Language Locative surface Locative Point or time Time period...

Language Locative surface Locative Point or time Time period Flowchart (1) Arabic preposition**“Fii”** comparison with English preposition**“In”** The second example: Ala The Arabic preposition “Ala’ is used as an equivalent instead of “on, over, above, at and onto”. According to Arab learners these prepositions in English language have the same equivalent and usage. They couldn’t differentiate in the use of these prepositions, they only use “on”, as shown in the examples below.

I saw a football matchon TV. (On) The bird is flyingon my head. (Above) He jumpedon the wall. (Over) We saton the table. (At) I will comeon seven o’clock. (At) The crab was washed upon the shore. (Onto) As shown in the first sentence above, the first English preposition that is likely to be produced as the equivalent of the Arabic preposition**“ala”** is**“on”** . However, its incorrectly selected of**“over, above, at and onto”** in sentences 2,3,4,5 and 6.

The key to this problem is the fact Arab always resort to literal translation before they form English pattern. In the other words, they translate the English into Arabic and then the Arabic back in to English, word for word .so these mistakes due to the Arabic interference when they speak or translate into English once. Also the differences between English and Arabic patterns make it difficult to choose the correct preposition, as shown in flowchart (2).

Language None equivalent/parallel usage Onto Over Above At Interior directive Locative Superior Relationship between two objects but doesn’t touch it Point or time Flowchart (2) Arabic prepositions**“Ala”** comparison with English Preposition**“on”** Previous…