Verb + Preposition

Verb + Preposition: about

H. talk/ read/ know about ~; tell somebody about ~; have a discussion about something, but discuss something (no preposition); do something about something = do something to improve a bad situation (e.g. If you're worried about the problem, you should do something about it.)
a. care about (= care for and take care of): care about somebody/ something = think that somebody/ something is important. We say 'care what/ where/ how ~' etc. (without about); care for somebody/ something (1) = like something (usually in questions and negative sentences) (e.g. Would you care for a cup of coffee? (= Would you like ~?)) (2) = look after somebody
b. dream about ~ (when you are asleep), dream of/ about being something/ doing something = imagine; wouldn't dream of doing something = I would never do it (e.g. Don't tell anyone what I said. No, I wouldn't dream of it. (= I would never do it))
c. hear about ~ = be told about something; hear of ~ = know that somebody/ something exists; hear from ~ = receive a letter, phone call or message from somebody (e.g. Have you heard from Jane recently? Yes, she phoned a few days ago.)
d. think about ~ and think of ~, When you think about something, you consider it and concentrate your mind on it. When you think of something, the idea comes to your mind (e.g. he told me his name, but I can't think of it now. (not think about it)), also use think of when we ask or give an opinion; Also, can say think of or think about doing something (for possible future actions) (e.g. My sister is thinking of (or about) going to Canada. (= she is considering it))
e. remind somebody about ~ = tell somebody not to forget; remind somebody of ~ = cause somebody to remember (e.g. This house reminds me of the one I lived in when I was a child.)
f. complain (to somebody) about ~ = say that you are not satisfied; complain of a pain, an illness etc. = say that you have a pain etc. (e.g. we called the doctor because George was complaining of a pain in his stomach.)
g. warn somebody about a person or thing which is bad, dangerous, unusual etc.; warn somebody about/ of a danger, something bad which might happen later. (e.g. Scientists have warned us about/ of the effects of global warming.)

Verb + Preposition: for

H1. ask (somebody) for ~; apply (to a person, a company etc.) for a job etc.; wait for ~; search (a person/ a place/ a bag etc.) for ~; leave (a place) for another place (e.g. How do you ask for a coffee in Polish? I haven't seen her since she left (home) for the office this morning. (not left to the office))
a. pay (somebody) for ~ but pay a bill/ a fine/ tax/ rent/ a sum of money etc. (no preposition) (e.g. I didn't have enough money to pay the rent.); thank/ forgive somebody for ~; apologise (to somebody) for ~; blame somebody/ something for ~, somebody is to blame for ~; blame (a problem etc.) on ~ (e.g. Everybody blamed the accident on me.)
b. He apologised for being late. You can also ‘apologise to someone’  
c. stand/ care/ prepare for ~ (e.g. They won't stand for having such nonsense.She spent many years caring for her aged parents. I can’t go out tonight because I have to prepare for my interview tomorrow.)

Verb + Preposition: at

H2. look/ share/ glance at ~; have a look/ take a look at ~; laugh at ~; aim/ point (something) at ~, shoot/ fire (a gun) at ~ (e.g. Don't point that knife at me. It's dangerous.)
a. Some verbs can be followed by at or to, with a difference of meaning
b. shout at somebody (when you are angry); shout to somebody (so that they can hear you) (e.g. He shouted to me from the other side of the street.)
c. throw something at somebody/ something (in order to hit them); throw something to somebody (for somebody to catch) (e.g. Ann shouted 'Catch!' and threw the keys to me from the window.)
d. delight/ excel/ laugh/ balk/ rejoice at ~ (e.g. We laughed at walking a cat on a leash. He balked at making a speech. (stop short of) They rejoiced at hearing the news.)

Verb + Preposition: to

H3. talk/ speak to somebody (with is also possible but less usual); listen to ~; write (a letter) to ~; apologise to somebody (for ~) (e.g. They apologised to me for what happened. (not They apologised me.)); explain something to somebody; explain/ describe (to somebody) what/ how/ why ~ (e.g. I explained to them why I was worried. (not I explained them))
a. happen to ~; invite somebody to a party/ a wedding etc.; prefer one thing/ person to another (e.g. I prefer tea to coffee.)
b. Can I introduce you to my wife? Please refer to the notes at the end for more information. Nobody responded to my complaint.
c. adjust/ agree/ devote/ get used/ be used/ look forward / object to ~ (e.g. I object to doing all the work. We are used to hearing traffic. I look forward to seeing you.)

Verb + Preposition: from

H4. suffer from an illness etc. (e.g. The number of people suffering from heart disease has increased.)
a. protect somebody/ something from (or against) (e.g. This spray should protect you from mosquitoes. (or against the mosquitoes))
b. Has he recovered from his illness yet? He won an award because he saved someone from drowning.  
c. keep/ refrain/ stop from ~ (e.g. She tried to keep from seeing him. She refrained from saying anything. He stopped them from leaving.)

Verb + Preposition: in, into

H5. believe in ~ (e.g. Do you believe in GOD? (= Do you believe that GOD exists?)) but 'believe something' (= believe it is true), 'believe somebody' (= believe they are telling the truth) (e.g. The story can't be true. I don't believe it (not believe in it))
a. specialise in ~ (e.g. Our company specialises in computer software.)
b. succeed in ~ (e.g. You have to work hard if you want to succeed in life.)
c. deal/ engage/ interest/ participate/ result in ~ (e.g. He deals in selling real estate. He engages in starting up new businesses. He won't give into his complaining. (in/into) He is interested in being a scientist. They will participate in running the race. Distraction can result in an accident.)

H6. break into ~ (e.g. Our house was broken into a few days ago, but nothing was stolen.)
a. crash/ drive/ bump/ run into ~ (e.g. He lost control of the car and crashed into a wall.)
b. divide/ cut/ split something into two or more parts (e.g. The book is divided into three parts.)
c. translate a book etc. from on language into another (e.g. Ernest Hemingway's books have been translated into many languages.)

Verb + Preposition: of

H7. accuse/ suspect somebody of ~ (e.g. Sue accused me of being selfish)
a. approve/ disapprove of ~ (e.g. I don’t approve of your language, young man.)
b. die of (or from) an illness etc. (e.g. Our dog died of old age.)
c. consist of ~ (e.g. We had an enormous meal. It consisted of seven courses.)
d. smell/ accuse/ dream/ in charge/ take care/ think of ~ (e.g. This shampoo smells of bananas. He was accused of lying. He dreams of playing football. He is in charge of collecting tickets. He took care of making reservations. We thought of a new way to fix that.)

Verb + Preposition: on

H8. depend/ rely on ~, You can use depend + when/ where/ how etc. with or without on; live on money/ food; congratulate/ compliment somebody on ~ (e.g. We rely on their assisting us.)
a. concentrate on ~; insist on ~; spend (money) on ~ (e.g. If you make so much noise I can’t concentrate on my work.)
b. The film is based on the novel by Boris Pasternak. Come on! We’re relying on you! We don’t agree on anything but we’re good friends.
c. congratulate/ continue/ go/ insist/ intend/ keep/ plan on ~ (e.g. We congratulated them on winning. He continued on sleeping all day. Will you go on working? He insists on coming too. They intend on waging war. We keep on working. She plans on taking a course.)

Verb + Preposition: with

H9. collide with (e.g. There was an accident this morning. A bus collided with a car.)
a. fill something with ~ (but full of ~) (e.g. Take this saucepan and fill it with water.)
b. provide/ supply somebody with ~ (e.g. My secretary will provide you with more information if you need it. )
c. agree/ charge/ mess/ trust with ~ (e.g. I agree with everything you’ve said. They charge him with embezzling. They don't want to mess with hiring lawyers. I wouldn't trust them with doing this correctly.)

Verb + Preposition: against, off, over, like, after

H10. decide/ warn against ~ (e.g. We decided against buying a car. They warn against giving out information)

H11. call/ put off ~ (e.g. He called off playing the game in the rain. He put off going to business school.)

H12. think/ talk over ~ (e.g. He is thinking over moving away. We talked over buying a new home.)

H13. feel like ~ (e.g. Do you feel like going out?)

H14. look after ~ = take care of (e.g. You can borrow this book, but you must promise to look after it.); look for ~ = search for, try to find (e.g. I've lost my keys. Can you help me to look for them?)

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