insights ordinary preposition combinations in english

Management & Business

David Esteban Ponce

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1 IngCom David Esteban Ponce Ordinary Preposition Combinations

INTRODUCTION

Keep in mind that prepositions are words such as about, after, at, before by, in, for, of, on,

with, without, etc., that often connects two things (1) a noun, adjective or verb that comes

before it, an (2) a ‘prepositional object’ – a noun phrase or pronoun that comes after the

preposition. Remember: We use -ing verb forms, not infinites after any preposition e.g.

That present is for you.

She is really angry at/with Ian because he didn’t back her up at the meeting last night.

Jorge saved money by giving up cigarettes. (Not by give up cigarettes)

It’s difficult to learn how to use prepositions appropriately in any foreign language.

Particularly, English prepositions have several different functions and these may correspond to

several different prepositions in another language. At the same time, different prepositions can

have very similar uses (on Saturday, at night, in the evening). Many nouns, verbs, and

adjectives are commonly used with particular prepositions for example, we say: the reason for

sth, get to + a place, mad at Sb, into a cab, etc. Sometimes the suitable preposition cannot be

guessed ergo you have to memorize the entire combination as a whole in order to learn it well.

In some expressions English has no prepositions where one may be used in another language; in

other expressions the opposite is true, so for this particular issue practice makes perfect!

A word of caution: ‘Word Order’ In English, prepositions can come at the end of sentences

in certain structures (Usually in Wh-questions), mainly in an informal style. For example:

It’s Ian that she is really angry at.

They are fun to be with.

This town is pleasant to live in.

Tell us what you’re worried about.

That’s what I’m afraid of.

She is the one and only woman who I’ve ever really been in love with.

What a lot of trouble I’m in!

Who are you talking to?

Who is that present for? / For whom is that present? Extremely formal.

Where did he buy if from?

Where are we heading to?

What sort/kind/type of music are they interested in?

What are they staring at?

Which flight is your godson traveling on?

What with? but with what money? because there is a noun with the question word.


Ordinary Preposition Combinations - A -

A discussion about Sth

A lack of Sth

Accuse Sb of doing sth (Not for)

Add this to that

Admire Sb for Sth

Agree with Sb/an opinion/policy

Agree about a subject of discussion

Agree on a matter for decision

Agree to do sth/a suggestion

Apologize to Sb for doing sth

Apply for Sth (Job/position/scholarship/etc.)

Approve of Sb

Argue with Sb about/over Sth

Arrive on a day/at a building-room/in a place (There’s no arrive to + a place)

Ask Sb to do sth

Ask Sb about sth

Ask Sb out (A date)

- B - Because of Sb/Sth

Be absent from

Be acquainted with Sb

Be afraid of sth (Not by)

Be angry at/with Sb for doing sth

Be angry at/with Sb about/over sth

Be anxious about Sth

Be anxious for Sth (Eager to have)

Be anxious to do sth

Be aware of sth

Be bad at doing sth

Be bored by/with

Be blue with cold

Be clear to Sb

Be clever at doing sth

Be composed of sth

Be crazy about Sb


Be crowded with

Be curious about Sb

Be dependent on Sb for Sth

Be devoted to Sb

Be different from Sth

Be disappointed at/about Sth

Be disappointed with/in Sb

Be divorced from Sb

Be engaged to Sb

Be equal to Sth

Be excited about Sth

Be exhausted from doing sth

Be familiar with Sb/Sth

Be famous for Sth

Be friendly to/with Sb

Be frightened of/by Sth

Be full of Sth

Be good at doing sth

Be good for Sb

Be happy about Sth

Be happy for Sb

Be hard on Sb

Be hungry for Sth

Be ill with Sth

Be in a bad/good mood

Be in need of Sth

Be in love with Sb

Be in the mood for Sth

Be impressed by/with Sth

Be independent of Sb

Be interested in doing sth/Sth

Be involved in Sth

Be lacking in Sth

Be kind to Sb

Be mad at Sb

Be made of Sth

Be married to Sb


Be nervous about Sth

Be nice to Sb

Be on the lookout for Sb

Be opposed to

Be patient with Sb

Be pleased at/about Sth

Be pleased with Sb

Be polite to Sb

Be prepared for doing sth

Be proud of Sb

Be qualified for doing sth

Be ready for doing sth

Be red with anger

Be related to Sb/Sth

Be responsible for Sb/Sth

Be rude to Sb

Be sad about Sth

Be satisfied with

Be scared of Sb

Be shocked at/by Sth

Be similar to

Be sorry about Sth that has happened

Be sorry for Sth that one has done

Be sure about/of Sth

Be surprised at/by Sth

Be terrified by/of Sth

Be the matter with

Be thirsty for Sth

Be tired of/from doing sth

Be typical of

Be used to doing sth

Be willing to do sth

Be worried about Sth

Be wrong with Sb

Believe (No preposition) Sb/Sth that is said

Believe in God/Father Christmas/etc.

Belong in/on/at (Have its place/Fit)


Belong to a club (Be member of) /Sb (Romantic sense)

Borrow Sth from Sb

- C - Care about Sb

Cheat on Sb

Combine with

Compare this to/with that

Complain to Sb about Sth

Conduct experiments on Sb

Concentrate on

Consist of Sth

Congratulate Sb on/for doing sth/Sth

Crash into

- D - Depend on Sb for Sth

Details of Sth

Die from/of Sth

Disagree with Sb about Sth

Discuss Sth with Sb

Divide this into that

Dream of doing sth (Think of/Image)

Dream about Sth (While asleep)

Dress in a color

Dress up as a character

Drive into Sth

- E - Escape from

Excuse Sb for Sth

Excuse from

Enter a place (No preposition)

Enter into an agreement/a discussion/etc.

Example of (Not for)

Explain Sth to Sb

- F - Feel about

Feel like doing sth

Feel sorry for Sb

Fight with Sb over Sth


Fill Sth with Sth

Force of habit

Forgive Sb for doing sth

- G - Get in(to) and out of a car/cab/small boat

Get married to Sb

Get on(to) and off a bus/train//plane/ship/horse

Get to a building or a place

Get used to doing sth

Go halfsis on Sth

Go with Sb/Sth

Graduate from an institution

- H - Happen to Sb

Have difficulty in doing sth

Have difficulty with Sth

Hear about/of Sth from Sb

Help Sb (out) with Sth

Hide Sth from Sb

Hope for Sth

- I - Increase in productivity/price/etc.

Independence from

In ones right mind

In revenge

Insist on doing sth

Interest in Sth

Introduce Sb to Sb

Invite Sb to Sth

- K - Know about Sth

- L - Lack (No preposition) Sth

Laugh at Sb

Laugh about Sth

Leave for a place (Not to a place)

Listen to Sb

Look after Sb


Look at Sb

Look down on Sb

Look for Sb/Sth

Look forward to doing sth

Look like Sb

Look out of a window/door/etc.

Look Sth up in a book/list/etc.

Look up to Sb

- M - Marriage to Sb

Marry Sb (No preposition)

Multiply this by that

- N - Near to

- O - Operate on a patient

- P - Pay by installments

Pay for Sth

Pick Sb over Sb

Play along Sth

Play with Sb

Point at Sb

Point out of a window/door/etc.

Prefer this to that

Prevent Sb from doing sth

Proof of Sth

Protect this from that

Provide Sb with Sth

Put up a fight

Put up with Sb/Sth

- R - Read about Sth

Reason for Sth

Remind Sb of Sb

Rely on Sb

- S - Search for Sb/Sth


Separate this from that

Shout at Sb (Aggressive)

Shout to Sb ( Call to)

Smile at Sb

Speak to/with Sb about Sth

Stare at Sb

Subtract this from that

Suffer from Sth

- T - Take care of Sb/Sth

Take part in Sth

Take place at/in a place

Talk to/with Sb about Sth

Tell Sb about Sth

Thank Sb for doing sth

The idea of doing sth

The thought of doing sth

Think about/of doing sth

Think badly of Sb

Think less of Sb

Throw Sth at Sb (Aggressive)

Throw Sth to Sb (A game/Catch)

Translate from one language to another

Translate into a language

Trip over Sth

- W - Wait for Sb/Sth to do sth

Wait to do sth

Wait on

Warn about/of

Want Sb to do sth

Wonder about Sth

Work for Sb

Work in a town/country/etc.

Work on a project/task/etc.

Work with Sb at an organization/company/etc.

Write to Sb about Sth

insights ordinary preposition combinations in english

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