VERBS WITH
PREPOSITIONS
1. Many verbs that are used without an object are normally followed by
a prepositional phrase. Some verbs take a particular preposition:
belong to, consist of, happen to, hint at, hope for, insist on, lead
to, listen to, pay for, qualify for, refer to, relate to, sympathize with.
2. With other verbs that are used without an object, the choice of a
different preposition may alter the meaning of the clause:
agree on/with, apologize for/to, appeal to/for, care about/of,
complain to somebody about/of, conform to/with, remind about/of, result from/in, suffer
from/with, think about/of.
3. With verbs that are used without an object, different prepositions
are used to introduce different types of information:
a. ‘about’ indicates the subject matter:
care, complain, do, dream, explain, hear, know, speak, talk, think,
write
b. ‘at’ indicates direction:
glance, glare, grin, laugh, look, point, shoot, shout, smile, stare
c. ‘for’ indicates purpose or reason:
apologize, apply, ask, leave, look, search, wait
d. ‘into’ indicates the object involved in a collision:
bump, crash, drive, run
e. ‘of’ indicates facts of information:
hear, know, speak, talk, think
f. ‘on’ indicates confidence or certainty:
congratulate, count, depend, plan, rely
g. ‘to’ indicates the listener or reader:
complain, explain, listen, say, speak, talk, write
h. ‘with’ indicates someone whose opinion is the same or
different:
agree, argue, disagree, side
4. Some verbs have an object, but are also followed by a preposition.
EXERCISES:
Put in the correct prepositions: to, about, at, from, for, in, into,
of, on, with.
1. I want to talk _____ the group _____ their exams.
2. All last winter he suffered ______ coughs and colds.
3. When will you write _____ Bill _____ your plans?
4. If you don’t understand any of these words, you could refer _____
a dictionary.
5. The accident sadly resulted _____ the death of a man.
6. The police are appealing _____ witnesses to come forward.
7. It wasn’t his car, in fact I don’t know who it belongs _____.
8. Nurses are very badly paid, I think they should insist _____ higher
rates of pay.
9. The poor driver – I really sympathize _____ him, it wasn’t his
fault.
10. The buses are often late, so you can’t depend _____ them.
11. Do you qualify _____ a state pension when you are 55?
12. Keep enough money to pay _____ your ticket.
13. Have you heard _____ what had happened _____ him? Oh, I don’t
care _____ him.
14. I said _____ you I was thinking _____ going to America. I actually
dreamt _____ it.
15. She listened _____ me and then told me _____ her problems.
16. The bus ran _____ the wall of a house.
17. People started to shout _____ the driver.
18. Who was the boy you were all laughing _____?
19. I saw somebody staring _____ me from the other side of the road.
20. He was always arguing _____ his brother.
21. I bumped _____ an old friend the other day.
22. I agree _____ you that we should wait a bit longer _____ her.
23. She never apologizes _____ arriving late.
24. I thought we should look _____ someone else to do the job.
25. If you want to travel, that would be a good job to apply _____.
26. The land belongs _____ a rich man.
27. She then referred _____ the Minister’s report.
28. I congratulated her _____ her success in the exams.
29. The boss disagreed _____ me.
30. The match resulted _____ a draw.
31. His failure resulted _____ lack of attention to details.
32. Tonight I’m going to talk _____ engines.
33. You can count _____ me.
34. You can rely _____ him to be polite.
35. They complained _____ me about the noise.
36. Mary turned her head to speak _____ him.
37. The daughters sided _____ their mothers.
38. Can I speak _____ Jane, please?
39. Can you explain this word _____ me?
40. Can you explain _____ me what you mean?
41. He told me his name but I can’t think ________ it now.
42. This house reminds me _____ the one I lived in when I was a child.
43. We called the doctor because Nick was complaining _____ a pain in
his stomach.
44. That’s a good idea. Why didn’t I think _____ that?
45. Look at this photograph of Ann. Who does she remind you _____?
46. She left Boston _____ Paris when she was 19.
47. If something is wrong, why don’t you do something _____ it?
48. Peter likes his job but he doesn’t talk _____ it much.
49. I like to listen _____ the radio while I’m having breakfast.
50. Please don’t shout _____ me!
KEYS: 1. to, about; 2. from; 3. to, about; 4. to; 5. in; 6. to/
for; 7. to; 8. on; 9. with; 10. on; 11. for; 12. for; 13. about, to, about; 14. to, about,
about/of; 15. to, about; 16. into; 17. at; 18. with/at; 19. at; 20. with; 21. into; 22.
with, for; 23. for; 24. for; 25. for; 26. to; 27. to; 28. on; 29. with; 30. in; 31. from;
32. about; 33. on; 34. on; 35. to; 36. to; 37. with; 38. to/with; 39. to; 40. to; 41. of;
42. of; 43. of; 44. of; 45. of; 46. for; 47. about; 48. about; 49. to; 50. at.
ADJECTIVES WITH PREPOSITIONS
1. When you use an adjective after a link verb, you can often use the
adjective on its own or followed by a prepositional phrase.
2. Some adjectives cannot be used alone after a link verb, if they are
followed by a prepositional phrase, they must have a particular preposition:
aware of, accustomed to, fond of, unaware of, unaccustomed to, used
to, different from/to, sorry about/for.
3. Some adjectives can be used alone or followed by a particular
preposition:
a. Used alone or with ‘of’ to specify the cause of a
feeling:
afraid, ashamed, convinced, critical, envious, frightened, jealous,
proud, scared, suspicious, terrified, tired.
b. Used alone or with ‘of’ to specify the person who
has a quality:
brave, careless, clever, generous, good, intelligent, kind, nice,
polite, sensible, silly, stupid, thoughtful, unkind, unreasonable, wrong.
c. Used alone or with ‘to’, usually referring to:
similarity: close, equal, identical, related, similar;
marriage: married, engaged;
loyalty: dedicated, devoted, loyal, and their opposites;
rank: junior, senior.
d. Used alone or followed by ‘with’ to specify the
cause of a feeling:
bored, content, displeased, dissatisfied, impatient, impressed,
pleased, satisfied.
e. Used alone or with ‘at’, usually referring to:
strong reaction: amazed, astonished, shocked, surprised;
ability: bad, excellent, good, hopeless, useless.
f. Used alone or with ‘for’ to specify the person or
the thing that quality relates to:
common, difficult, easy, essential, important, necessary, possible,
unnecessary, unusual, usual.
4. Some adjectives can be used alone or with different
prepositions.
a. Used alone or with an impersonal subject and ‘of’ and
the subject of the action, or with a personal subject and ‘to’ and the object
of the action:
cruel, friendly, generous, good, kind, mean, nasty, nice, polite,
rude, unfriendly, unkind.
b. Used alone, with ‘about’ to specify a thing or ‘with’
to specify a person:
angry, annoyed, delighted, disappointed, fed up, furious, happy,
upset.
EXERCISES:
Put in the correct prepositions: of, to, with, at, about, for, from.
1. He was afraid _____ his enemies.
2. I’ve always been terribly fond _____ you.
3. He is unaccustomed _____ the heat.
4. They may feel jealous _____ your success.
5. I was terrified _____ her.
6. That was clever _____ you.
7. I turned the job down, which was stupid ________ me.
8. My problems are very similar _____ yours.
9. He was dedicated _____ his job.
10. I could never be bored _____ football.
11. He was very pleased _____ her.
12. He was shocked _____ the hatred they had shown.
13. She had always been bad _____ languages.
14. It’s difficult _____ young people to be on their own.
15. It was unusual _____ them to go away at the weekend.
16. It was rude _____ him to leave so suddenly.
17. She was rude _____ him for no reason.
18. She was still angry _____ the results.
19. They’re getting pretty fed up _____ him.
20. If you continue to support someone who is in trouble you are loyal
_____ them.
21. If two things are almost the same, one is similar _____ the other.
22. Someone who is a fine athlete is good _____ games.
23. I was proud _____ my brother.
24. I’m very much surprised _____ you. I can’t understand the way
you behave.
25. Life is very different _____ what it used to be.
26. Who is responsible _____ this mess?
27. I’m delighted _______ the result. It’s exactly what I wanted.
28. In the army, a sergeant is senior _____ a corporal.
29. If two things are exactly the same one is identical _____ the
other.
30. If something makes you very unhappy, you are very upset _____ it.
31. If someone makes you very angry, you are furious _____ him.
32. If you feel that you do not trust someone, you are suspicious _____
him.
33. If you treat someone very well, you are being kind _____ him.
34. If you have agreed to marry someone, you are engaged _____ him.
35. Everyone was very critical _________ the way he behaved.
36. We were very happy _____ the way they treated us.
37. I was very displeased _____ the way they looked.
38. I feel sorry _____ Nick. He has a lot of problems.
39. I’m sorry _____ the noise last night. We were having a party.
40. That was not very polite _____ you.
41. Why are you always so rude _____ your parents?
42. Were you disappointed _____ your exam results?
KEYS: 1. of; 2. of; 3. to; 4. of; 5. of; 6. of; 7. of; 8. to; 9.
to; 10. with/by; 11. with; 12. at; 13. at; 14. for; 15. for; 16. of; 17. to; 18. about/at;
19. with; 20. to; 21. to; 22. at; 23. of; 24. at; 25. from; 26. for; 27. with/by; 28. to;
29. to; 30. about; 31. with/at; 32. of; 33. to; 34. to; 35. of; 36. about/with; 37.
about/with; 38. for; 39. about; 40. of; 41. to; 42. with/by
Compiled by Helen Kisunko,
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