Verb + preposition (1)

Study this list of verbs + preposition:

apologize (TO someone) FOR something (see also Unit 57a):

■ When I realized I was wrong, I apologized to him for my mistake.
apply FOR a job / admission to a university, etc.:
■ I think you'd be good at this job. Why don't you apply for it?
believe IN something:
■ Do you believe in God? (= Do you believe that God exists?)
■ I believe in saying what I think. (= I believe that it is a good thing to say
what I think.)
belong TO someone:
■ Who does this coat belong to?
care ABOUT someone/something (= think someone/something is important):
■ He is very selfish. He doesn't care about other people.
care FOR someone/something:
i) = like something (usually in questions and negative sentences):
■ Would you care for a cup of coffee? (= Would you like ... ?)
■ I don't care for hot weather. (= I don't like ...)
ii) = look after someone:
■ She is very old. She needs someone to care for her.
take care OF someone/something (= look after):
■ Have a nice vacation. Take care of yourself!
■ Will you take care of the children while I'm away?
collide WITH someone/something:
■ There was an accident this morning. A bus collided with a car.
complain (TO someone) ABOUT someone/something:
■ We complained to the manager of the restaurant about the food.
concentrate ON something:
■ Don't look out the window. Concentrate on your work!
consist OF something:
■ We had an enormous meal. It consisted of seven courses.
crash/drive/bump/run INTO someone/something:
■ He lost control of the car and crashed into a wall.
depend ON someone/something:
■ "What time will you arrive?" "I don't know. It depends on the
traffic."
You can leave out on before question words (when/where/how, etc.):
■ "Are you going to buy it?" "It depends (on) how much it is."
die OF an illness:
■ "What did he die of?" "A heart attack."
UNIT 119 Exercises
119.1 Complete the sentences. Each time use one of the following words with the correct
preposition: belong applied apologized die concentrate believe
crashed depends

1. When I realized that I had taken the wrong umbrella, I immediately apologized for
my mistake.
2. I was driving along when the car in front of me stopped suddenly. Unfortunately I
couldn't stop in time and..................................the back of it.
3. "Does this bag...............................you?" "No, it isn't mine."
4. Don't try and do two things at once...................................one thing at a time.
5. Jane is still unemployed. She has..................................several jobs but hasn't had any
luck yet.
6. "Are you playing tennis tomorrow?" "I hope so, but it..................................the
weather."
7. If you smoke, there is a greater chance that you will..................................lung cancer.
8. I don't..................................ghosts. I think people only imagine that they see them.

119.2 Complete these sentences with a preposition (if a preposition is necessary).

Example: There was an accident this morning. A bus collided ..with a car.

1. He loves to complain. He complains..................everything.

2. Our neighbors complained...................us...................the noise we made last night.
3. She doesn't have a job. She depends,..................her parents for money.
4. You were very rude to Tom. Don't you think you should apologize...................him?
5. Are you going to apologize..................what you did?
6. Jill and I ran...................each other downtown yesterday afternoon.
7. He decided to give up sports in order to concentrate....................his studies.
8. I don't believe...................working hard. It's not worth it.
9. A soccer team consists..................11 players.
10. It is terrible that some people are dying..................hunger while others eat too much.
11. As I was going out of the room, I collided...................someone who was coming in.
12. There was an awful noise as the car crashed..................the tree.
13. Do you belong..................a political party?
14. I don't know whether I'll go out tonight. It depends...................how I feel.

119.3 Put in the correct preposition after care.

Example: He's very selfish. He doesn't care .about..... other people.

1. Are you hungry? Would you care..................something to eat?

2. He doesn't care..................the exam. He's not worried whether he passes or fails.
3. Please let me borrow your camera. I promise I'll take good care....................it.
4. I don't care..................money. It's not important to me.
5. Don't worry about arranging our vacation. I'll take care....................that.
6. "Do you like this coat?" "No, I don't care...................the color."

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 Verb + preposition (2)
Study this list of verbs + preposition:

dream ABOUT someone/something:

■ I dreamed about you last night.
dream OF being something / doing something (= imagine):
■ I often dream of being rich.
also: "(I) wouldn't dream (of doing something)":
■ "Don't tell anyone what I said." "No, I wouldn't dream of it."
happen TO someone/something:
■ A strange thing happened to me the other day.
■ What happened to that gold watch you used to have?
hear ABOUT something (= be told about something):
■ Did you hear about the fight in the club on Saturday night?
■ Have you heard about Jane? She's getting married.
hear OF someone/something (= know that someone/something exists):
■ "Who is Tom Brown?" "I have no idea. I've never heard of him."
■ Have you heard of a company called "Smith Electronics"?
hear FROM someone (= receive a letter / telephone call from someone):
■ "Have you heard from Ann recently?" "Yes, she wrote to me last
week."
laugh/smile AT someone/something:
■ I look stupid with this haircut. Everyone will laugh at me.
listen TO someone/something:
■ We spent the evening listening to records.
live ON money/food:
■ George's salary is very low. It isn't enough to live on.
look AT someone/something (= look in the direction of):
■ Why are you looking at me like that?
also: have a look AT, stare AT, glance AT
look FOR someone/something (= try to find):
■ I've lost my keys. Can you help me look for them?
look AFTER someone/something (= take care of):
■ She's very old. She needs someone to look after her.
meet WITH someone (= have a meeting with):
■ Our representatives met with the president of the company.
pay (someone) FOR something:
■ I didn't have enough money to pay for the meal.
but: pay a bill / a fine / $50 / a fare / taxes, etc. (no preposition)
rely ON someone/something:
■ You can rely on Jack. He always keeps his promises.

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UNIT 120 Exercises
120.1 Complete these sentences. Each time use one of the following words with a preposition:
rely listen look live laughing glanced paid
happened
1. Where's the newspaper? I want to...look at.....................the television guide.
2. I haven't seen Susan for ages. I wonder what's................................her.
3. You must..............................this record. You'll love it.
4. I...............................the newspaper to see if there was anything interesting in it.
5. When you went to the theater with Paul, who................................the tickets?
6. The bus service isn't very good. You can't...............................it.
7. What are you...............................? I don't understand what's funny.
8. It's a very inexpensive country. You can...............................very little money there.

120.2 Complete these sentences with a preposition (if a preposition is necessary).

Example: She smiled ...at........me as she passed me in the street.

1. Don't listen............... what he says. He's stupid.

2. What happened................the picture that used to be on that wall?
3. A: You wouldn't go away without telling me, would you?
B: Of course not. I wouldn't dream................it.
4. I dreamed................Ann last night. We were dancing together at a party when she
suddenly hit me. Then I woke up.
5. The accident was my fault, so I had to pay.................the damage.
6. I didn't have enough money to pay................the bill.
7. You know that you can always rely................me if you need any help.
8. The man sitting opposite me on the train kept staring.................me.
9. She doesn't eat very much. She lives................bread and eggs.
10. When are you going to meet................your professor to discuss your paper?

In these sentences put in the correct preposition after hear.

11. "Did you hear................the accident last night?" "Yes, Ann told me."
12. Jill used to write to me fairly often, but I haven't heard.................her for a long time
now.
13. A: Have you read any books by James Hudson?
B: James Hudson? No, I've never heard................him.
14. Thank you for your letter. It was nice to hear.................you again.
15. "Do you want to hear.................our vacation?" "Not now, tell me later."
16. The town I come from is very small. You've probably never heard..................it.

In these sentences put in the correct preposition after look.

17. When I looked................my watch, I couldn't believe that it was so late.
18. The police are still looking................the seven-year-old boy who disappeared from his
home last week. Nobody knows where the boy is.
19. When we went out for the evening, a neighbor of ours looked.................the children.
20. I'm looking................Tom. Have you seen him anywhere?

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 Verb + preposition (3)
Study this list of verbs + preposition:

search (a person / a place / a bag, etc.) FOR someone/something:

■ I've searched the whole house for my keys, but I still can't find them.
■ The police are searching for the escaped prisoner.
shout AT someone (when you are angry):
■ He was very angry and started shouting at me.
but: shout TO someone (so that they can hear you):
■ He shouted to me from the other side of the street.
speak/talk TO someone ("with" is also possible):
■ (on the telephone) Hello, can I speak to Jane, please?
■ Who was that man I saw you talking to in the restaurant?
suffer FROM an illness:
■ The number of people suffering from heart disease has increased.
think ABOUT someone/something (= consider, concentrate the mind on):
■ You're quiet this morning. What are you thinking about?
■ 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."
think OF someone/something (= remember, bring to mind, have an idea):
■ She told me her name, but I can't think of it now. (not think about it)
■ That's a good idea. Why didn't I think of that?
We also use think OF when we ask for or give an opinion:
m "What did you think of the movie?" "I didn't think much of it."
The difference between think OF and think ABOUT is sometimes very small. Often you can
use OF or ABOUT:
■ My sister is thinking of (or about) going to Canada.
■ Tom was thinking of (or about) buying a new car, but changed his mind.
■ When I'm alone, I often think of (or about) you.
wait FOR someone/something:
■ I'm not going out yet. I'm waiting for the rain to stop.
write TO someone or write someone (without to):
■ Sorry I haven't written (to) you for such a long time.
■ I wrote her a letter.

We do not use a preposition with these verbs:

call/phone someone Did you call/phone your father yesterday?
discuss something We discussed many things at the meeting.
enter (= go into a place) She felt nervous as she entered the room.

For verb + preposition + -ing see Unit 57a.

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UNIT 121 Exercises
121.1 Complete these sentences with a preposition where necessary. If no preposition is necessary,
leave the sentence as it is.
Example: He was angry and started shouting ... at..........me.

1. I've searched everywhere................John, but I haven't been able to find him.

2. Ken gets very jealous. He doesn't like his girlfriend talking.................other men.
3. I don't want to go out yet. I'm waiting................the mail to arrive.
4. Please don't shout................me! Be nice tome.
5. We passed Tom as we were driving along. I shouted.................him but he didn't hear.
6. Ann doesn't write................her parents very often, but she calls.................them at least
once a week.
7. Can I speak................you a moment? There's something I want to ask you.
8. Sally is not well. She suffers................severe headaches.
9. The police have been searching the woods.................the missing girl.
10. She's a little lonely. She needs someone to talk..................
11. I don't want to discuss................what happened last night. I want to forget about it.
12. We're going out to eat tonight. I'd better call.................the restaurant to reserve a table.

Use the correct preposition (of or about) after think. Remember that sometimes you can use either
of or about.
13. Before you make a final decision, think carefully.................what I said.
14. I don't know what to get Ann for her birthday. Can you think..................anything?
15. You're selfish. You only think................yourself.
16. "I've finished the book you lent me." "Really? What did you think.................it?"
17. We're thinking................going out to eat tonight. Would you like to come?
18. I don't really want to go out to dinner with Tom tonight. I'll have to think..................an
excuse.
19. When he asked her to marry him, she said that she wanted to go away and think..............
it for a while.
20. She is homesick. She's always thinking................her family back home.
21. I don't think much................this coffee. It's like water.

121.2 Complete these sentences with one of the following words. Use a preposition if necessary. phoned
shouted discussed entered wrote waited

1. He got angry and shouted at..... me.

2. I..........................Ann last week, but she hasn't replied to my letter yet.
3. I...........................Tom yesterday, but there was no answer. He must have been out.
4. We...........................the problem, but we didn't reach a decision.
5. We...........................Jim for half an hour, but he never arrived.
6. The children stopped talking when the teacher...........................the room.