Learning to use prepositions with verbs is a crucial step in mastering the English language. Prepositions are small words that are often placed before nouns or pronouns to show direction, location, time, or to introduce an object. When combined with verbs, they can completely change the meaning of the verb, leading to what we call “phrasal verbs.” Understanding how to use prepositions with verbs can be particularly challenging for learners because the combinations often don’t follow a clear, logical pattern and must be memorized.
What are Phrasal Verbs?
Phrasal verbs are verbs that are combined with one or more prepositions (or sometimes adverbs) to create a new meaning. For example, the verb “look” can be combined with different prepositions to form different phrasal verbs:
– **Look after**: to take care of someone or something.
– **Look for**: to search for something.
– **Look forward to**: to anticipate something with pleasure.
– **Look up**: to search for information.
As you can see, the addition of a preposition can significantly alter the meaning of the original verb. This is why learning phrasal verbs is essential for effective communication in English.
Common Phrasal Verbs and Their Meanings
Below is a list of some common phrasal verbs and their meanings. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it should give you a good starting point.
1. **Get**
– **Get up**: to rise from bed.
– **Get along**: to have a good relationship.
– **Get away**: to escape.
– **Get over**: to recover from something (e.g., an illness or heartbreak).
– **Get by**: to manage or survive.
2. **Take**
– **Take off**: to remove something (e.g., clothing) or for an airplane to leave the ground.
– **Take after**: to resemble a family member.
– **Take up**: to start a new hobby or activity.
– **Take over**: to assume control of something.
– **Take back**: to retract a statement.
3. **Put**
– **Put off**: to postpone.
– **Put on**: to wear something.
– **Put out**: to extinguish a fire.
– **Put up with**: to tolerate.
– **Put forward**: to propose an idea.
4. **Make**
– **Make up**: to invent a story or to reconcile after an argument.
– **Make out**: to understand or decipher.
– **Make off**: to escape.
– **Make up for**: to compensate for something.
– **Make over**: to change or improve the appearance of something.
Using Prepositions in Sentences
In addition to forming phrasal verbs, prepositions are also used with verbs to provide additional information about the action. Here are some examples to illustrate this point:
1. **Talk about**
– **Example**: “We need to talk about your behavior.”
– Here, the preposition “about” is used to indicate the subject of the discussion.
2. **Depend on**
– **Example**: “Success depends on your effort.”
– The preposition “on” is used to show what something relies upon.
3. **Listen to**
– **Example**: “She loves to listen to music.”
– The preposition “to” indicates what is being listened to.
4. **Agree with**
– **Example**: “I agree with your opinion.”
– The preposition “with” shows agreement with a person or idea.
5. **Apologize for**
– **Example**: “He apologized for his mistake.”
– The preposition “for” indicates the reason for the apology.
Common Mistakes and Tips for Avoiding Them
Even advanced learners of English can struggle with using prepositions correctly. Here are some common mistakes and tips to help you avoid them:
1. Mixing Up Prepositions
– **Mistake**: “I am interested on learning languages.”
– **Correction**: “I am interested in learning languages.”
– **Tip**: Pay close attention to which prepositions are used with specific verbs. It often helps to memorize them as fixed expressions.
2. Overusing Prepositions
– **Mistake**: “Where are you at?”
– **Correction**: “Where are you?”
– **Tip**: Some verbs do not require a preposition. Be mindful of unnecessary prepositions.
3. Translating Directly from Your Native Language
– **Mistake**: “She depends of her parents.”
– **Correction**: “She depends on her parents.”
– **Tip**: Prepositions vary greatly between languages. When learning a new verb-preposition combination, try to learn it as a whole phrase rather than translating word-for-word.
4. Confusing Similar Phrasal Verbs
– **Mistake**: “He looked over the document” (when you mean he examined it carefully).
– **Correction**: “He looked through the document.”
– **Tip**: Make sure to learn the meanings of similar phrasal verbs to avoid confusion. For example, “look over” means to review quickly, while “look through” means to examine carefully.
Practice Exercises
The best way to master prepositions with verbs is through practice. Here are some exercises to help you get started:
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct prepositions:
1. She is looking ___ her keys.
2. He apologized ___ being late.
3. They are interested ___ the new project.
4. We will talk ___ the issue tomorrow.
5. She is afraid ___ spiders.
Exercise 2: Match the Phrasal Verbs
Match the phrasal verbs to their meanings:
1. Take off
2. Put up with
3. Make up
4. Get over
5. Look after
a. To tolerate
b. To remove
c. To recover from
d. To invent a story
e. To take care of
Exercise 3: Sentence Correction
Correct the mistakes in these sentences:
1. She is good in playing tennis.
2. I am waiting for my friend since 2 PM.
3. He is responsible of the project.
4. She takes care for her younger brother.
5. I am looking forward for the weekend.
Conclusion
Mastering the use of prepositions with verbs is essential for fluency in English. These small but powerful words can change the meaning of verbs and are crucial for expressing nuanced ideas. By learning common phrasal verbs, practicing their use in sentences, and avoiding common mistakes, you can significantly improve your English language skills. Remember, practice makes perfect, so make sure to incorporate these tips into your daily language practice. Happy learning!
