Prepositions in Special Combinations

Prepositions in Special Combinations

verbs and Prepositions

In English some verbsare associated with certain prepositions. The prepostion and its object may follow the verb dirrectly or may be separated from it an adverbial modifier or by the object of the verb. 

Here exemples of a few of the most common combinations:

approve of                          She approves of my plans to go to mountains.
blame for                            He can hardly blame her for her trouble with plan schedules.
believe in                            He believes in good nutrition.
care for                                I am sure I would not care for her job (like)
                                            Doctors and nurses care for poeple who are ill. (take care of)
comment on                      He commented at length on her work schedule.
complain about                 She complained bitterly about it.
deal with                             They will deal with the conflict fairly.
decide on                            She has decided on a tittle for her book.
depend on                          What he does may depend on a number of consideration.
excuse . . . for                    I am prepared to excuse him for the delay.
explain to                            She will explain her situation to the manager in detail.
listen for                              Will you please listen for my telephone?
listen to                                He will probably listen sympathetically to her complain.
look for                                                She is only looking for a new clerk
object to                              Just what did he object to?
refer to                                                She referred to my complaint in her letter.
rely on                                  You can rely on the train schedule.
talk about                            We talked about travel plans.
talk to                                   When did you talk to your cousin?
think about                         What do you think about my situation to the problem

 The following chart contains some other frequent combinations

at                                            on                                                           to

look at                                  bet on                                                   compare to
throw at                               depend on                                                 add to
aim at                                    bank on                                            introduce to
stop at                                  call on                                                correspond to
laugh at                               insist on                                                  belong to
                                                                                                         espond to
for                                          with                                                     listen to
                                                                                                            give to
thank for                             compare with                                   take exception to
reach for                              correspond with                                     take to
pay for                                  agree with                                          be suited to
pray for                                comply with                                              force to
work for                               be filled with
live for                                  be concerned with                                  about
look for                                                                                               
hope for                              of                                                            worry about
wish for                                                                                       be concerned about
have respect for               be full of
                                    take advantage of
                                         apprise of
                                       consist of

Note that the verbs discuss and concern are not used with prepositions in the noun + verb + noun pattern.

                We discuss a problem.
                But not :
                We discuss about a problem.

In the passive voice (noun + verb + adverbial pattern), concern may be followed by a preposition.

                She is concerned with international trade. (This is her field of work or interest)
                She is concerned about international trade. (She is worried about it)

Preposition at the End of Sentences

It used to be said that one should never enda sentences with a preposition, but in actual practice that is a rule that cannot always be followed. The prepositions in verb-preposition combinations commonly end sentences under the following circumstances.

When an interrogative is the subject of the preposition.

                Who/ Whom are you speaking to?
                What are you looking for?

When a relative pronoun is used as the object of the preposition.

                This is the house that I used to live in.
                There is the man that I was speaking of.

When the relative pronoun is omitted.

                Here is the book of which I was speaking.
                Here is the book I was speaking of.

When which is replaced by that.

                This is the house in which I used to live.
                This is the house that I used to live in.

Adjective clauses of the kind behave in the same way when they are embedded in the sentence.

                The house in which I used to live is being torn down.
                The house that I used to live in being torn down.

After an infinitive at the end of the sentence.

                He used his new pen to write with.

After a passive infinitive at the end of sentence.

                I like to be listened to.
                They are not to be depended on (upon).

Notice the position of the preposition in the followin sentences.

                He admires the person for whom he works.
                He admires the person whom he work for.
                He admires the person that he works for.
                He admires the person he works for.

The sentences in the preceding section that end with preposition are informal. The other are formal and are likely to appear only in formal writing.

posted by : Rianda Rita Ayu