Correct Use of Prepositions

HOLD

Hold off: delay; restrain.

e.g. We can no longer hold off the launching of the sales campaign

e.g. The air strike might hold off the enemies for some time.

FIND

Find out: discover; learn

e.g. The police eventually found out the truth of the murder case.

e.g. Sooner or later you will find out all the facts.

HAND

Hand down: deliver; leave as an inheritance.

e.g. We have handed down all the information to our associates.

e.g. When he dies, he will hand down his business to his family, and not before.

Hand in: submit.

e.g. I have handed in my resignation; tomorrow will be my last day in the office.

Hand over: yield control of.

e.g. The manager has handed over the human resources section to the assistant manager.

CHECK

Check out: leave; pay bills.

e.g. We are going to check out the hotel at noon.

Check up on: investigate.

e.g. The account will check up on the sum of money unaccounted for.

TOUCH

Touch on: mention briefly.

e.g. The professor barely touched on the subject of Civil War.

Touch up: repair.

e.g. Can you touch up the scratches on the door?

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau