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

Here are some frequently used adjective-preposition pairs:

• 🔹 Afraid of 😨
• 🔹 Good at 🏅
• 🔹 Interested in 📚
• 🔹 Responsible for 🧑‍💼
• 🔹 Famous for 🌟
• 🔹 Keen on 🎨
• 🔹 Proud of 🏆
• 🔹 Bad at 😓
• 🔹 Similar to 🔄
• 🔹 Tired of 😴

Examples:

• 😱 She is afraid of spiders.
• 🏀 He is good at basketball.
• 📚 They are interested in history.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 She is responsible for her siblings.
• 🎬 The actor is famous for his roles.
• 🚴‍♀️ I am keen on cycling.
• 🎓 He is proud of his achievements.
• 🎨 She is bad at drawing.
• 👯 They are similar to each other.
• 😴 We are tired of waiting.
• 🌶️ He is fond of spicy food.
• 💰 She is rich in experience.
• 🌍 They are aware of global issues.
• 🤔 I am curious about science.
• 😔 He is disappointed with the results.
• 🙌 She is grateful for the help.
• 😃 They are happy about the news.
• 👨‍💼 He is involved in the project.
• 🌟 She is capable of great things.
• 👎 I am opposed to the idea.
• 💔 They are jealous of their friends.
• 💪 He is ready for the challenge.
• 👩‍💻 She is skilled at coding.
• 🍀 We are lucky to have you.
• 📈 The company is dependent on sales.
• 🌱 They are interested in sustainability.
• 🎉 She is excited about the party.
• 📝 He is familiar with the procedure.
• 🌞 I am optimistic about the future.
• 🌊 They are afraid of the ocean.
• 🎧 She is addicted to music.
• 🧐 He is critical of the proposal.
• 🤗 We are grateful for your support.
• 🌺 She is allergic to pollen.
• 🔍 He is searching for answers.
• 👨‍🍳 They are famous for their cuisine.
• 📞 She is anxious about the call.
• 💡 He is brilliant at solving puzzles.
• 👩‍🎨 She is talented in arts.
• 🏃‍♂️ They are engaged in sports.
• 🕵️‍♀️ I am suspicious of strangers.

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:

• 😠 She is angry at him.
• 😠 He is angry with the delay.
• 😊 They are happy with the outcome.
• 😊 We are happy about your success.
• 🤕 She is upset about the accident.
• 😞 He is upset with his grades.
• 🔥 They are furious at the mistake.
• 🔥 She is furious with the service.
• 🏅 He is good at math.
• 📊 She is good in statistics.
• 😄 I am pleased with the results.
• 😄 We are pleased about your visit.
• 😕 They are confused about the instructions.
• 😕 He is confused by the question.
• 📖 She is interested in literature.
• 📖 They are interested by the story.
• 🙁 I am disappointed with the service.
• 🙁 She is disappointed in the team.
• 😮 He is amazed at the view.
• 😮 We are amazed by her talent.
• 👍 They are satisfied with the product.
• 👍 She is satisfied by the answer.
• 🌍 He is familiar with the culture.
• 🌍 They are familiar to the area.
• 😌 I am relieved at the news.
• 😌 She is relieved by the results.
• 😳 He is embarrassed by the error.
• 😳 They are embarrassed about the incident.
• 🤔 She is curious about the mystery.
• 🤔 I am curious to know more.
• 😌 We are content with the decision.
• 😌 He is content to stay home.
• 🧐 They are critical of the plan.
• 🧐 She is critical about the proposal.
• 😇 I am proud of you.
• 😇 She is proud to be here.
• 💡 He is aware of the risks.
• 💡 They are aware that it’s important.
• 😣 She is frustrated with the delay.
• 😣 I am frustrated by the lack of progress.
• 😎 He is confident of his abilities.
• 😎 She is confident in her skills.

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

Here are some examples of commonly used pairs:

• 🔹 Depend on 🔄
• 🔹 Belong to 🏠
• 🔹 Apologize for 🙏
• 🔹 Agree with 🤝
• 🔹 Focus on 🎯
• 🔹 Believe in ✨
• 🔹 Listen to 🎧
• 🔹 Laugh at 😂
• 🔹 Think about 🤔
• 🔹 Wait for ⏳

Examples:

• 🤔 I think about you often.
• ⏳ We wait for the bus.
• 🎧 She listens to music.
• 📞 He talked to his friend.
• 📚 They study for exams.
• 😊 We laugh at his jokes.
• 🙏 She apologized for the mistake.
• 💡 He believes in hard work.
• 📝 They agree with the terms.
• 🔍 I search for information.
• 👀 She looked at the painting.
• 📤 He applied for the job.
• 💬 They argued about politics.
• 🏠 This book belongs to me.
• 🔒 We hope for success.
• 🕵️‍♂️ She investigated into the matter.
• 📈 He focuses on growth.
• 🌟 They dream of fame.
• 💪 I strive for excellence.
• 👥 She collaborated with them.
• 📣 He complained about the noise.
• ✈️ They departed from the airport.
• 🚶‍♂️ We went to the park.
• 💼 She works for a tech company.
• 📢 He shouted at the players.
• 🤝 They agreed on a solution.
• 🧠 I struggle with math.
• 💭 She wondered about the future.
• 🎯 He aims for perfection.
• 🖐️ They participated in the event.
• 📞 I called on a friend.
• 🎁 She thanked for the gift.
• 💬 He responded to the question.
• 🌐 They specialize in web design.
• 📖 We read about history.
• 💭 She dreams about travel.
• 📦 He delivered to the address.
• 🛍️ They paid for the items.
• 🕰️ I arrived at noon.
• 🌠 She wishes for happiness.
• 📣 He complained to the manager.

Verbs with “To” and “For”

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

Examples:

• 🎁 I gave a gift to her.
• 🍪 She baked cookies for him.
• 📬 He sent a letter to them.
• 🛠️ They fixed the car for us.
• 📝 I wrote a note to my friend.
• 🍽️ She cooked dinner for the family.
• 📞 He called to say hello.
• 💐 They bought flowers for their mom.
• 🚗 I drove to the store.
• 🔧 She repaired the bike for her brother.
• 🎶 He sang a song to the audience.
• 💻 They designed a website for a client.
• 🏃‍♂️ I ran to the park.
• ✍️ She typed the report for her boss.
• 🎨 He painted a picture for his friend.
• 📤 They emailed the documents to the team.
• 📚 I read a story to the children.
• 👕 She bought clothes for herself.
• 🎓 He applied to the university.
• 🤝 They did a favor for their neighbor.
• 🚶‍♀️ I walked to the office.
• 🍵 She made tea for everyone.
• 📬 He delivered the package to the customer.
• 🎁 They wrapped the gift for the party.
• 💌 I wrote a letter to my grandmother.
• 🚑 She called for help.
• 🍲 He served soup to the guests.
• 📝 They prepared notes for the meeting.
• 📞 I reached out to the client.
• 💐 She arranged flowers for the event.
• 🚶‍♂️ He rushed to the station.
• 🧁 They baked cupcakes for the bake sale.
• 📄 I submitted the form to the office.
• 🧹 She cleaned the house for her parents.
• 🏡 He moved to a new city.
• 💡 They explained the idea to the team.
• 🎸 I played a song for my friends.
• 📦 She shipped the order to the customer.
• 🎂 He made a cake for her birthday.
• 🗣️ They spoke to the manager.
• ✈️ I booked a flight for my vacation.

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:

• 🌟 The advantage of this plan is clear.
• 💡 There is a need for innovation.
• ❓ The reason for the delay is unknown.
• 📖 She has an interest in art.
• 🧩 The solution to the puzzle is tricky.
• ⚙️ We have a problem with the machine.
• 💥 The damage to the car was severe.
• 🙏 He has great respect for elders.
• 👩‍💼 She has experience in marketing.
• 🤔 I have difficulty in understanding.
• 🌍 Their contribution to the project was vital.
• 📈 The increase in sales is impressive.
• 💰 The cost of living is rising.
• 🚫 There’s a ban on smoking here.
• 🌐 The access to information is easy.
• 📅 The delay in delivery was unexpected.
• 🎉 The celebration of their success was grand.
• 🌟 Her talent for music is evident.
• 🌟 His passion for sports is inspiring.
• 📜 The contract with the client is signed.
• 🛣️ The route to the city is long.
• 💼 The job of a manager is challenging.
• 🏆 The winner of the race is announced.
• 📊 The report on the findings is ready.
• 🌟 The focus on quality is essential.
• 🎤 Her performance at the event was stunning.
• 🌞 The difference between the two is clear.
• 📚 His knowledge of history is vast.
• 🔗 The connection between them is strong.
• 📢 The announcement of the results is pending.
• 🔍 The search for truth continues.
• 🏢 The meeting with the team is scheduled.
• 📞 The contact with clients is crucial.
• 📖 The reference to the book was helpful.
• 🎨 Her aptitude for design is remarkable.
• 🧪 The experiment on cells was successful.
• 🎯 The aim of the project is clear.
• 🌐 The impact on society is significant.
• 📌 The details of the plan are outlined.
• 📝 The agreement with partners is signed.
• 🏡 The move to a new house is exciting.

Words with Different Dependent Prepositions

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

Examples:

• 🔹 Think of/about 💭
• 🔹 Care for/about ❤️
• 🔹 Depend on/upon 🛠️
• 🔹 Look at/for/after 👀
• 🔹 Talk to/with/about 🗣️

Examples:

• 🤔 I think of you often. (Recall)
• 💭 She thinks about the problem. (Consider)
• 💕 He cares for his grandmother. (Look after)
• 💖 They care about the environment. (Value)
• 🔍 We are looking for clues. (Search)
• 👀 She looked at the painting. (Observe)
• 👶 He looks after the kids. (Take care)
• 🗣️ They talked to the manager. (Speak)
• 🗣️ She talked with her friend. (Converse)
• 💬 He talked about the issue. (Discuss)
• 🧠 I dream of success. (Aspire)
• 💤 She dreamed about the vacation. (Sleep dream)
• 💪 They worked on the project. (Engaged in)
• 🏭 He works at the factory. (Employed)
• 🕵️ We investigate into the matter. (Examine)
• 👣 She went to the store. (Destination)
• 👋 He went with his friends. (Accompany)
• 🌊 They went for a swim. (Activity)
• 📚 I read about history. (Learn)
• 📖 She read in the library. (Location)
• 🌟 He is good at math. (Skill)
• 🎯 She is good in a crisis. (Performance)
• 🤔 We wonder at the sight. (Amazed)
• ❓ They wonder about the future. (Curious)
• 💰 He paid for the meal. (Purchase)
• 📨 She paid to the account. (Transfer)
• 🌟 I believe in you. (Have faith)
• 🧐 He believes that it’s true. (Think)
• 💭 She considers as a friend. (Regard)
• 🤔 They consider about moving. (Think over)
• 🤝 We agree with your point. (Same opinion)
• ✅ He agrees to the terms. (Consent)
• ⏳ She waited for the bus. (Expect)
• 👩‍💼 They waited on the guests. (Serve)
• 📞 I called on a client. (Visit)
• 📞 She called to say hello. (Communicate)
• 🏃‍♂️ He ran to the store. (Direction)
• 🏃‍♂️ They ran for charity. (Purpose)
• 👀 We watched for signs. (Observe)
• 🎥 She watched over the kids. (Guard)
• 🧗‍♂️ He struggled with the task. (Difficulty)
• 🚫 They struggled against injustice. (Oppose)