Commonly Used Prepositional Verbs

Account for

We must account for all the information in our report.

Accuse (someone) of

The teacher accused Michael of cheating on the test.

Adapt to

We have adapted to living in the U.S.

Add to

6 added to 5 equals 11. The new requirement has

added to my worries about paying for my education.

Agree on

We agreed on an answer for the problem

Agree to

We agreed to the solution for the problem.

Agree with

I agree with your answer for the problem.

Apologize for something

He apologized for his rude behavior.

Apologize to someone

He apologized to his friends for his rude behavior.

Apply for

She is applying for Georgia State University.

Sheapplied for a teaching assistantship.

Approve of

The teacher approved of his plan for his research

paper.

Argue with someone

Michael argued with his teacher about his grade.

Argue about something

I argued politely with Michael about his ideas on the

economy.

Arrive at

We arrived at the test center on time.

They arrived at the same solution for the problem.

Ask for

We asked for more time on the test.

Become of

What became of Michael? Have you seen him lately?

I haven't seen him for a long time.

Believe in

He believes in his solution for the problem.

Belong to

She belongs to a tennis club.

Blame someone/something for

something

He blames his poor English for his grade on the test.

The citizens blame the government for the economic
problems.

Blame something on someone

He blamed his grade on his English.

The police blamed the explosion on a separatist group.

Borrow from

I borrowed some paper from my roommate.

Shakespeare borrowed his plots from other writers.

Care about

I really care about the environment.

Care for

I don't care for his attitude--I don't like it at all.

He is caring for his elderly parents.

Catch up with

Run faster--we have to catch up with the rest of the

group.
I caught up with the homework last weekend.

Come from

He comes from Egypt.

Comment on

The teacher commented on the effect of the election

on the economy.

Communicate about something

He communicated with his teacher about his grade.

Communicate with someone

He communicated with his teacher about his grade.

Compare with

Please compare Clinton's presidency with Reagan's.

He compared the food in the cafeteria with his
mother's cooking.

Complain about

The students complained about the food in the

cafeteria.

Compliment someone on
something

The teacher complimented Maria on the good work

she did on the examination.

Congratulate someone on
something

The teacher congratulated all the students on their

final reports.

Concentrate on

I want to concentrate on my major.

Consent to

My advisor consented to my plan.

Consist of

Grammar consists of syntax, morphology, semantics,

and phonology.
Water consists of hydrogen, oxygen, and a few other
elements.

Convince someone of
something

Michael convinced his teacher of the correctness of his

answer on the test. He convinced his teacher to change
his grade.

Decide between

I have to decide between coffee and tea to go with my

lunch.
He decided between the U.S. and Australia as the
place to study English.

Decide on

Michael decided on biology as his major.

Depend on

I depend on my family for money.

(Dis)approve of

Mary approves of my plan. Michael disapproves

ofmy ideas.

Dream about

He dreams about being a doctor.

Dream of

He dreams of Maria.
He dreams of being a doctor.

Excuse someone for

something

She excused him for being rude.

Explain something to someone

She explained her ideas about the project to the

teacher.

Get along with

He gets along well with many different people.

Get back from

We just got back from Egypt.

Get rid of

I need to get rid of my old car.

Get through with

I'll get through with school in late May.

Get used to

I can't get used to American food.

Happen to

What happened to Michael? He seems sad.

What happened to the oranges that I put in the
refrigerator? They're not there.

Have confidence in

Our teacher has confidence in our dedication to study.

Have influence on

His father had a lot of influence on his major.

Have an opportunity for

I have an opportunity for getting a scholarship.

I have an opportunity to get a scholarship.

Have patience with

The teacher has patience with us.

Have a reason for

You must have a good reason for your answer on the

math test.

Hear about

I heard about the lecture from Michael.

Hear from

I just got an email from Michael--I hear from him

everyday.

Hear of

Have you ever heard of a music group called

"Echelon"? They seem to be popular in France.

Insist on

The teacher insists on our being on time to class.

Introduce someone to
something/someone

Mary introduced her grammar teacher to Michael.

Invite someone to

Mary invited her grammar class to the lecture.

Keep for someone

Michael will be out of town for the summer. Mary

willkeep his cat for him while he is gone.

Keep away from someone

I don't like John's attitude. I want to keep away

fromhim.

Keep on

To learn English, you must keep on studying. You can't

stop after a few months.

Laugh about

Mary and Michael laughed about the article in the

newspaper.

Laugh at

They laughed at the silly joke.

Learn about

I learned about his problems from his mother.

Listen for

John and Mary are supposed to get home at 5:00 P.M.

Their mother is listening for their car.

Listen to

We listened to the new CD.

I listened to the teacher's lecture.

Look at

Please look at my answer to this problem.

Look for

I looked for information on the Web.

Look forward to

I am looking forward to my visit to Egypt.

Michael looked forward to visiting his family.

Object to

I object to your tone.

They objected to having a test on the last day of class.

Participate in

All the students participated in the discussion.

Pay for

He paid for our lunch.

We paid $120 for our textbooks.

Plan on

Michael planned on studying in the U.S

We're planning on going to the movie tonight.

Prefer to

I prefer tea to coffee.

He prefers English to chemistry.

Prepare for

Mary is preparing for TOEFL.

Prevent from

Her poor Spanish prevented her from getting the job

in Peru.

Provide for

His family provides for his tuition.

Provide someone with

something

I provided Michael with information for his report.

Recover from

She was very sick. But, she's recovering from her

illness rapidly.

Refer to

He referred to the Internet in his report.

Relate to

Michael related the economic decline to oil prices.

Rely on

I rely on my family for money.

We relied on the Internet for our research papers.

Remind someone of

Michael reminds me of my brother.

Search for

I searched for information about water pollution.

See about

We need to see about buying our textbooks for the

semester.

Send for

We sent for some books from home about the history

of our country.

Separate something from

something

Separate the yolk from the white of the egg.

Separate the truth from fiction.

Show up at

We didn't invite him--he just showed up at the party.

Spend money on
something/someone

He spends a lot of money on his girlfriend.

Stop from

His teacher wants him to stop from answering all the

questions in class.

Substitute for

Margarine can substitute for butter.

Mary will substitute for Michael next week--she can
teach his class for him.

Subtract from

The company will subtract the cost of

insurance fromyour salary.
His bad temper substracts from his other good
qualities.

Succeed at

Mary will succeed at any task she attempts.

I want to succeed at this new job.

Succeed in

He succeeded in passing the test.

She succeeded in her ambition to be a teacher.

Take advantage of

Let's go to the store right now. I want to take

advantage of the sale.
He's not a very good person. He will take advantage
of his friends to make money.

Talk about

Let's talk about your problem.

Talk over

We talked over the possible answers.

Talk to

I talked to my teacher about my test grade.

Talk with

Mary talked with Michael about this temper.

Thank someone for something

Michael thanked Mary for her advice.

Think about

The students thought about their answers to the math

problem. They considered all the possible answers.

Think of

They thought of several new ways to do the problem.

They developed several new methods.

Throw away

They cleaned their apartment and threw away two

sacks of old newspapers.

Vote for

We voted for the president of the student government.

Wait for

Michael was late for the meeting, and Mary waited

forhim for thirty minutes.

Waste money on
something/someone

My brother wasted a lot of money on a very old car.

He wasted time and energy on that car, too.

Wish for

He wished for a new car.

Work for

Michael works for a computer company.

Worry about

Mary worries about her grades.

Michael worries about money.

VERB

PREPOSITION

A
absorb
account
add
adjust
admit
agree
apply
appeal
argue
argue
arrange
arrive
apologize
approve
ask
accuse smb
arrest smb

in
for
to
to
to
with
for
to
with
about
for
in / at (byk mekanlarda in ,kk mekanlarda at)
for
of
for
of smt
for smt

B
base
beg
begin
benefit
believe
belong
boast
borrow
blame smb
blame smt

on
for
with
from
in
to
about
from
for smt
on smb

C
care
cater
choose
comment
collide
communicate
compare
compete
complain
compose

for / about
for
between
on
with
with
with / to
with
about
of

concern
concentrate
confess
confuse
congratulate
consist
contribute
cope
correspond
count
cover
crash
charge smb
charge smb
convict smb
convince smb
cure smb

about / with
on
to
with
on
of
to
with
with
on
with
into
with smt (sulamak)
for smt (para tahsil etmek)
of smt
of smt
of smt

D
decide
dedicate
depend
despair
deter
differ
disagree
disapprove
discuss
devote
dream
dress
drink
demand smt
derive smt
discourage smb
distinguish smb/smt
distract smb

on / against
to
on
of
from
from
with
of
with
to
of / about
in
to
from smb
from smt
from smt
from/between smb/smt
from smt

E
elaborate
emerge
escape
experiment
excuse smb
exchange smt

on
from
from
on
for smt
for smt

exclude smt
expel smb
explain smt

from smt
from smt
to smb

F
face
feel
feel
fight
forget
forgive someone

with
like
about
against/with/for
about
for something

G
guess
get married
get rid
get tired
grumble

at
to
of
of
about

H
hear
hide
hope
help smb
hinder smb/smt

of / about
from
of / for
with smt
from smt

I
impress
insist
insure
interfere
invest
involve smb/smt

on
on
against
with / in
in
in smb/smt

J
joke

about

K
know

about

L
laugh
listen
long
lend smt

at/about
to
for
to smb

M
meet

with

mistake
get married

for
to

O
object
operate

to
on

P
participate
pay
persist
pray
prepare
prohibit
praise smb
present smb
prevent smb
provide smb
provide smt
punish smb

in
for
in
for
for
from
for smt
with smt
from smt
with smt
for smb
for smb

Q
quarrel
quarrel

about smt
with smb

R
react
recon
recover
refer
rely
reply
resign
respond
result
retire
room
remind smb
rob smb

against / to
on
from
to
on
to
from
to
in
from
for
of smt
of smt

S
search
see
shout
smile
specialise

for
to
at
at
in

speak
stand
stare
stem
subscribe
substitute
succeed
suffer
save smb
sentence smb
share smt
subject smb
suspect smb

to
for
at
from
to
for
in
from
from smt
to smt
with smb
to smt
of smt

T
talk
talk
think
turn
tell smb
thank smb
translate smt
trust smb

to
about
of/about
to
about smt
for smt
into smt
with smt

U
use

for

V
vote

for

W
wait
wonder
work
worry
write
warn smb

for
at
on
about
to / about
about/against

accuse (someone) of ([doing] something)

add (something) to (something else)
admire (someone) for ([doing] something)
agree on (topic)
agree with (someone)
apologize to (someone) for ([doing] something)
apply to (a place) for (something)
approve of (something)
argue with (someone) about (topic)
arrive at (a building, room, site, event)
arrive in (a city, country)
ask (someone) about (someone/topic)
ask (someone) for (something)
believe in (something)
belong to (someone)
blame (someone) for ([doing] something)
borrow (something) from (someone)
care about (someone/something/topic)
comment on (topic)
compare (something) to/with (something else)
complain to (someone) about (something)
concentrate on ([doing] something)
congratulate (someone) for/on ([doing] something)
consist of (some things)
consent to ([doing] something)
contribute to (something)
count on (someone) to (do something)
cover (something) with (something else)
decide on (topic)
depend on (someone) for (something)
discuss (something) with (someone)
distinguish (something) from (something else)
dream about/of (someone/something)
escape from (somewhere)
explain (topic) to (someone)
excuse (someone) for ([doing] something)
forgive (someone for ([doing] something)
get rid of (something)
graduate from (a place)
happen to (someone)
help (someone) with (something)
hide (something) from (someone)
insist (up)on (something)
introduce (someone) to (someone else)
invite (someone) to (an event)
keep (something) for (someone)
matter to (someone)
object to (something)
participate in (something)
pay (price) for (something)
plan on ([doing] something)
pray for (someone/something)

prefer (something) to (something else)

prevent (someone) from ([doing] something)
prohibit (someone) from ([doing] something)
protect (someone) from (something)
provide (someone) with (something)
recover from (something)
rely (up)on (someone/something)
remind (someone) of (something)
rescue (someone) from (something)
respond to (someone/something)
save (someone) from (something)
search for (something)
separate (something) from (something else)
scold (someone) for ([doing] something)
smile at (someone) for ([doing] something)
speak to/with (someone) about (topic)
stare at (something/someone)
stop (someone) from ([doing] something)
subscribe to (something)
substitute (something) for (something else/someone)
subtract (something) from (something else)
succeed in ([doing] something)
suffer from (something)
take advantage of (someone/something/ situation)
take care of (something/someone)
talk to/with (someone) about (topic)
thank (someone) for ([doing] something)
travel to (somewhere)
vote for (someone)
vouch for (someone)
wait for (someone/something)
wish for (something)
work for (company/something/someone)

Verbs, with definitions

Examples

account for something - to give How can you account for your
an explanation
absence at the meeting?
accuse someone of something He was accused of murder. They
to charge someone with
accused him of murder. He was
something wrong (e.g., a crime,
accused of stealing money.
an offense)
add something to something - to She added a little milk to coffee.
put something together with
Add two to three - how much do
something else
you get?
agree about/on something - to
have the same opinion about
something as someone else

They agree about everything.

They don't always agree on the
way children should be raised.

agree with someone / something

I don't agree with you about it. I
- to have the same opinion as
don't agree with your plan.
someone else
answer for something - to be
responsible for one's actions

He will have to answer for his

actions. He should answer for
his rude behavior.

apply for something - to make

an application or request for
something

He applied for the position of

sales representative. I want to
apply for a job.

Her father doesn't approve of

approve of something - to be in
her boyfriend. Her mother
favor of something
doesn't approve of smoking.
argue about something - to
disagree or quarrel about
something

What are they arguing about?

He is always arguing about
something.

argue with someone - to quarrel

Stop arguing with me!
with someone
arrive in (some city) - to come
to some city

He arrived in London yesterday.

We arrived in Chicago at night.

ask about someone / something He asked me about my relatives.

- to ask for information about
He asked me about my future
someone or something
plans.
ask for something - to request
something

He asked for a cup of coffee. He

asked for a permission to leave.

The painting is above the

be above someone / something mantelpiece. The weight of this
to be higher than (literally and
box is above 50 kilograms. He is
figuratively)
above suspicion.
be after - to be later than the
specified hour

It was after eleven at night. It is

ten minutes after five.

be against something - to

I am against your plan.

oppose something
be into something - to be
interested in something

He is into computers. She is into

jazz.

be out of something - not to

have

We are out of sugar. We are out

of time.

begin with something - to start

with something

Begin with Chapter 3.

believe in someone / something

He believes in you. She believes
- to have faith in someone /
in justice for all.
something
belong to someone - to be
property of someone

This house belongs to his son.

This bag belongs to me.

blame someone for something She blamed him for the loss of
to say that someone is
her bag. He is to blame for this
responsible for something
terrible mistake.
wrong
borrow something from
someone - to take and have to
give back / pay back

I borrowed fifty dollars from

Tom. I borrowed a bicycle from
Kate.

break into (a house) - to get in

by force

They broke into the house at

night.

break with - to sever relations;

to cease one's connection with
someone or something

He broke with his family. He

broke with his old friends. He
broke with the past.

call someone at (this telephone

number) - to dial the number
and speak to someone

Call me at 555-3246.

care about someone / something 1. He cares about his little sister.

- 1. to like; 2. to be interested in 2. I don't care about your
something
opinion.
care for someone / something 1. to like; 2. to want; 3. to look
after someone / something

1. He cares for his little sister. 2.

Do you care for a drink? 3. Will
you care for my cat while I'm
away?

change something for

something - to exchange for,
trade for something

Can I change this bag for that

one? Could I change these
dollars for euros, please?

1. change into something - to

put on a new set of clothes; 2.
change into someone /
something - to turn into, to
convert into someone /
something different

1. I need to change into warmer

clothes. 2. The little boy in the
fairy tale was changed into a
monster. I'd like to change these
dollars into pounds, please.

charge for something - to ask as How much do you charge for a

a price for service or goods
single room?

We checked into a hotel at night.

check into (a hotel, a hospital) She checked into a hospital two
to register at arrival
days ago.
check out of (a hotel) - to pay
the bill and leave (the hotel)

I checked out of the hotel at

noon.

Yesterday I came across an

come across something - to find
interesting article on vegetarian
by chance
cooking.
come from (some place) - to be He comes from a small town in
from (some place)
France.
come into (some place) - to
enter

Mary came into the room.

come to something - to reach

(place, result, position, state,
etc.)

She came to Moscow yesterday.

The bill comes to $50. The
struggle came to an end in July.
The military came to power in
1978. He fainted, but he came to
himself quickly.

comment on something - to give He commented on the current

one's opinion about something situation.
compare someone / something
Compare this car with that car.
with someone / something - to
This writer is often compared
examine to see the difference or
with Leo Tolstoy.
similarity
complain about something - to
be dissatisfied with something

She is always complaining

about her job. She complained
about her noisy neighbor.

Complain to the manager (about

complain to someone - to report
it). Complain to the police about
a complaint to somebody
his actions.
concentrate (something) on
something - to give full
attention to something

They concentrated their efforts

on getting the contract. I am
trying to concentrate on my
work.

congratulate someone on
I congratulated him on his new
something - to express praise to
job. He congratulated her on her
someone for success in
excellent exam results.
something
connect to - to join two things
together

Are you connected to the

Internet? Can you connect me to
Mr. Cole?

connect with - 1. to have a

connection with; 2. to join two
things together

1. This bank is connected with

several big banks. Her work is
connected with music. 2. Can
you connect me with Mr. Cole?

consent to something - to agree Her father consented to her

to something

marriage.

consist of - to be composed of
(parts, ingredients)

Water consists of hydrogen and

oxygen. The book consists of
five chapters.

contribute something to
something - to give (money,
time, etc.)

He contributed a lot of money,

time and effort to this research.

correspond with someone - to

be in correspondence with

He corresponds with many

famous people.

count on someone - to depend / You can always count on me for

rely on someone
help.
count to (some number) - to
count

Close your eyes and count to 10.

dedicate to - 1. to give one's

time, energy, effort to
something; 2. to do something
in honor of someone

1. This scientist dedicated his

whole life to research. 2. He
dedicated his latest novel to his
daughter.

depart for (some place) - to

leave for (some place)

The train departs for Paris at one

o'clock.

depart from (some place) - to

leave (some place)

The train departs from Rome at

6:30.

depend on someone / something

1. It depends on the weather. 2.
- 1. to be conditioned by; 2. to
You can always depend on him.
rely on, to count on someone
devote to - to give one's time,
energy, effort to something or
someone

This scientist devoted his whole

life to research. He devotes his
Sundays to children.

disagree about/on something to have different opinions

They disagree about everything.

They often disagree on the way
children should be raised.

disagree with someone /

something - to have a different
opinion from someone else

I disagree with you about it. I

disagree with your plan.

do without something - to live

without something

We have to do without
chocolate.

drive at - to drive at a certain

speed

He was driving at 70 miles per

hour when the accident
happened.

drop out of school - to quit

school

He dropped out of school when

he was 15.

equip someone / something

with something - to provide
with necessary things

The kitchen is equipped with

modern appliances. They
equipped the expedition with
tools and maps.

excuse someone for something - Please excuse me for being late.

to forgive someone for

something

Excuse me for interrupting you,

but could you give me a copy of
the report?

expect something from

someone - to expect (good
work, results, etc.)

Don't expect good work from

him, he is lazy and careless. I
expected more from her.

explain something to someone - Can you explain this task to the

to make clear
students?
fall in love with someone or
something - to begin to love

They fell in love and got

married. He fell in love with
Mary. She fell in love with jazz
music.

fall over something - to trip

over something and fall

He fell over a stair and hurt his

knee.

feel about - to have an opinion

about

How do you feel about his new

plan?

forget about someone /

something

Sorry, I forgot about your

request.

forgive someone for something

Please forgive me for losing

your book.

get into something - to enter

(place, state, etc.)

Get into the car! She doesn't get

into town often. He got into
trouble.

get off the bus, train, plane - to

leave the bus, train, plane

He got off the train at the River

Station.

get on the bus, train, plane - to

take a bus, train, plane

He got on the bus on Maple

Avenue.

Get out of the house! He got out

get out of (some place) - to exit of the car and walked to the
bank.
get over something - to recover You'll get over it soon. I'm glad
from an illness or bad
you got over your illness so
experience
quickly.
get through something - to go
through something

The refrigerator won't get

through this narrow door. I don't
know how he got through
college, he never studied.

get to (some place) - to reach

(some place)

We got to London at night.

Give the book to Ann. She often

give something to someone - to
gives to charity. Give my
present, to hand something to
regards to your family. He gives
someone / something
all his time to work.
go by - 1. to go past someone / 1. She went by me without
something, pass by; 2. to travel saying hello. 2. He always goes

using some transport

to work by train.

go down (the stairs, road, etc.) - 1. Go down the stairs and turn
1. to descend; 2. to go along the right. 2. He went down the street
street
to the bank.
go for something - to go and do Let's go for a walk. Let's go for
something
a drive.
go into something - 1. to enter;
2. to examine in detail

1. He went into that building. 2.

I can't go into your report now.

go over/through something - to
review, to look through
something

Go over these chapters again.

go through something - 1. to
move through, pass through
something; 2. to look through
something

1. The refrigerator won't go

through this narrow door. She
went through the park. He's
gone through a lot of suffering.
2. Go through these chapters
again.

go to (some place) - to reach,

visit, travel to, attend (some
place)

Go to bed. Go to page 9. He
went to the bank. He went to
Rome last year. Her son goes to
law school. I have to go to work
now. Does this bus go to the
center?

go up (the stairs, the hill, etc.) - We went up the stairs to the

to climb (the stairs, the hill,
third floor. Jack and Jill went up
etc.)
the hill.
graduate from (school) - to
finish school

He graduated from college in

1997.

happen to someone

What happened to Tom? He

looks awful.

have something against

someone - to have a reason to
be against

What do you have against my

plan? He has a couple of things
against you.

hear about someone / something

Have you heard about the
- to learn about someone
accident?
/something
hear from someone - to have
news from someone

I haven't heard from him in

years.

help someone with something - What can I help you with? He

to assist someone with
helped me with my report /with
something
my work.
hint at something - to suggest
something indirectly

What are you hinting at? He

hinted at this possibility.

hint to someone - to suggest

something indirectly to
someone

He hinted to me that he wanted

to buy that house.

inform someone about/of

something - to tell someone
about something

He informed the committee

about his decision to resign from
his post.

insist on something - to demand He insists on selling the house.

introduce someone to someone
- to present someone to other
people

She introduced him to her

friends.

invest something in something He invested a lot of money,

to put in (money, hopes, work,
time, and effort in this business.
time)
invite someone to something to ask to come as a guest

They invited me to dinner. They

invited us to the wedding.

judge by something - to form an Judging by the look of the

opinion on the basis of
house, nobody lives in it. Don't
something
judge a book by its cover!
knock at/on (the door) - to beat
lightly on something

Somebody is knocking on the

door. I knocked at the door.

lag behind someone - to be

behind others in something

The little boy lagged behind the

older boys. He is lagging behind
the other students.

laugh at - 1. to laugh (at a funny 1. We all laughed at his jokes. 2.

joke); 2. to make fun of
The boys laughed at the new
someone /something
boy. They laughed at his accent.
lead to something - 1. to guide
to someone / something; 2. to
result in something

1. He led us to the director's

office. This road leads to a nice
lake. 2. His carelessness led to a
tragic accident.

The train leaves for Paris at

leave for (some place) - 1. to go
twelve o'clock. He left his wife
to (a place); 2. to abandon one
for a younger woman. He left
thing and start another
his job for a sailing expedition.
leave from (some place) - to
depart from (some place)

The train leaves from Rome at

6:30.

leave something to someone - to She left the house to her son.

give something to someone (as Leave it to me, I'll do it. Leave
inheritance or for work)
this task to Jim.
lend something to someone - to I lent fifty dollars to a friend of
give something to someone on mine. I lent my bicycle to Tom
the condition of returning it
till Saturday.
listen to someone / something - 1. Listen to the teacher. He is
1. pay attention by listening; 2. listening to music. 2.You should
to obey
listen to your parents.
live on something - 1. to live on
a certain street; 2. to live on
certain food; 3. to live on
certain income

1. She lives on Baker Street. 2.

She lives on apples, bread, and
cheese. 3. She lives on 500
dollars a month.

long for something - to want

something very much

He longed for a real friend, but

he was always alone.

A babysitter looks after the

look after someone / something
children when their mother is at
- to watch, take care of someone
work. Who looks after this
/something
garden?
look at someone / something 1. to take a look at someone /
something; 2. to consider
something

1. He looked at her for a long

time. What are you looking at?
2. I'll look at your report
tomorrow.

look for someone / something I'm looking for Tom Brown.

to search for someone /
What are you looking for?
something
The police are looking into the
look into something - to
matter. You should look into this
examine, investigate something
problem.
look out of (the window) - to
look outside

He looked out of the window.

look over / through something Look over your notes before the
to examine, go over, go through
test.
something
make from - to produce, to
create something from
something

She made a summer dress from

a length of silk. Butter is made
from milk.

be made of - to be made up of
some material

This ring is made of gold. This

dress is made of silk.

mark with something - to make

Mark mistakes with a red pencil.
more visible
move into (a house) - to begin
to reside in (a house)

They've just moved into a new

house.

move to (another city, house) to change the place of living

They moved to another house

last year.

name someone after someone to name in honor of someone

He was named after his famous

uncle. They named their son
after his uncle.

object to something - to be
against something

I objected to his plan.

offer (a certain sum) for

something - to intend to give

How much do they offer for the

house? They offer 50,000
dollars for it.

offer something to someone - to They offered four thousand

intend to give
dollars to her mother.
1. He opened the door with a
open with something - 1. to
key. 2. The director opened the
open with a tool; 2. to start with
meeting with a joke.

owe for something - to have to

pay for something

How much do I owe you for the

book?

owe to someone - 1. have to pay

back to someone; 2. to feel
indebted to someone /
something

1. He owes $15,000 to the law

company that represented him.
2. He owes his success in life to
his family and to his hard work.

pass by someone / something to go past, go by someone /

something

She passed by me without

saying hello.

pay for something - to give

money for something

How much did you pay for this

bag?

point at someone - to direct (a

finger, gun) to someone

Don't point at people! He

pointed a gun at him.

prefer (one thing) to (another) I prefer this song to that one. I

to like one thing more than the
prefer tea to coffee.
other thing
prevent someone from doing
something - to stop someone
from doing something

How can I prevent him from

making this terrible mistake?
His illness prevented him from
coming to the meeting.

provide with something - to

give, supply with

He provided us with
information, food, and money
for our trip.

pull into something - 1. to drag

into; 2. to come to some place
(about a vehicle)

1. They pulled him into a car

and drove off. 2. The bus is
pulling into the station.

pull out of something - 1. take

out of; 2. to leave (about a
vehicle)

1. He pulled a wallet out of his

pocket. 2. The bus is pulling out
of the station now.

push someone into something - They pushed him into a car and
to make someone get in
drove off.
He reached for the vase on the
reach for something - to stretch
shelf above. She reached for her
one's hand to get something
bag.
rely on someone / something You can always rely on him.
to count on, depend on someone
You can always rely on his help.
/ something
remind someone of something This town reminds me of my
or someone - to cause someone hometown. Thank you for
to remember
reminding me of the meeting.
remind someone about
Thank you for reminding me
something - to tell someone not
about the meeting.
to forget about something
remove something from (a
place) - to take away from (a
place)

Please remove your books from

the table. I removed the stains
from your shirt.

replace someone / something

by/with someone / something

Coal was replaced by electricity.

Tom is sick, so we will have to
replace him with Jim. He
replaced the old pipe with a new
one.

report on something - to give

information on something

He reported on the current

situation.

report something to someone to inform someone about

something

He reported her absence to the

boss.

run across - to meet or find by

chance

I ran across an old friend

yesterday. I ran across her old
photo in that book.

run for - 1. run to get

something; 2. to try to get a
position of

1. Run for help! Run for cover!

2. He is going to run for
President.

run into someone - to meet by

chance

I ran into an old friend

yesterday.

run out of something - 1. to run 1. He ran out of the house. 2.

outside; 2. to end (about
We've run out of sugar. We are
supplies)
running out of time.
run to - 1. to go to someone for
1. She always runs to him for
help or advice; 2. to come to the
help. 2. The bill ran to $300.
amount
Save this wine for next week.
save (something) for someone /
We have to save money for
something - to preserve, put
Mike's education. He's saving
aside for future use
for a new computer.
save someone from something - The man saved the boy from
to rescue someone from danger, drowning. We can't save him
harm, failure, loss, etc.
from his own foolishness.
say something about something
What can you say about his new
- to express an opinion about
book?
something
search for someone / something He is searching for eternal
- to look for someone /
beauty. The police are searching
something
the suburbs for the missing boy.
see through something - to see
what is behind something

I can't see through this glass. We

saw through his clever plan.

shout at someone - to yell at

someone

Don't shout at children.

speak about something - to talk He spoke about the necessity of

about something
reforms.
She is speaking with her friend
speak to/with someone - to talk
right now. Who do you want to
to/with someone
speak to?

spend (money, time) on

something

How much time did you spend

on this report? How much
money do you spend on food?

She stood by him in everything

stand by someone / something he did. He stood by his decision
to support, be loyal to someone
despite her protest.
stand for something - to
symbolize, mean

What does the letter Q in IQ

stand for?

start with something - to begin

with something

Start with Chapter 3.

stay at (some place) - to live at

some place for a while

We stayed at the Sheraton Hotel.

I stayed at my sister's for two
weeks.

stay with someone - to be with

someone, visit with someone

Stay with me for an hour. He

stayed with us for Christmas.

stop at - to stop at a certain

place

He stopped at the red traffic

light. He will stop at nothing!
We stopped at my sister's.

stop someone from doing

How can I stop him from
something - to prevent someone
making this terrible mistake?
from doing something
take after someone - to
resemble one's parents in
character or looks

He takes after his father in

appearance. She takes after her
mother in character.

take someone for someone - to

Sorry, I took you for your sister.
confuse someone with someone
Who do you take me for?
else
talk about something - to speak
What are you talking about?
about something
talk someone into something to persuade into doing
something

He talked her into selling the

house.

talk someone out of something He talked her out of selling the

to persuade someone out of
house.
doing something
talk to/with someone - to speak She is talking with her friend
to/with someone
right now.
tell someone about something to inform someone about
He told me about your plans.
something
tell by something - to judge by
something

I could tell by his voice that he

was scared.

thank someone for something to say thank you

She thanked him for his help.

Thank you for telling me about
it.

think about/of someone /

something

I have never thought about it

before.

touch on something - to
mention as a subject

We touched on many questions

briefly.

translate something into

(another language)

Translate this passage into

English.

translate something from

(another language)

This passage was translated

from German.

turn around (the corner) - to go

around (the corner)

He turned around the corner and

went down the street to the
bank.

turn into someone / something He turned into a monster. He

to change into someone /
was turned into a stone.
something
turn to someone / something to move and face someone /
something

Turn to me, please. He turned to

the window and didn't answer.

vote for someone / something - Five members voted for the

to vote in favor of someone /
candidate. Did you vote for the
something
new plan or against it?
vote against someone /
something - to oppose
someone / something

One member voted against the

resolution.

wait for someone / something

I waited for the bus for twenty

minutes.

He warned me about the danger

warn about something - to
there. He warned you about the
advise about (risk, danger, etc.)
boss's temper.
warn against something - to
advise avoiding something

He warned me against going

there alone.

I am still wondering about his

wonder about something - to
behavior at the meeting. I
think about something with
wonder about the origin of this
curiosity or trying to understand
problem.
wonder at something - to
admire, marvel at or be
surprised by something

I wondered at his strength and

composure in such a difficult
situation.

work at - 1. to have a job at

some place; 2. work at/on
something - to work (hard) on
something

1. He works at a bank. She

works at IBM. 2. Work at your
pronunciation. He is still
working on his new novel.

1. He works for IBM. He works

work for - 1. to work for an
for a newspaper. 2. He agreed to
employer; 2. to get a certain pay
work for $2,000 a month. He
for work
works for free.

work in (some place) - to have a He works in a bank. She works

job at some place
in a restaurant.
worry about someone /
something - to feel concerned
about someone / something

She worries about her son. She

is worried about her son. What
are you worrying about? Don't
worry about money.

He wrote an article about his

write about something or
trip to Spain. In his letter, he
someone - to describe in writing writes about an old friend of his
who lives in our city.
write to someone - to address
letters to someone

She wrote a letter to the

manager.