Prepositional verbs are a crucial aspect of English grammar, often posing a challenge for learners. Understanding how these verbs function and interact with prepositions is essential for constructing grammatically correct and natural-sounding sentences.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to prepositional verbs, covering their definition, structure, types, usage rules, common mistakes, and practice exercises. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, this resource will help you master the intricacies of prepositional verbs and enhance your overall English proficiency.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of Prepositional Verbs
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories of Prepositional Verbs
- Examples of Prepositional Verbs
- Usage Rules for Prepositional Verbs
- Common Mistakes with Prepositional Verbs
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Introduction
Prepositional verbs are a fundamental part of English grammar, essential for expressing a wide range of actions and relationships. They consist of a verb followed by a preposition, which together create a unique meaning that may differ from the verb’s original sense.
Mastering prepositional verbs is crucial for both understanding and producing fluent, accurate English. This guide aims to provide a detailed and accessible explanation of prepositional verbs, equipping learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to use them confidently and correctly.
Definition of Prepositional Verbs
A prepositional verb is a combination of a verb and a preposition that functions as a single unit of meaning. The preposition is an integral part of the verb and cannot be separated from it (in most cases) without changing the meaning or grammaticality of the sentence.
The meaning of the prepositional verb is often idiomatic, meaning it cannot be easily deduced from the individual meanings of the verb and preposition.
Key characteristics of prepositional verbs:
- Verb + Preposition: Consists of a verb immediately followed by a preposition.
- Single Unit of Meaning: Functions as a single semantic unit, often with a meaning distinct from the individual words.
- Inseparable (Usually): The preposition cannot be separated from the verb by an adverb or object (in most cases).
- Takes an Object: The preposition is followed by a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition).
- Idiomatic Meaning: The meaning is often idiomatic and not easily predictable.
Structural Breakdown
The basic structure of a sentence with a prepositional verb is:
Subject + Prepositional Verb + Object
Where:
- Subject: The person or thing performing the action.
- Prepositional Verb: The verb and preposition combination (e.g., look at, listen to).
- Object: The noun or pronoun that the preposition refers to (e.g., the picture, him).
Example:
She listened to the music.
- Subject: She
- Prepositional Verb: listened to
- Object: the music
The prepositional verb acts as the verb of the sentence, and the object of the preposition is the recipient of the action. It’s crucial to recognize that the preposition is not merely modifying the verb; it’s an essential component of the verb phrase.
Types and Categories of Prepositional Verbs
Prepositional verbs can be categorized based on their meaning and the type of action they describe. Here are some common categories:
Action-Related Verbs
These verbs describe physical actions or processes.
- Examples: run into, look for, break into, get through.
Communication-Related Verbs
These verbs involve communication or interaction.
- Examples: talk about, speak to, listen to, reply to.
Thinking and Feeling Verbs
These verbs express thoughts, feelings, or opinions.
- Examples: think about, worry about, believe in, agree with.
Dependence-Related Verbs
These verbs imply reliance or trust.
- Examples: depend on, rely on, count on.
Reaction-Related Verbs
These verbs describe a response to something.
- Examples: react to, respond to, recover from.
Examples of Prepositional Verbs
This section provides extensive examples of prepositional verbs, categorized for clarity. Each table includes multiple examples to illustrate the various uses and contexts of these verbs.
Table 1: Action-Related Prepositional Verbs
The following table showcases action-related prepositional verbs, illustrating how they describe physical actions, movements, or processes. These verbs often carry idiomatic meanings that extend beyond the literal definitions of the individual words.
| Prepositional Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Run into | I ran into an old friend at the grocery store. |
| Look for | She is looking for her keys. |
| Break into | Thieves broke into the house last night. |
| Get through | I finally got through to customer service after an hour of waiting. |
| Go through | He had to go through a lot of paperwork to get the loan. |
| Deal with | The customer service representative dealt with the complaint efficiently. |
| Put up with | I can’t put up with his constant complaining anymore. |
| Catch up with | I need to catch up with my emails after being on vacation. |
| Come across | I came across an interesting article while browsing the internet. |
| Get away with | He thought he could get away with cheating, but he was caught. |
| Look after | She looks after her younger brother after school. |
| Take after | He takes after his father in both appearance and personality. |
| Go along with | I didn’t really agree with the plan, but I decided to go along with it. |
| Get on with | We need to get on with the project if we want to finish on time. |
| Come down with | She came down with a cold after being out in the rain. |
| Carry on with | Despite the difficulties, they decided to carry on with their journey. |
| Cut down on | The doctor advised him to cut down on his sugar intake. |
| Face up to | He finally had to face up to his responsibilities. |
| Follow up on | I need to follow up on that email I sent last week. |
| Keep up with | It’s hard to keep up with all the latest technology. |
| Make up for | He tried to make up for his mistake by apologizing. |
| Sign up for | I want to sign up for a yoga class. |
| Show up for | It is important to show up for your appointments. |
| Stand up for | She always stands up for what she believes in. |
| Watch out for | Watch out for the slippery steps. |
Table 2: Communication-Related Prepositional Verbs
This table provides examples of prepositional verbs that relate to communication, interaction, and expression. These verbs are essential for conveying how we exchange information, share thoughts, and engage with others through language.
| Prepositional Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Talk about | They talked about the movie for hours. |
| Speak to | The manager needs to speak to you about your performance. |
| Listen to | I love to listen to music while I work. |
| Reply to | Please reply to my email as soon as possible. |
| Write to | I write to my grandmother every week. |
| Complain about | Customers often complain about the slow service. |
| Argue with | She argued with her brother about who should do the dishes. |
| Agree with | I agree with your suggestion to postpone the meeting. |
| Shout at | The coach shouted at the players for their poor performance. |
| Refer to | The speaker will refer to several studies in his presentation. |
| Hint at | She hinted at a surprise party, but didn’t reveal any details. |
| Elaborate on | Could you elaborate on your previous statement? |
| Comment on | The journalist refused to comment on the allegations. |
| Insist on | He insisted on paying for the entire meal. |
| Object to | I object to the proposed changes to the policy. |
| Appeal to | The lawyer appealed to the jury’s sense of justice. |
| Confide in | She confided in her best friend about her problems. |
| Correspond with | He corresponded with several scientists in his field. |
| Report on | The news channel reported on the latest developments in the case. |
| Lecture on | The professor lectured on the history of the Roman Empire. |
| Preach about | The priest preached about the importance of forgiveness. |
| Remark on | Everyone remarked on her stunning dress. |
| Scream at | The angry customer screamed at the cashier. |
| Smile at | She smiled at the children playing in the park. |
| Whisper to | He whispered to her, “I love you.” |
Table 3: Thinking and Feeling Prepositional Verbs
This table presents examples of prepositional verbs that express thoughts, feelings, opinions, and emotional states. These verbs are crucial for conveying internal experiences and attitudes.
| Prepositional Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Think about | I often think about my future. |
| Worry about | She worries about her children constantly. |
| Believe in | I believe in the power of education. |
| Hope for | We hope for a better future for our children. |
| Care about | He cares about the environment. |
| Dream about | I often dream about traveling the world. |
| Speculate about | Pundits speculated about the reasons for the company’s failure. |
| Marvel at | Tourists marvel at the beauty of the Grand Canyon. |
| Boast about | He always boasts about his accomplishments. |
| Grieve over | The family grieved over the loss of their loved one. |
| Rejoice at | The town rejoiced at the news of the victory. |
| Frown at | She frowned at his inappropriate joke. |
| Suffer from | He suffers from chronic back pain. |
| Triumph over | The team triumphed over adversity to win the championship. |
| Smile about | She smiled about the memories of her childhood. |
| Laugh at | They laughed at his silly jokes. |
| Get over | It took her a long time to get over the breakup. |
| Look forward to | I look forward to seeing you again soon. |
| Feel for | I feel for those who lost their homes in the fire. |
| Marvel at | We marvel at his talent and dedication. |
| Pride oneself on | She prides herself on her attention to detail. |
| Despair of | He began to despair of ever finding a job. |
| Delight in | She delights in helping others. |
| Blush at | She blushed at his compliment. |
Table 4: Dependence and Reaction-Related Prepositional Verbs
This table combines examples of prepositional verbs related to dependence and reaction. Dependence-related verbs indicate reliance or trust, while reaction-related verbs describe a response to a stimulus or event.
| Prepositional Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Depend on | You can always depend on me for support. |
| Rely on | We rely on solar energy to power our homes. |
| Count on | I’m counting on you to help me with this project. |
| Hinge on | The success of the mission hinges on careful planning. |
| React to | The market reacted to the news with a sharp decline. |
| Respond to | The company responded to the criticism by issuing a statement. |
| Recover from | It takes time to recover from a serious illness. |
| Result in | Careless driving can result in serious accidents. |
| Benefit from | Students can benefit from participating in extracurricular activities. |
| Suffer from | Many people suffer from seasonal allergies. |
| Abstain from | He decided to abstain from alcohol for a month. |
| Recoil from | She recoiled from the sight of the spider. |
| Refrain from | Please refrain from smoking in this area. |
| Retaliate against | The country threatened to retaliate against the trade sanctions. |
| Build on | We need to build on our past successes. |
| Feed on | Vultures feed on carrion. |
| Capitalize on | The company tried to capitalize on the latest trend. |
| Elaborate on | The speaker elaborated on the importance of education. |
| Focus on | We need to focus on our goals. |
| Impose on | I don’t want to impose on your time. |
| Reflect on | It’s good to reflect on your experiences. |
Usage Rules for Prepositional Verbs
Using prepositional verbs correctly involves understanding several key rules:
- Inseparability: In most cases, the preposition cannot be separated from the verb by an adverb or object.
- Object Requirement: Prepositional verbs always take an object, which is the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition.
- Idiomatic Meaning: Be aware that the meaning of a prepositional verb is often idiomatic and may not be obvious from the individual words.
- Transitivity: Prepositional verbs are transitive, meaning they require an object to complete their meaning.
- Correct Preposition: Using the correct preposition is crucial, as different prepositions can significantly alter the meaning of the verb.
Exceptions to Inseparability
While generally inseparable, there are some exceptions. Adverbs that heavily modify the verb can sometimes be inserted, but this is rare and should be done carefully to avoid awkward phrasing.
Example:
- Correct: She looked carefully at the painting.
- Less Common/Awkward: She looked at carefully the painting.
Intransitive verbs followed by prepositions
Sometimes, a verb that is usually intransitive can be followed by a preposition to add more detail or context to the action. In these cases, the preposition acts more like an adverbial modifier rather than forming an integral part of a prepositional verb.
Example:
- The dog slept on the rug.
- She walked to the store.
Common Mistakes with Prepositional Verbs
Learners often make mistakes with prepositional verbs due to their idiomatic nature and the strict rules governing their structure. Here are some common errors and how to avoid them:
- Incorrect Preposition: Using the wrong preposition can completely change the meaning.
- Incorrect: I’m looking to my keys.
- Correct: I’m looking for my keys.
- Separating the Verb and Preposition: Inserting words between the verb and preposition is generally incorrect.
- Incorrect: She listened carefully to the music. (While sometimes acceptable, it’s often better to keep them together).
- Correct: She listened to the music carefully.
- Omitting the Preposition: Forgetting the preposition can result in an incomplete or grammatically incorrect sentence.
- Incorrect: I need to talk you.
- Correct: I need to talk to you.
Table 5: Correct vs. Incorrect Examples
This table highlights common mistakes made with prepositional verbs, providing both incorrect and corrected examples to illustrate proper usage.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I’m looking to my keys. | I’m looking for my keys. | Using the wrong preposition (‘to’ instead of ‘for’). |
| She listened carefully to the music. | She listened to the music carefully. | Separating the verb and preposition with an adverb. While sometimes acceptable, it’s often better to keep them together. |
| I need to talk you. | I need to talk to you. | Omitting the necessary preposition (‘to’). |
| He depends of his parents. | He depends on his parents. | Using the wrong preposition (‘of’ instead of ‘on’). |
| She agreed to me. | She agreed with me. | Using the wrong preposition (‘to’ instead of ‘with’). |
| They are waiting me. | They are waiting for me. | Omitting the necessary preposition (‘for’). |
| I’m thinking to buy a car. | I’m thinking about buying a car. | Using the wrong preposition (‘to’ instead of ‘about’). |
| He takes care his sister. | He takes care of his sister. | Omitting the necessary preposition (‘of’). |
| We should deal this problem. | We should deal with this problem. | Omitting the necessary preposition (‘with’). |
| She applied the job. | She applied for the job. | Omitting the necessary preposition (‘for’). |
Practice Exercises
These practice exercises will help you reinforce your understanding of prepositional verbs. Each exercise includes multiple questions with varying levels of difficulty.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition to complete the prepositional verb.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. I’m looking _____ my keys. | for |
| 2. She listened _____ the radio. | to |
| 3. He depends _____ his parents. | on |
| 4. They talked _____ the movie. | about |
| 5. She agreed _____ me. | with |
| 6. We are waiting _____ the bus. | for |
| 7. I’m thinking _____ buying a car. | about |
| 8. He takes care _____ his sister. | of |
| 9. We should deal _____ this problem. | with |
| 10. She applied _____ the job. | for |
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Prepositional Verb
Choose the correct prepositional verb from the options provided to complete the sentence.
| Question | Options | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. I _____ an old friend at the store. | (a) ran into, (b) ran to, (c) ran at | (a) ran into |
| 2. She is _____ her lost cat. | (a) looking at, (b) looking for, (c) looking to | (b) looking for |
| 3. They _____ the plan completely. | (a) agreed with, (b) agreed to, (c) agreed at | (a) agreed with |
| 4. He needs to _____ his responsibilities. | (a) face up to, (b) face up with, (c) face up at | (a) face up to |
| 5. We need to _____ the project as soon as possible. | (a) get on with, (b) get on to, (c) get on at | (a) get on with |
| 6. She _____ her best friend about her problems. | (a) confided in, (b) confided to, (c) confided at | (a) confided in |
| 7. The news channel _____ the latest developments. | (a) reported on, (b) reported to, (c) reported at | (a) reported on |
| 8. The town _____ the news of the victory. | (a) rejoiced at, (b) rejoiced to, (c) rejoiced with | (a) rejoiced at |
| 9. I _____ seeing you again soon. | (a) look forward to, (b) look forward with, (c) look forward at | (a) look forward to |
| 10. You can always _____ me for support. | (a) depend on, (b) depend with, (c) depend at | (a) depend on |
Exercise 3: Correct the Mistakes
Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences with prepositional verbs.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. I’m thinking to go to the beach. | I’m thinking about going to the beach. |
| 2. She listened carefully the instructions. | She listened to the instructions carefully. |
| 3. He depends of his parents for everything. | He depends on his parents for everything. |
| 4. They talked the problem for hours. | They talked about the problem for hours. |
| 5. She agreed to him about the decision. | She agreed with him about the decision. |
| 6. We are waiting the movie to start. | We are waiting for the movie to start. |
| 7. He takes care her younger sister. | He takes care of her younger sister. |
| 8. She applied the job at the company. | She applied for the job at the company. |
| 9. I ran to my old friend yesterday. | I ran into my old friend yesterday. |
| 10. I’m looking my wallet. | I’m looking for my wallet. |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, it’s important to understand more complex aspects of prepositional verbs, such as their behavior in passive voice constructions and their use in more nuanced contexts.
Passive Voice
When a sentence with a prepositional verb is transformed into the passive voice, the preposition remains attached to the verb.
Example:
- Active: They looked after the children.
- Passive: The children were looked after by them.
Phrasal-Prepositional Verbs
These are verbs that combine with both an adverb and a preposition. They function similarly to prepositional verbs but have an added layer of complexity.
Example:
- put up with
- look forward to
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between a prepositional verb and a phrasal verb?
A prepositional verb consists of a verb followed by a preposition that functions as an integral part of the verb, with the preposition directly governing a noun or pronoun (e.g., listen to music). A phrasal verb, on the other hand, consists of a verb followed by an adverb or a preposition (or both), where the adverb or preposition modifies the verb’s meaning, often creating a new, idiomatic meaning (e.g., give up). The key difference lies in whether the preposition directly governs an object.
- Can I separate the verb and preposition in a prepositional verb?
Generally, no. The preposition in a prepositional verb is an essential part of the verb and should not be separated from it by an object or adverb. Separating them can change the meaning or make the sentence grammatically incorrect. However, in some rare cases, adverbs that strongly modify the verb can be inserted, but this should be done cautiously.
- How do I know which preposition to use with a particular verb?
Unfortunately, there is no easy rule. The correct preposition is often determined by idiomatic usage and must be learned through exposure and practice. Consulting a dictionary or grammar guide can be helpful. Pay attention to how native speakers use these verbs in context.
- Are prepositional verbs transitive or intransitive?
Prepositional verbs are transitive because the preposition requires an object. The verb and preposition together act as a single transitive verb phrase, requiring an object to complete their meaning.
- What happens to the preposition in a passive sentence with a prepositional verb?
In a passive sentence, the preposition remains attached to the verb. For example, “They looked after the children” becomes “The children were looked after by them.” The preposition is not separated from the verb, maintaining the integrity of the prepositional verb.
- Can a verb be part of both a phrasal verb and a prepositional verb?
Yes, some verbs can function as part of both phrasal and prepositional verbs, depending on the context and the meaning they convey. For example, the verb “look” can be part of the phrasal verb “look up” (to search for information) and the prepositional verb “look at” (to direct one’s gaze).
- How can I improve my understanding and use of prepositional verbs?
The best way to improve is through consistent exposure and practice. Read extensively, paying attention to how prepositional verbs are used in different contexts. Practice using them in your own writing and speaking. Use a dictionary or grammar resource to clarify any doubts. Focus on learning the common combinations and their meanings.
- Are there any resources that can help me learn more about prepositional verbs?
Yes, many excellent resources are available, including grammar books, online dictionaries (such as Merriam-Webster and Oxford), and grammar websites. Additionally, language learning apps and online courses often include lessons and exercises specifically focused on prepositional verbs.
Conclusion
Understanding prepositional verbs is essential for mastering English grammar and achieving fluency. By recognizing their structure, understanding their usage rules, and avoiding common mistakes, learners can significantly improve their ability to communicate effectively.
This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of prepositional verbs, equipping you with the knowledge and tools necessary to use them confidently.