Mastering Prepositional Verbs: Definition, Examples, and Usage

ByGrammar Tutor Box

Prepositional verbs are a crucial aspect of English grammar, often posing a challenge for learners due to their idiomatic nature. Understanding how these verbs function is essential for both comprehension and effective communication. This article provides a comprehensive guide to prepositional verbs, covering their definition, structure, types, usage rules, common mistakes, and advanced concepts. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this resource will equip you with the knowledge and practice needed to master prepositional verbs and enhance your English proficiency.

Table of Contents

Definition of Prepositional Verbs

A prepositional verb is a combination of a verb and a preposition that together function as a single semantic unit. The preposition always follows the verb and is essential to the verb’s meaning. Unlike phrasal verbs, where the preposition (or particle) can often be separated from the verb by an object, the preposition in a prepositional verb cannot be separated. The preposition links the verb to its object, which is typically a noun or pronoun. Understanding prepositional verbs is crucial because their meaning often differs significantly from the meaning of the verb alone.

The key characteristic of a prepositional verb is that the preposition governs the noun or pronoun that follows it. This means the preposition acts as a bridge, connecting the verb to its object and specifying the relationship between them. This relationship is fixed and inseparable, defining the specific action or state expressed by the verb-preposition combination. The entire unit (verb + preposition) then acts as a single transitive verb, requiring an object.

For example, consider the verb “listen.” By itself, “listen” simply means to pay attention to sound. However, when combined with the preposition “to,” as in “listen to,” it becomes a prepositional verb with a specific meaning: to pay attention to and heed something or someone. The preposition “to” is essential to the meaning and cannot be omitted without altering the sentence’s grammar and intended message.

Structural Breakdown of Prepositional Verbs

The structure of a prepositional verb is straightforward: Verb + Preposition + Object. The verb is always followed by the preposition, and together, they are followed by the object. The object is the noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that receives the action of the verb-preposition combination.

Here’s a breakdown of the structure:

  • Verb: The action word (e.g., look, agree, listen).
  • Preposition: A word that shows the relationship between the verb and the object (e.g., at, with, to).
  • Object: The noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that the preposition refers to (e.g., the picture, her, the explanation).

Let’s illustrate this with examples:

  • She listened to the music. (Verb: listened, Preposition: to, Object: the music)
  • They agreed with his proposal. (Verb: agreed, Preposition: with, Object: his proposal)
  • He looked at the painting. (Verb: looked, Preposition: at, Object: the painting)

It’s crucial to remember that the preposition in a prepositional verb cannot be separated from the verb. This distinguishes it from phrasal verbs, where separation is sometimes possible. For instance, you can say “pick the book up” (phrasal verb) but you cannot say “listen the music to” (prepositional verb). The object must always follow the preposition.

Types of Prepositional Verbs

While prepositional verbs don’t have distinct “types” in the same way that, say, nouns do, they can be categorized based on the preposition that follows the verb. Some verbs commonly pair with certain prepositions, creating distinct semantic categories. Understanding these common pairings can help learners recognize and use prepositional verbs more effectively.

Here are some common categories based on the preposition used:

  • Verbs + “About”: These often express concern, discussion, or knowledge (e.g., worry about, think about, hear about).
  • Verbs + “At”: These can indicate a direction, target, or emotional reaction (e.g., look at, laugh at, aim at).
  • Verbs + “For”: These often express a reason, purpose, or desire (e.g., wait for, hope for, search for).
  • Verbs + “In”: These can indicate belief, involvement, or participation (e.g., believe in, participate in, result in).
  • Verbs + “On”: These often indicate dependence, focus, or action upon something (e.g., rely on, focus on, comment on).
  • Verbs + “To”: These can indicate direction, relationship, or agreement (e.g., listen to, agree to, refer to).
  • Verbs + “With”: These often express agreement, help, or dealing with something (e.g., agree with, help with, deal with).

These categories are not exhaustive, but they provide a helpful framework for understanding the different ways prepositions can combine with verbs to create prepositional verbs. The meaning of the prepositional verb is often idiomatic and not easily predictable from the individual meanings of the verb and preposition, which is why learning these combinations is so important.

Prepositional Verb Examples

This section provides extensive examples of prepositional verbs, categorized by the preposition that follows the verb. Each table offers a variety of sentences illustrating the use of each prepositional verb in context. These examples will help you understand how prepositional verbs function and how to use them correctly in your own writing and speaking.

Verbs Followed by “About”

Prepositional verbs followed by “about” often express concern, thought, communication, or information regarding a topic. The preposition “about” indicates the subject matter or focus of the verb’s action.

The following table provides examples of prepositional verbs with “about”:

Prepositional Verb Example Sentence
Worry about She worries about her grades constantly.
Think about I need to think about my future plans.
Hear about Did you hear about the accident on the highway?
Complain about The customers complained about the poor service.
Dream about I often dream about traveling the world.
Argue about They always argue about trivial matters.
Boast about He boasts about his achievements all the time.
Care about She really cares about her friends and family.
Decide about We need to decide about our vacation destination soon.
Forget about Don’t forget about your appointment tomorrow.
Know about Do you know about the new regulations?
Read about I read about the scientific breakthrough in the news.
Talk about They were talking about the upcoming conference.
Joke about He likes to joke about his mistakes.
Be angry about She was angry about the delay.
Be excited about We are excited about the upcoming trip.
Be nervous about He is nervous about the presentation.
Speculate about The media speculated about the reasons for his resignation.
Enquire about I called the office to enquire about the job opening.
Protest about The students protested about the increase in tuition fees.
Write about She writes about her experiences in her blog.
Ask about I wanted to ask about the details of the project.
Be clear about The instructions need to be clear about the safety procedures.
Be concerned about The doctors were concerned about his health.
Fuss about She always fusses about the smallest details.

Verbs Followed by “At”

Prepositional verbs followed by “at” often express a direction, target, or emotional reaction. The preposition “at” indicates the object or direction towards which the verb’s action is directed.

The following table provides examples of prepositional verbs with “at”:

Prepositional Verb Example Sentence
Look at Look at the beautiful sunset.
Laugh at It’s not nice to laugh at other people’s mistakes.
Aim at The archer aimed at the target.
Point at He pointed at the map to show the location.
Stare at Why are you staring at me?
Gaze at They gazed at the stars in wonder.
Hint at He hinted at some big news during the meeting.
Arrive at We will arrive at the airport at 6 PM.
Guess at I can only guess at what he’s planning.
Grumble at The old man grumbled at the noisy children.
Snarl at The dog snarled at the stranger.
Wonder at I wonder at the mysteries of the universe.
Be good at She is good at playing the piano.
Be bad at I am bad at remembering names.
Frown at The teacher frowned at the student’s behavior.
Glance at He glanced at his watch nervously.
Shout at Don’t shout at me; I can hear you perfectly well.
Succeed at She succeeded at completing the project on time.
Work at You need to work at improving your communication skills.
Bark at The dog barked at the mailman.
Peek at He tried to peek at her answers during the test.
Shoot at The soldier shot at the enemy.
Smile at She smiled at him warmly.
Be surprised at I was surprised at the news.
Be amazed at We were amazed at the magician’s tricks.

Verbs Followed by “For”

Prepositional verbs followed by “for” often express a reason, purpose, or desire. The preposition “for” indicates the beneficiary, recipient, or purpose of the verb’s action.

The following table provides examples of prepositional verbs with “for”:

Prepositional Verb Example Sentence
Wait for Please wait for me; I’ll be ready in a few minutes.
Hope for We hope for a positive outcome.
Search for I’m searching for my lost keys.
Apply for She applied for a job at the company.
Care for The nurse cares for the patients with dedication.
Pay for I will pay for the dinner tonight.
Account for The missing documents account for the delay.
Allow for You need to allow for traffic when planning your trip.
Apologize for I want to apologize for my mistake.
Beg for The homeless man begged for food.
Blame for They blamed him for the accident.
Call for The situation calls for immediate action.
Compete for The athletes compete for the gold medal.
Long for She longs for her hometown.
Prepare for We need to prepare for the upcoming exam.
Provide for He works hard to provide for his family.
Reach for She reached for the book on the top shelf.
Stand for What does the acronym stand for?
Thank for I want to thank you for your help.
Vote for I’m going to vote for him in the election.
Yearn for He yearns for a simpler life.
Ask for You should ask for help if you’re struggling.
Bargain for I didn’t bargain for this much trouble.
Crave for He craves for a piece of chocolate cake.
Hope for They hope for better weather tomorrow.

Verbs Followed by “In”

Prepositional verbs followed by “in” often express belief, involvement, or participation. The preposition “in” indicates a state, condition, or activity in which someone or something is involved.

The following table provides examples of prepositional verbs with “in”:

Prepositional Verb Example Sentence
Believe in Do you believe in ghosts?
Participate in I want to participate in the competition.
Result in The heavy rain resulted in flooding.
Succeed in She succeeded in passing the exam.
Specialize in He specializes in cardiology.
Invest in They decided to invest in the stock market.
Engage in The students engaged in a lively debate.
Delight in She delights in helping others.
Immerse in He immersed himself in his work.
Confide in I confide in my best friend.
Persist in She persisted in her efforts despite the challenges.
Rejoice in They rejoiced in their victory.
Trust in You should trust in your instincts.
Excel in He excels in mathematics.
Indulge in We decided to indulge in some delicious desserts.
Interfere in Don’t interfere in their personal matters.
Major in I plan to major in computer science.
Take pride in She takes pride in her work.
Assist in The assistant assisted in the preparation of the report.
Collaborate in The scientists collaborated in the research project.
Consist in Happiness does not consist in having lots of money.
Involve in The project will involve the whole team in the decision-making process.
Dwell in Don’t dwell in the past.
Confide in You can always confide in me.
Be interested in I am interested in learning new languages.

Verbs Followed by “On”

Prepositional verbs followed by “on” often express dependence, focus, or action upon something. The preposition “on” indicates a surface, a state of reliance, or a topic of focus.

The following table provides examples of prepositional verbs with “on”:

Prepositional Verb Example Sentence
Rely on You can always rely on me for support.
Focus on We need to focus on the main objective.
Comment on The analyst commented on the company’s performance.
Depend on Our success depends on hard work and dedication.
Insist on He insisted on paying for the meal.
Concentrate on I need to concentrate on my studies.
Elaborate on Could you elaborate on that point?
Base on The movie is based on a true story.
Capitalize on The company capitalized on the new market trends.
Decide on We finally decided on a name for the baby.
Embark on They decided to embark on a new adventure.
Impose on I don’t want to impose on your hospitality.
Prey on Scammers prey on vulnerable people.
Reflect on It’s important to reflect on your past experiences.
Report on The journalist reported on the political scandal.
Center on The discussion centered on the environmental issues.
Count on You can count on me to help you.
Dwell on Don’t dwell on negative thoughts.
Experiment on The scientists experimented on the new drug.
Frown on The school frowns on cheating.
Hinge on The success of the project hinges on this one decision.
Operate on The doctor will operate on the patient tomorrow.
Pride oneself on She prides herself on her cooking skills.
Remark on Everyone remarked on how well she sang.

Verbs Followed by “To”

Prepositional verbs followed by “to” often express direction, relationship, or agreement. The preposition “to” indicates a destination, a recipient, or a point of connection.

The following table provides examples of prepositional verbs with “to”:

Prepositional Verb Example Sentence
Listen to Please listen to the instructions carefully.
Agree to I agree to your proposal.
Refer to Please refer to the manual for more information.
Appeal to The charity appeals to the public for donations.
Attend to The nurse attended to the patient’s needs.
Confess to He confessed to the crime.
Consent to She did not consent to the medical procedure.
Object to I object to the proposed changes.
Adhere to Employees must adhere to the company’s policies.
Allude to The speaker alluded to the controversial topic.
Aspire to He aspires to become a successful entrepreneur.
Attribute to The success of the project is attributed to the team’s effort.
Belong to This book belongs to the library.
Commit to We are committed to providing excellent service.
Compare to The poet compared his love to a summer’s day.
Conform to The building must conform to the safety regulations.
Devote to She devotes her time to volunteering.
Expose to Children should not be exposed to violence on television.
Happen to I happen to know the answer to that question.
Lead to The new policy led to increased efficiency.
React to How did he react to the news?
Resort to They had to resort to drastic measures.
Submit to He had to submit to the authority of his superior.
Testify to The witness testified to what he saw.
Yield to You must yield to pedestrians at the crosswalk.

Verbs Followed by “With”

Prepositional verbs followed by “with” often express agreement, help, or dealing with something. The preposition “with” indicates a state of being together, a tool or instrument, or a feeling or attitude.

The following table provides examples of prepositional verbs with “with”:

Prepositional Verb Example Sentence
Agree with I agree with your opinion.
Help with Can you help me with this task?
Deal with We need to deal with this problem immediately.
Argue with It’s pointless to argue with him.
Associate with He doesn’t associate with those people anymore.
Begin with Let’s begin with the introduction.
Compare with Compare this data with the previous results.
Comply with The company must comply with the regulations.
Consult with You should consult with a financial advisor.
Cooperate with We need to cooperate with each other to achieve our goals.
Correspond with I correspond with my pen pal regularly.
Disagree with I disagree with your assessment of the situation.
End with The presentation will end with a Q&A session.
Familiarize with Please familiarize yourself with the new software.
Interfere with Don’t interfere with my work.
Meet with I have to meet with the client tomorrow.
Tamper with Someone had tampered with the evidence.
Trust with I wouldn’t trust him with such a sensitive task.
Equate with Don’t equate success with wealth.
Grapple with The country is grappling with economic challenges.
Identify with Many people identify with the hero in the story.
Present with The company was presented with an award.
Reason with It’s impossible to reason with him when he’s angry.
Side with I always side with the underdog.
Sympathize with I sympathize with your situation.

Usage Rules for Prepositional Verbs

Using prepositional verbs correctly involves understanding specific rules that govern their structure and function. These rules ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing and speech. The most important rule is that the preposition cannot be separated from the verb by the object. This distinguishes them from phrasal verbs, where separation is often possible.

Here are the key usage rules:

  • Inseparability: The preposition must immediately follow the verb. You cannot insert the object between the verb and the preposition.
  • Object Requirement: Prepositional verbs are transitive, meaning they require an object. The object follows the preposition.
  • Preposition Choice: The choice of preposition is determined by the verb and is often idiomatic. There’s no universal rule for which preposition goes with which verb; it must be learned.
  • Gerunds as Objects: The object of a prepositional verb can be a gerund (verb + -ing).
  • Pronoun Usage: When using pronouns as objects, use the objective case (e.g., me, him, her, us, them).

Let’s illustrate these rules with examples:

  • Correct: She listened to the radio. Incorrect: She listened the radio to.
  • Correct: He agreed with her. Incorrect: He agreed her with.
  • Correct: I believe in working hard. (Gerund as object)
  • Correct: They looked at him. (Objective pronoun)

Exceptions are rare with prepositional verbs. The fixed nature of the verb-preposition combination means there’s little room for variation. However, it’s important to be aware of subtle differences in meaning that can arise from using different prepositions with the same verb (though this often creates a different prepositional verb altogether).

Common Mistakes with Prepositional Verbs

One of the most frequent errors learners make with prepositional verbs is separating the verb and the preposition. This is incorrect and can lead to ungrammatical sentences. Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition with a particular verb. Because the combinations are often idiomatic, knowing the correct pairings is essential.

Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect Correct Explanation
She listened the music to. She listened to the music. The preposition “to” cannot be separated from the verb “listen.”
He agreed her with. He agreed with her. The preposition “with” must follow the

verb “agree.”
I depend of my parents. I depend on my parents. The correct preposition to use with “depend” is “on,” not “of.”
They applied the job for. They applied for the job. The preposition “for” should not be separated from the verb “apply.”
We talked about it of. We talked about it. The preposition “of” is unnecessary and incorrect in this context.
She cares to her children. She cares for her children. The correct preposition to use with “care” in this context is “for,” not “to.”
He excels on mathematics. He excels in mathematics. The correct preposition to use with “excel” is “in,” not “on.”
I’m waiting you. I’m waiting for you. The preposition “for” is necessary after “waiting” when an object is specified.
She insisted of going. She insisted on going. The correct preposition to use with “insist” is “on,” not “of.”
He is good to play the piano. He is good at playing the piano. The correct preposition to use with “good” in this context is “at,” not “to.”

To avoid these mistakes, practice using prepositional verbs in context and pay close attention to the correct preposition pairings. When in doubt, consult a dictionary or grammar resource to verify the correct usage.

Practice Exercises

These exercises are designed to help you practice using prepositional verbs correctly. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate preposition to complete each sentence.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

  1. She is very good ______ playing the guitar.
  2. I need to talk ______ my future plans.
  3. They are waiting ______ the bus.
  4. He doesn’t believe ______ ghosts.
  5. We need to deal ______ this issue immediately.
  6. The success of the project depends ______ teamwork.
  7. I agree ______ your opinion on the matter.
  8. She applied ______ a job at the local company.
  9. You can always rely ______ me for support.
  10. The heavy rain resulted ______ flooding in the area.

Answers:

  1. at
  2. about
  3. for
  4. in
  5. with
  6. on
  7. with
  8. for
  9. on
  10. in

Exercise 2: Correct the Mistakes

Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences:

  1. She listened the song to.
  2. I depend of my parents.
  3. He agreed her with.
  4. They applied the job for.
  5. We talked about it of.

Corrected Sentences:

  1. She listened to the song.
  2. I depend on my parents.
  3. He agreed with her.
  4. They applied for the job.
  5. We talked about it.

Exercise 3: Sentence Construction

Create your own sentences using the following prepositional verbs:

  1. Care for
  2. Focus on
  3. Refer to
  4. Participate in
  5. Argue with

Example Answers:

  1. She cares for her elderly mother.
  2. We need to focus on our goals.
  3. Please refer to the instructions.
  4. I want to participate in the event.
  5. It’s not productive to argue with him.

Advanced Topics: Intransitive vs. Transitive Use

While prepositional verbs are typically transitive (requiring an object), some verbs can be used both transitively (with an object) and intransitively (without an object), which can sometimes create confusion. When a verb is used intransitively, the preposition might be omitted or used differently.

Consider the verb “listen.” In the prepositional verb “listen to,” it’s transitive: “She listened to the music.” However, “listen” can also be used intransitively: “I like to listen.” In this case, there’s no object, and the preposition “to” is not needed.

Another example is the verb “wait.” As a prepositional verb, it’s “wait for”: “We waited for the bus.” Intransitively, it’s simply “wait”: “Please wait here.”

The key difference lies in whether the verb is acting upon something or someone (transitive) or simply expressing an action without a direct receiver (intransitive). Recognizing this distinction can help you use these verbs more accurately and avoid grammatical errors.

It’s also worth noting that some verbs can change their meaning slightly depending on whether they are used transitively or intransitively. For instance, “look at” (transitive) means to direct your gaze towards something, while “look” (intransitive) can simply mean to appear a certain way (e.g., “She looks tired”).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between a prepositional verb and a phrasal verb?

The key difference is that the preposition in a prepositional verb cannot be separated from the verb by its object, whereas the particle in a phrasal verb often can be. Also, prepositional verbs always have an object, while phrasal verbs can be intransitive (no object).

How can I improve my understanding of prepositional verbs?

Practice, practice, practice! Read extensively to see how prepositional verbs are used in context. Make a list of common prepositional verbs and create your own sentences. Pay attention to corrections when you make mistakes.

Are there any rules for choosing the correct preposition?

Unfortunately, there’s no universal rule. The correct preposition is often idiomatic and must be learned through exposure and practice. Dictionaries and grammar resources can be helpful.

Can a prepositional verb have more than one object?

No, prepositional verbs typically have only one object, which is governed by the preposition.

Is it always wrong to separate a verb and a preposition?

Yes, in the case of prepositional verbs, it is always incorrect to separate the verb and the preposition with the object. This is a defining characteristic of prepositional verbs.

Conclusion

Mastering prepositional verbs is essential for achieving fluency and accuracy in English. While they can be challenging due to their idiomatic nature, understanding their structure, usage rules, and common mistakes will significantly improve your comprehension and communication skills. By studying the examples provided, practicing the exercises, and consulting reliable resources, you can confidently use prepositional verbs and enhance your overall English proficiency. Remember, consistent practice and attention to detail are the keys to success. Good luck!

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