English Verbs Prepositions Dictionary
English Verbs Prepositions Dictionary
English Verbs Prepositions Dictionary
net
Shayna Oliveira, 2012
English Teacher
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Shayna Oliveira, 2012
Verb + Preposition
account for
Example Sentence
Notes
How do you account for To "account for" is to explain or
the differences between
provide a reason
the two financial reports?
accuse (someone) of
Dan accused Henry of
To accuse is to say that someone
(something)
stealing money from the did something bad
company.
adapt to
When I moved to a different country, it was hard for me to adapt
to the new culture.
add (something) to
I added some salt to the
(something)
soup to give it more
flavor.
adjust to
After I got divorced, I had
to adjust to life as a
single man.
admire (someone)
I admire Joanne for her
for (something)
dedication.
agree on (topic)
My teacher and I agree
You agree ON a noun: We agree on
on the importance of
politics. We don't agree on religion.
listening practice.
agree to (do
She agreed to make
You agree TO a verb
something)
cookies for the party.
agree with (someone) I agree with you.
You agree WITH a person
apologize to
Barbara apologized to
(someone) for (doing her boss for being late to
something)
the meeting.
apply to (a university I applied to the top
/ program)
university in the country
- but I didn't get in.
apply for (a job /
Sandra applied for a
scholarship)
marketing job at a
multinational company.
approve of
My parents don't
approve of my new
boyfriend.
argue with
I argued with my
To argue is to have a verbal conflict.
(someone) about
business partner about
The noun form is "argument" and we
(something)
how much to invest in
also say "have an argument with
advertising.
(someone)"
arrange for
We'll arrange for a
(someone) (to do
babysitter to take care of
something)
the kids.
arrest (someone) for Pat was arrested for
To "arrest" is when the police take a
(something)
driving without a license. person into the police station because
they are suspected of some crime.
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arrive at (a place)
arrive in (a city,
country)
ask (someone) about
(someone/topic)
ask (someone) for
(something)
ask (someone) to (do
something)
base on
be accustomed to
be/get acquainted
with
be addicted to
(something)
be afraid of
be angry at/with
(someone) for
(something)
be annoyed at/with
(someone) for
(something)
be anxious about
(something)
be associated with
be aware of
be blessed with
be bored with
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be capable of
(something)
be cluttered with
(something)
be committed to
be composed of
be concerned about
be connected to/with
be content with
be dedicated to
be devoted to
be disappointed
in/with (someone/
something)
be discouraged by
be done with
(something)
be dressed in
be engaged in
(something)
be engaged to
(someone)
be envious of
be equipped with
(something)
be excited about
be exposed to
be faced with
(problem / dilemma
/ decision)
be faithful to
be familiar with
be famous for
be filled with
be finished with
be fond of
be frightened by
be frightened of
be grateful to
(someone) for
(something)
be guilty of (a crime)
be happy about
(something)
be innocent of
(something)
be interested in
(something)
be interested in
This building is
equipped with a solar
power system.
We're excited about our
upcoming trip around
the world.
The children of smokers
are exposed to
secondhand smoke.
My family didn't have health insurance, and we were faced with
enormous medical bills after my father got sick.
He's faithful to his wife - he wouldn't get involved with another
woman.
Sorry, I'm not familiar with that computer program. I've only
used it once.
That musician is famous
for her poetic song lyrics.
The stores were filled with shoppers during the week before
Christmas.
Don't throw away the
newspaper - I'm not
finished with it yet.
I'm quite fond of
To be fond of something means you
peppermint tea. I drink it especially like it, you have an
almost every day.
emotional connection to it.
My dog was frightened
by the fireworks, and hid
under the bed.
Alex never talks to women because hes too frightened of
rejection.
I'm grateful to Sally for
helping me find a new
apartment.
The director was found
"Guilty" is the opposite of "innocent"
guilty of sexual
harassment.
My family wasn't happy
about my decision to
drop out of college.
I believe she's innocent of the charges - she doesn't seem like a
criminal.
I'm interested in
photography.
Kevin keeps asking me
If you are "interested in" someone, it
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(someone)
be terrified of
be thankful for
be tired of (doing
something)
beg for
believe in
belong to
benefit from
blame (someone) for
(something)
blame (something)
on (someone)
boast about
borrow (something)
from (someone)
care about (someone
/ something)
care for (someone)
don't care for
(something)
cater to (group of
people)
charge (someone) for
(something)
spiders.
I'm terrified of enclosed "Terrified" means EXTREMELY
spaces - I can get panic
scared or afraid
attacks in an elevator.
We're thankful for everyone who volunteered to help with the
program.
I want to buy a car. I'm
tired of taking the bus.
My ex-boyfriend begged To "beg" is to ask repeatedly with a
me for another chance,
lot of emotion
but I said the
relationship was over.
Do you believe in magic?
No, that motorcycle's not
mine. It belongs to my
brother.
The local population will
benefit from the new
hospital.
He blamed the other
driver for the car
accident.
She blamed the mistakes
in the article on the
editors.
I hate talking to Ronald
"Boasting" means to talk about
because he's always
something arrogantly
boasting about how
much money he makes.
I borrowed a dress from "Borrow" is the opposite of "lend"
my sister.
(when you borrow, you receive the
object temporarily)
Our company cares
about the environment.
Rachel is caring for her
It's also common to say "taking care
95-year-old
of" a person
grandmother.
I don't care for Mexican "I don't care for it" means "I don't like
food. It's too spicy for me. it very much."
Most of the restaurants
"Cater to" means to be specialized
in this area cater to
towards that group of people
tourists.
The restaurant charged
In this case, "charge" means to
us for the water - I
require money for a product or
thought it was
service
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charge (someone)
with (something)
choose between
(someone/
something) and
(someone/
something)
collide with
come from
comment on
communicate with
(someone)
compare (someone
/something) to/with
(someone/
something)
compete with
complain about
complain to
(someone) about
(something)
compliment
(someone) on
(something)
concentrate on
confess to
confuse (someone/
something) with
(someone/
complimentary!
He was charged with
In this case, "charge" means when
assault with a deadly
someone is formally accused of a
weapon.
crime
I'm trying to choose between Australia and New Zealand for my
next vacation.
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something)
congratulate
(someone) for/on
([doing] something)
consent to
(something)
consist of
contribute to
(something)
convict (someone) of
(something)
convince (someone)
to
cope with
count on
cover in/with
crash into
cure (someone) of
(something)
deal with
decide against
decide between
(someone/
something) and
(someone/
something)
decide on
We congratulated
Vanessa on her
promotion.
The director consented
to the employees'
proposal.
My CD collection
consists of jazz and
classic rock music.
Stress can contribute to
various health problems.
He was convicted of
child abuse.
My wife convinced me
to take dance lessons.
Psychologists can help
people cope with
tragedies.
I'm counting on you to
finish the work by
tomorrow.
The mountains are
covered with snow.
A drunk driver crashed
into a tree near my
house.
The antibiotics cured her
of the infection.
dedicate (something)
to (someone)
depend on
derive (something)
from (something)
deter (someone)
from (something)
differ from
disagree with
(someone /
something)
disapprove of
discourage
(someone) from
(something)
discriminate against
discuss (something)
with (someone)
distinguish between
(someone/
something) and
(someone/
something)
distract (someone)
from (something)
dream about/of
elaborate on
(something)
escape from (a place)
exchange
(something) for
(something)
exclude (someone)
from (something)
excuse (someone) for
(something)
expel (someone)
from (a place)
get rid of
get used to
give (something) to
(someone)
glare at
graduate from (a
place)
grieve for
grumble about
(something)
happen to
harp on
hear about
hear from (someone)
hear of
help (someone) with
(something)
hide (something)
from (someone)
hinge on
shower
I got rid of some old
"Get rid of" means to throw away or
clothes that I don't wear give away
anymore.
I'm a relaxed person, so it was hard for me to get used to the fast
pace of New York City.
I gave the keys to
You can also say "I gave Pamela the
Pamela.
keys."
Rita glared at her
"Glare" means to look at
husband when he started someone/something angrily
chatting with a beautiful
woman at the club.
He graduated from
Harvard University in
1986.
He's grieving for his
"Grieve" means to be sad about a loss
mother, who died just a
- usually a death
few days ago.
My husband is
"Grumble" is like "complain"
grumbling about how
early we need to get up
to catch our 6 AM flight.
What happened to your
car? Did you get in an
accident?
The salesman was
"Harp on" means to emphasize
harping on all the
something strongly (and rather
wonderful benefits of the annoyingly)
product.
Did you hear about the
"Hear about" is used for knowing
bank robbery that
about the details of a situation
happened last night?
My cousin is traveling and doesn't have much internet access, so I
haven't heard from her lately.
I've never heard of that
"Hear of" is used for hearing just a
movie.
mention of something (no details)
She really helped me
with the problem.
I hid the cookies from my kids so they wouldn't eat them before
dinner.
The success of this
"Hinge on" is like "depend on" - it
project hinges on
means teamwork and collaboration
teamwork and
are ESSENTIAL to the success
collaboration.
I'm hoping for good
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hope to (verb)
insist on
insure against
interfere in
(something)
interfere with
(something)
introduce (someone/
something) to
(someone/
something)
invest in
invite (someone) to
joke about
jot down (something)
keep (someone/
something) from
(doing something)
know about
laugh about
laugh at
learn about
lend (something) to
(someone)
listen to
long for
look at
look forward to
matter to (someone)
meet with (someone)
mistake (someone/
something) for
(someone/
something)
object to
participate in
(something)
pay for
plan on
praise (someone) for
(something)
pray for
prefer (something) to
(something)
prepare for
present (someone)
with (something)
prevent (someone/
something) from
(doing something)
prohibit (someone)
from (doing
something)
protect (someone)
from (something)
provide (someone)
with (something)
punish (someone) for
(something)
quarrel with
(someone)
about/over
(something)
react to
recover from
(something)
refer to (something)
related to
rely on
remind (someone) of
(something)
remind (someone) to
(do something)
reply to
rescue (someone)
from (something)
respond to
result in (something)
save (someone) from
(something)
scold (someone) for
Employees are
prohibited from
smoking inside the office.
Wearing a bicycle helmet can protect you from serious head
injuries.
We provided all the
children with computers.
I punished my teenage daughter for going to a party without my
permission.
We quarreled with the
"Quarrel" is the same as "argue"
hotel receptionist about
(have a verbal conflict)
the extra charges on our
bill.
Environmental groups are reacting to the city's plans to build a
new shopping center in the middle of the park.
She stayed home from work because she's still recovering from
pneumonia.
Please refer to the
diagram on page 15.
The website has
"Related to" is also used for family
information on various
members - "I'm related to a famous
topics related to
actor. He's my cousin."
pregnancy.
You can't rely on other
"Rely on" is like "depend on"
people to make you
happy.
You remind me of my
sister - you have a similar
personality.
I reminded my husband to buy some milk at the store on the
way home from work.
I'll reply to your e-mail
later today.
The coast guard rescued
the fisherman from the
sinking boat.
The film director responded to the criticisms about his latest
movie.
The advertising campaign resulted in hundreds of new
customers for the company.
The fireman saved the
child from the burning
building.
The teacher scolded the To "scold" is to reprimand or criticize
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([doing] something)
search for
separate (something)
from (something)
share (something)
with (someone)
shout at
show (something) to
(someone)
smile at (someone)
speak to/with
(someone) about
(someone /
something)
specialize in
(something)
spend (money/time)
on
stand for
stare at
stem from
stop (someone) from
(doing something)
subject (someone) to
(something)
subscribe to
substitute
(something) for
I'm a biologist. I
specialize in the study of
tropical plants.
I spent $300 on this backpack because I wanted one that was
really high-quality.
NATO stands for the
North Atlantic Treaty
Organization.
When I dyed my hair
"Stare" means to look at something
bright green, a lot of
intensely for a long time
children stared at me.
The current health crisis "Stem from" is like "originate in"
stems from lack of
nutritional education.
I stopped the child from
playing with the scissors.
I was subjected to verbal abuse from my boss in my previous job
- that's why I quit.
I don't subscribe to any
magazines - I just read
them online.
You can substitute
chicken for beef in this
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(something)
succeed in (doing
something)
suffer from
suspect (someone) of
(something)
take advantage of
(someone/
something/
situation)
take care of
talk to/with
(someone) about
(topic)
tell (someone) about
(something)
thank (someone) for
(something)
think about
recipe.
She succeeded in
running a marathon in
under 4 hours.
My aunt suffers from
arthritis.
He is suspected of
planning a terrorist
attack.
With low interest rates,
many people took
advantage of the
opportunity to buy a
house.
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vote for
vouch for (someone /
something)
wait for
(someone/something
)
warn about
waste (money/time)
on
work for (a company
/ person)
work on (a project /
task)
worry about
write about
write to (someone)
yap about
yearn for
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