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Unit 136 · Prepositions

Verb + preposition 5 in/into/with/to/on

Study

A

believe IN … = believe that something exists, believe that it’s good to do something

›

Do you believe in God? (= do you believe that God exists?)

›

I believe in saying what I think. (= I believe it is right to say what I think)

but ‘believe something’ (= believe that it is true), ‘believe somebody’ (= believe what they say):

›

The story can’t be true. I don’t believe it. (not believe in it)

specialise IN …

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Helen is a lawyer. She specialises in company law.

succeed IN …

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I hope you succeed in finding the job you want.

B

break INTO …

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Our house was broken into a few days ago, but nothing was stolen.

crash / drive / bump / run INTO …

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He lost control of the car and crashed into a wall.

divide / cut / split something INTO two or more parts

›

The book is divided into three parts.

translate a book etc. FROM one language INTO another

›

She’s a famous writer. Her books have been translated into many languages.

C

collide WITH …

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There was an accident this morning. A bus collided with a car.

fill something WITH … (but full of – see Unit 131A)

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Take this saucepan and fill it with water.

provide / supply somebody WITH …

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The school provides all its students with books.

D

happen TO …

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What happened to that gold watch you used to have? (= where is it now?)

invite somebody TO a party / a wedding etc.

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They only invited a few people to their wedding.

prefer one thing TO another

›

I prefer tea to coffee.

E

concentrate ON …

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I tried to concentrate on my work, but I kept thinking about other things.

insist ON …

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I wanted to go alone, but some friends of mine insisted on coming with me.

spend (money) ON …

›

How much do you spend on food each week?

→ Verb + preposition + -ing ➜ Unit 62 Other verbs + to ➜ Unit 132 Other verbs + on ➜ Unit 135D

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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136.1

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

believebreakconcentratedividedrivefillhappeninsistinvitesucceed
  1. 1
    I wanted to go alone, but my friends coming with me.example
  2. 2
    I haven’t seen Mike for ages. I wonder what has him.
  3. 3
    It’s a very large house. It’s four apartments.
  4. 4
    We’ve been the party, but unfortunately we can’t go.
  5. 5
    I don’t ghosts. I think people imagine that they see them.
  6. 6
    Steve gave me an empty bucket and told me to it water.
  7. 7
    A burglar is someone who a house to steal things.
  8. 8
    Don’t try and do two things together. one thing at a time.
  9. 9
    It wasn’t easy, but in the end we finding a solution to the problem.
  10. 10
    The car in front of me stopped suddenly. Unfortunately I couldn’t stop in time and the back of it.
136.2

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

  1. 1
    There was a collision between a bus and a car.
    A bus collided a car.example
  2. 2
    I don’t mind big cities, but I prefer small towns.
    I prefer small towns big cities.
  3. 3
    I got all the information I needed from the company.
    The company provided me all the information I needed.
  4. 4
    This morning I bought a pair of shoes, which cost eighty pounds.
    This morning I spent eighty pounds a pair of shoes.
  5. 5
    There are ten districts in the city.
    The city is divided ten districts.
136.3

Put in the correct preposition. If the sentence is already complete, leave the space empty.

  1. 1
    The school provides all its students books.example
  2. 2
    A strange thing happened me a few days ago.
  3. 3
    Mark decided to give up sport to concentrate his studies.
  4. 4
    Money should be used well. I don’t believe wasting it.
  5. 5
    My present job isn’t wonderful, but I prefer it what I did before.
  6. 6
    I hope you succeed getting what you want.
  7. 7
    Ben was injured playing football when he collided another player.
  8. 8
    There was an awful noise as the car crashed a tree.
  9. 9
    Patrick is a photographer. He specialises sports photography.
  10. 10
    Joe doesn’t spend much money clothes.
  11. 11
    I was amazed when I heard the news. I couldn’t believe it.
  12. 12
    Somebody broke my car and stole my bag.
  13. 13
    I was quite cold, but Tom insisted having the window open.
  14. 14
    The teacher decided to split the class four groups.
  15. 15
    I filled the tank, but unfortunately I filled it the wrong kind of fuel.
  16. 16
    Some things are difficult to translate one language another.
136.4

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use a preposition.

  1. 1
    I wanted to go out alone, but my friend insisted coming with me.example
  2. 2
    I spend a lot of money .
  3. 3
    I saw an accident. A car crashed .
  4. 4
    Chris prefers basketball .
  5. 5
    The restaurant we went to specialises .
  6. 6
    Shakespeare’s plays have been translated .