The Writing Place

1. of
2. in
3. to
4. for
5. with
6. on
7. at
8. from
9. by
10. about
11. as
12. into
13. like
14. through
15. after
16. over
17. between
18. out
19. against
20. during
21. without
22. before
23. under
24. around
25. among

1. to the car
2. on the table
3. against the grain
4. under the bridge
5. around the bush
6. during the game
7. into the woods
8. of mice and men
9. at the cinema
10. with a friend

As we can see, there are many prepositions to choose from, which is why they can be so tricky! When we write, however, we use them all the time – especially with verbs.

Verbs with prepositions are idiomatic constructions in English, by which I mean they are things we say and use without clear rules behind them. Moreover, these verbs are inseparable from their prepositions, as to forget or misuse the preposition is to change the meaning of the verb entirely!

Consider the verb “to run from.” The base of the verb is “to run,” which of course refers to a quick movement of the legs, faster than a walk, slower than a sprint, and so on. But the preposition “from” alters this definition in precise ways. “To run from” is coupled with either someone or something; the subject does not “run from” alone – he runs from a car or a man or the police. Furthermore, “run from” implies a kind of rationale behind the subject’s running. When one runs for pleasure, for example, that run might be fast, it might be slow, but it generally is not urgent. He might be able to stop running when he feels like it, or he might start running with a designed end in mind. But this is not the case with “to run from” – although one might run from something in a playful way (consider children’s games), typically one runs from something to escape it quickly. The pace is fast; the stakes are high; fear is an essential component of the verb altogether.

Now, what if we were to confuse “from” with another preposition, say, “to?” In our previous example, we said that the man might “run from the police.” This sentence suggests the man has done something wrong, or at least fears detection for an unknown reason. But if we say instead “the man runs to the police,” the meaning of the sentence is exactly the opposite. In this latter, the man is seeking out the police – either because he needs help, is afraid, or just wants to chat with a policeman. In any of these cases, the urgency of the former sentence is at best eliminated, and at worst reversed entirely. Thus, it’s important to remember which prepositions go with which verbs, as the difference between a “to” or a “from” can mean the difference between a fugitive and a victim. Let’s take a look at some common verbs with prepositions.

1. account for
2. belong to
3. contribute to
4. depend on
5. lead to
6. refer to
7. allow for
8. consist of
9. deal with
10. differ from
11. occur in
12. result in
13. defer to
14. assist with
15. relate to
16. search for
17. conceive of
18. write about
19. take with
20. think about

While this list is a good start, there are many, many more verbs with prepositions to learn! If your query is not on this list, just check Google for your verb and you are sure to find accurate results. Now it’s time for a bit of practice.

Prepositional Verb Exercises
Fill in the missing prepositions in each of the sentences.

1)    I had not thought _______ the woman for months, but then she suddenly appeared once more in my mind.

2)    The results __________ the race were dismal. We took 5^th, but we were expected to take 2^nd or better.

3)    I always forget to take my keys _______ me!

4)    Does that dog belong ____ you?

5)    I know I can always depend _______ my friends.

Answers

1)    I had not thought about the woman for months, but then she suddenly appeared once more in my mind.

2)    The results of the race were dismal. We took 5^th, but we were expected to take 2^nd or better.

3)    I always forget to take my keys with me!

4)    Does that dog belong to you?

5)    I know I can always depends on my friends.