In English, verbs and prepositions work together to form essential structures that allow us to communicate ideas clearly and effectively. A verb may need a preposition to complete its meaning and link it with its object. These combinations, known as prepositional verbs, help provide more detail and meaning in our sentences. However, understanding how verbs and prepositions interact can be tricky, as there are many combinations with specific meanings that don’t always align with their literal definitions. This article will break down the relationship between verbs and prepositions, offering a comprehensive guide on how to use them correctly.
What Are Verbs and Prepositions?
Before diving into lists and examples, let’s first define what verbs and prepositions are:
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Verbs: These are words that describe an action, occurrence, or state of being. Examples include “run,” “be,” “seem,” and “eat.”
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Prepositions: These are words used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence, typically showing direction, location, time, or method. Examples include “on,” “at,” “by,” and “with.”
In some cases, verbs are combined with prepositions to create prepositional verbs, which are structures that add meaning and context to the verb.
What Are Prepositional Verbs?
Prepositional verbs are simply verbs that require a preposition to form a meaningful phrase. These verbs are typically transitive, meaning they need an object to complete their meaning. For instance:
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“She believes in luck.”
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Here, “believes” is the verb, and “in” is the preposition that connects the verb to its object, “luck.”
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Prepositional verbs differ from phrasal verbs, which combine a verb and an adverb (e.g., “give up” or “break down”). Prepositional verbs take on their literal meanings, meaning the prepositions used with them generally don’t change the verb’s fundamental action.
Examples of Verbs and Prepositions
Let’s look at some common verbs and their prepositions, grouped by the most frequently used prepositions in English.
1. Verbs with the Preposition “For”
The preposition “for” is commonly used with several verbs to indicate purpose, reason, or intended recipient. Some examples include:
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Admire for – “I admire her for her honesty.”
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Apologize for – “He apologized for being late.”
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Ask for – “They asked for directions to the museum.”
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Wait for – “We waited for the bus.”
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Blame for – “She blamed me for the accident.”
2. Verbs with the Preposition “From”
The preposition “from” is often used to indicate origin, starting point, or separation. Examples include:
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Abstain from – “He decided to abstain from drinking.”
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Borrow from – “She borrowed the book from the library.”
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Escape from – “The cat escaped from the house.”
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Graduate from – “He graduated from Harvard University.”
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Recover from – “She recovered from her illness.”
3. Verbs with the Preposition “About”
The preposition “about” is often used when referring to topics or discussions. Here are some examples:
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Argue about – “They argued about the best way to solve the problem.”
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Care about – “I care about my family’s well-being.”
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Dream about – “She dreams about traveling the world.”
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Think about – “I will think about your offer.”
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Worry about – “He worries about his future.”
4. Verbs with the Preposition “Of”
“Of” is one of the most versatile prepositions and is used in various contexts with different verbs. Examples include:
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Accuse of – “She accused him of cheating.”
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Approve of – “They approve of the new proposal.”
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Convince of – “I was convinced of his sincerity.”
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Get rid of – “We need to get rid of all the old furniture.”
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Think of – “I often think of my childhood.”
5. Verbs with the Preposition “With”
The preposition “with” is often used to express relationships or associations between people, actions, or objects. Examples include:
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Agree with – “I agree with your opinion.”
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Deal with – “She deals with customer complaints.”
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Help with – “He will help with the homework.”
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Collaborate with – “We will collaborate with the marketing team.”
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Compare with – “Don’t compare with others.”
Phrasal-Prepositional Verbs
In addition to the simple combinations of verbs and prepositions, there are also phrasal-prepositional verbs. These involve a verb, a particle, and a preposition. These combinations are often used in informal language and can sometimes carry a figurative meaning.
Examples of Phrasal-Prepositional Verbs:
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Catch up with – “Let’s catch up with each other soon.”
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Look forward to – “I look forward to meeting you.”
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Get away with – “He always gets away with not doing his chores.”
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Put up with – “I can’t put up with the noise anymore.”
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Look down on – “Don’t look down on others.”
These types of verbs can sometimes be confusing due to their figurative meanings. For example, “catch up with” doesn’t just mean to physically “catch” someone, but to reconnect and share news or updates.
Common Mistakes with Verbs and Prepositions
Learning the right combination of verbs and prepositions can be difficult because some verb-preposition pairs are idiomatic, meaning their meaning isn’t always immediately obvious from the individual words. Here are some common mistakes learners make with verbs and prepositions:
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Incorrect: “I’m looking forward to meet you.”
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Correct: “I’m looking forward to meeting you.”
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Explanation: After “look forward to,” the verb must be in the gerund form, “meeting,” not the infinitive form.
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Incorrect: “She’s good in playing tennis.”
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Correct: “She’s good at playing tennis.”
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Explanation: The correct preposition with “good” when referring to skills is “at,” not “in.”
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Incorrect: “I’m waiting for you since 2 p.m.”
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Correct: “I’ve been waiting for you since 2 p.m.”
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Explanation: “Since” is used to refer to a point in time, not a duration. To indicate a duration, use “for” (e.g., “I’ve been waiting for 2 hours”)
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Understanding Verb-Preposition Combinations
Verbs and prepositions often go hand in hand to create phrases that are crucial for clarity. These phrases, known as prepositional verbs, can sometimes be tricky because their meanings don’t always follow the literal definition of the verb or preposition.
Here’s a breakdown of how verb-preposition combinations work:
Transitive Verbs with Prepositions
Transitive verbs require both an object and a preposition to complete their meaning. These combinations are typically found in sentences where the action is directed toward an object. Here are some examples:
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Look after – “She looks after her grandmother.”
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Look for – “He looks for his keys every morning.”
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Take care of – “I will take care of the arrangements.”
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Rely on – “We rely on each other for support.”
These verb-preposition combinations express specific meanings that go beyond the direct action of the verb. The preposition adds the necessary context to understand who or what is involved.
Intransitive Verbs with Prepositions
Some verbs can also be used intransitively with prepositions, meaning the verb itself is not followed by a direct object. Instead, the preposition links the verb to another part of the sentence. Examples of this include:
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Listen to – “She loves to listen to music.”
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Speak to – “He needs to speak to his manager.”
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Talk to – “I need to talk to you about the project.”
In these cases, the preposition connects the verb to the subject or object of the action, helping to clarify the relationship between them.
Common Mistakes with Verbs and Prepositions
One of the biggest challenges learners face with verb-preposition combinations is using the wrong preposition. English is full of idiomatic expressions, and sometimes, the meaning of a verb can change depending on the preposition used. Here are some common errors and how to fix them:
Mistake 1: Using the Wrong Preposition
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Incorrect: “I am good in swimming.”
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Correct: “I am good at swimming.”
Explanation: When describing skills or proficiency, the preposition “at” is used, not “in.”
Mistake 2: Using a Preposition with the Wrong Verb
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Incorrect: “I am looking forward for meeting you.”
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Correct: “I am looking forward to meeting you.”
Explanation: “Looking forward” always takes the preposition “to,” followed by a gerund (the verb in its -ing form).
Mistake 3: Mixing Up Similar Prepositions
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Incorrect: “She is waiting since her turn.”
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Correct: “She is waiting for her turn.”
Explanation: “Wait” is typically followed by “for” when referring to the object of waiting, not “since.”
Tips for Mastering Verbs and Prepositions
To become fluent in using verb-preposition combinations, it’s essential to practice regularly. Here are a few tips to help you improve your understanding and usage:
1. Memorize Common Combinations
Start by memorizing the most commonly used verb-preposition combinations. Create flashcards or lists to test yourself. Here’s a sample list to get you started:
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Agree on – “We agree on the terms.”
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Think about – “I need to think about your proposal.”
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Insist on – “She insists on helping me.”
2. Learn Idiomatic Expressions
Some verb-preposition combinations have meanings that aren’t directly related to the literal definitions of the words involved. For example:
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Look forward to – to anticipate eagerly.
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Get rid of – to dispose of something.
To understand these idioms, read books, articles, and watch English movies to expose yourself to common phrases in context.
3. Practice Through Writing and Speaking
Try to write short stories or dialogues using various verb-preposition combinations. If you have a language partner or teacher, practice speaking with them and focus on using the correct verb-preposition combinations. Recording yourself can also be a helpful tool for identifying errors.
Conclusion
Mastering verb-preposition combinations is a critical part of learning English. These combinations help us express more nuanced ideas and give our speech and writing a more natural flow. While there are many combinations to learn, focusing on the most common ones, understanding their meanings, and practicing regularly will go a long way in improving your fluency.
Remember that prepositions can sometimes be tricky, and their usage doesn’t always follow the rules of logic. So, the best way to become comfortable with them is to immerse yourself in the language, be patient, and keep practicing.
With this knowledge, you are well on your way to mastering verbs and prepositions in English!