Which preposition do I use? Let’s look at the sentence “I complained [preposition] him.”

The preposition tells us a lot about the sentence above. For example,
“I complained to him.” means you told that person something you did not like.
“I complained about him.” means you told someone else that you did not like him.
“I complained for him.” means you told someone else about something he did not like.

Popularity: 7%

The sentence “They are very busy about their current job.” is not using the correct preposition. It should be one of the following:

• They are very busy in their current job.
• They are very busy with their current job.

But if you want to use a verb instead, say it like this

They are very busy doing their current job.

Popularity: 26%

Prepositions are important in English because they help to understand what is going on in a sentence. For example, one of my students said to me “If you talk the person”, which made me wonder what he wanted to say. Without a preposition we do not know what the actual action is.

For example, if you use the preposition “about“, then the sentence takes on a different meaning than if you use the preposition “with“. The preposition “about” means the subject of your conversation is that person. The preposition “with” means you and that person are talking to each other.

Popularity: 28%

Basketball? Soccer? Football? What does the phrase “ball in someone’s court” and “ball park figure” mean? Well they are related to sports. The first phrase “ball in someone’s court” refers to sports using a ball and a court like basketball and tennis and describes the ball being hit or thrown from you to your opponent (i.e. the other team). So when you get the ball, of course it is your turn to either hit it or throw it. So the phrase “ball in someone’s court” or in actuall use “the ball is in your court” means it is their/your turn. Here is an example:

• Jerry: John, where are we on the IBM negotiations?
• John: Well I have completed all the reports and given them to the Sales Department. The ball is in their court now.

The phrase “ball park figure” refers to a baseball stadium, which is also called a ball park and it means about or estimate. Here is an example:

• Jerry: I really want to sell to IBM but I think we need more money to promote the service.
• John: Well how much will it cost? Just give me a ball park figure.

Popularity: 27%

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