verb and preposition

This section lists verb+ preposition followed by noun I verbal noun (-ing) patterns or a wh-clause .
. Some of these verbs also have verb + that-clause patterns, or can be followed by a wh-clause, or an
infinitive, but these are not listed here.
Other meanings are also possible. Always check with a dictionary.
about
boast about I of
dream about I of
guess about
protest about I
against
against
advise against
advise on I about
argue for I against
argue with
decide against I
in favour of
decide on
insure against
vote against I for
at
glance at I through
laugh at
laugh about
between
choose between
for
account for
admire sne for
allow for
apologize for
blame sne for
blame on
charge for
charge with
pay for
from
benefit from
deter from
differ from
distinguish sth from
distinguish between
resign from
result from
result in
suffer from
She is always boasting about her rich relatives.
I've been dreaming about I of you lately!
For centuries people have guessed about the nature of the universe.
The students are protesting about I against the war.
We advise you against travelling alone.
He advises the government on I about global warming.
The report argued against any change in the law.
Stop arguing with your sister!
I've decided against buying a larger car.
We decided on Greece for our holtday
You should insure all your belongings against theft.
More than a hundred MPs voted against the proposals.
I've only just glanced at the paper. I haven't read it in detail.
We weren't laughing at you. (a person)
Something silly happened, and we've been laughing about it all day
You might have to choose between your work and your social life.
Poor weather cannot account for the sheer number of accidents.
I admire you for your honesty
In the financial plan. you have to allow for unforeseen future costs.
I must apologize for bemg late. The traffic is a nightmare tonight.
I blame myself for everything that happened
They blamed the crash on the bus driver.
We won't charge you for use of the gym. it's free for guests.
A man arre.sted nearby has now been charged with murder.
Let me pay for the coffee. You paid last time.
Many people have benefited from the government's new policies
The bad weather didn't deter people from travelling to the match.
How exactly does a toad differ from a frog?
lt can be hard to distinguish fact from fiction
Only experts can distinguish between genuine and fake pamtings
Tom was forced to resign from the wmpany
The accident resulted from poor maintenance of the railway tracks.
A three-hour d e l r ~ y resulted in the patient's death.
After the accident, she suffered from double vision.
in
involve sne in sth
specialize in
succeed in
trust in
of
accuse sne of
approve of
convict of
know of I about
remind sne of
suspect of
taste of
on
base on
concentrate on
congratulate sne on
depend on
elaborate on
impose on
insist on
to
apply to
attend to
confess to
devote sth to sne
explain sth to sne
object to
prefer sth to sth
refer to
see to
with
associate with
charge sne with
collide with
confuse with
deal with
discuss sth with sne
plead with
provide with
tamper with
trust with
The goal is to involve workers in the decision-making process
Anna specializes in Latin American danong.
Fortunately. we succeeded in rescuing all the passengers
You should have t rusted in me a little more.
They accused Jim of stealing three cars.
I don't approve of children staying up too late.
After a long trial. he was convicted of theft and sentenced to four years.
Do you know of I about any flats to rent in th1s area?
That old man reminds me of my grandfather.
PoliCe suspect the same man of breaking into four other houses nearby
This is supposed to be chicken soup but it doesn't taste of chicken!
The author has based the book on her experiences in China.
You need to concentrate more on your written work.
We must congratulate you on passing your driving test.
How much money you make will depend on how much you invest.
The prime minister refused to elaborate on his statement any further
The council has imposed higher parking charges on 4x4 vehicles
lane insisted on seeing the doctor immediately
The restrictiOns no longer apply to those over 75
Please wait here. Someone will attend to you shortly
Two men have confessed to stealing the lorry
Louisa devotes a lot of time to her children.
Could you explain this to me please?
Many local residents have objected to the redevelopment scheme
Personally I prefer tea to coffee.
Kate referred to the matter several times when 1 spoke to her.
The central heating has broken down, but someone is coming to see to it.
Some people only associate sport with their school years.
They charged Bill with receiving stolen goods.
The speeding car collided with a tree.
I'm sorry but you're confusing 'profit' with 'turnover'.
I've been dealing with this problem all morning.
I need to discuss something with you.
She pleaded with her parents to let her go on the trip.
The school authorities provides all pupils with textbooks.
Someone almost certainly tampered with the bus and caused rhe crash.
Can I trust you with a secret?
(See also Units 37, 38, 39, phrasal verbs.)
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1 Underline the best word.
a The head teacher accused George Q[ I for starting the fight .
b I haven't really read the report properly. I just glanced for I at it while I was on the train.
c I strongly object to I for the tone of the last paragraph of your letter.
d Sarah was involved in I with a traffic accident on her way to work.
e Harry pleaded with I to the judge not to send him back to prison.
f I always confuse Kate with I on her sister Maggie. It's hard to tell them apart.
9 A diesel engine differs from I to a petrol engine in many important respects.
h Some business people find it hard to choose with I between their work and their family.
I insisted on I for seeing the doctor at once, even though I did not have an appointment.
2 Complete the sentence wit h a preposition.
a The future of civilization depends C ? . ~ . .. ... our use of technology.
b I would advise you ........................ taking any violent exercise before the leg has healed.
c The manager feels that nobody else can be trusted . .. .. . .. .... the keys to the safe .
d Two boys have confessed ..... ..... setting fire to the school.
e I'd like to congratulate you ... . . .. passing the examination.
f We finally decided . . .. a camping holiday in Greece.
9 jim has been suffering ... ... . . .. ... severe headaches for some time.
h Helen voted .. .. .. the proposal, but everyone else voted against.
Harry says that his car accident has not deterred him ......................... driving again.
3 Choose the best word, A, B or C, for each gap.
Goats in My Bathroom
Jane Howe's book Goats in My Bathroom is a ... 9. ... her experiences on a Meditenanean
island. Jane has always b ..... .......... escaping from the rat race, but has never c... . .. .. taking
the plunge, and is trapped in a dull nine-to-five job in an insurance office. After a
comic episode with an amorous boss, she d ....... the job and heads for the sun, and
this is the story of her adventurous new life. And there is plenty to e ... . .. ! She has
to f . . .. short-sighted builders who can't understand a word she says, and then gets
9 .. ... ... ... a dispute with her neighbours about the mysterious disappearance of twelve
goats, which the whole village h .. . ... her. She is also the kind of person who seems to
i . .. ..... saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, but somehow, surprise, surprise, the
local population ends up completely j . . .. her. How does she do it? You'll just have
to read the book
a A accounted for
b A dreamed about
c A concentrated on
d A accounts for
e A laugh about
f A choose between
9 A provided with
h A accuses of
A specialize in
A marvelled at
B borrowed from
B benefited from
B agreed on
B resigns from
B congratulate on
B protest about
B seen to
B blames on
B collide with
B identified with
c based on
C advised against
C succeeded in
c depends on
C confide in
C deal with
C involved in
C charges with
C involve in
C devoted to
prepositions with adjectives
and nouns
A selection of phrases is given here. Always use a dictionary to check meaning and context. Note that
other prepositions may be possible, with different meanings. The most are given here.
adjective and preposition
about
angry I annoyed about somethmg
anxious about the test results
upset about I over I by something
not sure about the answer
at
amazed at the d1fference I by the difference
(+similar words shocked, surprised)
for
eager I desperate I impatient for news
famous for its cheeses
feel sorry for a person
from
absent from school
different from I to the others
in
interested in ballet
of
afraid of the dark
ashamed of myself
(un)aware of the problem
(in)capable of doing better
on
keen on gardening
with
satisfied with the work
be + participle -ed + preposition
curious about the subject
pleased about I with your performance
right I wrong about somethmg
sorry about I for being late
angry I annoyed at I with someone
good I bad I awful I terrible etc at tennis
ready for something different
responsible for the damage
free from add1tives
safe from harm
fond of children
free of charge
jealous of his brother
. good with his hands
Note that many participles are used as adjectives, see also the list above.
about
I'm concerned I worried about Tom.
in
She was absorbed in her work. I'm not interested in buying the houst,_
to
I'm now resigned to the fact that I was wrong. Mana is addicted to Internet charrooms.
Peter wasn't used to the hot climate.
with
We are faced with serious social problems He was confronted with a difficult situailon.
Are you acquainted with this article? The tram was packed with people.
7his meeting is concerned with the of the scheme. (formal: is dealing with, is about)
I was bored by/with this film
noun + preposition
for
I have no sympathy for you. Is there room for one more?
I have a lot of respect for your view. You must take responsibility for your actmns
on
Kate is an authority on Ptcasso. Coffee can have an effect on appetite.
over
You have no control over this dog'
to
This 1 ~ s an exception to the rule. We need a solution to this problem.
with
Sue has a good relat ionshi p with her parents.
preposition + noun phrases
at
More than a hundred homes are at risk.
The company was at fault for the power cut
by
I went to the wrong house by mistake.
The antique vase was broken by accident
The army took over the country by force.
for
I'll be staying here for the time being.
Our team won yesterday for a change.
in
Please descnbe what happened in detail.
Jim was in danger and had to be rescued
You need to come to the office in person.
The doctor asked if I was in pain.
on
Storms occur once a month on average
Run! The house is on fire!
outof
1 think that attitude is rather out of date.
ft's out of stock but we can order it for you.
The books were out of reach on the top shelf.
What a terrible shot! I'm out of practice.!
under
At any rate, nobody was injured. ( = anyway)
We met completely by chance.
Can I pay by cheque I by credit card?
I know this poem by heart.
Sorry, but the car is not for sale.
Vicky is in trouble with the police.
In theory this works, but not in practice!
In business, mistakes can be costly
Sa m was in tears at the end of the film.
I think He/en broke the cup on purpose.
The railway workers are on strike again.
I'm afraid the lift is out of order.
You're singing out of tune!
I've been running and I'm out of breath.
Good news. Jan is now out of danger.
Under the circumstances, we accept your excuse. ( = considering the special difficulties)
1 was under the impression that you had finished the work. (that's what I thought)
The fire was brought under control after an hour.
without
Please send my order without delay.
This is without (a) doubt an important day
You must be here at 8.00 without fail.
Everyone must be here, without exception
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