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Verb-preposition combinations and prepositional verbs.
Some verbs are regularly followed by particular prepositions, forming established grammatical patterns.
Examples include listen to, depend on, belong to, and wait for. The preposition is part of the verb pattern and is not freely interchangeable.
Listen is normally followed by to when identifying the person, sound, or thing being listened to.
For example, Listen to me and She listens to music every evening.
Wait is normally followed by for when identifying the person or thing that is awaited.
For example, I am waiting for the bus.
Depend is normally followed by on when identifying the person, thing, or condition on which something relies.
For example, The answer depends on the circumstances.
Belong is normally followed by to when identifying the owner or group to which something is connected.
For example, This book belongs to me.
Look is followed by at when directing attention towards a person or thing.
For example, Look at this picture.
Look for means try to find and is followed by the thing or person being sought.
For example, I am looking for my keys.
Look after means take care of and is followed by the person, animal, or thing receiving care.
For example, Can you look after the children?
Talk can be followed by to or with when identifying the person involved in a conversation.
For example, I talked to my manager and I talked with my manager. Both are standard, with talk with often emphasizing mutual interaction.
Speak can be followed by to or with when identifying the person addressed or involved in conversation.
For example, I need to speak to the manager and I spoke with the client yesterday.
Think about introduces the subject or matter being considered.
For example, I need to think about your proposal.
Think of can refer to forming an opinion about something or producing an idea, depending on context.
For example, What do you think of the new design? and I cannot think of a good example.
Think about generally emphasizes consideration or reflection, while think of can emphasize an opinion, association, or idea coming to mind.
For example, I am thinking about the problem differs from What do you think of the problem?
Agree with identifies a person, opinion, or idea that someone shares, while agree on identifies a subject or decision on which people reach agreement.
For example, I agree with you and We agreed on the price.
Agree to introduces a proposal, plan, arrangement, or action that someone accepts.
For example, They agreed to the terms and She agreed to help us.
Apologize to identifies the person receiving the apology, while apologize for identifies the action or situation being apologized for.
For example, She apologized to me for being late.
Ask for introduces the thing or action being requested.
For example, She asked for more information.
Believe in expresses belief in the existence, value, ability, or importance of someone or something.
For example, I believe in you and She believes in equal opportunities.
Care about commonly expresses concern or emotional importance, while care for can mean look after or, in some contexts, like or feel affection for.
For example, I care about my friends and She cares for her elderly mother.
Complain about introduces the subject of a complaint.
For example, Customers complained about the service.
Complain to identifies the person or organization receiving the complaint.
For example, She complained to the manager about the noise.
Concentrate on introduces the activity, subject, or task receiving focused attention.
For example, Try to concentrate on your work.
Consist of introduces the parts or components that make up something.
For example, The course consists of ten modules.
Deal with introduces a subject, problem, person, or situation that someone handles or addresses.
For example, We need to deal with this problem immediately.
Dream about commonly refers to the content of a dream or an imagined subject, while dream of can also express a strong wish or aspiration.
For example, I dreamed about my old school and She dreams of becoming a doctor.
Hear about introduces information concerning a subject, while hear from identifies the person or source who communicates with you.
For example, I heard about the accident and I heard from John yesterday.
Insist on introduces an action or condition that someone strongly demands or maintains.
For example, He insisted on paying the bill.
Laugh at can mean direct laughter toward someone or something, sometimes suggesting ridicule.
For example, The children laughed at his joke.
Pay for identifies the thing or service for which money is given.
For example, Who paid for the meal?
Prepare for introduces an event, situation, or activity that someone is getting ready for.
For example, We are preparing for the exam.
Refer to identifies the person, thing, or subject that someone mentions or uses as a reference.
For example, The article refers to several recent studies.
Rely on introduces the person, thing, or system that someone depends on for support or success.
For example, We rely on public transport.
Succeed in introduces an activity or area in which someone achieves the desired result.
For example, She succeeded in solving the problem.
When a preposition follows a verb and is itself followed by a verb, the following verb normally takes the gerund form.
For example, She insisted on leaving, He succeeded in finding the answer, and They talked about moving abroad.
Use the preposition required by the verb pattern rather than translating prepositions directly from another language.
Common mistakes include saying listen music instead of listen to music, using agree to when agree with is required, confusing think about with think of, and omitting a required preposition before a gerund.