C1.
1 - UNIT 9
GRAMMAR
ADVANCED PREPOSITIONS
As you know, a preposition is a word or phrase placed typically before a substantive
and indicating the relation of that substantive to a verb, an adjective, or another
substantive. In these cases, the preposition is always followed by an object. This can
be a noun, pronoun or the -ing form of a verb.
She fell in love with a blues guitarist.
The client had many questions about it.
I’m interested in g
oing to the theatre.
Prepositions can be either simple (one word) or complex (two or more words).
These are some examples of complex prepositions.
What is the reason for this silence on the part of our political leaders?
long with a photocopy of your passport and
You must return the document to us, a
the other documents required.
Now, let’s take a look at the most common simple and complex prepositions.
Simple prepositions
aboard besides into than
about between like through
above beyond minus to
across but near toward
after by of towards
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against concerning off under
along considering on underneath
amid despite onto unlike
among down opposite until
anti during outside up
around except over upon
as excepting past versus
at excluding per via
before following plus with
behind for regarding within
below from round without
beneath in save
beside inside since
Complex prepositions
according to down on owing to for want of
across from due to prior to in accordance with
adjacent to except for pursuant to in addition to
ahead of far from rather than in case of
along with inside of regardless of in front of
apart from instead of right of in lieu of
as for left of subsequent to in place of
as of near to such as in point of
as per next to thanks to in spite of
as regards opposite of up to on account of
aside from opposite to at the behest of on behalf of
back to other than by means of on top of
because of out from by virtue of with regard to
close to out of for the sake of with respect to
counter to outside of for lack of with a view to
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PREPOSITIONS - GENERAL RULES
Let’s study the basic rules regarding prepositions.
● When using a subject with the -ing form, we can also use the possessive form
in a more formal way.
I depend on h
is / him finding the solution.
● Related verbs, nouns and adjectives often share the same preposition as well.
The board of directors didn’t object to the idea.
The board of directors posed no objection to the idea.
● Sometimes the related verbs change the preposition even though the
sentence has the same meaning.
According to the results that were obtained in the study, investment in sustainable
energy has increased in the last 12 months.
In accordance with / to the results of the study, investment in sustainable energy
has increased in the last 12 months.
● Finally, when using some verbs, nouns or adjectives, the meaning can
change completely when using a different preposition.
The children laughed at him when he made a mistake. (unkind and humiliating
action)
The children laughed with him when he made a mistake. (kind and motivating
action)
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VERB + PREPOSITION PATTERNS
As you know, a preposition is placed after a verb in order to link the verb to the
object. Let’s study the different preposition patterns.
1. Verb + preposition + noun / -ing
Verb + preposition + noun / -ing
resort to laugh at / about
agree on / to / with think of / about
refrain from count on
quarrel with care for / about
object to dream about / of
aim for / at believe in
pay for rely on
shout at / to depend on
hear about / of listen for / to / with
subject verb preposition noun / -ing form rest of the sentence
We are aiming for record sales next month.
I refrained from criticising him.
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2. Verb + direct object + preposition + indirect object
Verb + direct object + preposition + indirect object
run sth by sb aim sth at sb / sth
blame sth on sth / sb blame sb for sth
explain sth to sb save sb from sth
discuss sth with sb keep sth from sb
indirect rest of the
subject verb direct object preposition
object sentence
She kept the news from him because she ...
the bad
They blamed on the weather.
organisation
The explain over and over
the exercise to the class
teacher ed again.
As you can see, the object must come before the preposition and the indirect
object:
She kept the news from him because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. (Not *She
kept from him the news because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. )
They blamed the politicians for the scandal. (Not *They blamed the scandal on the
politicians.)
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3. Verb + direct object + preposition + -ing form
Verb + direct object + preposition + -ing form
advise sb against -ing suspect sb of -ing
discourage sb from -ing prevent sb from -ing
direct rest of the
subject verb preposition -ing form
object sentence
The traffic want to on that particular
accidents from happening
police prevent stretch of road.
has
The all that area of the
discourag from visiting
embassy tourists city.
ed
4. Verb + preposition + object + preposition + object
Verb + preposition + object + preposition + object
agree with sb about sth quarrel with sb about / over sth
complain to sb about sth apologise to sb about / for sth
disagree with sb about / over sth rely on sb for sth
argue with sb about / over sth depend on sb for sth
rest of the
subject verb preposition object preposition object
sentence
Eli apologised to him for lying.
the video
his
He argued with over games yesterday.
brother
console
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5. Verb + preposition + subject + -ing
Verb + preposition + subject + -ing
depend on sb / sth -ing rely on sb / sth -ing
insist on sb / sth -ing weigh on sb / sth -ing
rest of the
subject verb preposition subject -ing
sentence
at the
Her
insisted on Kate arriving wedding on
parents
time.
It depends on Josh getting a promotion.
OTHER PREPOSITION PATTERNS
Now, let’s take a look at these other patterns:
Noun + preposition patterns
point in / of effect of
belief in increase in
delay in apology for
insistence on taste for
anger about / at amazement at
● Most noun + preposition combinations can be followed either by an -ing form
or a noun.
oint in crying over spilt milk.
There’s no p
She really has a t aste for expensive wine.
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pology for the excessive use of force at this weekend’s
The police made a public a
demonstration march.
Adjective + preposition patterns
keen on proud of
disappointed at / with / about annoyed at / with sb
afraid of nervous about
sorry about / for -ing scared of
● Many adjectives which refer to feelings or opinions are followed by particular
prepositions.
fraid of flying ever since she was a little girl.
Kelly has been a
ervous about h
Jack was getting n is driving test.
Commuters are getting a ngry about the prospect of having to get up an hour earlier
each day in order to catch the train into London.
● Some adjectives are followed by different prepositions, depending on the
meaning.
oncerned about my salary. (worried about)
I was c
My job is concerned with c omputers. (it has to do with)
Related verbs, adjectives and nouns often take the same preposition: be
interested in, take interest in, rely on, be reliant on ...
