English is full of little details that can make a big difference, and one of them is prepositional verbs.
You may have learned about phrasal verbs before, but prepositional verbs are another essential part of building fluent, natural sentences.
Combinations of these verbs and prepositions not only change the meaning of the verb but also affect how you connect ideas in English.
In this article, we’ll learn more about prepositional verbs and examples that will expand your knowledge.
What is a Prepositional Verb?
A prepositional verb is a verb that is always followed by a specific preposition, and together they create a meaning that connects to an object.
Unlike phrasal verbs (which often change meaning drastically), prepositional verbs usually keep a more direct relationship between the verb, preposition, and object.
How to form a sentence with a prepositional verb: The pattern is usually verb + preposition + object.
Example: “She applied for the job.”
Here, the verb apply needs the preposition “for” to make sense in the sentence. Without “for”, the sentence is incorrect.
Differences Between Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Verbs
Even though both involve verbs and prepositions, they’re not the same. Let’s break it down:
Phrasal Verbs
Structure: Verb + adverb particle (sometimes with a preposition).
The meaning of this verb is often idiomatic (different from the individual words). It means, the particle can often change the verb’s meaning entirely.
Example: “She gave up smoking.” In this sentence “gave up” means “quit”, not literally give something up.
Prepositional Verbs
Structure: Verb + preposition + object.
The preposition is necessary, and the meaning is usually more literal or predictable.
Prepositions are also required for correct grammar but don't always change the verb’s meaning dramatically.
Example: “She looked at the painting.” In this sentence, the action is exactly looking in the direction of something.
List of Prepositional Verbs in English
Prepositional Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Accuse of | To say that someone is guilty of doing something wrong or illegal | She accused him of lying. |
| Adapt to | To adjust or change in order to fit a new situation | He quickly adapted to his new school. |
| Add to | To increase or make something larger | His comments only added to the confusion. |
| Agree on | To reach the same decision about something | They agreed on the date of the meeting. |
| Agree with | To share the same opinion as someone | I agree with you about the solution. |
| Apologize for | To say sorry for something | She apologized for being late. |
| Apply for | To request something formally, usually in writing | He applied for a new job. |
| Approve of | To think that something or someone is good or acceptable | Her parents don’t approve of her decision. |
| Argue about | To discuss something in an angry or excited way | They argued about money. |
| Ask for | To request something | She asked for advice. |
| Believe in | To have confidence in something or someone | He believes in hard work. |
| Belong to | To be owned by someone | That book belongs to Sarah. |
| Care about | To be concerned or interested in something or someone | She cares about the environment. |
| Care for | To look after or provide for someone | He cares for his grandmother. |
| Comment on | To give an opinion about something | The teacher commented on my essay. |
| Compare with | To examine two or more things to see similarities or differences | This result can’t compare with last year’s. |
| Complain about | To express dissatisfaction or annoyance | She complained about the noise. |
| Concentrate on | To focus all attention on something | He concentrated on his homework. |
| Confess to | To admit something, often something bad or illegal | She confessed to the crime. |
| Congratulate on | To express joy or praise for someone’s success | They congratulated him on his promotion. |
| Consist of | To be made up of parts | The team consists of five players. |
| Decide on | To choose after considering different options | We decided on the blue design. |
| Depend on | To rely on someone or something | Children depend on their parents. |
| Dream about | To experience thoughts or images in sleep | I dreamed about flying last night. |
| Dream of | To strongly wish or imagine something | She dreams of becoming a doctor. |
| Escape from | To get away from a place or situation | The prisoners escaped from jail. |
| Focus on | To give special attention to something | The teacher focused on grammar today. |
| Forgive for | To stop being angry about something | She forgave him for forgetting her birthday. |
| Hear about | To learn information concerning something | I heard about the accident. |
| Insist on | To demand something strongly | He insisted on paying the bill. |
| Invite to | To ask someone to join an event | She invited me to her party. |
| Laugh at | To make fun of someone or something | They laughed at his joke. |
| Listen to | To pay attention with your ears | She listened to the music. |
| Look after | To take care of someone or something | She looks after her younger brother. |
| Look at | To direct your eyes toward something | Look at that painting! |
| Look for | To try to find something | He is looking for his keys. |
| Look forward to | To feel excited about something in the future | I look forward to meeting you. |
| Object to | To express disagreement or disapproval | They objected to the new rules. |
| Participate in | To take part in something | She participated in the competition. |
| Pay for | To give money in exchange for something | He paid for the meal. |
| Prepare for | To get ready for something | She prepared for the exam. |
| Protect from | To keep safe from harm | Sunscreen protects skin from the sun. |
| Rely on | To depend on someone or something for help | You can rely on me. |
| Respond to | To give an answer or reaction | He responded to the email quickly. |
| Search for | To try to find something | They are searching for a solution. |
| Smile at | To smile in the direction of someone or something | She smiled at the baby. |
| Speak about | To discuss a subject | He spoke about his travels. |
| Speak to | To address or talk with someone | I need to speak to the manager. |
| Wait for | To stay in a place until something happens | We waited for the bus. |
| Worry about | To feel anxious about something | Don’t worry about the results. |
Conclusion
Now, it’s time to challenge yourself to use at least three new prepositional verbs in your next conversation!
The more you notice and apply these verb-preposition combinations, the more natural your English will sound.
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