describe something continuing up to now.
Countable vs. Uncountable Quantifiers
Use 'fewer' with countable nouns (fewer chairs) and 'less' with uncountable nouns (less water). Confusing the two is one of the most common errors in academic English.
Gerunds After Prepositions and Fixed Phrases
When 'to' is a preposition, as in 'look forward to', it must be followed by a gerund: 'look forward to hearing'. Fixed collocations like 'related to' also require the correct preposition.