Verb + Preposition Combinations

Verbs + About The following verbs are commonly used with 'about'. Each verb + about combination includes an example sentence to provide context. be about something - That book is about his experiences in Africa. argue about (doing) something - The boys argued about which bus to take. be concerned about (doing) something - I'm concerned about your grades. be worried about (doing) something - She is worried about her exams. boast about (doing) something - Thomas boasted about his golfing ability. decide about (doing) something - Anna decided about her goals. dream about (doing) something - Mark dreams about becoming a ballet dancer. protest about (doing) something - The students protested about the invasion. Verbs + Against The following verbs are commonly used with 'against'. Each verb + against combination includes an example sentence to provide context. be against something / someone - I am against the new regulation. insure something against something - We insured our house against storm damage. protest against (doing) something - The students are protesting against the invasion. Verbs + At The following verbs are commonly used with 'at'. Each verb + at combination includes an example sentence to provide context. be at something - The exhibition is at the modern art gallery. glance at something - Can I glance at that for a moment? guess at something - She guessed at the answer. hint at something - My mom hinted at my present. marvel at something - I marvel at your math abilities. Verbs + For The following verbs are commonly used with 'for'. Each verb + for combination includes an example sentence to provide context. be for something / someone - I'm for Mayor Martini. account for something - That accounts for his success. allow for something - I think you need to allow for misunderstandings. apologize for something / someone - Jackson apologized for his rude behavior. blame someone for (doing) something - I blame Janet for the broken pottery. care for (doing) something / someone - He doesn't care for playing golf. charge someone for (doing) something - The accountant charged him $400 for his advice. count for something - Your good marks count for 50% of your grade. earmark something for a use - Congress earmarked $6 million for safety improvements. pay for someone / something - Let me pay for Tom. Verbs + From The following verbs are commonly used with 'from'. Each verb + from combination includes an example sentence to provide context. bar someone from (doing) something - Jack has barred Jennifer from visiting his daughter. bar someone from a place - The police barred Peter from the shopping mall. benefit from (doing) something - Students benefit from listening to news reports on the radio.

derive something from something - He derived the meaning from the context of the sentence. deter someone from (doing) something - Please deter your children from walking across busy avenues. differ from something - Our cheese differs from our competitor's cheese because of its superior quality. distinguish one thing from another thing - I'm afraid he can't distinguish a British accent from a Irish accent. distract someone from something - Please distract Tim from the television. exempt someone from (doing) something - The judge exempted the young man from doing extra community service. expel someone from a place - The children were expelled form school for their bad behavior. refrain from (doing) something - Nancy refrains from smoking at work. resign from (doing) something - Jacques resigned from his position. result from (doing) something - The unrest results from our politicians lack of seriousness about the situation. stem from (doing) something - The poor results stem from his lack of experience. suffer from (doing) something - He will suffer from studying too little. Verbs + In The following verbs are commonly used with 'in'. Each verb + about in combination includes an example sentence to provide context. be absorbed in (doing) something - Peter was absorbed in reading his book. confide in someone - I confided in Tom my desire to find a new job. be engrossed in (doing) something - I surprised Jane who was engrossed in watching TV. implicate someone in (doing) something - The boss implicated Peter in the crime. involve someone in (doing) something - You should involve your children in physical activities. result in something - His decision resulted in increased profits. specialize in (doing) something - My daughter specializes in teaching physics. succeed in (doing) something - Jane succeed in getting a new job. Verbs + Of The following verbs are commonly used with 'of'. Each verb + of combination includes an example sentence to provide context. accuse someone of (doing) something - His mother accused him of eating the entire cake. convict someone of (doing) something - Johnson was convicted of armed robbery. remind someone of (doing) something / someone - Peter reminded me of Tom. suspect someone of (doing) something - The police suspect Agnes of breaking into the bank. Verbs + On The following verbs are commonly used with 'on'. Each verb + on combination includes an example sentence to provide context. be on something / someone - She is on Peter to do his best. base something on something - I base my conclusions on market research. blame something on someone - She blames the lack of interest on the teacher's poor explanation. concentrate something on (doing) something - They concentrate their efforts on improving the infrastructure. congratulate someone on (doing) something - Tom congratulated Lisa on getting her diploma. decide on something - I've decided to get a new job.

depend on someone / (doing) something - We depend on our customers' suggestions. elaborate on (doing) something - Can you elaborate on the process? impose on someone - The mother imposed severe restrictions on her daughter. insist on something / someone doing something - I insist on Peter's studying every day for two hours. pride oneself on (doing) something - I like to pride myself on my ability to concentrate. Verbs + To The following verbs are commonly used with 'to'. Each verb + to combination includes an example sentence to provide context. answer to someone - I answer to Ms Smith. appeal to someone - Let me appeal to you for your help in this matter. apply oneself to (doing) something - I think you should apply yourself to getting a degree. apply to something - He applied glue to the board. attend to (doing) something - Chris attended to doing the grocery shopping. attribute something to someone - Professor Samson attributes this painting to Leonardo. be resigned to (doing) something - I'm resigned to not having any success in that field. commit oneself to (doing) something - She committed herself to finding a new job. confess to (doing) something - The boy confessed to stealing the apple. devote oneself to (doing) something - I'm going to devote myself to playing the piano after I retire. prefer one thing to another thing - I prefer roast potatoes to French fries. react to something - He reacted poorly to the news. refer to (doing) something - Please refer to your notes. refer someone to someone - I referred Ken to Doctor Jones. resort to (doing) something - Please don't resort to violence. see to (doing) something - I'll see to those chores. subject someone to (doing) something - She subjected her daughter to swimming lessons. Verbs + With The following verbs are commonly used with 'with'. Each verb + with combination includes an example sentence to provide context. acquaint someone with something - I acquainted Mary with French cuisine. associate something with (doing) someone - Susan associates chocolate with childhood. be faced with (doing) something - She's faced with working overtime this weekend. charge someone with (doing) something - The officer charged Mr Smith with blackmail. clutter with something - The room was cluttered with paper. coincide with something - My birthday coincides with a national holiday. collide with something - The car collided with a truck and blocked traffic. comply with something - He complies with each and every order. confront someone with something - I confronted Vivian with the evidence. confuse someone / something with someone / something - I'm afraid I confused you with someone else. cram with something - My closed is crammed with dirty clothes! deal with someone / (doing) something - I can't deal with so much overtime. discuss something with someone - I'd like to discuss our next conference with the boss. ingratiate oneself with someone - Ingratiate yourself with the headmaster and your life with be easy! meet with something - The congressman met with strong opposition to his plan. pack with something - Peter packed his case with extra brochures.

plead with someone - He plead with his teacher to give him one more chance. provide someone with something - The instructor provided the students with a number of examples. tamper with something - Do not tamper with this equipment. trust someone with something - I trust Bob with all of my financial information.