IDIOMA I (INGLÉS)

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION.

VERBS FOLLOWED BY A PREPOSITION + A GERUND.

Verb + preposition TO:

Admit to / apologise to somebody (for…) / belong to / complain to (someone) about

(something) / confess to / describe to / explain something to somebody / explain or
describe to somebody what, how, why… / get married to / happen to / invite
(somebody) to a party, wedding, etc. / listen to / object to / talk or speak to someone /
prefer one thing or person to another / write (a letter) to somebody.

I often listen to the radio.

Who was that man you were talking to?
Can I speak to Jane, please?
Sorry I haven’t written to you for such a long time.
I wrote to the hotel complaining about the poor service we had received.
He got married to a girl he met in France.
They only invited a few people to their wedding.
Can you explain this word to me?
I explained to them why I was worried.
Let me describe to you what I saw.
He apologised to me for what happened.
That dictionary belongs to Rolf.
I prefer tea to coffee.
She complains to the waiter about the food.
What happen to that gold watch you used to have? (= where is it now?)

Verb + preposition INTO:

Bump into / crash into / divide, cut or split something into two or more parts / drive
into / translate a book, etc. from one language into another

We lost control of our car and crashed into a wall.

The book is divided into three parts.
Cut the meat into small pieces before frying it

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 1

 George Orwell’s books have been translated into many languages.

Verb + preposition AT

Laugh at / look at / smile at / stare, glance or take a look at (but Have a look) at

Why are you looking at me like that?

If you smile at me like that I’ll give you anything you want.
I look stupid with this haircut. Everybody will laugh at me.

Aim or point something at / shoot or fire a gun at

Don’t point that knife at me. It’s dangerous.

We saw someone with a gun shooting at birds, but he didn’t hit any.

Verb + preposition TO/AT

Throw to/at

Throw something at somebody or something (in order to hit me)

He threw the ball at me (= in order to hit me; perhaps he was angry)

Someone threw an egg at the minister.

Throw something to someone (for someone to catch)

He threw the ball to me (= for me to catch it)

Lisa shouted ‘Catch!’ and threw the keys to me from the window.

Shout to/at

Shout at someone (when you are angry)

He shouted at me (= he was angry with me)

He got very angry and started shouting at me.

Shout to someone (so they can hear you)

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 He shouted to me (= in order to communicate with me)
He shouted to me from the other side of the street.

Verb + preposition FOR

Apologise to somebody for / apply to a person, a company, etc. for a job, etc. / ask
(somebody) for / leave (a place) for another place / search (a person, a place, a bag,
etc.) for / thank or forgive somebody for / wait for

I wrote the company asking them for more information about the job.
I’m going to apologise for the mistake we made.
She has applied for a new job.
They were waiting for me when I arrived.
I’ve searched the house for the keys but I still can’t find them.
I’ll never forgive them for what they did.
When I realised I was wrong, I apologised (to them) for my mistake.
Everybody blamed me for the accident.
I haven’t seen her since she left home for the office this morning.

Pay

Pay somebody for

I didn’t have enough money to pay the waiter for the meal. (not pay the meal)

But pay a bill / a fine / tax / rent / a sum of money, etc. (no preposition)

I didn’t have enough money to pay the rent.

Blame

Blame somebody or something for / somebody is to blame for

Everybody blamed me for the accident.

Blame a problem, etc. on

Everybody blamed the accident on me.

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 3

Verb + preposition IN

Believe in

Do you believe in God? (= Do you believe that God exists?)

I believe in saying what I think (= I believe it is right to say what I think)

But believe something = believe it is true. Believe somebody = believe they are telling
the truth.

The story can’t be true. I don’t believe it. (not believe in it)

Specialise in / succeed in

Helen is a lawyer. She specialises in company law.

I hope you succeed in finding the job you want.

Verb + preposition ON

Concentrate on / congratulate or compliment somebody on / insist on / plan on / rely

on / spend (money) on

You can rely on Jill. She always keeps her promises.

Don’t look out of the window. Concentrate on your work.
I wanted to go alone, but some friends of mine insisted on coming with me.
He spends a lot of money on clothes and discos.
I congratulated her on her success in the exam.

Depend on

I may go to the match; it really depends on the weather.

But you can use depend when /where /how, etc. with or without on.

Are you going to buy it? It depends how much it is

It depends on how much it is.

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 4

 Live on money / food

Michael’s salary is very low. It isn’t enough to live on.

Verb + preposition FROM

Discourage from / protect somebody or something from (or against) / refrain from /
suffer from

He suffers from a type of diabetes.

The number of people suffering from heart disease has increased.
Sun oil can protect the skin from / against the sun.

Verb + preposition ABOUT

Argue about / forget about / know about / read about / talk about / tell somebody
about / worry about

We talked about a lot of things at the meeting.

My sister is thinking of (or about) going to Canada.
Don’t worry about your exam; I’ll be OK.

Dream

Dream about (when you are asleep)

Dream of / about being something or doing something = imagine

I dreamt about you last night. (When I was asleep)

Do you dream of/about being rich and famous?
Don’t tell anyone what I said. No, I wouldn’t dream of it. (= I would never do it.)
I wouldn’t dream of doing something = I would never do it

Hear

Hear about (=be told about something)

Hear of = know that somebody or something exists
Hear from = receive a letter, phone call or message from somebody

Did you hear about the fight in the club on Saturday night?

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 5

 Who is Tom hart? I have no idea. I’ve never heard of it.
Have you heard from Jane recently? Yes, she phoned a few days ago.

Think about / of

When you think about something, you consider it, you concentrate your mind on it.

I’ve thought about what you said and I’ve decided to take your advice.
Will you lend me the money? I’ll think about it.

When you think of something, the idea comes to your mind.

He told me his name, but I can’t think of it now. (now think about it)
That’s a good idea. Why didn’t I think of that? (not think about that)

We also use think of when we ask or give an opinion.

What did you think of the film? I didn’t think much about it. (= I didn’t like it much)

The difference is sometimes very small and you can use of or about.

When I’m alone, I often think of / about you.

You can say think of / about doing something (for possible future actions)

My sister is thinking of / about going to Canada. (= she is considering it)

Discussion

Have a discussion about something, but discuss something (no preposition)

We had a discussion about what we should do.

We discussed a lot of things at the meeting. (not discussed about)

Do

Do something about something = do something to improve a bad situation

If you’re worried about the problem, you should do something about it.

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 6

Care

Care about, care for and take care of

Care about somebody / something = think that somebody / something is important.

He’s very selfish. He doesn’t care about other people.

We say ‘care what / where / how, etc.’ (without about)

You can do what you like. I don’t care what you do.

Care for somebody/something

- 1 = like something (usually in questions and negative sentences)

Would you care for a cup of coffee? (= would you like…?)
I don’t care for very hot weather. (= I don’t like…)
- 2 = look after somebody
Alan is 85 and lives alone. He needs somebody to care for him.

Take care of = look after

Have a nice holiday. Take care of yourself! (= look after yourself)

Verb + preposition OF

Accuse or suspect somebody of / approve of / consist of / dream of being something /

disapprove of / doing something (= imagine) / hear of (= know that somebody or
something exists)

I often dream of being rich.

Who is Tom Madely? I’ve no idea. I’ve never heard of him
Sue accused me of being selfish.
Some students were suspected of cheating in the exam.
We had an enormous meal. It consisted of seven courses.
His parents don’t approve of what he does, but they can’t stop him.

Die of / from an illness, etc.

What did he die of? A heart attack.

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 7

Verb + preposition OF/ABOUT

Remind

Remind somebody about (=tell somebody not to forget)

I’m glad you reminded me about the meeting.

Remind somebody of (= cause somebody to remember)

Look at this photograph of Richard. Who does he remind you of?

Warn

Warn somebody about a person or thing which is bad, dangerous, unusual, etc.

I knew he was a strange person. I had been warned about him (not warned of him)
Vicky warned me about the traffic. She said it would be bad.

Warn somebody about / of a danger, something bad which might happen later.

Everybody has been warned of / about the dangers of smoking.

Scientists have warned us about / of the effects of global warming.

Complain

Complain to somebody about = say that you are not satisfied.

We complained to the manager of the restaurant about the food.

Complain somebody of = cause somebody to remember

We called the doctor because George was complaining of a pain in his stomach.

Verb + preposition WITH

Agree with / collide with / fill something with / provide or supply with

My brother never agrees with me.

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 8

 There was an accident this morning. A bus collided with a car.
Take this saucepan and fill it with water.
The school provides all its students with books.

ADJECTIVES FOLLOWED BY A PREPOSITION

Adjective + preposition OF

generous / good / kind / nice /polite / silly / stupid of somebody (to do something)
but (be) cruel / friendly / generous / good / kind / nice / polite / rude to somebody
Independent of

Thank you. It was very kind of you to help me.

It is stupid of me to go out without a coat in such cold weather.

Afraid of / ashamed of / aware of / capable or incapable of / conscious of / critical of /

envious of / full or short of / fond / frightened of / jealous of / proud of / scared of /
sick of / suspicious of / terrified of / tired of / tolerant of / typical of

Are you afraid of spiders? Yes, I’m terrified of them.

She is afraid of flying.
Why are you always so jealous of other people?
He didn’t trust me. He was suspicious of my intentions.
Did you know he was married? No, I wasn’t aware of that.
I think she is aware of the problem in her class.
I’m sure you are capable of passing the examination.
The letter I wrote was full of mistakes.
The streets are full of rubbish.
I’m a bit short of money. Can you lend me some?
He’s late again. It’s typical of him to keep everybody waiting.
Come on, let’s go! I’m tired of waiting.

Certain or sure of /about

I think she’s arriving this evening, but I’m not sure of/about that.

Adjective + preposition ABOUT

Excited / happy about a situation / nervous / upset / worried

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 9

 Are you excited about going away next week?
Lisa is upset about not being invited to the party.

Adjective + preposition WITH

Crowded with (people, etc.) / delighted with / disappointed with something you receive,
or the result of something / Fed up or bored with something / happy with / pleased with
/satisfied with / wrong with

The streets were crowded with tourists.

I was delighted with the present you gave me.
Were you happy with your exam results?
I don’t enjoy my job any more. I’m fed up with it / I’m bored with it.
There is something wrong with this.

Adjective + preposition AT

Bad at / better at / brilliant at / good at / hopeless at

I’m not very good at repairing things.

I was never very good at mathematics.

Adjective + preposition TO

Married or engaged to / similar to

Linda is married to an American.

Your writing is similar to mine.

Adjective + preposition IN

Interested in

He is very interested in antique furniture.

Are you interested in art?

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 10

Adjective + preposition ON

Dependent on / keen on

We stayed at home because Chris wasn’t very keen on going out.

I’m very keen on Italian food.
I don’t want to be dependent on anybody.

Adjective + preposition FOR

Famous for / responsible for

The Italian city of Florence is famous for its art treasures.

Who was responsible for all that noise last night?

Adjectives + preposition ABOUT / WITH

Angry / annoyed / furious about something

Angry / annoyed / furious with somebody for doing something

It’s stupid to get angry about things that don’t matter.

Are you annoyed with me for being late?

Adjective + prepositions AT / BY

Amazed at/by / astonished at/by / shocked at /by / surprised at/by something

I was surprised at/by) the weather; it rained nearly every day.

Everybody was surprised at/by the news.
I hope you weren’t shocked by/at what I said.

Adjective + prepositions WITH / BY

Impressed with/by somebody/something

I’m very impressed with/by her English. It’s very good.

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 11

Adjective + prepositions ABOUT /FOR

Sorry about a situation or something that happened.

Sorry for / about something you did
You can also say ‘I’m sorry I did something’
Feel / be sorry for somebody who is in a bad situation.

I’m sorry about the noise last night. We were having a party.
I’m sorry about the mess. I’ll clear it up later.
We’re all sorry about Julie losing her job.
Alex is very sorry for/about what he said
I’m sorry for/about shouting at you yesterday.
I’m sorry I shouted at you yesterday.
I feel sorry for/about Matt. He’s had a lot of bad luck.

Adjective + prepositions FROM / TO

Different from / to

The film was different from/to what I’d expected.

NOUNS FOLLOWED BY A PREPOSITION

Noun + preposition FOR

A cheque for (a sum of money) / a demand for / need for / a reason for

They sent me a cheque for 75$.

The firm closed down because there wasn’t enough demand for its product.
There’s no excuse for behaviour like that. There’s no need for it.
The train was late but nobody knew the reason for the delay.

Noun + preposition OF

Advantages or disadvantages of / a cause of / a drawing of / a map of / a photograph

of / a picture of / a plan of / a drawing of

The advantage of living alone is that you can do what you want.
Nobody knows what the cause of the explosion was.

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 12

 She showed me some photographs of her family.
I had a map of the town, so I was able to find my way around.

Noun + preposition IN

A decrease in / a fall in (prices, etc.) / an increase in / a rise in

There has been an increase in the number of road accidents recently.

Last year was a bad year for the company. There was a big fall in sales.

Noun + preposition TO

An answer to ( a question) / an attitude to ( or towards) / damage to / an invitation to

(party, wedding) / a key to (a door) / a reaction to / a reply to (a letter) / a solution to
(problem)

The accident was my fall so I have to pay the damage to the other car.
Did you get an invitation to the party?
Do you think we’ll find a solution to the problem?
I was surprised at her reaction to my suggestion.
His attitude to (or towards) his job is very negative.

Noun + prepositions WITH/BETWEEN

A connection with / contact with / a relationship

But a relation / a connection / contact / a difference between two things or people.

Do you have a good relation with your parents?

The police want to question a man in connection with the robbery.
The police believe that there is no connection between the two crimes.
There are some differences between British and American English.

FIXED EXPRESSIONS

I took his pen by mistake (= I thought it was my pen)

I did all the work by myself (= on my own; without help from others)
The shoes are made by hand (= not by machine)
The workers are on strike (= they refuse to work because of a problem overpay, hours,

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 13

 etc.)
I met them by chance (= it wasn’t planned- It was luck)
The children are on holiday (= they are having a holiday)
He broke the plate by accident (= He didn’t want to do it, it was an error/ mistake)
He broke the plate on purpose (= he wanted to do it and intended to do it)
She couldn’t talk to me for long because she was in a hurry (= she had to go quickly-
She didn’t have much time)
There are two millions out of work (= without a job)
There were at least fifty people at the party (= a minimum of 50)

UNIT 2. PREPOSITIONS. VERBS/ADJECTIVES/NOUNS + PREPOSITION. 14