When learning English, one of the building blocks to master is the use of prepositional verbs. These are special verbs that always come with a specific preposition, forming a unique meaning together. Think of them as a team, where both the verb and the preposition are needed to complete the action. In this article, we’ll explore what prepositional verbs are and provide a list of common ones to help you on your language journey.
What Are Prepositional Verbs?
“Prepositional verbs” are made up of two parts: a verb (an action word like ‘run’, ‘jump’, or ‘think’) and a preposition (a small word like ‘at’, ‘for’, or ‘with’ that shows a relationship between things in a sentence).
When you put a verb and a preposition together, they create a special meaning. It’s like a team-up in a superhero movie, where the hero and sidekick join forces to do something amazing!
Common English Prepositional Verbs
Here’s a list of widely used prepositional verbs with examples to help you understand how they are used in sentences:
Listen to – to pay attention to sounds.
- Example: Listen to your teacher’s instructions.
Speak to – to talk to someone.
- Example: Could I speak to the manager, please?
Think about – to consider
- Example: Have you thought about what you want for your birthday?
Care for – to like or to look after
- Example: She cares for her plants like they’re her children.
Search for – to look for something.
- Example: He’s searching for a new job.
Run into – to meet someone unexpectedly.
- Example: I ran into an old friend at the mall.
Work for – to be employed by.
- Example: She works for a non-profit organization.
Laugh at – to make fun of or ridicule.
- Example: It’s not nice to laugh at others’ mistakes.
Insist on – to demand something forcefully.
- Example: He insists on paying for dinner.
Refer to – to mention or talk about someone or something.
- Example: She referred to the manual for instructions.
Work on – to be engaged in physical or mental activity to achieve a purpose.
- Example: She’s working on a new project.
Apologize for – to say sorry for something.
- Example: He apologized for being late.
Believe in – to have faith or trust in something or someone
- Example: Do you believe in love at first sight?
Pay for – to give money in exchange for something
- Example: I paid for the groceries.
Apply for – to formally request something, usually in writing
- Example: I need to apply for a new passport.
Stand for – to represent or mean.
- Example: What does this acronym stand for?
Decide on – to choose something after thinking.
- Example: Have you decided on a venue for the party?
Look for – to search for.
- Example: I’m looking for my keys.
Concentrate on – to focus on something.
- Example: You need to concentrate on your studies.
Depend on – to rely on; similar to “rely on.”
- Example: Success depends on hard work.
Agree with – to have the same opinion as someone else.
- Example: I agree with you on that matter.
Look into – to investigate or examine.
- Example: The police will look into the matter.
Object to – to express disagreement.
- Example: I object to this decision.
Think about – to consider something.
- Example: I need to think about your proposal.
Complain about – to express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.
- Example: She complained about the noise.
Dream about – to imagine or hope for something
- Example: He dreams about traveling around the world.
Refer to – to mention or allude to.
- Example: The teacher referred to the textbook for examples.
Respond to – to reply or react to something.
- Example: Please respond to my email as soon as possible.
Subscribe to – to agree to receive something, typically a publication.
- Example: I subscribe to several online newsletters.
Think of – to consider or have an opinion about something.
- Example: What do you think of this idea?
Talk about – to discuss.
- Example: We need to talk about your grades.
Worry about – to be anxious or concerned.
- Example: Don’t worry about the small details.
Wait on – to serve or assist.
- Example: The waiter waited on us immediately.
Ask for – to request something
- Example: He asked for a glass of water.
Wait for – to stay until someone or something arrives
- Example: I’ll wait for you at the entrance.
Yearn for – to have a strong desire for something.
- Example: She yearns for a holiday in the mountains.
Rely on – to depend on
- Example: You can rely on me for support.
Belong to – to be owned by.
- Example: This book belongs to me.
Look after – to take care of
- Example: Can you look after my dog while I’m on vacation?
Vouch for – to confirm that someone is who they say they are or that they are of good character.
- Example: I can vouch for his reliability.
Tips to Remember Them
- Listen and read: Pay attention when listening to English songs or watching movies. You’ll hear them a lot!
- Use them in sentences: The best way to remember prepositional verbs is to use them. Try making sentences with them.
- Practice makes perfect: The more you practice, the better you’ll get. Don’t worry about making mistakes.
Must Try:
Transportation Prepositions: In, On, By
Prepositional Phrases of Time and Place
