
Look at these examples to see how prepositions are used after verbs.
Can you wait for me to finish my lunch?
I'm relying on my co-worker to answer all my emails while I'm on holiday.
Sun cream protects you from getting burnt.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
When a verb is part of a longer sentence, it is often followed by a specific preposition.
I agree with Mike.
She listens to the radio a lot.
He thanked me for the flowers.
There are no grammatical rules to help you know which preposition is used with which verb, so it's a good idea to try to learn them together. To help you do this, write new vocabulary in your notebook in a sentence or phrase. Here are some common verbs for each preposition.
Verbs with for
They're waiting for a bus.
He apologised for being late.
I applied for the job but I didn't get it.
How do you ask for a coffee in Polish?
I can't go out tonight because I have to prepare for my interview tomorrow.
Verbs with from
This spray should protect you from mosquitoes.
Has he recovered from the accident yet?
She won an award because she saved someone from drowning.
I suffer from allergies.
Verbs with in
She doesn't believe in coincidences.
Our company specialises in computer software.
You have to work hard if you want to succeed in life.
Verbs with of
I don't approve of hunting animals for their fur.
Our dog died of old age.
This shampoo smells of bananas.
Verbs with on
Their decision will depend on the test results.
The film is based on the novel by Boris Pasternak.
If you make so much noise, I can't concentrate on my work.
Come on! We're relying on you!
We don't agree on anything but we're still good friends.
Verbs with to
What kind of music do you like listening to?
Can I introduce you to my grandfather?
Please refer to the notes at the end for more information.
Nobody responded to my complaint.
She apologised to me the next day.
Verbs with with
I agree with everything you've said.
My assistant will provide you with more information if you need it.
We're finding it difficult to deal with the stress.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Hello lima9795,
Some of the phrases you're suggesting are incorrect or represent non-standard use. For example, 'based off' is not normal usage. It is a mistake that some people make, of course. You can read a little about it here:
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/based-off-versus-based-on
It's a similar story with the other phrases. Although they may crop up from time to time in certain dialects, they are still non-standard in my view.
More generally, while there is a semantic basis for some verb-preposition collocation, it is vague and not tremendously useful in terms of guidance. The system is really quite arbitrary and the best approach, in my view, is to treat it as such and memorise the collocations as you would any other aspect of lexis.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi lima9795,
OK, let's compare the sentences :)
1 and 2: the meanings of for and to are quite different, and they are connected to the verb (doing).
3 and 4: Here, for and to are part of prepositional phrases, for me and to me, and they have the same meaning. They both introduce someone's opinion. These examples are different from 1 and 2, because for and to aren't connected to a verb.
Best wishes,
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello gopakumarac,
What you will see or hear in most writing or speaking is 1. Some people, however, avoid what they call 'split infinitives' (such as 'to closely observe') and so would choose 2 and call 1 incorrect.
I am not one such person; in other words, I would recommend 1.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello Sandeep Gupta,
I think these are used interchangeably in modern English. Talk to may have implied a more one-sided conversation in the past, but I think the distinction no longer applies.
I'm not sure what kind of list you mean. If you mean a list of synonyms or alternatives for a given word or phrase then any thesaurus will provide this. Most computers have a thesaurus built in to the system dictionary.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello Sandeep Gupta,
I'm not quite sure what you mean here. Could you provide an example?
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello Zekjg,
There are several possibilities and the difference is really only one of style.
The last is the most natural phrasing in most contexts, but the others are all possible if your goal is to add rhetorical emphasis. For example, if you were giving a speech to a large audience then using a repetitive structure could be effective.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello muratt
1 and 3 are correct. For 2 and 4, we'd normally just say 'in' instead of 'on', since the only place you can ride a motorbike or play football is the surface of the park.
There's a good summary of the basic uses of 'in', 'at' and 'on' on this Cambridge Dictionary page -- have a look and see if that helps you make more sense of it.
We're also happy to help you with other specific questions if you have any.
There are many irregular uses of prepositions, so keep up the good work!
All the best
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello muratt
I would say 'in the courtyard' (if that's what you mean). We usually say 'on a basketball court', but if you're already saying that they are playing basketball, people will assume you mean they are playing on a basketball court unless you say something different.
I would say 'I got some scars on my face' in number 4. 1 and 2 are good.
Well done!
All the best
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi muratt,
No, you can't use at in that way.
We say at night, but in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening. We don't use at before these.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi resh,
I think the most likely construction would be this:
I can't be completely sure without knowing the full context, but the article is unlikely to be needed here.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello fleur_y
In general, we agree with someone and we agree on something. So, for example, if you said that we should go to Australia on holiday in 2021 and I thought the same thing, you could say 'I agree with you on that'.
I'd suggest you check the dictionary entry for 'agree' to see more ways to use this verb.
All the best
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team