Verb / adjective + preposition

Rules

• Rule 1: Adjective + preposition

  Some adjectives are always followed by the same preposition. The most common: interested in, good at, bad at, afraid of, proud of, worried about, famous for, different from.

  Pattern: be + adjective + preposition + noun

  Example: Zeynep is interested in birds.

  Example: My dad is good at cooking.

• Rule 2: Verb + preposition

  Some verbs need a preposition before their object: listen to, wait for, depend on, belong to, agree with (a person). Without the preposition, the sentence is wrong.

  Pattern: verb + preposition + object

  Example: We listen to the radio in the car.

  Example: I'll wait for you at the gate.

• Rule 3: look at / look for / look after

  The meaning of look changes with the preposition: look at = use your eyes look for = try to find something lost look after = take care of (a baby, a pet, a plant)

  Pattern: look at · look for · look after

  Example: Look at the moon!

  Example: I'm looking for my keys.

• Rule 4: -ing after a preposition; the preposition at the end of questions

  When a verb follows a preposition, it takes -ing. In questions, the preposition stays at the end.

  Pattern: preposition + verb-ing · What … preposition?

  Example: Ali is good at swimming.

  Example: What are you interested in?

Common mistakes

• I'm afraid from dogs. → I'm afraid of dogs.

  The chunk is afraid of.

• It depends to the weather. → It depends on the weather.

  The chunk is depend on.

• I listen music every day. → I listen to music every day.

  We need to before the object.