Prepositions after verbs: Explanation

Add sth to She added some salt to the fish.

Agree with sb about sth I agree with John about the meeting.
Ask sb for sth She asked her mother for help.
Begin with sth / begin sth Let’s begin with the first question.
Believe in sth / believe sb Do you believe in ghosts?
Belong to sb This coat belongs to Julie.
Borrow sth from sb I borrowed this book from the teacher.
Bother with sth Don’t bother with the washing up!
Buy sth from sb She bought a bike from her neighbour.
Call sb about sth I called my brother about dinner.
Care about sb /sth She really cares about helping people.
Click on sth / click sth Click on this link.
Collect sth from swh I collected the children from the school.
Compare sth with / to sth Don’t compare yourself to other people.
She complained to the manager about the
Complain to sb about sth
noise.
Continue with sth Let’s continue with our work.
Cover sth with sth She covered the table with food.
Dance with sth I want to dance with Lucy.
Decide on sth We decided on the blue car.
Depend on sth / sb It depends on the weather.
Describe sth to sb I described my hometown to my friends.
Die from / of sth My great grandmother died of cancer.
Discuss sth with sb I need to discuss this plan with my husband.
Download sth from swh You can download the PDF from the website.
Email sb about sth / email sth to sb I emailed the photo to Julie.
Explain sth to sb Please explain this answer to me.
She fought with her brother about the
Fight (with) sb about sth
chocolate.

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Fill sth with sth I filled the bath with water.
Forget about sth / sb Don’t forget about the cake in the oven!
Give sth to sb I gave some flowers to my girlfriend.
Happen to sb / sth What happened to you?
Hear about sth / hear from sb Have you heard about the new restaurant?
Hide from sb The cat hid from the children.
Hope for sth I hoped for good weather but it rained.
Include sth in sth This lesson is included in the A1/A2 course.
Introduce sb to sb James introduced Susie to Amanda.
Invite sb to sth She invited us to her party.
Know (about) sth Did you know about the meeting?
Laugh at / with sb We all laughed at the joke.
Learn about sth / sb / learn sth I want to learn about London.
Lend sth to sb I lent my car to my brother.
Listen to sth / sb Please listen to me!
Look at sth / sb Oh! Look at the sky! It’s beautiful.
Matter to sb / matter about sth It doesn’t matter about that essay.
Mind about sth I don’t mind about the job.
Offer sth to sb She offered the plate to me.
Pass sth to sb Please pass the salt to me.
Pay sb for sth I paid the waiter for the coffee.
Phone sb about sth David phoned his mum about her new job.
Plan for sth We need to plan for the future.
Play with sb She played with the children all afternoon.
Point at / to sb / sth The baby pointed to the toy.
Prefer sth to sth I prefer coffee to tea.
Prepare for sth How are you preparing for the exam.
Recommend sth to sb The teacher recommended this book to me.
Remind sb of sth You remind me of your mother!
Say sth to sb I must say hello to John.
Search for sth / sb Please help me search for my keys.
Send sth st sb He sent flowers to his wife.
Share sth with sb Could you share your chocolate with me?
Show sth to sb I showed my photos to my friend.
Shout to sb / shout at sb The grumpy teacher shouted at the children.

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Smile at sb The baby smiled at everyone.
Did you speak to your boss about the
Speak to sb about sth
holiday?
Spend on sth I spent £20 on a taxi.
Start with sth Let’s start with number 1.
Steal sth from sb The robber stole a wallet from a man.
Suggest sth to sb I might suggest this idea to the boss.
Talk to sb about sth She talked to her sister about her job.
Teach sth to sb Maria teaches Spanish to students.
Tell sb about sth / tell sth to sb Did I tell you about my journey here?
Telephone sb about sth We telephoned the doctor about Lucy’s spots.
Text sb about sth / text sth to sb Could you text me your email address?
Thank sb for sth They thanked the teacher for her help.
Think about sth / sb What do you think about the government?
Wait for sth / sb Could you please wait for me?
Wish for sth What do you wish for?
Wonder about sth He wondered about the car.
Work for sb She works for Microsoft.
Worry about sth My mother always worries about me.

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 Verbs and prepositions exercise 1

Put in the correct preposition

1. He is going to buy a new car ___________ his friend.

2. It depends ___________ my exam results.
3. They laughed ___________ the funny TV programme.
4. He doesn’t mind ___________ the food.
5. Who does this bag belong ___________?
6. This weather reminds me ___________ Scotland.
7. Please continue ___________ the report.
8. The father shouted crossly ___________ his son.
9. He gave some chocolate ___________ his mother.
10. They offered the sweets ___________ the children.
11. He danced ___________ Jessica all night.
12. Let’s wait ___________ Amanda.
13. Could you phone the electrician ___________ the lights?
14. He borrowed a bike ___________ his brother.
15. They invited us ___________ their birthday lunch.
16. Somebody has stolen my bag ___________ me!
17. He described his flat ___________ me.
18. We need to add some cheese ___________ this pasta.
19. David introduced Lucy ___________ us.
20. He works ___________ Facebook.

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 Verbs and prepositions exercise 2

Put in the correct preposition

1. Could you text your phone number ___________ me?

2. She telephoned her mother ___________ the birthday lunch.
3. The children fought ___________ each other.
4. He spent a lot of money ___________ his flat.
5. Call me later ___________ the meeting, please.
6. What happened ___________ you?
7. Could you thank your mother ___________ her kindness?
8. We listened ___________ music all day.
9. I need to learn ___________ France.
10. We paid the shop assistant ___________ the shoes.
11. He filled my cup ___________ coffee.
12. Let’s talk to dad ___________ getting a new car.
13. Jeremy teaches English ___________ children.
14. We spoke to the teacher ___________ our exam results.
15. Have you heard ___________ John’s new job?
16. I will discuss your idea ___________ my boss.
17. She explained the grammar ___________ the students.
18. He died ___________ heart disease.
19. I decided ___________ the red dress.
20. He is hoping ___________ a good result.

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 Verbs and prepositions exercise 3

Put in the correct preposition.

1. I want to plan _____________ my retirement.

2. She showed the puppies _____________ the children.
3. Please share those sweets _____________ your sister.
4. She emailed the article _____________ me.
5. He wished _____________ a big house.
6. We searched everywhere _____________ the wallet.
7. The garden was covered _____________ snow.
8. She agrees _____________ me.
9. Could you download the software _____________ the website?
10. The child hid _____________ his mother.
11. He passed the book _____________ Julia.
12. She always smiles _____________ everyone.
13. He recommended the hotel _____________ us.
14. He’s preparing _____________ the race.
15. Let’s not bother _____________ breakfast. We can eat later.
16. The class began _____________ an introduction to the topic.
17. She prefers cold weather _____________ hot weather.
18. Could you play _____________ your little brother?
19. She lent her bike _____________ her sister.
20. He doesn’t care _____________ us.

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 Verbs and prepositions exercise 4

Put in the correct preposition.

1. If you click _______ the picture, you will go to the website.

2. She told her friends _______ the new restaurant.
3. Look _______ me, mummy!
4. What do you think _______ the new boss?
5. He compared the red car _______ the blue car.
6. He collected the food order from the supermarket.
7. Do you believe _______ magic?
8. She forgot _______ her appointment.
9. It doesn’t matter _______ the money. It’s not important.
10. Daniel pointed _______ the bird.
11. What’s included _______ the course?
12. I’m going to complain _______ the waiter about the food.
13. He didn’t know _______ the party.
14. Could you say hi _______ your mother?
15. We asked the teacher _______ more exercises.
16. She sent a card _______ her granny.
17. I sometimes wonder _______ the baby. Where is she now?
18. What did he suggest _______ you?
19. She always worries _______ her son.
20. What question should we start _______?

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