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Unit 132 · Prepositions

Verb + preposition 1 to and at

Study

A

verb + to

talk / speak TO somebody (talk/speak with is also possible)

›

Who were you talking to?

listen TO …

›

When I'm driving, I like to listen to the radio. (not listen the radio)

apologise TO somebody (for …)

›

They apologised to me for their mistake. (not apologised me)

explain something TO somebody

›

Can you explain this word to me? (not explain me this word)

explain / describe (to somebody) what/how/why …

›

I explained to them why I was worried. (not I explained them)

›

Let me describe to you what I saw. (not Let me describe you)

B

phone somebody, ask somebody etc. (without to)

phone / call / email / text somebody

›

I called the airline to cancel my flight. (not called to the airline)

But we say 'write (a letter) to somebody'.

answer somebody/something

›

You didn't answer my email. (not answer to my email)

But we say reply to (an email / a letter etc.).

ask somebody (a question)

›

If there's anything you want to know, you can ask me. (not ask to me)

thank somebody (for …)

›

He thanked me for helping him. (not He thanked to me)

C

verb + at

look / stare / glance AT …, have a look / take a look AT …

›

Why are you looking at me like that?

laugh AT …

›

I look stupid with this haircut. Everybody will laugh at me.

aim / point (something) AT …, shoot / fire (a gun) AT …

›

Don't point that knife at me. It's dangerous.

›

We saw someone with a gun shooting at birds, but he didn't hit any.

D

Some verbs can be followed by at or to, with a difference in meaning. For example:

shout AT somebody (when you are angry or aggressive)

›

He got very angry and started shouting at me.

shout TO somebody (so that they can hear you)

›

He shouted to me from the other side of the street.

throw something AT somebody/something (to hit them)

›

Somebody threw an egg at the politician.

throw something TO somebody (for somebody to catch)

›

Lisa shouted 'Catch!' and threw the keys to me from the window.

→ Verb + preposition 2–5 → Units 133–136 · ask for → Unit 133B · apologise for / thank somebody for → Unit 135B · Other verbs + to → Unit 136D

Exercises (3)

0/3 exercises checked
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132.1

Which is correct?

  1. 1
    a Can you explain this word to me? b Can you explain me this word?example
  2. 2
    a I got angry with Mark. Afterwards, I apologised to him. b I got angry with Mark. Afterwards, I apologised him.
  3. 3
    a Amy won't be able to help you. There's no point in asking to her. b Amy won't be able to help you. There's no point in asking her.
  4. 4
    a I need somebody to explain me what I have to do. b I need somebody to explain to me what I have to do.
  5. 5
    a They didn't understand the system, so I explained it to them. b They didn't understand the system, so I explained it them.
  6. 6
    a I like to sit on the beach and listen to the sound of the sea. b I like to sit on the beach and listen the sound of the sea.
  7. 7
    a I asked them to describe me exactly what happened. b I asked them to describe to me exactly what happened.
  8. 8
    a We'd better phone the restaurant to reserve a table. b We'd better phone to the restaurant to reserve a table.
  9. 9
    a It was a difficult question. I couldn't answer to it. b It was a difficult question. I couldn't answer it.
  10. 10
    a I explained everybody the reasons for my decision. b I explained to everybody the reasons for my decision.
  11. 11
    a I thanked everybody for all the help they had given me. b I thanked to everybody for all the help they had given me.
  12. 12
    a My friend texted to me to let me know she was going to be late. b My friend texted me to let me know she was going to be late.
132.2

Complete the sentences. Use these verbs + the correct preposition:

explainlaughlistenlookpointreplyspeakthrow
  1. 1
    I look stupid with this haircut. Everybody will laugh me.example
  2. 2
    I don’t understand this. Can you it me?example
  3. 3
    We live in the same building, but we’ve never one another.
  4. 4
    Be careful with those scissors! Don’t them me!
  5. 5
    You shouldn’t directly the sun. You’ll damage your eyes.
  6. 6
    Please me! I’ve got something important to tell you.
  7. 7
    Don’t stones the birds!
  8. 8
    If you don’t want that sandwich, it the birds. They’ll eat it.
  9. 9
    I tried to contact Tina, but she didn’t my emails.
132.3

Put in to or at.

  1. 1
    They apologised me for what happened.example
  2. 2
    I glanced my watch to see what time it was.
  3. 3
    Please don’t shout me! Try to calm down.
  4. 4
    I saw Lisa and shouted her, but she didn’t hear me.
  5. 5
    Don’t listen what he says. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
  6. 6
    What’s so funny? What are you laughing ?
  7. 7
    Is it all right if I have a look your magazine?
  8. 8
    I’m lonely. I need somebody to talk .
  9. 9
    She was so angry she threw a book the wall.
  10. 10
    The woman sitting opposite me on the train kept staring me.
  11. 11
    Do you have a moment? I need to speak you.