Dependent Prepositions

What Are Dependent Prepositions?

Dependent prepositions are specific prepositions that follow certain words (adjectives, verbs, or nouns) to form fixed expressions. These combinations give precise meanings and are essential for fluency in English.

Adjectives with Dependent Prepositions

Adjectives often pair with specific prepositions to describe emotions, opinions, or states. Memorizing these combinations makes your descriptions clear and natural.

Common Adjective + Preposition Combinations

• Afraid of
• Good at
• Interested in
• Responsible for
• Famous for
• Keen on
• Proud of
• Bad at
• Similar to
• Tired of

Examples

1. She is afraid of spiders.
2. He is good at basketball.
3. They are interested in history.
4. She is responsible for her siblings.
5. The actor is famous for his roles.
6. I am keen on cycling.
7. He is proud of his achievements.
8. She is bad at drawing.
9. They are similar to each other.
10. We are tired of waiting.
11. He is fond of spicy food.
12. She is rich in experience.
13. They are aware of global issues.
14. I am curious about science.
15. He is disappointed with the results.
16. She is grateful for the help.
17. They are happy about the news.
18. He is involved in the project.
19. She is capable of great things.
20. I am opposed to the idea.

Adjectives with Multiple Prepositions

Some adjectives can pair with different prepositions, and the meaning may change slightly depending on the context.

• Angry at/with
• Good at/in
• Happy about/with
• Upset about/with
• Furious at/with

Examples

1. She is angry at him.
2. He is angry with the delay.
3. They are happy with the outcome.
4. We are happy about your success.
5. She is upset about the accident.
6. He is upset with his grades.
7. They are furious at the mistake.
8. She is furious with the service.
9. He is good at math.
10. She is good in statistics.
11. I am pleased with the results.
12. We are pleased about your visit.
13. They are confused about the instructions.
14. He is confused by the question.
15. She is interested in literature.
16. They are interested by the story.
17. I am disappointed with the service.
18. She is disappointed in the team.
19. He is amazed at the view.
20. We are amazed by her talent.

Verbs with Dependent Prepositions

Verbs often combine with specific prepositions to form meaningful expressions. These combinations can indicate action direction, relationships, or purposes.

Common Verb + Preposition Combinations

• Depend on
• Belong to
• Apologize for
• Agree with
• Focus on
• Believe in
• Listen to
• Laugh at
• Think about
• Wait for

Examples

1. I think about you often.
2. We wait for the bus.
3. She listens to music.
4. He talked to his friend.
5. They study for exams.
6. We laugh at his jokes.
7. She apologized for the mistake.
8. He believes in hard work.
9. They agree with the terms.
10. I search for information.
11. She looked at the painting.
12. He applied for the job.
13. They argued about politics.
14. This book belongs to me.
15. We hope for success.
16. She investigated into the matter.
17. He focuses on growth.
18. They dream of fame.
19. I strive for excellence.
20. She collaborated with them.

Verbs with “To” and “For”

Some verbs pair specifically with to or for, often relating to giving, receiving, or relationships.

Examples

1. I gave a gift to her.
2. She baked cookies for him.
3. He sent a letter to them.
4. They fixed the car for us.
5. I wrote a note to my friend.
6. She cooked dinner for the family.
7. He called to say hello.
8. They bought flowers for their mom.
9. I drove to the store.
10. She repaired the bike for her brother.
11. He sang a song to the audience.
12. They designed a website for a client.
13. I ran to the park.
14. She typed the report for her boss.
15. He painted a picture for his friend.
16. They emailed the documents to the team.
17. I read a story to the children.
18. She bought clothes for herself.
19. He applied to the university.
20. They did a favor for their neighbor.

Nouns with Dependent Prepositions

Certain nouns also pair with specific prepositions, often reflecting cause, possession, or relationships.

Common Noun + Preposition Combinations

• Advantage of
• Need for
• Reason for
• Interest in
• Solution to
• Problem with
• Damage to
• Respect for
• Experience in
• Difficulty in

Examples

1. The advantage of this plan is clear.
2. There is a need for innovation.
3. The reason for the delay is unknown.
4. She has an interest in art.
5. The solution to the puzzle is tricky.
6. We have a problem with the machine.
7. The damage to the car was severe.
8. He has great respect for elders.
9. She has experience in marketing.
10. I have difficulty in understanding.
11. Their contribution to the project was vital.
12. The increase in sales is impressive.
13. The cost of living is rising.
14. There’s a ban on smoking here.
15. The access to information is easy.
16. The delay in delivery was unexpected.
17. The celebration of their success was grand.
18. Her talent for music is evident.
19. His passion for sports is inspiring.
20. The contract with the client is signed.

Words with Different Dependent Prepositions

Some words can pair with multiple prepositions, and the meaning changes depending on the context.

Common Combinations

• Think of/about
• Care for/about
• Depend on/upon
• Look at/for/after
• Talk to/with/about

Examples

1. I think of you often. (Recall)
2. She thinks about the problem. (Consider)
3. He cares for his grandmother. (Look after)
4. They care about the environment. (Value)
5. We are looking for clues. (Search)
6. She looked at the painting. (Observe)
7. He looks after the kids. (Take care)
8. They talked to the manager. (Speak)
9. She talked with her friend. (Converse)
10. He talked about the issue. (Discuss)
11. I dream of success. (Aspire)
12. She dreamed about the vacation. (Sleep dream)
13. They worked on the project. (Engaged in)
14. He works at the factory. (Employed)
15. We investigate into the matter. (Examine)
16. She went to the store. (Destination)
17. He went with his friends. (Accompany)
18. They went for a swim. (Activity)
19. I read about history. (Learn)
20. She read in the library. (Location)