TOEFL Writing 同 Speaking 嘅介詞陷阱

一位學生最後一次讀返佢嘅 Academic Discussion 回應。「I agree to my classmate's point because the success of the policy depends from how strictly it is enforced. Different from what some people think, the issue is similar with the one we discussed last week.」兩句裏面三個介詞錯誤——而個 10 分鐘嘅寫作計時器只剩低 45 秒。

介詞係英文裏面最細細粒、但係最有威力令一句句子聽落唔妥嘅字。Depend on. Focus on. Agree with. Interested in. Similar to. Different from. 每一個呢啲配對都係固定嘅。通常冇邏輯原因解釋點解個動詞接呢個介詞而唔接另一個。佢哋就係噉，而英文使用者將佢哋當作單位嚟學。

喺 TOEFL 上面，介詞造成兩個問題。第一，動詞-介詞配對要背——冇規則畀你推導出嚟。第二，時間同地點介詞（in、on、at、by、until、for、since）遵循帶有真正例外嘅軟規則，而嗰啲軟規則喺時間壓力下會崩潰。

呢篇文章畀你 TOEFL Writing 同 Speaking 上面最高價值嘅介詞配對，加上最常出現嘅時間同地點陷阱。

點解呢樣嘢喺 TOEFL iBT 2026 好重要

介詞係一種高頻錯誤類型。一個喺介詞上面有困難嘅考生，會喺單一個 Writing 任務裏面犯六七個小錯誤。每個錯誤都係小事。加埋一齊，佢哋向評分員示意語言運用唔均勻。

喺 Speaking 度，介詞好容易聽得出。"I'm interested at this topic" 對任何英文耳仔嚟講聽落唔啱。"I'm interested in this topic" 聽落自然。個替換細細粒，但係個印象好大。

喺 Writing 度，尤其係正式 Writing，介詞影響清晰度。"The success depends from training" 文法上錯；就算評分員可以估到個意思，個錯誤都會令讀者停一停。一個有多個介詞錯誤嘅回應，讀落會好攰。

喺 Reading 度，介詞有時承載住干擾項利用嘅意思。"The policy was supported by the committee"（主動施事者）對比 "The policy was supported until the committee changed"（時間限制）——兩個好唔同嘅陳述。

陷阱

有三個介詞陷阱。

1. 動詞-介詞配對。 呢啲係要背嘅固定組合。TOEFL Writing 最高價值嘅配對：

depend on, rely on, count on, base X on Y
focus on, concentrate on, work on
agree with（一個人）, agree on（一個計劃或者主題）, agree to（一個提案）
different from（美式學術標準）, similar to
interested in, involved in, succeed in, participate in
aware of, afraid of, capable of, consist of
responsible for, suitable for, famous for

2. 時間介詞（in、on、at、by、until、for、since）。 軟規則：

In + 月份、年份、季節、世紀、長時期。In March. In 2026. In the past.
On + 特定日子或者日期。On Monday. On May 26.
At + 鐘點時間、特定點。At 3 p.m. At noon. At the moment.
By + 一個截止期限（動作喺呢個點之前完成）。Finish by Friday.
Until + 一個停止點（動作持續到呢個點）。Work until Friday.
For + 時長。For three years.
Since + 一個起點。Since 2020.

3. 地點介詞（in、on、at、between、among）。 軟規則：

In + 封閉空間或者大範圍。In the room. In the city.
On + 表面或者線。On the table. On the road.
At + 特定點或者地址。At the entrance. At 25 Main Street.
Between + 兩個不同實體，或者多個但當作配對／離散單位嚟處理。Between you and me. The contract between three companies.
Among + 多過兩個，當作一個群體嚟處理。Popular among students.

錯 / 較好 / 點解

錯	較好	點解
I depend of my notes during lectures.	I depend on my notes during lectures.	「Depend on」係英文裏面固定嘅動詞-介詞配對。
I'm really interested at this research area.	I'm really interested in this research area.	「Interested in」係標準配對。
The findings are different than previous studies.	The findings are different from previous studies.	美式學術英文偏好「different from」。「Different than」喺非正式使用裏面出現，但喺正式 Writing 裏面有風險。
I agree with her proposal to extend the deadline. (acceptable but ambiguous)	I agree to her proposal to extend the deadline.	「Agree with a person.」「Agree on a topic.」「Agree to a proposal.」
The professor will share results in the past lecture.	The professor will share results in Monday's lecture. (or: shared them in the past)	「On the past」唔存在。「In the past」係表示過往時間嘅固定短語。
Submit your application until Friday.	Submit your application by Friday.	「By」= 喺呢個點之前。「Until」= 直到並持續到呢個點。
The agreement between the five companies took years to negotiate.	The agreement among the five companies took years to negotiate. (or: between, if treated as separate pairs)	「Among」用於多過兩個嘅群體。「Between」用於兩個，或者當作離散配對嚟處理嘅多過兩個。

邊度會出現

Academic Discussion 回應。 意見句充滿介詞配對。"I agree with the professor's view. The success depends on consistent practice. I'm focused on the long-term benefits." 如果呢啲配對任何一個係錯嘅，個回應讀落就粗糙。

Write an Email。 正式電郵喺固定短語裏面用介詞，需要準確。"I am writing to inquire about the program."（唔係「for the program」、唔係「of the program」。）"Thank you for your prompt response."（唔係「by your response」。）想知更廣闊嘅語域問題，可以參考 What's the Right Way to Write an Email on the TOEFL 2026?。

Take an Interview。 口語回答不停咁用 "interested in"、"good at"、"different from"、"similar to"。喺時間壓力下，介詞會跣。"I'm good in math"（錯——應該係「good at math」）。

Listen to a Conversation。 當你追蹤一個學生對一個政策嘅反應時，"The student agrees with the policy" 可以引起一個有用嘅問題：係同個政策本身，定係同制定佢嘅人？個介詞選擇澄清係邊個。

Write for an Academic Discussion。 轉述動詞同學術討論短語全部都需要正確嘅介詞。"The author argues against the position." "The professor provides evidence for the opposing view." "The findings differ from previous research." 呢啲正正係評分員預期見到嘅嗰類句子——亦正正係介詞錯誤出現嘅地方。

快速修正

一個控制介詞嘅實際做法：

建立一個你實際使用嘅 20 個動詞-介詞配對嘅個人清單。 唔好試圖背一張 200 個嘅課本清單。揀你會喺一個 TOEFL Writing 回應裏面用嘅 20 個，操練嗰啲。例子：depend on、focus on、agree with、similar to、different from、interested in、aware of、responsible for。
對時間，用「縮放」技巧錨定。 長時段 → in（in 2026、in March）。特定日子 → on（on Monday）。鐘點 → at（at 3 p.m.）。呢個對地點同樣道理：國家／城市 → in，表面 → on，特定點 → at。
對截止期限，區分「by」同「until」。 By = 之前完成。Until = 持續到。Finish by Friday 對 Work until Friday.
對「since」同「for」，檢查時態。 兩個都拉現在完成式：I've lived here since 2020 / for five years.
永遠唔好寫「on the past」。 佢唔存在。「In the past」係固定短語。

對於你唔肯定嘅動詞-介詞配對，最安全嘅救命方法係改述。與其冒住風險寫 "I'm responsible for handling the project"，你可以寫 "I handle the project." 更乾淨、更安全，而且你完全避免咗個介詞決定。

小練習

填入正確嘅介詞。

The results of this study are different _____ what previous researchers found.
Please submit the assignment _____ Friday at noon. (deadline; complete before)
The professor focuses _____ environmental policy in her current research.
I am writing _____ inquire _____ the graduate program in linguistics.
The disagreement _____ the three departments has lasted for years.

提交前要檢查啲咩

掃描你用過嘅動詞-介詞配對。有冇邊個睇落係由另一種語言模式「翻譯」過嚟嘅？重新檢查。
喺正式 Writing 入面，你有冇用「different from」而唔係「different than」或者「different of」？
對截止期限，係咪「by」（之前完成）？對持續到一個點嘅動作，係咪「until」？
有冇「on the past」？換成「in the past」。
對群體，你有冇用「among」表示多過兩個、用「between」表示兩個（或者一個群體裏面嘅離散配對）？

最後一個提醒：英文裏面嘅介詞大部分都係任意嘅。冇令人滿意嘅邏輯原因解釋點解我哋 depend on 但 consist of 但 participate in。修正方法係接觸同重複，唔係分析。建立清單、操練清單，並喺你 Writing 複查嘅最後 30 秒檢查清單。嗰個係成個 TOEFL Writing 部分上面最高產出嘅交卷前時間用法。