Lesson 98 · Stage 8: Adjectives, adverbs & prepositions
Verb + preposition
IntermediateForm & use
depend on, listen to, wait for, deal with — verbs with a fixed preposition
1.The pattern
Many verbs need a fixed preposition before their object: verb + preposition + object. When there is no object, the preposition goes. In questions, the preposition usually goes at the end.
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| verb + preposition + object | I'm waiting for the bus. |
| no object → no preposition | Wait here. / Listen! |
| question: preposition at the end | Who are you talking to? |
| verb + object + preposition | She thanked me for the gift. |
Our plans depend on the weather.
Does this bag belong to you?
I don't know how to deal with this problem.
What are you looking at?
2.Common verb + preposition pairs
| Preposition | Verbs | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to | listen / talk / speak / belong / happen / reply / apologise to | Can I talk to you for a minute? |
| for | wait / look / pay / ask / apply / search for | Who's going to pay for dinner? |
| at | look / laugh / stare / smile / point at | Please don't laugh at me. |
| on | depend / rely / count / concentrate / insist on | You can always count on me. |
| about | think / talk / worry / complain / dream / know about | Don't worry about the exam. |
| of | think / dream / hear / consist of | Have you heard of this band? |
| from | suffer / recover / hear from (get news) | My grandmother suffers from back pain. |
| with | agree / deal / argue / share with | I don't agree with you. |
| in | believe / succeed / specialise in | Do you believe in ghosts? |
3.Verb + object + preposition
With some verbs, the object (often a person) comes straight after the verb, and then the preposition.
- thank sb for sth
- apologise to sb for sth
- explain / describe sth to sb
- ask sb for sth
- remind sb of sth (make them think of it); remind sb about sth (tell them not to forget)
- spend money / time on sth
- protect sb / sth from sth
Thank you for your help.
Minh apologised to the teacher for being late.
Can you explain this word to me?
I asked my boss for a day off.
You remind me of my sister.
She spends a lot of money on clothes.
4.A different preposition, a different meaning
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| look at | direct your eyes to | Look at this photo. |
| look for | try to find | I'm looking for my keys. |
| look after | take care of | Who looks after your dog? |
| think about | consider | I'm thinking about changing jobs. |
| think of | have an idea, remember a name | I can't think of a good name. |
| hear about | be told about something | Did you hear about the accident? |
| hear from | get news from someone | I haven't heard from Lan for months. |
| agree with / to / on | share an opinion · accept a proposal · reach a decision together | I agree with you. / He agreed to the plan. / We agreed on a date. |
| shout at / shout to | shout angrily · shout so someone can hear | Don't shout at me! / She shouted to us from the window. |
To ask for an opinion, both are fine: What do you think of / about my new haircut?
5.Verbs with NO preposition
On the other hand, many verbs take their object directly, with no preposition — even though a preposition might seem natural.
| Correct | Not | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| discuss the plan | discuss about the plan | talk about |
| enter the room | enter into the room | go into |
| marry someone | marry with someone | become husband/wife of |
| answer the question | answer to the question | reply to |
| phone / call your mum | phone to your mum | ring |
| reach the station | reach to the station | arrive at |
| tell me the truth | tell to me the truth | say to someone |
| contact us | contact with us | get in touch with |
- The related nouns do take a preposition: a discussion about, an answer to, contact with; and get married to (see the lesson “Noun + preposition”).
- arrive in + a city or country; arrive at + a building or place (station, airport, hotel). Not “arrive to”.
- arrive / get / go home: no preposition before home.
- meet someone needs no with; meet with (mostly American) is used for formal meetings.
Let's discuss the plan for Tet.
Everyone stood up when the teacher entered the room.
My aunt married a man from Hue last year.
Call me when you arrive at the station.
Learners often add a preposition where English has none (discuss about, marry with, enter into) or leave it out where English needs one (explain me). Remember: discuss / marry / enter take a direct object, but explain needs to: explain to me.
6.Common mistakes
I'm waiting you in front of the cinema.I'm waiting for you in front of the cinema.
wait for + person/thing.
Every night I listen music before bed.Every night I listen to music before bed.
listen to + object.
We discussed about the trip.We discussed the trip.
discuss takes no preposition.
Can you explain me what this word means?Can you explain to me what this word means?
explain (sth) to sb; not explain me.
She married with a man from Hue.She married a man from Hue.
marry + person, no with.
It depends of the price.It depends on the price.
depend on.
Examples
- I like to listen to music on the bus.
- Can you wait for me outside the school?
- Our plans depend on the weather.
- Excuse me, does this bag belong to you?
