English Language Lessons

English Language Lessons
*Politically Incorrect Opinion Texts: https://drjamesmanos.blogspot.com/2022/03/politically-incorrect-opinion-texts-of.html *Τexts with Ηealth-related Τopics: https://mymedicaltexts.blogspot.com *Herbs & Supplements: https://herbsanddietarysupplementsdatabase.blogspot.com *Source for the image (free to use): Hypothetical flag quartering the British and American flags (January 11, 2009). Author: Lunar Dragoon. Source: Wikipedia Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:UK-US_flag.png

Sunday, September 29, 2019

TIPS for English (i) Prepositions at a glance!

h) Prepositions at a glance!

(My comment: Many people, even native speakers, often may not use the proper preposition that fits better. You can easily distinguish a native speaker from the proper use of prepositions and prepositional verbs!)

 

On:

My comment: Many use ‘on’ when it is not needed. ‘On’ means something placed on a surface, e.g., ''My dish is on the table'' or ''Α picture on the wall.''

Main TIPS: on + days (e.g., on Monday);  dates (e.g., on the 1st of January), days & part of the day (e.g., on Sunday afternoon); on Xmas day/ Eve; on New Year's Day; on this occasion; based on; on holiday; go on foot; on the corner; on the 2nd floor; spend/waste money on something; on the internet/ the web/ my social media/ TV; on this site.

Used for:  days (e.g., on Monday); date (e.g., on the 1st of Januaryon October 15th;on Tuesday, March 5th on July 11thon August 9on the 4th of Juneon September 3rd;on August the 26th) (note: but for months without a date we use ‘in,’ e.g., ‘in August, ‘in March,’ in May 2019); days & part of the day (e.g., on Sunday afternoon); with the word ‘day’ for birthdays/ name days/ anniversaries (e.g., on my birthday/ on my wedding day/ on our anniversary); on + adjective + day/season + part of day (e.g., on a cool Tuesday night; on a hot summer afternoon); for an action that continues (e.g., War went on for 6 years); direction/ side (on the right/ left); page (e.g., on page 56); something attached (e.g., ‘A picture on the wall’); a place with a river (e.g., ‘London lies on the Thames’); on a surface (e.g., ‘It is on the table’);  floor (e.g., ‘My apartment is on the 2nd floor’); for a farm (e.g., ‘Milk is produced on farms’); for public transportation means (and also for horses, bicycles, and motorbikes; on foot/ horsebackbut: by train/ car/ bus/ plane/ ship./// e.g., (on the buson the plane; e.g., ‘As soon as the bus arrived, she got on it, but we say ‘in the car/ taxi’;); on a surface or a line that attaches (e.g., My glasses are on my desk’; ‘On the road’; e.g., He is living on the streesince he has lost his job; e.g., On the east coast; e.g., ‘On the horizon’; e.g., ‘The boat is floating on the sea’); on the corner (when we speak about where 2 or more streets meet, e.g., ‘On the corner of St. George Street’); on the weekend’ (in North American English, but it is ''at the weekend'' in British English).

Other examples:

‘Let the light on.’

''Let the tap on.'' (tap = a device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled)

Wear (e.g., ‘I had my jacket on’).

On Xmas day/ Eve (but we say at Xmas’)

On New Year's Day (not ''on New Year Day'')

A picture on the wall.

‘Have you got any money on you?’

On this occasion.

‘A ring on my finger.’

On the internet/ the web/ my social media/ TV (without ‘the’ e.g., ‘I saw it on TV’).

On my/ this site.

He speaks on the phone (But we use ''Speak/tell/say/talk/discuss over the phone when we tell someone something. e.g. ''I told her the news over the phone'')

On his uncle’s death

On my arrival (e.g., He was dead on arrival’ (at the hospital)).

On admission (e.g. at the hospital).

On time (= punctual; punctually (= at the agreed or proper time; promptly)) e.g., I arrived at the airport on time).

A lecture on science

Turn my back on someone.

A smile on somebody.

Based on.

Act on his advice (not ‘advise,’ as ‘advise’ is the verb)

On penalty of death (but ''convicted goes with ''of'' e.g., He was convicted of robbery').

On my honor.

On no account.

A tax on tobacco.

Interest on money.

A city on the coast.

A town on the frontier.

On holiday.

Set on fire.

On business.

On the radio.

On the balcony

Also, we spend/waste money on something

 

In: 

My comment: Many use ‘in’ when it is not needed. ‘In’ means inside an enclosed space, e.g., ‘In the kitchen.’

Main TIPS: in + dates (e.g., in 2020); months (e.g., in March); seasons (e.g., in the winter); century (e.g., in the 19th century); city (e.g., in London); country (e.g., in the UK); time (e.g., in the morning); in infancy/ childhood/ adulthood/ old age; places (e.g., in Oxford); in the street (e.g., in Oxford Street); for private transport means (and also for cars; vans; lorries; taxis; ambulances; e.g., ‘She got into the taxi/ car);  in an enclosed space (e.g., in the hospital); square (e.g., in Times Square); in my sleep; in the sky/ air; in war (period), in the exams 

Used for:  dates (e.g., in 2020in 1854); months (e.g., in Marchin June 2020; but we say ‘on the 1st of June’); seasons (e.g., in the winterin the summer); century (e.g., in the 19th century); city (e.g., in Londonin Berlin); country (e.g., in the UK; in the USfor the 2 previous we use ‘the’); continent (e.g., in Europe); time [in the morning; in the afternoon; in the evening (but we say ‘at noon/ night’); in the daytime]; in infancy/ childhood/ adulthood/ old age (but: at birth); places (e.g., in Oxford (as a place; but we say ‘at Oxford’ as a university e.g., ‘He is a professor at the Oxford University’); color (e.g., in black)occupation (e.g., in the army; in politics); spend/ waste time (spend/ waste time in/ on something (but we spend/waste money on something)); direction [in the middle; in the background; in the corner (e.g., in the corner of my room; but we say 'on the corner’ when we refer to a place where 2 or more streets meet)]; shape (e.g., in different sizesin circle); room (e.g., in the Kitchen); in the street (e.g., in Oxford Street.// e.g., The number of coffee shops in our city streets has multiplied in the last few years’); book (in the book)world (in the world); picture (in the picture); mountain (e.g., ''I lived in the Rocky Mountain''); for private transport means (and also for cars; vans; lorries; taxis; ambulances; e.g., ‘She got into the taxi/ car; He is in the ambulance; but we use ‘on’ for public transportation, e.g., on the bus, on the plane);); in bed; in the reception; in the pool; in an enclosed space (in hospital; in court; in prison; in the church)(but we say at to refer to a point regardless of its size as space e.g., at the office; at home; at school; at work; at the church; at the airport); in the square (e.g., in (without ''the'') Times Squarein Trafalgar Square); in war (period) [e.g., Canada's role in the Second World War’./// But we say:  be at war/ peace [e.g., The Greeks and Trojans have been at war for many years)]

Other examples:

‘I lived in a hut (= a small single-story building of simple or crude construction, serving as a poor, rough, or temporary house or shelter).’

Expressed in many manners.

In public places.

In my sleep.

In the sky/ air.

In the street.

In a few days.

In the world

In the IELTS exams 


At:

My comment: Many use ‘at’ when it is not needed. ‘At’ means ‘be somewhere, at a place’; e.g., ‘Yesterday morning I was at school.’

Main TIPS: at + time (e.g., at 12 p.m.); at Xmas/Easterplace (e.g., at the park); to refer to a point regardless of its size as space (e.g., at the office); distance (e.g., at 56 meters); time (at night); place (e.g., at the station); at the age of; arrive (e.g., ‘I arrived at work early in the morning’); at birth; be at war/ peaceat the beginning; at the weekend; at first/ last; the train stopped at X (e.g., The train stopped at Liverpool); at the university; email (e.g., email me at hhh@yahoo.com); at meal/ lunch/ dinner time

Used for:  time (e.g., at 12 p.m.at 9.30 a.m.at 3 a.m..); events (at Xmas; at Easter (but we say ‘on Xmas Eve/ Day’)); place (e.g., at the club/ park); to refer to a point regardless of its size as space (at the office; at home; at school; at workat the church; at the airport)(but we use 'in' for an enclosed space e.g., in hospitalin court; in prison; in the church); at the top/ bottom; at the back/ front; at + full address; at the university (e.g., ‘He is a professor at the Oxford University’but we say in Oxford’ when we speak of the place; e.g., He lives in Oxford); distance (e.g., at 56 meters); time (at night; at midday; at dawn; at noon; at midnight; but we say ‘in the morning/afternoon/evening’)); cost (e.g., ‘The cost is put at $6’); email (e.g., email me at hhh@yahoo.com); activity (good/ bad at; e.g., ‘I am good/ bad at drawing/math’); place (e.g., at the stationat a concert; at a partyat the cinema); age (e.g., She learned English at 45’)/ at the age of (e.g., She learned to play piano at the age of 12’); arrive (e.g., ‘I arrived at work early in the morning’); at birth (but: in infancy/ childhood/ adulthood/ old age); be at war/ peace [e.g. The Greeks and Trojans have been at war for many years), but we say ‘in war’ (period) e.g., ‘Canada's role in the Second World War’]at the beginning (e.g., They left at the beginning of February.// e.g., She received a letter at the beginning of this week canceling the meeting)

Other examples:

At the weekend.

Look at something/ somebody

At the seaside

At the sunset

At first/ last

At a stroke (= by a single action having an immediate effect, e.g., Attitudes cannot be changed at a stroke)

Stay at a hotel

At profit

At the news

At meal/ lunch/dinner time

At someone’s command

At someone’s invitation

Laugh at somebody

At someone’s house

At the baker’s shop

The train stopped at X (e.g., The train stopped at Liverpool)

 

To:

My comment: Many use ‘to’ when it is not needed. ‘To’ means towards a specific direction, e.g., ‘I am going to work now.’

Main TIPS: go/come to (e.g., go to work; go to bed); position (e.g., ‘In the photo, my father is in the middle with me to his right/ left’); movements from one place to another with the verbs ‘drive’, ‘walk,’ ‘go,’ ‘hike,’ ‘fly,’ ‘sail’ (e.g., ‘We are flying to New York); a repair to my machine’; ‘they brought a radical government to power’; ‘10 days to Xmas’; to our advantage.

Used for: position (e.g., ‘In the photo, my father is in the middle with me to his right/ left’); measurements (e.g., There are 17.60 yards to the mile’); go/come to (e.g., go to work; go to bed (we do not say ‘I go to sleep’)); meaning ‘in order to’ (e.g., ‘He worked too hard to give up’); movements from one place to another with the verbs ‘drive,’ ‘walk,’ ‘go,’ ‘hike,’ ‘fly,’ ‘sail’ (e.g., ‘We are flying to New York’; however, we always use ‘at’ for ‘arrive’ e.g., ‘I arrived at work early in the morning’); to refer the time as ‘until’ (e.g., ‘He worked to 7 pm and then left); from X to Y as time (e.g., ‘She played violin from 10 to 11 am’)

Other examples:

‘I had to pay $6.’ 

‘A repair to my machine.’  

‘They brought a radical government to power.’

‘He lived to a great age.’

‘10 days to Xmas!’

‘Return to reality!’ 

To our advantage.

 

Notes

 

Work

We say, ‘I go to work,’ not ‘go to job’; as we ‘have/ seek/ find a job.’ For work, we may also use ‘for’; e.g., She works for a group of judges’. We do not say I ‘go at work,’ but we can say, She goes to work on foot,’ I am at work now,’ or ‘I am in the office.’

 

Transportation means ('on' or 'by')

On foot/ horseback./// But: By train/ car/ bus/ plane/ ship/ bike

When we use the verbs go, come, arrive, and travel for public transportation means, we use ‘by’ without the article: by car, by bus, by plane, by train (e.g., ‘John came by bus’; ‘Mary is going back by car’). But we say, ‘on foot’ and ‘on horseback’ (e.g., ‘She goes to work on foot’). For 'arrive,' see also below. 

 

Arrive at/in

We always use ‘at’ for ‘arrive,’ e.g., I arrived at work early in the morning.’// e.g. ‘We arrived at the station very early’ (^^). But for cities, we write ‘arrive in’ e.g., Armed forces arrived in London after the terror attack.’// e.g. ‘We arrived in Prague later that day’ (^^).

 

On bike (vs.) By bike

By bike’ shows how you got somewhere, e.g., ‘How did you come here so fast?’ ‘I came/ got here by bike.’ // e.g., Many arrived by bicycle.

‘On bike’ means that someone sits on the top of a bicycle, e.g., It is difficult to sit on a bicycle that is too large for me.’ // e.g., The clown in the circus was sitting on a child’s bicycle.

 

Money/ time

Main TIPS: 

Time: We spend/ waste time in/on something (also spend time with somebody and at an activity)

Money: We spend/waste/squander money on something

Money or other resources: We squander something on something

We spend/waste time in something (e.g., ‘You need to spend your time in a relaxed way') or on something (e.g., ‘I am far too busy to waste time on frivolities (= silly, unimportant things) like going to the cinema’ (^^). We also spend time with a person and at an activity. 

But we spend/waste money on something

Instead of ‘waste time/ money’ we may use the phrase ‘fritter something away’ = waste time, money, or energy on trifling (trifle = unimportant or trivial; pronounced ˈtraɪ.fəl)  matters, e.g., ‘I wish we hadn't frittered the money away so easily.’// e.g., ‘She fritters much money away on expensive make-up’ (^^). 

For money or other resources, we may also use the verb ‘squander’ = to waste money or supplies or to waste opportunities by not using them to your advantage (*), e.g.,  Continuing their protest tomorrow will only squander what dwindling (1) public support they have left.

We squander something on something, e.g., $100m (m = million) of taxpayers’ money has been squandered on administering the tax.// e.g., He says too much tax revenue (*) is being squandered on bureaucracy and inefficiency. 

(1) Dwindle = dwindle = diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength.

(2) Revenue = income, especially when of a company or organization and of a substantial nature; here it means a state's annual income from which public expenses are met.


In/on the street

''In the street'' describes an action taking place on the street's surface, in the space between houses or sidewalks; e.g., Kids should not play in the street.// e.g., We danced in the street celebrating the New Year. 

''On the street'' describes a location that is NOT physically in the middle of the street but is at the side of the street, or even a house or a building beside a specific street. On the street is more American English, e.g., Diana's house is in Cherry Street.’ but in North American English, it would be ‘‘Diana’s house is on Cherry Street’ (^^)). // e.g., Many children in Ghana live on the streets (= street children).// e.g., Two men were beaten up by protesters on the streets of Hong Kong.// e.g., ''I am sure he lives somewhere on this street.'' 

Often ''in'' and ''on'' are used interchangeably with ''street''; e.g., In Oxford Street.// e.g., The number of coffee shops in our city streets has multiplied in the last few years.’ // e.g., Sherlock Holmes’ home was on Baker Street.// e.g., Her handbag was snatched from her in the street.’ 

We may also use ‘at’ when we refer to the number of the streete.g., ‘The Prime Minister lives at 10 Downing Street (^^).

 

Square

For the word 'square,' it seems that 'in' is the best option, e.g., There is a statue of Nelson in the main square in Bridgetown that pre-dates the one in Trafalgar Square.’// e.g. ‘A band were playing (not ‘a band was playing’) in the town square (^^). However, we may also use 'at’ when we refer to the number, e.g., ‘Are they still living at 6 Eaton Square?’ (^^).

 

Reference (Retrieved: February 16, 2017):

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/square

 

In/on/at the corner

For the word ‘corner,’ we use 'in' when the corner means 'the area within a room or other space near the place where two walls or other surfaces meet'; e.g., ‘The TV set is in the corner of the room.’// e.g., ‘A piano was in the corner of the room.’

However, we use 'on' when we refer to a place where two or more streets meet; e.g., ‘The bookshop is on the corner’// e.g. ‘And there is the building on the corner of Coney Street that is being built now.’// e.g., ‘There is a postbox on the corner’ (^^). On the corner means "occupying the surface," e.g. The shop in the picture is on the street corner.’ // e.g., A person is standing on the corner’ (occupying a space).

At’ the corner means near or adjacent to a corner.  For example, you can say, ‘Let's meet at the corner of my street.’// e.g., ‘The shop is at the corner of High Street and Station Road’ (you give the name of the two streets that intersect each other; here, ‘at’ is used instead of ‘on’ because you don't refer to the surface but the point of intersection).

 

In/at the office

At’ the office' is a more general term, whereas ‘in the office’ usually refers to a specific physical location (which means inside an office). Someone is ‘at’ the office if he/she is at a place of work but not emphasizing a specific room, e.g., ‘Where is Ann?’, asked George. ‘She is at the office,’ I replied.// e.g., ‘Darling, I’m at the office right now, but I will come home to see you soon.’ // e.g., Back at the office, janitor (= caretaker) Jim Smith was taking care of some lighting repair.

On the other hand, ‘in the office’ is used to emphasize a room where someone workse.g., ‘I need to have a desktop in the office.’ // e.g., ‘I left my purse in my office.’

 

‘At’ or ‘on’ the desk 

At’ is used to specify a location as a point in space, and here it means ''where your desk is,'' e.g., ‘Students sitting at their desk’ (not ‘on their desk,’ although some do it during the break!) // e.g., Your guest is at your desk’// e.g., ‘The umbrella is at your desk.// e.g., ‘You should be at your desk during office hours’// e.g., ‘She sat at her desk writing letters’ (^^). 

The preposition ‘on’ is used when we refer to something being in contact with the surface of an object. That often means ‘on top of a surface,’ such as a desk. (It can also refer to a vertical surface e.g., ‘The fly is on the wall’). On the desk’ would usually mean ‘on top of the desk,’ e.g., ‘The paper is on your desk..// e.g. ‘He had a pile of papers on his desk.’ (^^)// e.g., My glasses are on my desk.’

An example in which we can notice the difference is:  e.g., ‘He found the paper at his desk. I don’t know if he found it on, under, or beside his desk, but it is on his desk now.’

 

Weekend

At the weekend (it may be ‘on the weekend’ in North American English) (My comment: I recommend using only the form ‘at the weekend’ in the IELTS exams that are British English-based).

 

War/ Peace

For war, we say:  be at war/ peace (e.g. The Greeks and Trojans have been at war for many years); but we say in war (period); e.g., ‘Canada’s role in the Second World War.’


In the exam 

'Exam' goes with 'in,' e.g., He did worse than he expected in the exams (**). We may use 'at' for being present at an exam, as an event, e.g., At the exam, there was an invigilator to ensure the students will not cheat. We may also use 'on' the exam, for example, 'In/On the exam, there was a question about the graph' or 'You can score high marks in/on the exam.'


 Reference – links

(Retrieved: February 16, 2017)

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/corner

(Retrieved: June 4, 2017)

http://inmadom-myenglishclass.blogspot.gr/2014/05/in-on-or-at-corner.html

(Retrieved: February 16, 2017):

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/street

(Retrieved: September 14, 2017):

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/299483/on-your-desk-or-at-your-desk

(Retrieved: October 22, 2017):

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/preposition-in-the-street-on-the-street-at-the-street.176928/

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/street

Cambridge Advanced Learning Dictionary, paperback with CD-ROM, 4th edition, edited by Colin McIntosh, Cambridge University Press, 2013 (^^) (^^^ for the examples)

 

 

Verbs & the Prepositions (phrasal/prepositional verbs) that follow them

My comment: You can distinguish a native speaker using prepositions and prepositional verbs properly! For instance, a common mistake is to use ''at'' after the verb ‘engage’ related to an activity when it properly is followed by ''in.''


In the following list, there are also referred some nouns & adjectives along with the prepositional verbs


About

argue about

agree about/ to

care about

complain about

forget about

worry about

dream about/ of

speak about/ to

 

Against

decide/ warn against

 

As

regard as

 

At

excel in/ at

laugh at

balk at (= to be unwilling to do something or allow something to happen, e.g., ‘I balked at the prospect of spending five hours on a train with him’ (^^))

rejoice at (= feel or show great joy or delight; e.g., ''We spent the evening rejoicing at our victory.''// e.g., He quickly set her down as soon as she was done rejoicing at his presence)

peak at/ to (but as a noun: reach a peak at/ of)

good/ bad at

appall (‘appal’ in British English) at (= greatly dismay (= concern and distress caused by something unexpected) or horrify, e.g., Bankers are appalled at the economic incompetence of some ministers)

expert at/ on/ in [e.g., ‘Expert’ usually goes with ‘on’; e.g., ‘I am an expert on viruses’On some occasions, we may use expert with ‘in,’ which makes the emphasis slightly heavier on the person who has an expertise, while on places some emphasis on the subject in which expertise is shown, e.g., ‘My brother is an expert in foreign policy.’/// ''Expert'' may also go with ‘at’; e.g., My mother is an expert at dress-making ((^^^) for this example)].

aim at/ for/ to = (transitive or intransitive verb) To point or direct a weapon towards someone or something that you want to hit; e.g., He aimed (= directed) a kick at my shins (shin = the front of the leg below the knee).

target at

 

Away

hide from/ in/ away e.g., They swept up the pieces and hid them away.

 

By

promoted by

connected by

expressed by

subsidize by (subsidise in British English) (= support (an organization or activity) financially; e.g., The question was about whether a business should be subsidized by another business.// e.g., Farmers carry on in a loss-making business, subsidized by the rest of us)

characterized by

attend by (when it means to provide service to someone, especially as part of your job; e.g., ‘The Queen was attended by her ladies-in-waiting.’// But it is ‘attend to when it means ‘notice’; e.g. ‘I am afraid I wasn’t attending to what was being said’)

absorbed by/ into

rise by (= amount of increase, e.g., ‘Inflation rose by 8 percent’)

increased/ decreased by (amount of decrease, e.g., ‘Inflation decreased by 3 percent)

supported on/ by

disappointed by (often after disappointed, we use ‘by’) (e.g., He was disappointed by the treatment of asylum seekers in Britain) [Note: disappointed (as an adjective) may go ‘with’; e.g., I am bitterly disappointed with our overall performance’]

accompanied by

 

For

apologize for

blame for

opt for/ to (= make a choice from a range of possibilities, e.g., Consumers will opt for low-priced goods.// e.g., Mary opted for a piece of cherry cake)

care for

stand for (= be an abbreviation of or symbol for; e.g., NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.// e.g., He showed me which Arabic symbol stood for Allah.//// (informal with negative) Refuse to endure (= suffer something painful or difficult patiently) or tolerate; e.g., ‘I won't stand for any nonsense.’ // e.g., It is getting to the point where hunt supporters will not stand for it./// Support a cause or principle, e.g., ‘We stand for animal welfare.’ // e.g., If parties need cash, let them go out and convince people that they stand for something worth supporting)

stand up for/ to (stand up for = speak or act in support of; e.g.She learned to stand up for herself.// e.g., The larger man began pushing the smaller man, who seemed hesitant to stand up for himself.//// Act as best man for in a wedding; e.g., ‘I was asked to stand up for my brother’)

criticized for

apply for

account for (something) = (give a satisfactory record of something, typically money, that one is responsible for; e.g., ‘I had to account for every penny I spent.’/// Provide or serve as a satisfactory explanation for; e.g., He was brought before the Board to account for his behavior./// Supply or makeup a specified amount or proportion; e.g., Social security accounts for 1/3 of total public spending.// Succeed in killing, destroying, or defeating; e.g., A mishit (= hitting or kicking a ball badly or in the wrong direction) drive accounted for Smith, who had scored 30).

arrested for

contend for/ with [(pronounced kənˈtend) (contend for) compete with others in a struggle to achieve something; e.g., Factions within the government were contending for the succession to the presidency.// e.g., More than once he contended for the Championship.// e.g., Beijing is contending for the leadership of the twenty-first century]

reproach (someone) for/ with (reproach for = address someone in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment; e.g., Critics of the administration reproached the president for his failure to tackle the deficiency(but ''reproach with'' = accuse someone of; e.g., ‘His wife reproached him with cowardice (pronounced ˈkaʊ.ə.dɪs)’).

responsible (as an adjective) for

aim for/ to/ at = ((intransitive verb) to intend; e.g., We are aiming for (= planning to achieve) a 40 percent share of the UK market./// (transitive or intransitive verb) To point or direct a weapon towards someone or something that you want to hit; e.g., ''Aim for the middle of the target''.//  ‘Let's aim for (= go in the direction of) Coventry first, and then we'll have a look at the map’ (^^). Aim for something = to plan or hope to achieve something, e.g., The former Senator now aims for a political appointment in Washington DC ((*) for the last definition and example))

provide someone for/ with (e.g., The UN (United Nations) Joint Global Program provides essential services for women and girls subject to violence (from the web))

invite for/to



From

suffer from

refrain from (= stop oneself from doing something, e.g., It seems they are refraining from labeling the people they are looking at as suspects.// e.g., He refrained from comment)

stop from

hide in/ away/ from (e.g., Then Joseph finds gold in a creek, first hides this from his familythen abandons them to go prospecting)

apart from

prohibited from

deter from (discourage someone from doing something, typically by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences, e.g., Only a health problem would deter him from seeking re-election)

aged from

discourage someone from doing something (but encourage someone to do something’)

distract from (e.g., The internet distracts me from my homework/ studies’)

originates from

 

In

excel at/ in

believe in

engage in an activity (''engage in'' or "be engaged in'' = participate or become involved in, e.g., Organizations engage in a variety of activities)

interested in

give in

participate/take part in

specialize in

result in

succeed in

incorporate in/ into

support in

assist in/ with

indulge in (= allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of, e.g., We indulged in ice cream)

hide from/ away/ in (e.g., He hid the money in the house)

apparent (as an adjective) in something [= clearly visible or understood; obvious; e.g., The Athenian mix of culture and commerce was as apparent in art as architecture.// e.g., Similar interest in evidence-based public policy is apparent in other countries].

(be/ get) involved in (= be or become occupied or engrossed (engross = absorb all the attention or interest of) in something; e.g., Her husband had been very involved in his work.// e.g., She said that her daughter was clean living and that there was no suggestion she was involved in the drug scene)  (but ‘be involved with = be engaged in an emotional or personal relationship; e.g., Ann told me she was involved with someone else)

invest in

expert in/on/at [e.g., ‘Expert’ usually goes with on’; e.g., ‘I am an expert on viruses.’ /// On some occasions, we may use ‘expert in’ that makes the emphasis slightly heavier on the person who has expertise while on places some emphasis on the subject in which expertise is shown, e.g., ‘My brother is an expert in foreign policy.’// e.g., Economist is an expert in economics.// e.g., Colleagues widely regarded him as one of the leading experts in his field.// e.g., Experts in child development./// ''Expert'' may also go with ‘at’; e.g., My mother is an expert at dress-making (^^^ for this example)].

meddle in (= interfere in something that is not one's concern e.g., I do not want her meddling in our affairs’)

persist with/ in

abundant (pronounced əˈbʌnd(ə)nt) in (= having plenty of, e.g., The riverbanks were abundant in beautiful wild plants).

 

Into

take on/ into

incorporate in/ into (= take in or contain something as part of a whole; include, e.g., He has incorporated in his proposals several measures)

absorbed by/ into

 

Of

accuse someone of (e.g., He was accused of murdering his wife's lover)

approve of

dream of

in charge of

take care of

think of

dispose of (= get rid of by throwing away or giving or selling to someone else, e.g., The waste is disposed of in the North Sea)

rise of/ to (‘rise of’ with 'rise' as a noun) (point reached) e.g., (A rise (as a noun) in sales of 4 percent)

in favor of

[‘as a matter of (e.g., ‘As a matter of debate/ discussion/ fact’)]

consider of

at the expense of

capable of (but ‘able to’)

in spite of

fond of (= (predicative) having affection or liking for, e.g., I'm very fond of George. // e.g., He was not too fond of dancing./// (attributive) Affectionate; loving, e.g., Reading it brought many fond memories of our childhood)

consist of

regardless of

convicted of 

composed of

 

On

agree on

concentrate on

congratulate on

continue on

keen on someone/ something (we are ‘keen on someone/ something, e.g. I am keen on playing tennis’ or ‘He is keen on a girl in his school’ (^^), but we may use ''keen to do something'' e.g., Young people are keen to question things’ // e.g., ‘They were very keen to start work as soon as possible’ (^^))

expert on/ in/ at [e.g., ‘I am an expert on viruses’.// e.g., ‘I am an expert on American history.’ // We've asked to interview an expert on foreign policy.’/// On some occasions, we may use ‘expert in’ which makes the emphasis slightly heavier on the person who has the expertise while on places some emphasis on the subject in which expertise is shown, e.g., ‘My brother is an expert in foreign policy.’ /// ''Expert'' may also go with ‘at’ e.g., My mother is an expert at dressmaking (^^^ for this example)].

depend on/upon

go on

on no account

insist on (= demand forcefully to have something, e.g., ''He insisted on answers to his allegations.'' // e.g., The filmmaker insists on having all of them present to get a ‘good effect.’ //// Persist in doing something, e.g., Despite his business commitments, Mike insists on milking his 30 cows at least once daily./// The press insists on telling us how many soldiers have died since April 1st)

detrimental (= harmfulto/ on (e.g., Moving her could have a detrimental effect on her health.// e.g., These chemicals have a detrimental effect/impact on the environment./// It may also go with 'to,'  e.g., Releasing the documents would be detrimental to national security// e.g., Some of these compounds have been detrimental to the environment) ((**) for the first 2 examples and the last example)

keep on

based on

take on/ into

plan on

rely on/ upon

focus on

agree on/ with/ to

speculate on/ about/ that/ in/ with [speculate on/ about/ that: form a theory or conjecture  (= an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information) about a subject without firm evidence, e.g., My colleagues speculate about my private life.// e.g., (with clause) Observers speculated that the authorities wished to improve their image.// e.g.,  A spokesperson declined to speculate on the cause of the train crash]./// [speculate on/ in/ with invest in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss; e.g., He didn't look as though he had the money to speculate in stocks.// e.g., Hedge funds (1) make money by speculating on the stock market.// e.g., You should only speculate with risk capital (= money you can afford to lose)’ (1) Hedge funds = a limited partnership of investors that uses high-risk methods, such as investing with borrowed money, in hopes of realizing large capital gains.

declare war on

spend money on

supported on/ by

hooked on (= addicted, e.g., A girl who got hooked on cocaine)

 

To (verb + full infinitive)

opt for/ to (= make a choice from a range of possibilities, e.g., Students opting to continue with physics.// e.g., The judge opts to decide later on what to do about the infuriating man)

go to

subscribe to (e.g., ''Subscribe to YouTube'')

fall to (e.g., fall to sleep)

prefer to

adapt to

live to (e.g., He lived to a great age)

pay to

repair to

turn to

bring to

adjust to

agree to/ with/ on

devote to

get/ be used to

object to

travel to

point to

incline/ decline to

detrimental (= harmfulto/ on (e.g., Releasing the documents would be detrimental to national security// e.g., Some of these compounds have been detrimental to the environment.// It may also go with 'on,' e.g., Moving her could have a detrimental effect on her health.// e.g., These chemicals have a detrimental effect/impact on the environment((**) for the last 3 examples)

able to (but ‘capable of’)

keen to do something (e.g., Young people are keen to question things’ // e.g., ‘They were very keen to start work as soon as possible (^^)) (but we are ‘keen on someone/ something; e.g., ‘He is keen on a girl in his school’ (^^))

prefer to

rise to/ of (point reached, e.g., Sales rose to 3 percent) (‘rise of’ with 'rise' as a noun (point reached) e.g., (A rise (as a noun) in sales of 4 percent)

relate to

addicted to

prone to

according to

appear to

compare to

intend to

encourage someone to do something (but ‘discourage someone from doing something’)

entitled to

be apt to (= tending to do something, e.g., The (political) party’s views were apt to discord (= (of things) be different or in disharmony; pronounced dɪsˈkɔːd) with those of the leading members of the administration)

stand up to/ for = (stand up to = make a spirited defense against; e.g., Giving workers the confidence to stand up to their employers.// e.g., Covertly (= secretly, or in a hidden way (*)), then with more confidence, he stands up to the school bully.//// Be resistant to the harmful effects of prolonged wear (*) or use; e.g., ''But unfortunately, I don’t really think his legs would stand up to any more racing.'' // e.g., Cotton stands up to abrasion and wears well) ((*) Wear (pronounced weə(r)) = to become weaker, damaged, or thinner because of continuous use) 

assent to (= express approval or agreement, typically officially, e.g. The US President assented to the agreement)

conform to/ with something (= comply with rules, standards, or laws; e.g., The kitchen does not conform to hygiene (= conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness; pronounced ˈhaɪ.dʒiːn/) regulations.// e.g., This information is not computer-readable because such publications do not conform to standardized rules.//// (of a person) behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards; e.g., ‘I could never conform to what other people wanted me to be for the sake of fitting in.’ // e.g., There’s an increasing passion to make men conform to a (male) pattern.//// Be similar in form or type; agree; e.g., The countryside should conform to a certain idea of the picturesque (= visually attractive, especially in a quaint or pretty style).// e.g., They will not conform to the academic worldview or the organizational development paradigm (= a typical example or pattern of something; a model; pronounced ˈpær.ə.daɪm))

listen/ speak to

be deemed to (= regard or consider in a specified way.// 'Deem' often goes without a preposition, but it may go with to-(full) infinitive e.g., Anyone not paying the registration fee by 31 May will be deemed to have withdrawn from the offer (**))

belong to

(something is) familiar to (us)

add to

ascribe something to/ be ascribed to (= attribute something to a cause, e.g., He ascribed Helen’s short temper to her upset stomach)

attend to (when it means ‘notice’ e.g‘I am afraid I wasn’t attending to what was being said’.// But ‘attend by means ‘to provide service to someone, especially as part of your job’; e.g., ‘The Queen was attended by her ladies-in-waiting’)

amount to

increase/ decreased to (point reached e.g., Sales decreased to 3 percent)

help to/ with

predicted to/ that/ when

expected to/ that

plummeted to/ down (= fall or drop straight down at high speed, e.g., He plummeted to the ground ((**) for this example).// e.g., A climber (pronounced ˈklaɪ.mə(r)) was killed when he plummeted 300 feet down an icy gully (= a water-worn ravine (1); pronounced ˈɡʌl.i). (1) ravine = a deep, narrow gorge (2); pronounced rəˈvn. (2) gorge = a narrow valley between hills or mountains, typically with steep rocky walls and a stream running through it with steep sides; pronounced ɡɔː

account to (somebody) for (something) (= explain the reason or the cause of something)

apply to

alert to (''alert'' as a verb goes with or without ‘to’; e.g., ‘I alert people to the dangers of smoking.’// e.g., Mr. Smith did the game a service by alerting us to the dangers.// e.g., Marriages broke up, alerting women to the disadvantages of being financially dependent)

accustom (yourself) to (something) (= To make yourself familiar with new conditions; e.g., It’ll take time for me to accustom myself to the changes (^^).// e.g., ‘I was accustomed to being lapped (= swathed (1in luxury). (1) swathe = wrap in several layers of fabric; pronounced sweɪð.

endeavor to (= try hard to do or achieve something, e.g., She is endeavoring to help the Third World)

aim to/ for/ at = (intransitive verb) to intend e.g., (+ to (full infinitive)) 'I aim to be a millionaire by the time I'm 30' (^^).

available (adjective) to

invite to/for

 

Up

stand up = (of an argument, claim, evidence, etc.) remain valid after close scrutiny (= critical observation or examination) or analysis, e.g., You need to have hard evidence that will stand up in court.’ // e.g., The argument does not stand up to analysis)

stand up for/ to (stand up for = speak or act in support of; e.g., She learned to stand up for herself.// e.g., The larger man began pushing the smaller man, who seemed hesitant to stand up for himself.//// Act as best man for in a wedding; e.g., ‘After being asked to stand up for your brother or best friend, you may feel you need a best man guide to help you’)

stand up to/ for = (stand up to = make a spirited defense against; e.g., Giving workers the confidence to stand up to their employers.// e.g., Covertly,(= secretly, or in a hidden way (*)) then with more confidence, he stands up to the school bully.//// Be resistant to the harmful effects of prolonged wear (= to become weaker, damaged, or thinner because of continuous use; pronounced weə(r)) or use; e.g., ''But unfortunately, I don’t really think his legs would stand up to any more racing.'' // e.g., Cotton stands up to abrasion and wears well)

to sum (something/ somebody) up

 

Upon

rely upon/on

insist upon/on (e.g., She insisted upon knowing the truth (**))

depend upon/on (e.g., That depends upon the circumstances (**))

place upon (e.g., You can never place enough emphasis upon the importance of safety (**))

 

With

agree with/ to/ on

charge with

mess with

trust with

provide someone for/ with (e.g., We have concerns about whether the government will be able to provide poorer families with viable social services (**))

cope with

in accordance with (but ‘according to’)

occupied with/ preoccupied with

disappointed with/ by (‘disappointed’ as an adjective may go ‘with’; e.g., I am bitterly disappointed with our overall performance’) (but ‘disappointed’ as a verb often goes with ‘by’; e.g., While disappointed by the delay he was glad the operation had commenced)

content (oneself) with (= accept as adequate despite wanting more or better, e.g., We contented ourselves with a few small purchases’)

reproach (someone) for/ with (reproach with = accuse someone of, e.g., ‘His wife reproached him with cowardice (pronounced ˈkaʊ.ə.dɪs)’).

deal with (e.g., The Greek government was unable to deal with the economic crisis)

familiar with something

conform with/ to something (= comply with rules, standards, or laws, e.g., The changes were introduced to conform with international classifications.// e.g., The usual excuse is that it does not conform with the European law)

assist with/ in

satisfied/ dissatisfied with

(being) updated/ up to date with

be involved with (= be engaged in an emotional or personal relationship; e.g., Jane told me she was involved with someone else)(but ‘be/ get involved (in)’ = be or become occupied or engrossed (1) in something; e.g., Her husband had been very involved in his work.// e.g., She said that her daughter was clean living and was not involved in the drug scene) (*). (1) engross = absorb all the attention or interest of/// Produce a legal document in its final or definitive form.

acquaint (pronounced əˈkweɪnt) someone with (= make someone aware of or familiar with; e.g., New staff should be acquainted with fire exit routes.// e.g., ‘You must acquaint yourself with the house style.’// e.g., ‘I was already well acquainted with his work’)

discord with (pronounced dɪsˈkɔːd)(= (of things) be different or in disharmony, e.g., The (political) party’s views were apt to (= tending to do something) discord with those of the leading members of the administration)

contend for/ with (contend with= struggle to surmount (= overcome a difficulty or obstacle) a difficulty; e.g., She had to contend with his uncertain temper.// e.g., Both had to contend with the disadvantage of their sex.// e.g., They are contending with the sudden temperature drop.//// But contend for = compete with others in a struggle to achieve something; e.g., Factions within the government were contending for the succession to the presidency

persist in/ with

help with/ to

 

Notes:


Familiar:

Familiar (to) = well known from long or close association, e.g., ''Their faces will be familiar to many of you.'' // e.g., Her distinctive voice has long been familiar to Chinese audiences.

Familiar with = having a good knowledge of, e.g., ''Ensure that you are familiar with the heating controls.'' // e.g., ''We are really concentrating on him playing the new stuff that he is not as familiar with.'' /// Informal or intimate to an inappropriate degree, e.g., He was being overly familiar with Sarah

 

Engage:

Engage to (full infinitive) / with/ (engage someone) in/ of engage in something = (phrasal verb) to take part in something; e.g., The two governments have agreed to engage in a comprehensive dialogue to resolve the issue./// Engage someone in a conversation = to start a conversation with someone; e.g., Once Mrs. Smith engages you in conversation, you are stuck with him for half an hour! ((^^) for the previous 2 meanings).//// Engage in = (verb; no object) Participate or become involved in; e.g., Organizations engage in a variety of activities.// e.g., Some are actively engaged in crime./// Engage with = establish a meaningful contact or connection with; e.g., The teams needed to engage with local communities./// (Engage + to (full infinitive)) Pledge (= to make a serious or formal promise to give or do something (*) or enter into a contract to do something; e.g., He engaged to pay them $12,800 against a bond./// (transitive verb) (mainly UK  English) To employ someone (Engage + to (full infinitive)) e.g., ‘I have engaged a secretary to deal with all my paperwork.’// (without infinitive) e.g.,  We are engaging the services of a professional administrator ((^^^) for this example)./// (transitive or intransitive verb) To attack or begin to fight someone; e.g., Enemy planes engaged the troops as they advanced into the mountains ((^^) for this meaning)./// (transitive verb) To interest someone in something and keep them thinking about it; e.g., The debate about food safety has engaged the whole nation.// e.g., ‘If a book doesn’t engage my interest in the first pages, I don’t usually read it’ ((^^) for this meaning)./// (transitive or intransitive verb) To make one part of a machine fit into and move together with another part of a machine; e.g., When the large cogwheel engages (with the smaller one), the millstone will start to go round ((^^) for this meaning).

 

Aim

Aim for/ to/ at = (intransitive verb) to intend, e.g., (+ to (full infinitive)) 'I aim to be a millionaire by the time I'm 30.' // e.g., We are aiming for (= planning to achieve) a 40 percent share of the UK market./// (transitive or intransitive verb) To point or direct a weapon towards someone or something that you want to hit; e.g., He aimed (= directed) a kick at my shins (shin = the front of the leg below the knee).// e.g., ''Aim for the middle of the target.''//  ‘Let's aim for (= go in the direction of) Coventry first, and then we'll have a look at the map’ (^^).

 

Assist:

Assist in/ with/ at = (verb with object) Help someone, typically by doing a share of the work; e.g., A senior academic would assist him in his work.// (verb; no object) e.g., Their presence would assist in keeping the peace./// Help by providing money or information; e.g., They assisted police with their inquiries (inquiry = an act of asking for information).// (verb; no object) e.g., Funds to assist with capital investment./// (verb; no object) Be present as a helper; e.g., The two midwives assisted at the water birth.// e.g., He has also assisted at blood donor sessions in the town.

 

Excel 

To excel  in/ at, e.g., Mary always excelled in languages at school ((^^^) for the 2nd example).// e.g., ''I happen to excel in all subjects.''// e.g., By all reports, he is well adjusted, excelling in his academic and sports activities.// e.g., A sturdy (= strongly and solidly built; pronounced ˈstɜː.di) youth who excelled at football.

 

Divide

Divide into separate into parts or groups; e.g., At the end of the lecture, I’d like all the students to divide into small discussion groups.’/// Divide up = to share; e.g., I think we should divide (up) the costs equally among/ between us.’ /// Divide on/ over = to cause a group of people to disagree about something; e.g., The party is divided on/over the issue of capital punishment./// Divide between = to use different amounts of something for different purposes or activities; e.g.She divides her time between her apartment in London and her cottage in Yorkshire (^^).

 

Made:

Made from/ of/ out of/ with:

Made from = when we talk about how something is manufacturede.g., The earliest canoes were made from trees.// e.g., Plastic is made from oil (*)

Made of = when we talk about the basic material or qualities of something. It has a meaning similar to ‘composed of,’; e.g., What is this table made of? It is oak.// e.g., She wore (wear - wore - worn) a beautiful necklace made of gold (*) // e.g., An article (= item, object) made of clay.

Made out of = when we talk about something that has been changed or transformed from one thing into another; e.g., They were living in tents made out of an old plastic sheet.// e.g., In the 1970s, it was popular to have candle holders made out of wine bottles (*).

Made with = we use it more often to talk about food and drink ingredients, e.g., Sushi is made with raw fish.// e.g., This dish is made with corned beef and vegetables (*).

 

Verbs that are NOT followed by a preposition:

Contact (it is NOT followed by a preposition, e.g., ‘I contacted him about a serious matter’)

Regarding (it is NOT followed by a preposition e.g., ‘Regarding unemployment in Spain, it has recently increased’)

Lack (it is NOT followed by a preposition, e.g., ‘I lack confidence’)

Attend (it is NOT followed by a preposition, e.g., ‘I attended the course’) (We do NOT say attend to/ at the meeting’))

Resist (= withstand the action or effect of) (resist is NOT followed by a preposition (Note: resist does NOT go with ‘in’ – You may confuse it with ‘insist’ that goes with ‘on’ or ‘that’ or ‘persist’ that goes with ‘with’ or ‘in’); e.g., One important measure in resisting infection is to quit smoking.// e.g., Manufacturers design equipment to resist the effects of freezing.// e.g., Antibodies help us to resist infection)

Suggest (it is NOT followed by a preposition// it goes with or without ‘that’; e.g., Are you suggesting (that) I look fat in these trousers (*)?”// e.g., All the evidence suggests (that) he is not guilty (^^)). (*) in North American English, they use 'pants' instead of 'trousers.'

Exaggerate ((pronounced ɪɡˈzæ.ə.rt) as a verb is usually NOT accompanied by a preposition. It goes with or without an object. a) (verb with object) e.g., Furthermore, there are no legal penalties for taking a false or exaggerated claim to court.’   // b) (verb; no object) e.g., ‘I couldn't sleep for three days—I'm not exaggerating.’  // e.g., ‘I don’t think it will be exaggerating to say that the composers' new work is a masterpiece ((**) for the last example).// e.g., I think I rather exaggerate the time (not ‘in the time’) I spend working out at the gym’ (my own example))


           For a verb + preposition list:

           Reference – Links

(Retrieved: February 16, 2017):

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/phrasals.htm

https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/phrasal-verbs-list.htm

http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/verbs/list-of-phrasal-verbs/

https://www.easypacelearning.com/all-lessons/grammar/1219-phrasal-verbs-list-meanings-and-examples

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/phrasal-verbs/list

https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs/list.html

https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-at-in-on-time.htm

https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-place-at-in-on.htm

http://www.onestopenglish.com/grammar/grammar-reference/nouns-and-phrases/prepositions-of-time-and-place-article/152825.article

https://www.espressoenglish.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/EnglishVerbsPrepositionsDictionary.pdf

http://www.teflsites.com/VERB%20PREPOSITIONS.pdf

http://www.grammarbank.com/prepositions.html

http://wc.bracu.ac.bd/sites/default/files/resources/Prepositions%20%26%20Verbals%20%5BWalden%20U%20Writing%20Center%5D.pdf

http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/gerund2c.html

http://kisi.deu.edu.tr/binnur.kavlak/ingilizce/belgeler/prepositionlist.pdf

http://cst.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/wc-common-preposition-combinations.pdf

http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/preposition.pdf

(Retrieved: November 2, 2017):

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/word-order-and-focus/made-from-made-of-made-out-of-made-with

Cambridge Advanced Learning Dictionary, paperback with CD-ROM, 4th edition, edited by Colin McIntosh, Cambridge University Press, 2013 (^^) (^^^ for the examples.

(Retrieved: September 30, 2019):

https://www.quora.com/English-language-What-is-the-difference-between-on-the-street-and-in-the-street-Theyre-dancing-in-on-the-street-We-live-in-on-this-street


 

 





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