G
ESC
  • Type to search across all units
← All units

Unit 135 · Prepositions

Verb + preposition 4 of/for/from/on

Study

A

verb + of

accuse / suspect somebody OF …

›

Tina accused me of being selfish.

›

Some students were suspected of cheating in the exam.

approve / disapprove OF …

›

His parents don’t approve of what he does, but they can’t stop him.

die OF or die FROM an illness etc.

›

‘What did he die of?’ ‘A heart attack.’

consist OF …

›

We had an enormous meal. It consisted of seven courses.

B

verb + for

pay (somebody) FOR …

›

We didn’t have enough money to pay for the meal. (not pay the meal)

But we say ‘pay a bill / a fine / a fee / tax / rent / a sum of money’ etc. (no preposition)

›

We didn’t have enough money to pay the rent.

thank / forgive somebody FOR …

›

I’ll never forgive them for what they did.

apologise (TO somebody) FOR …

›

When I realised I was wrong, I apologised (to them) for my mistake.

blame somebody/something FOR … , somebody is to blame FOR …

›

Everybody blamed me for the accident.

›

Everybody said that I was to blame for the accident.

blame (a problem etc.) ON …

›

It wasn’t my fault. Don’t blame it on me.

C

verb + from

suffer FROM an illness etc.

›

There’s been an increase in the number of people suffering from heart disease.

protect somebody/something FROM …

›

Sun cream protects the skin from the sun.

D

verb + on

depend ON … , rely ON …

›

I don’t know what time we’ll arrive. It depends on the traffic.

›

You can rely on Anna. She always keeps her promises.

You can use depend + when/where/how etc. with or without on:

›

‘Are you going to buy it?’ ‘It depends how much it is.’ (or ‘It depends on how much …’)

live ON money/food

›

Michael’s salary is very low. It isn’t enough to live on.

congratulate / compliment somebody ON …

›

I congratulated her on doing so well in her exams.

›

The meal was really good. I complimented Mark on his cooking skills.

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
—
135.1

Put in the correct preposition. If no preposition is necessary, leave the space empty.

  1. 1
    Some students were suspected cheating in the exam.example
  2. 2
    Are you going to apologise what you did?
  3. 3
    The apartment consists three rooms, a kitchen and bathroom.
  4. 4
    I was accused lying, but I was telling the truth.
  5. 5
    We finished our meal, paid the bill, and left the restaurant.
  6. 6
    The accident was my fault, so I had to pay the repairs.
  7. 7
    Some people are dying hunger, while others eat too much.
  8. 8
    I called Helen to thank her the present she sent me.
  9. 9
    The government is popular. Most people approve its policies.
  10. 10
    Do you blame the government our economic problems?
  11. 11
    When something goes wrong, you always blame it other people.
  12. 12
    Forgive me interrupting, but I’d like to ask you something.
135.2

Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.

  1. 1
    Sue said that I was selfish.
    Sue accused me .example
  2. 2
    The misunderstanding was my fault, so I apologised.
    I apologised .
  3. 3
    Jane won the tournament, so I congratulated her.
    I congratulated .
  4. 4
    He has enemies, and he has a bodyguard to protect him.
    He has a bodyguard to protect .
  5. 5
    Sandra eats only bread and eggs.
    Sandra lives .
  6. 6
    You can’t say that the bad weather is my fault.
    You can’t blame .
  7. 7
    The police thought my friend had stolen a car.
    The police suspected .
135.3

Complete the sentences using these verbs (in the correct form) + a preposition:

accuseapologiseapprovecongratulatedependlivepaysuffer
  1. 1
    His parents don’t what he does, but they can’t stop him.example
  2. 2
    When you went to the theatre with Paul, who the tickets?
  3. 3
    It’s not pleasant when you are something you didn’t do.
  4. 4
    We hope to go to the beach tomorrow, but it the weather.
  5. 5
    Things are cheap there. You can very little money.
  6. 6
    You were rude to Lisa. I think you should her.
  7. 7
    Alex back pain. He spends too much time working at his desk.
  8. 8
    I called Jack to him passing his driving test.
135.4

Put in the correct preposition. If no preposition is necessary, leave the space empty.

  1. 1
    I’ll never forgive them what they did.example
  2. 2
    Vaccinations may protect you a number of diseases.
  3. 3
    You know you can always rely me if you need any help.
  4. 4
    Sophie will have to borrow money to pay her college fees.
  5. 5
    She’s often unwell. She suffers very bad headaches.
  6. 6
    I don’t know whether I’ll go out tonight. It depends how I feel.
  7. 7
    Anna doesn’t have a job. She depends her parents for money.
  8. 8
    My usual breakfast consists fruit, cereal and coffee.
  9. 9
    I complimented her her English. It was really good.