* He asked me for money. (not 'He asked to me')
EXERCISES
131.1 Complete the sentences. Choose one of the following verbs (in the correct form) + the correct preposition:
explain invite laugh listen point glance speak throw throw write
1. I look stupid with this haircut. Everybody will _laugh at_ me.
2. I don't understand what this means. Can you _explain_ it _to_ me?
3. I --- my watch to see what the time was.
4. We've been --- the party but unfortunately we can't go.
5. Please --- me! I've got something important to tell you.
6. Don't --- stones --- the birds! It's cruel.
7. If you don't want to eat that sandwich, --- it --- the birds. They'll eat it.
8. Sally and Kevin had an argument and now they're not --- one another.
9. I --- Joanna last week but she hasn't replied to my letter yet.
10. Be careful with those scissors! Don't --- them --- me!
131.2 Put in to or at where necessary.
1. They only invited a few people _to_ their wedding.
2. Look --- these flowers. Aren't they pretty?
3. Please don't shout --- me! Be nice to me!
4. I saw Sue as I was cycling along the road. I shouted --- her but she didn't hear me.
5. Don't listen --- what he says. He doesn't know what he's talking about.
6. Can I speak --- you for a moment? There's something I want to ask you.
7. Do you think I could have a look --- your newspaper, please?
8. I'm a bit lonely. I need somebody to talk ---.
9. She was so angry she threw a chair --- me.
10. The woman sitting opposite me on the train kept staring --- me.
131.3 You ask somebody to explain some things that you don't understand. Write sentences using explain (something) to me or explain to me (how/what ... etc.).
1. (I don't understand this word.) _Can you explain this word to me?_
2. (I don't understand what you mean.) _Can you explain to me what you mean?_
3. (I don't understand this question.) Can you explain ---.
4. (I don't understand the system.) Can ---.
5. (I don't understand how this machine works.) ---.
6. (I don't understand what your problem is.) ---.
131.4 Put in to where necessary. If the sentence is already complete, leave an empty space (-)
1. I know who she is but I've never spoken _to_ her.
2. George won't be able to help you, so there's no point in asking (-) him.
3. I like to listen --- the radio while I'm having breakfast.
4. We'd better phone --- the restaurant to reserve a table.
5. I apologized --- Bridget for the misunderstanding.
6. Don't forget to write --- me while you're away.
7. I thanked --- everybody for all the help they had given me.
8. I explained --- everybody what they had to do.
9. Mike described --- me how the accident happened.
10. I'd like to ask --- you some questions.
UNIT 132 Verb + preposition (2) about/for/of/after
A. Verb + about
talk ABOUT .../read ABOUT .../tell somebody ABOUT .../have a discussion ABOUT...
* We talked about a lot of things at the meeting.
but 'discuss something' (no preposition):
* We discussed a lot of things at the meeting. (not 'discussed about')
also: 'do something ABOUT something' (= do something to improve a bad situation):
* If you're worried about the problem, you should do something about it.
B. Care about, care for and take care of
care ABOUT somebody/something (= think that somebody/something is important):
* He's very selfish. He doesn't care about other people.
We say 'care what/where/how' (etc.) (without 'about'):
* You can do what you like. I don't care what you do.
care FOR somebody/something:
i) = like something (usually in questions and negative sentences):
* Would you care for a cup of coffee? (= Would you like ...?)
* I don't care for very hot weather. (= I don't like ...)
ii) = look after somebody:
* Albert is 85 and lives alone. He needs somebody to care for him.
take care OF ... (= look after):
* Have a nice holiday. Take care of yourself! (= look after yourself)
C. Verb + for
ask (somebody) FOR...
* I wrote to the company asking them for more information about the job.
but * I asked her a question./They asked me the way to the station. (no preposition)
apply (TO a person, a company etc.) FOR (a job etc.):
* I think this job would suit you. Why don't you apply for it?
wait FOR .../wait FOR something to happen:
* Don't wait for me. I'll join you later.
* I'm not going out yet. I'm waiting for the rain to stop.
search (a person/a place/a bag etc.) FOR ...:
* I've searched (the house) for my keys but I still can't find them.
leave (a place) FOR (another place):
* I haven't seen her since she left (home) for work this morning. (not 'left to work')
D. Look for and look after
look FOR ... (= search for, try to find):
* I've lost my keys. Can you help me to look for them?
look AFTER ... (= take care of):
* Albert is 85 and lives alone. He needs somebody to look after him. (not 'look for')
* You can borrow this book if you promise to look after it.
EXERCISES
132.1 Put in the correct preposition. If no preposition is needed, leave the space empty (-)
1. I'm not going out yet. I'm waiting _for_ the rain to Stop.
2. You're always asking me --- money. Ask somebody else for a change.
3. I've applied --- a job at the factory. I don't know if I'll get it.
4. If I want a job at the factory, who do I apply ---?
5. I've searched everywhere --- John but I haven't been able to find him.
6. I don't want to talk --- what happened last night. Let's forget it.
7. I don't want to discuss --- what happened last night. Let's forget it.
8. We had an interesting discussion --- the problem but we didn't reach a decision.
9. We discussed --- the problem but we didn't reach a decision.
10. I don't want to go out yet. I'm waiting --- the post to arrive.
11. Keith and Sonia are touring Europe. They're in Rome at the moment, but tomorrow they leave --- Venice.
12. The roof of the house is in very bad condition. I think we ought to do something --- it.
13. We waited --- Jim for half an hour but he never came.
14. Tomorrow morning I have to catch a plane. I'm leaving my house --- the airport at 7.30.
132.2 Complete the sentences with one of the following verbs (in the correct form) + preposition:
apply ask do leave look search talk wait
1. Police are _searching for_ the man who escaped from prison.
2. We're still --- a reply to our letter. We haven't heard anything yet.
3. George likes his job but he doesn't --- it much.
4. When I'd finished my meal, I --- the waiter . the bill.
5. Kate is unemployed. She has --- several jobs but she hasn't had any luck.
6. If something is wrong, why don't you --- something it?
7. Linda's car is very old but it's in excellent condition. She --- it well.
8. Diane is from Boston but now she lives in Paris. She --- Boston --- Paris
when she was 19.
132.3 Put in the correct preposition after care. If no preposition is needed, leave the space empty (-)
1. He's very selfish. He doesn't care _about_ other people.
2. Are you hungry? Would you care --- something to eat?
3. She doesn't care --- the examination. She's not worried whether she passes or falls.
4. Please let me borrow your camera. I promise I'll take good care --- it.
5. 'Do you like this coat?' 'Not really. I don't care --- the colour.'
6. Don't worry about arranging our holiday. I'll take care --- that.
7. I want to have a good holiday. I don't care --- the cost.
8. I want to have a good holiday. I don't care --- how much it costs.
132.4 Complete the sentences with look for or look after. Use the correct form of look.
1. I _looked for_ my keys but I couldn't find them anywhere.
2. Kate is --- a job. I hope she finds one soon.
3. Who --- you when you were ill?
4. I'm --- Elizabeth. Have you seen her?
5. All the car parks were full, so we had to --- somewhere to park.
6. A baby-sitter is somebody who --- other people's children.
UNIT 133 Verb + preposition (3) about and of
Some verbs can be followed by about or of, usually with a difference of meaning:
A. dream ABOUT ...:
* I dreamt about you last night. (when I was asleep)
dream OF being something/doing something (= imagine):
* I often dream of being rich.
* 'Don't tell anyone what I said.' 'No, I wouldn't dream of it.' (=I would never do it)
B. hear ABOUT ... (= be told about something):
* Did you hear about the fight in the club on Saturday night?
hear OF ... (= know that somebody/something exists):
* 'Who is Tom Madely?' 'I've no idea. I've never heard of him.' (not 'heard from him')
Also: hear FROM ... (= receive a letter or phone call from somebody):
* 'Have you heard from Jane recently?' 'Yes, I got a letter from her a few days ago.'
C. think ABOUT ... and think OF ...
When you think ABOUT something, you consider it, you concentrate your mind on it:
* You look serious. What are you thinking about?
* 'Will you lend me the money?' 'I'll think about it.'
When you think OF something, the idea comes to your mind:
* He told me his name but I can't think of it now. (not 'think about it')
* That's a good idea. Why didn't I think of that? (not 'think about that')
We also use think of when we ask or give an opinion:
* 'What did you think of the film?' 'I didn't think much of it.'
The difference is sometimes very small. Often you can use of or about:
* When I'm alone, I often think of (or about) you.
You can say 'think of or think about doing something' (for possible future actions):
* My sister is thinking of (or about) going to Canada. (= she is considering it)
D. remind somebody ABOUT ... (= tell somebody not to forget):
* I'm glad you reminded me about the meeting. I had completely forgotten it.
remind somebody OF ... (= cause somebody to remember):
* This house reminds me of the one I lived in when I was a child.
* Look at this photograph of Richard. Who does he remind you of?
E. complain (TO somebody) ABOUT ... (= say that you are not satisfied):
* We complained to the manager of the restaurant about the food.
complain OF a pain, an illness etc. (= say that you have a pain etc.):
* We called the doctor because George was complaining of a pain in his stomach.
F. warn somebody OF/ABOUT a danger, something bad which might happen:
* Everybody has been warned of/about the dangers of smoking.
warn somebody ABOUT somebody/something which is dangerous, unusual etc.:
* I knew he was a strange person. I had been warned about him. (not 'warned of him')
* Vicky warned us about the traffic. She said it would be bad.
EXERCISES
133.1 Put in the correct preposition.
1. Did you hear _about_ what happened at the party on Saturday?
2. '1 had a strange dream last night.' 'Did you? What did you dream ---?
3. Our neighbours complained --- us --- the noise we made last night.
4. Ken was complaining --- pains in his chest, so he went to the doctor.
5. I love this music. It reminds me --- a warm day in spring.
6. He loves his job. He thinks --- his job all the time, he dreams --- it, he talks --- it and I'm fed up with hearing --- it.
7. I tried to remember the name of the book but I couldn't think --- it.
8. Janet warned me --- the water. She said it wasn't safe to drink.
9. We warned our children --- the dangers of playing in the street.
133.2 Complete the sentences using one of the following verbs (in the correct form) + the correct preposition:
complain dream hear remind remind remind think think warn
1. That's a good idea. Why didn't I _think of_ that?
2. Bill is never satisfied. He is always --- something.
3. I can't make a decision yet. I need time to --- your proposal.
4. Before you go into the house, I must --- you the dog. He is very aggressive sometimes, so be careful.
5. She's not a well-known singer. Not many people have --- her.
6. A: You wouldn't go away without telling me, would you?
B: Of course not. I wouldn't --- it.
7. I would have forgotten my appointment if Jane hadn't --- me --- it.
8. Do you see that man over there? Does he --- you --- anybody you know?
133.3 Complete the sentences using bear or heard + the correct preposition (about/of/from).
1. I've never _hear of_ Tom Madely. Who is he?
2. 'Did you --- the accident last night?' 'Yes, Vicky told me.'
3. Jill used to write to me quite often but I haven't --- her for ages now.
4. A: Have you --- a writer called William Hudson?
B: No, I don't think so. What sort of writer is he?
5. Thank you for your letter. It was good to --- you again.
6. 'Do you want to --- our holiday?' 'Not now. Tell me later.'
7. I live in a very small town in the north of England. You've probably never --- it.
133.4 Complete the sentences using think about or think of. Use the correct form of think.
1. You look serious. What are you _thinking about?_
2. I like to have time to make decisions. I like to --- things carefully.
3. He's a very selfish person. He only --- himself.
4. I don't know what to get Ann for her birthday. Can you --- anything?
5. A: I've finished reading the book you lent me.
B: Have you? What did you --- it? Did you like it?
6. We're --- going out for a meal this evening. Would you like to come?
7. I don't really want to go out with Ian tonight. I'll have to --- an excuse.
8. Carol is rather homesick. She's always --- her family back home.
9. When I was offered the job, I didn't accept immediately. I went away and --- it for a while. In the end I decided to take the job.
10. I don't --- much --- this coffee. It's like water.
UNIT 134 Verb + preposition (4) of/for/from/on
A. Verb + of
accuse/suspect somebody OF ...:
* Sue accused me of being selfish.
*Three students were suspected of cheating in the examination.
approve OF ...:
* His parents don't approve of what he does, but they can't stop him.
die OF (an illness):
* 'What did he die of?' 'A heart attack.'
consist OF ...:
* We had an enormous meal. It consisted of seven courses.
B. Verb + for
pay (somebody) FOR ...:
* I didn't have enough money to pay (the waiter) for the meal. (not 'pay the meal')
but 'pay a bill/a fine/a tax/a fare/rent/a sum of money etc. (no preposition):
* I didn't have enough money to pay my telephone bill.
thank/forgive somebody FOR ...:
* I'll never forgive them for what they did.
apologize (to somebody) FOR ...:
* When I realized I was wrong, I apologized (to them) for my mistake.
blame somebody/something FOR ...:
* Everybody blamed me for the accident.
also: 'somebody is to blame for ...':
* Everybody said that I was to blame for the accident.
also: blame something ON ...:
* Everybody blamed the accident on me.
C. Verb + from
Suffer FROM (an illness etc.):
* The number of people suffering from heart disease has increased.
protect somebody/something FROM (or AGAINST) ...:
* Sun oil can protect the skin from the sun. (or . against the sun.)
D. Verb + on
depend ON.../rely ON ...:
* 'What time will you arrive?' 'I don't know. It depends on the traffic.'
* You can rely on Jill. She always keeps her promises.
You can use depend + when/where/how etc. (question words) with or without on:
* 'Are you going to buy it?' 'It depends how much it is.' (or depends on how much) live ON (money/food):
* George's salary is very low. It isn't enough to live on.
congratulate (someone) ON .../compliment (somebody) ON ...
* I congratulated her on her success0 the exam.
EXERCISES
134.1 Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.