CAMBRIDGE FIRST SERIES

USE OF ENGLISH – DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS

In the Cambridge First Exam, many times you will find in need of using dependent

prepositions. A dependent preposition is a preposition that always follows the same

expression; for example, we say ‘interested in’ and not ‘interested on’ or ‘interested

about’.

The reason why those are tested in the Cambridge First Exam is due to interference

with your mother tongue, as many times learners want to use the prepositions they

use in their mother tongue, instead of the one that is used in English.

There isn’t an easy way to learn dependent prepositions, other than learning them

through reading texts, listening to real English and using them in your speaking and

your writing.

In the Cambridge First Exam this is specifically tested in the Use of English paper.

A clear example of exercise testing dependent prepositions is Part 2 of the Use of

English paper; the open cloze part.

Here is a list of the most common dependent prepositions you may find in the exam.

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 TYPE 1: VERB + DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS
accuse somebody of blame somebody for object to something

add to comment on object to somebody doing

something
agree with somebody complain about
praise somebody for
agree on something concentrate on
prevent s/o from
aim at/for congratulate on + verb (--
ing) refer to
apologise for
consent to rely on
apply to a job / candidancy
consist of smile at
(dis)approve of
deal with succeed in
argue with/about
decide on stand for
arrest somebody for
excuse somebody for thank somebody for
attend to
insist on volunteer to
believe in
laugh at warn somebody about
belong to
TYPE 2: ADJECTIVES + DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS
according to envious of proud of

accustomed to famous for puzzled by/about

afraid of fed up with safe from

annoyed with/about/at fond of sensitive to(wards)

anxious about frightened of serious about

ashamed of good at sick of

astonished at guilty of similar to

aware of incapable of sorry for/about

crazy about interested in suspicious of

delighted at/about jealous of sympathetic to(wards)

different from keen on tired of

(dis)satisfied with mad at/about typical of

doubtful about opposed to unaware of

enthusiastic about pleasedwith

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 TYPE 3: NOUN - PREPOSITION COLLOCATIONS
(take) advantage of in doubt reduction in

in agreement in (no/a) hurry report on

all in all increase in result of

attack on information about rise in

attitude towards (have no) intention of at risk

on average knowledge of room for

on behalf of (keep) in mind on second thoughts

under (no) circumstances need for solution to

comparison between (take no) notice of at stake

on condition under (no) obligation on strike

connection between (take)pleasure in on suspicion of

cruelty towards in power under suspicion

decrease in in practice in theory

delay in preference for in trouble

difference between/of protection from trouble with

difficulty in/with reaction to use of

disadvantage of reason for on the whole

NOW GO TO THE NEXT PAGE AND COMPLETE THE PRACTICE EXERCISE

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 PRACTICE EXERCISE: USE OF ENGLISH – PART 2 -- OPEN CLOZE

Read the following extract from a brochure giving advice on taking an examination.

For questions 1-12, use a word which best fits in each space.

Use only one word in each space.

There is an example at the beginning (0).

Exam tips
When the day comes give yourself plenty of time (0) to do everything: have breakfast but don't
drink (1) _____ much; go to the toilet; arrive on time, but not too early or you will find yourself
getting more and more nervous while you wait to start. Try not to talk (2) _____ the exam
before you go in.

In the exam, calm (3) _____ down by breathing deeply and thinking positively. Read (4) _____
exam questions carefully and underline all of the key instruction words (5) _____ indicate how
the questions should (6) _____ answered. If possible start with the ones (7) _____ can do easily
to give you confidence. Remember what you've learnt from practising questions and doing
mock exams previously and plan your use of time. Don't panic (8) _____ everyone around you
seems to start writing furiously straight away and don't be tempted to follow their example.

Finally, after the exam, don't join in a discussion about (9) _____ everyone else did, (10) _____
you want to frighten yourself, and drain your self-confidence for the next exam. Above (11)
_____ remember that exams are not designed to catch you out, (12) _____ to find out what
you know, what you understand and what you can do.

YOU CAN PRINT THIS PAGE TO DO THE EXERCISE. THE ANSWERS WILL BE GIVEN TOMORROW

ESTE DOCUMENTO ES PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL DE MAXUS SERVICIOS LINGÜISTICOS S.L. CIF B-95719118.
QUEDA PROHIBIDA LA COMERCIALIZACION O USO CON FINES COMERCIALES POR PERSONAS Y COMPAÑIAS AJENAS A MAXUS SERVICIOS
LINGÜISTICOS U AQUELLAS QUE NO HAYAN PEDIDO AUTORIZACION EXPRESA PARA SU USO COMERCIAL.