The main difficulties in mastering the English language prepositions

Abstract

The acquisition of the English language prepositions is not an easy task for foreigners who study English as a second or foreign language. This study specifies that mastering of English language prepositions is one of prerequisites to become skilled at English language fluency and accuracy. Firstly, this research paper discusses ways prepositions are used in English, and then reflects over some of the reasons why prepositions cause difficulties to English language learners. It also analyses the underlying system that governs prepositions and how this system might be represented to English language learners, by analyzing the current teaching pedagogy and suggests a possible adequate alternative. Accordingly, the paper examines the misuse of preposition by the students of the first grade of Economics at the AAB private college in Kosovo, and the students if the Faculty of Education at the Public University of Prishtina. The research showed that most of the students make repeated mistakes even with the most common used prepositions of time (in on and at) due to the influence of the first language and uncertainty it creates in producing an adequate statement with such prepositions. According to this research, I have concluded that the Economics students of the AAB College proved to make less error in using prepositions than the students of the Faculty of Education.