Verb with Preposition: Meaning, Usage, List and Exercises

Verb with preposition is an important part of English grammar. Many English verbs are commonly followed by specific prepositions, such as depend on, listen to, wait for, and belong to. Choosing the correct preposition is important because changing or omitting it can make a sentence grammatically incorrect or change its meaning.

For English learners, one of the main challenges is that there is no simple rule for predicting which preposition should follow a particular verb. For this reason, verb-preposition combinations are often best learned as complete phrases.

In this article, you will learn what verb with preposition means, how to use common combinations, which verb-preposition pairs are frequently used, how to distinguish prepositional verbs from phrasal verbs, and how to avoid common mistakes through practical exercises.

What Is a Verb with Preposition?

A verb with preposition, commonly called a prepositional verb, is a verb followed by a specific preposition that introduces its object. The verb and preposition work together as a grammatical unit.

Common combinations include:

• depend on

• listen to

• wait for

• belong to

• look at

• suffer from

The preposition is an important part of the structure and should generally be learned together with the verb. The British Council guide to verbs and prepositions also recommends learning these combinations together because there are no simple rules that determine which preposition follows every verb.

Common Verb with Preposition Structures

Common patterns include:

• Verb + Preposition + Noun/Noun Phrase

• Verb + Preposition + Pronoun

• Verb + Preposition + V-ing

The object of the preposition can be a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun. When a verb follows a preposition, it normally takes the -ing form.

Understanding countable and uncountable nouns can also help you use noun phrases correctly after prepositions. 

Using the -ing Form After a Preposition

When a verb follows a preposition, it normally appears in the -ing form rather than the infinitive.

For example:

• She apologized for being late.

Here, for is the preposition and being is the -ing form of be.

This pattern is common in combinations such as apologize for, insist on, and talk about. The important point is that the preposition is followed by an -ing form when another verb is needed.

Common Verb with Preposition List

Learning common verb-preposition combinations as complete phrases can help you use English more accurately.

Some verbs can be used with different prepositions depending on the intended meaning. Therefore, learners should study the complete combination and its context instead of assuming that one preposition can always be used with a particular verb.

How to Use Verb with Preposition in Sentences

Knowing a list of verb-preposition combinations is useful, but understanding how they work in sentences is equally important.

The Preposition Is Part of the Verb Combination

Many prepositional verbs use a particular preposition consistently. Replacing it with another preposition may produce an incorrect or unnatural expression.

For example, depend on is the standard combination, while depend of is not used in standard English.

The best approach is to learn the complete combination instead of translating the preposition directly from another language.

The Object Follows the Preposition

In a prepositional verb, the object comes immediately after the preposition.

This creates the basic pattern:

The preposition therefore remains connected to the object that follows it. This is an important distinction when comparing prepositional verbs with separable phrasal verbs.

One Verb Can Be Used with Different Prepositions

A verb may sometimes combine with more than one preposition. The choice can depend on the meaning or grammatical pattern.

For example, talk to someone focuses on communication with a person, while talk about something identifies the subject being discussed.

Similarly, think about something and think of something can express different ideas depending on the context.

For this reason, learners should study the complete expression rather than memorize the verb alone.

Verb with Preposition vs. Phrasal Verb

Verb with preposition and phrasal verbs can look similar because both may contain a verb followed by a short word. However, they are not necessarily the same grammatical category.

In traditional grammar terminology, a prepositional verb consists of a verb and a preposition, while a phrasal verb consists of a verb and an adverb particle. Cambridge also notes that the term phrasal verb is sometimes used more broadly to refer to different types of multi-word verbs. You can read more about this distinction in Cambridge Dictionary’s guide to phrasal verbs and multi-word verbs.

For clarity, this article uses the narrower distinction between prepositional verbs and phrasal verbs.

Key Differences Between Prepositional Verbs and Phrasal Verbs

A prepositional verb has its object after the preposition. With some phrasal verbs, the object can appear either before or after the particle when the grammatical pattern allows it.

Not every phrasal verb is separable, so learners should check the specific pattern of each expression rather than applying one rule to all phrasal verbs.

If you want to explore phrasal verbs in more detail, see our guide to common phrasal verbs in English. 

How to Tell Them Apart

Look at the role of the word following the verb and the way the complete expression behaves in a sentence.

For example, listen to is a prepositional verb, while give up is a phrasal verb. Similarly, depend on is a prepositional verb, whereas turn off is a phrasal verb.

Another useful clue is word order. With a prepositional verb, the object comes after the preposition. With some separable phrasal verbs, the object can occur between the verb and the particle.

The distinction can become more complex because English also has phrasal-prepositional verbs, which contain a verb, a particle, and a preposition. Therefore, learners should focus on the grammatical pattern and meaning of each expression rather than relying only on the number of words.

Common Mistakes with Verb with Preposition

Choosing the Wrong Preposition

One of the most common problems is choosing a preposition based on the translation rather than the standard English combination.

For example, depend on is the correct combination. The preposition on should be learned as part of the expression.

Omitting a Necessary Preposition

Some learners know the meaning of the verb but leave out the preposition when constructing a sentence.

For example, listen to music requires the preposition to. The verb cannot normally be followed directly by the object in this structure.

Using the Infinitive After a Preposition

Another common mistake is using the base form of a verb immediately after a preposition.

When a verb follows a preposition, it normally takes the -ing form.

For example:

They talked about moving to another city.

The correct pattern is about + moving, not about + move.

Confusing Prepositional Verbs with Phrasal Verbs

Because both structures can contain a verb followed by a short word, learners sometimes apply the same rules to both.

This can cause problems with word order, especially when using phrasal verbs that allow the object to appear between the verb and particle.

Learning common expressions as complete grammatical patterns can help reduce this confusion.

How to Learn Verb with Preposition Effectively

Learn the Verb and Preposition Together

Instead of learning depend alone, learn depend on as a complete expression.

This helps you remember both the meaning and the grammatical pattern at the same time.

Group Combinations by Preposition

Another useful method is to organize vocabulary according to the preposition.

For example:

• Verb + to: listen to, belong to, respond to
• Verb + on: depend on, rely on, concentrate on
• Verb + for: wait for, apply for, prepare for
• Verb + about: talk about, worry about, complain about

Grouping expressions can make them easier to review, although each combination should still be learned with its specific meaning and usage.

Learn Through Context

Memorizing a list can help with recognition, but using verb-preposition combinations in context makes it easier to remember how they function in real sentences.

When learning a new combination, pay attention to its meaning, preposition, grammatical pattern, and typical context.

Regular review is also useful because many verb-preposition combinations cannot be predicted from a simple rule.

Verb with Preposition Exercises

Practice is an important part of learning verb-preposition combinations. The following exercises cover common prepositions, verb-preposition combinations, the use of -ing after a preposition, and common errors.

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Preposition

Choose the correct preposition to complete each sentence.

1. She depends ___ her parents for financial support.
   A. at
   B. on
   C. for
   D. with
2. We are waiting ___ the bus.
   A. to
   B. at
   C. for
   D. on
3. He apologized ___ being late to the meeting.
   A. for
   B. about
   C. with
   D. at
4. They are preparing ___ the final exam.
   A. on
   B. for
   C. to
   D. with
5. She doesn’t like talking ___ her personal problems.
   A. to
   B. for
   C. about
   D. at

Exercise 2: Complete the Sentences

Complete each sentence with the correct verb-preposition combination from the box.

listen to, participate in, rely on, look for, suffer from

1. Many students __________ extracurricular activities at school.
2. You can always __________ your friends when you need help.
3. She is __________ her keys because she cannot remember where she put them.
4. People with allergies may __________ seasonal symptoms.
5. Please __________ the instructions carefully before starting the task.

Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Verb-Preposition Combination

Choose the expression that best completes each sentence.

1. My brother __________ applying for a new job.
   A. is thinking about
   B. is thinking to
   C. is thinking on
   D. is thinking for
2. We need to __________ the problem before making a decision.
   A. deal to
   B. deal on
   C. deal with
   D. deal for
3. She __________ her English teacher for advice.
   A. relies on
   B. relies at
   C. relies for
   D. relies to
4. He __________ the music instead of studying.
   A. listened on
   B. listened to
   C. listened at
   D. listened for
5. They __________ the new project last week.
   A. talked about
   B. talked to about
   C. talked on
   D. talked for

Exercise 4: Complete the Sentences with the Correct Form

Complete each sentence using the correct form of the verb in brackets.

1. She apologized for __________ (arrive) late.
2. They talked about __________ (move) to another city.
3. He insisted on __________ (pay) for dinner.
4. We are interested in __________ (learn) more about the course.
5. She complained about __________ (work) too many hours.

This exercise helps reinforce the rule that a verb following a preposition normally takes the -ing form.

Exercise 5: Find and Correct the Mistakes

Each sentence contains a mistake involving a verb and preposition. Rewrite the sentence correctly.

1. He depends of his parents for financial support.
2. She is looking the information for.
3. They talked about move to another city.
4. I am waiting the train.
5. He apologized for be late.

Exercise 6: Choose the Correct Sentence

Choose the grammatically correct sentence.

1. A. She depends in her parents.
   B. She depends on her parents.
   C. She depends at her parents.
2. A. They talked about moving abroad.
   B. They talked about move abroad.
   C. They talked about to move abroad.
3. A. He is looking the answer for.
   B. He is looking at for the answer.
   C. He is looking for the answer.
4. A. We are preparing for the exam.
   B. We are preparing on the exam.
   C. We are preparing to the exam.

Answer Key

Exercise 1

1. B. on
2. C. for
3. A. for
4. B. for
5. C. about

Exercise 2

1. participate in
2. rely on
3. looking for
4. suffer from
5. listen to

Exercise 3

1. A. is thinking about
2. C. deal with
3. A. relies on
4. B. listened to
5. A. talked about

Exercise 4

1. arriving
2. moving
3. paying
4. learning
5. working

Exercise 5

1. He depends on his parents for financial support.
2. She is looking for the information.
3. They talked about moving to another city.
4. I am waiting for the train.
5. He apologized for being late.

Exercise 6

1. B. She depends on her parents.
2. A. They talked about moving abroad.
3. C. He is looking for the answer.
4. A. We are preparing for the exam.

Conclusion

Verb with preposition is an important part of English grammar because many common verbs are used with specific prepositions. Understanding these combinations helps learners form grammatically accurate sentences and communicate more naturally.

The most effective approach is to learn each combination as a complete unit, pay attention to the preposition that follows the verb, and remember that a verb following a preposition normally takes the -ing form.

Regular practice with common combinations such as depend on, listen to, wait for, look at, and participate in can help you use verb with preposition more confidently in both written and spoken English.

FAQ About Verb with Preposition

Should I Use V-ing or to + Verb After a Preposition?

When a verb directly follows a preposition, it normally takes the -ing form. This is why structures such as apologize for being and insist on paying are grammatically correct.

Is a Verb with Preposition a Phrasal Verb?

They are different categories in the narrower grammatical distinction used in this article. A prepositional verb contains a verb followed by a preposition, while a phrasal verb contains a verb and an adverb particle. However, some dictionaries use the term phrasal verb more broadly, so terminology can vary between sources.

Can I Change the Preposition After a Verb?

Not freely. Many verb-preposition combinations use a specific preposition, and changing it can make the expression incorrect or change its meaning.

How Can I Remember Verb with Preposition Combinations?

Learn the verb and preposition together as a complete phrase. Grouping similar combinations, reviewing them regularly, and using them in context can make them easier to remember.

Do I Need to Memorize Every Verb with Preposition?

It is not necessary to memorize every combination at once. Start with common expressions that frequently appear in everyday communication, reading, and writing, then gradually expand your vocabulary through practice.

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