Unit 5A

Vocabulary: Dependent Prepositions(1)

Vocabulary: Dependent Prepositions/Collocations (1)

Dependant prepositions are prepositions which always follow the same verb, adjective or
noun. For example:

I need to decide on which car to buy. Chris gets very anxious about flying.
NOT
NOT

I need to decide about which car to buy. Chris gets very anxious at flying.

The majority of these prepositions will be different to the ones used after verbs, adjectives, and
nouns in your mother tongue, which is why they cause so much confusion for language students.
They are tested directly in all B2 exams.
A gift for you…!

There are many dependent prepositions and collocations, so we have filtered them down to the
most commonly used ones, and therefore the most important ones for you to know!

Also, we have eliminated the dependant prepositions which are the same in Spanish,
because you will get them right naturally. For example:

I am very proud of my daughter for getting her degree.

Estoy muy orgulloso de mi hija por conseguir su diplomatura.

My wife is tired of the construction noise next to the house.

Mi mujer esta cansada del ruido de construcción al lado de casa.

So we are only going to teach you the most common/important

dependent prepositions which are not direct translations from
your mother tongue!
Task 5.1: Verbs + Dependent Prepositions
for at in to in at

Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets, and then the correct dependent
preposition which should follow:

1. Great news! I have finally ______________ ____ getting my refund from the bank! (succeed)

2. Why are you ______________ ____ me? I’m not joking! (smile)

3. I’m sorry but I’m not interested. I don't ______________ ____ that kind of thing. (believe)

4. Yesterday Craig ______________ ____ a new job. He said he was tired of working here. (apply)

5. Ok I’ll do it! I ______________ ____ take the cat to the vet. (volunteer)

6. Harry walked straight into a glass door this morning. I couldn’t help ______________ ____ him! (laugh)

Task 5.1: Verbs + Dependent Prepositions

for at in to in at

Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets, and then the correct dependent
preposition which should follow:

succeeded ____
1. Great news! I have finally ______________ in getting my refund from the bank! (succeed)

to succeed in something

smiling
2. Why are you ______________ ____
at me? I’m not joking! (smile)

to smile at someone/something

believe ____
3. I’m sorry but I’m not interested. I don't ______________ in that kind of thing. (believe)

to believe in something/someone

applied
4. Yesterday Craig ______________ for a new job. He said he was tired of working here. (apply)

____
to apply for something

volunteer ____
5. Ok I’ll do it! I ______________ to take the cat to the vet. (volunteer)

to volunteer to do something

laughing ____
6. Harry walked straight into a glass door this morning. I couldn’t help ______________ at him! (laugh)

to laugh at someone/something
Task 5.2: Drill
Now fill in the gaps with the correct dependent preposition which should follow the verbs, as fast as you can
(then check you answers using the previous task):
to succeed _____ something
to volunteer _____ do something
to believe _____ something/someone
to apply _____ something
to laugh _____ someone/something
to succeed _____ something
to smile _____ someone/something
to volunteer _____ do something
to apply _____ something
to believe _____ something/someone
to laugh _____ someone/something
to succeed _____ something
to volunteer _____ do something
to believe _____ something/someone
to apply _____ something
to laugh _____ someone/something
to volunteer _____ do something
to laugh _____ someone/something
to apply _____ something
to believe _____ something/someone
to laugh _____ someone/something
to apply _____ something
to smile _____ someone/something
to volunteer _____ do something
to believe _____ something/someone
to smile _____ someone/something
to volunteer _____ do something
to laugh _____ someone/something
to apply _____ something
to believe _____ something/someone
to succeed _____ something
to smile _____ someone/something
to volunteer _____ do something
to believe _____ something/someone
to smile _____ someone/something
to believe _____ something/someone
to apply _____ something
to laugh _____ someone/something
to succeed _____ something
to smile _____ someone/something
Task 5.3: Adjectives + Dependent Prepositions
to of on at with in

Fill in the gaps with the correct dependent prepositions from above, to follow the adjectives in bold:

1. Most kids are keen ____ playing video games

2. Luke’s pretty good ____ organising events, maybe you should ask him for help.

3. My father’s always been interested ____ gardening.

4. Try not to be too sensitive ____ criticism. It can often be constructive!

5. I was unaware ____ her medical condition. I feel I should have been informed.

6. I’m fed up ____ my job! I’m overworked and underpaid!

Task 5.3: Adjectives + Dependent Prepositions

to of on at with in

Fill in the gaps with the correct dependent prepositions from above, to follow the adjectives in bold:

on playing video games

1. Most kids are keen ____

to be keen on something: (enjoy a lot /spend time doing)
intensifier (really, quite, very, fairly etc.)
2. Luke’s pretty good ____
at organising events, maybe you should ask him for help.

to be good at something

in gardening.

3. My father’s always been interested ____

to be interested in something/someone

to criticism. It can often be constructive!

4. Try not to be too sensitive ____

to be sensitive to something CAREFUL: NOT sensible
(sensible in English means to be logical about something)

5. I was unaware ____

of her medical condition. I feel I should have been informed.

to be unaware of something: to not know about something

6. I’m fed up with

____ my job! I’m overworked and underpaid!

to be fed up with someone/something: to have had enough of something/someone

Task 5.4: Drill

Now fill in the gaps with the correct dependent preposition which should follow the adjectives, as fast as you
can (then check you answers using the previous task):

to be keen ____ something to be good ____ something

to be good ____ something to be sensitive ____ something
to be fed up ____ someone/something to be keen ____ something
to be unaware ____ something to be interested ____ something/someone
to be interested ____ something/someone to be unaware ____ something
to be fed up ____ someone/something to be good ____ something
to be good ____ something to be sensitive ____ something
to be sensitive ____ something to be fed up ____ someone/something
to be keen ____ something to be good ____ something
to be interested ____ something/someone to be sensitive ____ something
to be unaware ____ something to be keen ____ something
to be fed up ____ someone/something to be interested ____ something/someone
to be sensitive ____ something to be unaware ____ something
to be keen ____ something to be good ____ something
to be interested ____ something/someone to be sensitive ____ something
to be unaware ____ something to be fed up ____ someone/something
to be good ____ something to be unaware ____ something
to be sensitive ____ something to be interested ____ something/someone
to be keen ____ something to be fed up ____ someone/something
to be interested ____ something/someone to be good ____ something