accuse sb of
apologize (to sb) for
apply to sb/for sth
ask for/about
attend to
beg for
believe in
beware of
blame sb for
charge sb with (an offence)
compare sth with
comply with
conform to
consist of
deal in
depend on
dream of
fight with sb for
fine sb for
hope for
insist on
live on (food/money)
long for
object to
occur to
persist in
prefer sb/sth to sb/sth
prepare for
punish sb for
quarrel with sb about
refer to
rely on
remind sb of
resort to
succeed in
suspect sb of
think of/about
wait for
warn sb of/about
wish for
Do you believe in ghosts?
They were charged with receiving stolen goods.
You haven’t complied with the regulations.
For a week she lived on bananas and milk.
It never occurred to me to insure the house.
They persisted in defying the law.
When arguments/ailed he resorted to threats.
Prepositions/adverbs
Many words can be used as either prepositions or adverbs:
He got off the bus at the corner. (preposition)
He got off at the corner. (adverb)
The most important of these areabove, about, across, along, before, behind, below, besides, by, down, in, near, off, on, over, past, round, since, through, under, up:
They were here before six. (preposition)
He has done this sort of work before. (adverb)
Peter is behind us. (preposition)
He’s a long way behind. (adverb)
She climbed over the wall. (preposition)
You’ll have to climb over too. (adverb)
When the meeting was over the delegates went home, (adverb; here over = finished)
The shop is just round the corner. (preposition)
Come round (to my house) any evening. (adverb)
He ran up the stairs. (preposition)
He went up in the lift. (adverb)
Many of these words are used to form phrasal verbs:
The plane took off. (left the ground)
He came round. (recovered consciousness)
Practice
Teaching Models
Ex. 1. Complete the gaps with a preposition (or adverb) of position or movement.
Two friends, Polly and Maria, are talking.
Model: P: I didn’t see you … the club last night. Where were you? Did you stay ... home?
P: I didn’t see you at the club last night. Where were you? Did you stay at home?
M:
Yes, I thought it was time to stay … for a change and, besides, I didn’t feel very well. I just lay … bath reading for ages. I decided I wasn’t going to get … the bath until I’d finished the book. But then Rosie turned up … the doorstep so I had to get … to see her.
P:
So are you feeling well enough to come out later on?
M:
I think so.
P:
Well, I’m going round ... Helen’s at 5.00 and we’re going to take the train ... Highbury … Richmond. So we should get ... Richmond by 6.00. Then we can walk ... the station … that nice cafe ... the riverbank. And if we see Charles there, he might invite us … his boat.
M:
Oh, that would be nice.
P:
Did he tell you about Kate pushing him … last week?
M:
No. So, he fell … the boat, did he?
P:
Yes, and straight ... the river. He was soaked, and pretty cold too.
Ex. 2. Finish these questions with the correct preposition, then write a short answer for each one.
Model: What exactly is she worried ..........?
What exactly is she worried about?
1. Who is she waiting ........? 2. What subjects is she good........? 3. What job is she applying ......? 4. What programme is she listening ........? 5. What did she complain ..........? 6. What did she apologise ..........? 7. Who does this car belong ..........? 8. I know she was angry but who was she shouting ...…..? 9. What kind of films is she interested.........? 10. What will the decision depend........? 11. What is she afraid ..........?
Ex. 3.Complete these sentences in a way that is logical and grammatically correct.
Model: My steak was overcooked, so I complained ........................................
My steak was overcooked, so I complained about it.
1. When I was a child I sometimes wore clothes that belonged ................…
2. I want to help poor people, so I have decided to apply ........................….
3. I work quire hard but I’m not verygood .............................................…..
4. In the summer a lot of people suffer ....................................................….
5. I’ve always been interested ...................................................................….
6. I’m very keen ................................................................................……….
7. A lot of people are afraid .....................................................................…..
8. People in my country are very different ............................................……
9. When I went to .......................…. I was very surprised ...........................
Self Check
Ex. 4.Complete these sentences with the correct preposition.
1.
I saw it ......... TV.
7.
We went ......... a walk.
2.
They came ........ car.
8.
I read it.......... a magazine.
3.
They are all ....... strike.
9.
He’s........ holiday this week.
4.
He is here ......... business.
10.
She took it......... mistake.
5.
I did it ...... my own.
11.
I went ...... the afternoon.
6.
It was written ......... Goethe.
12.
He came ... foot.
Ex. 5.Your are going to read the text about “Trouble at Norton Mining”
Choose the correct prepositions. Discuss the text with your partner: