Expressions with prepositions pot

Expressions with
prepositions
I. Nouns + prep
- a cheque FOR (a sum of money)
- a demand FOR/ a need FOR st
- a reason FOR st
- an advantage/ a disadvantage OF st
 There is an advantage
IN/ TO doing st.
a disadvantage
- a cause OF st
- a photo/ a picture/ a map/ a plan/ a drawing OF st
- an increase/ a rise/ a decrease/ a reduction/ a fall IN st
- damage TO st
- an invitation TO (a party/ a meeting)
- a solution TO (a problem)
- a key TO (a door)
- an answer TO (a question)
- a reply TO (a letter)
- a reaction TO (st)
- an attitude TO/ TOWARDS st/sb
- a relationship/ a connection/ contact WITH st/sb
 There is a relationship/ contact
BETWEEN
a connection/ a difference
- have difficulty (IN) doing st
= have trouble (WITH) doing st
- pay attention TO st/ doing st
= take notice OF st/ doing st
- draw sb’s attention TO st/sb
- have the/ no intention of doing st

II. Adjectives + Prep
1/ It was nice OF you to……
 It be nice/kind/good/generous/polite/silly/ OF
sb to do st.
E.g. Thank you. It was nice/kind of you to help me.
It is stupid of her to go out without a coat in
such cold weather.
 Sb be nice/kind/good/generous/polite/friendly/
cruel/.etc. TO sb
E.g. They have always been nice to me.
Why are you so unfriendly to Tessa?
2/ Adj + ABOUT/WITH
- be angry/annoyed/furious ABOUT st
WITH sb FOR doing st
- be excited ABOUT st/doing st
- be worried ABOUT st
- be upset ABOUT st
- be nervous ABOUT st
- be happy/ merry ABOUT st
- be delighted/pleased/satisfied/contented WITH st
- be disappointed/ let down WITH st
3/ Adj + AT/BY/WITH
- be surprised/ amazed/astonished AT/BY st
- be shocked AT/BY st
- be impressed WITH/BY st
- be fed up/bored WITH… = have enough of…
- be sorry ABOUT st
= be sorry FOR doing st
= be sorry (that) sb did st

- be/feel sorry FOR sb
4/ Adj + OF
- be afraid/frightened/terrified/scared OF…
- be fond OF st/sb
- be proud OF st/sb
- be ashamed OF st/sb
- be jealous/envious OF
- be suspicious OF
- be critical OF…
- be tolerant OF…
- be aware/concious OF…
- be capable/incapable OF…
- be full OF…/
- be short OF… = run short of
 It’s typical OF sb to do st
- be tired OF…
# be tired FROM…
- be certain/sure OF or ABOUT…
6/ Adj + AT/TO/FROM/IN/ON/WITH/FOR
- be good/ excellent/ brilliant/.etc. AT…
- be bad/ hopeless.etc. AT…
- be married/engaged TO…
- be similar TO…
- be different FROM/TO…
- be intersted IN…
- be keen ON…
- be dependent ON…
but be independent OF…
- be crowded WITH…
- be famous/notorious FOR…

- be responsible FOR…

III. Verbs + Prep
1/ Verbs + AT
- look/ have a look/ stare/ glance/ gaze AT…
- laugh/ smile AT…
- aim AT…
- point st AT…
2/ Verbs + TO…
- talk/ speak TO sb (WITH is less usual)
- listen TO…
- write (a letter) TO…
but phone/telephone sb
- invite sb TO sw
- explain st TO sb = explain TO sb + WH…
- describe (similar to explain)
* some verbs can be followed by AT or TO
but with a difference in meaning.
- shout AT sb
# shout TO sb
- throw st AT sb
# throw st TO sb
3/ Verbs + ABOUT/FOR/OF/AFTER
- talk ABOUT
- read ABOUT
- tell sb ABOUT
- have a discussion ABOUT
but discuss st
- do something ABOUT
- care ABOUT sb/st

but care + WH
- care FOR sb/st
= like sb/st (usually in questions and negative
sentences)
= look AFTER sb = take care OF sb
- ask sb FOR st
but ask sb st
- apply TO sb FOR st
- wait FOR sb/st (to happen)
- search sb/sw FOR st
- leave sw FOR sw
- look FOR sb/st
* some verbs can be followed by ABOUT and OF
but with a difference in meaning.
- dream ABOUT…
# dream OF…
- hear ABOUT…
# hear OF…
# hear FROM…
- think ABOUT/OF sb/st
# think OF st
# think much/little OF sb
but think OF/ABOUT doing st
- remind sb ABOUT st
# remind sb OF st
- complain TO sb ABOUT st
# complain OF (an illness)
- warn sb OF/ABOUT st bad which might happen
# warn sb ABOUT sb/st that is dangerous/ unusual
but warn sb ABOUT/AGAINST doing st

= warn sb not to do st
4/ Verbs + OF/FOR/FROM/ON
- accuse sb OF
- suspect sb OF
- approve/disapprove OF (sb) doing st
- die OF st (a cause)
- consist OF + total
but compile + total
- pay sb FOR st
but pay st (a bill/ a fine/ a tax/ a fare…)
- thank sb FOR
- forgive sb FOR
but sympathize WITH st
- apologise (TO sb) FOR st
- blame sb FOR st/doing st
= blame st ON sb
 sb + be + to blame FOR st
(= It + be + sb’s fault that + clause)
- suffer FROM…
- protect sb FROM/AGAINST…
- prevent/ deter/ discourage sb FROM
= stop sb (FROM) doing st
= keep st FROM doing st
# keep sb doing st
- depend ON/UPON
- insist ON (sb) doing st
= persist IN (sb) doing st
- rely ON/ UPON
but depend/rely (ON/UPON) +WH
- live ON

- congratulate sb ON
- compliment sb ON
5/ Verbs + IN/INTO/WITH/TO/ON
- believe IN
- specialise IN = be an expert ON st
- succeed IN
- break INTO
- crash INTO
- drive INTO
- bump INTO
- run INTO
- divide/ cut/ split st INTO
- translate st FROM a language INTO another
- coincide WITH
- collide WITH
- fill st WITH st
- provide/ supply sb WITH st
= provide/ supply st FOR sb
- object/ subject TO (sb)doing st
- st happen TO sb
but sb happen to do st
- prefer st/sb/doing st TO st/sb/doing st
- decide ON st
# decide AGAINST st/doing st
- concentrate ON st = focus ON st
- spend time/ money ON st
but spend time/ money doing st
- waste time/ money ON st
but waste time/ money doing st