CLASS (nov 8) English LL.

B ENTRANCE 2023
PAPER IV English Language
Dishan Senarathne
( Attorney-At-Law]
(SLIM)

WORDS FOLLOWED BY PREPOSITIONS

Certain adjectives and verbs are followed by prepositions. A few examples of such words are given
below and grouped under the prepositions that follow them.

1. Adjectives followed by prepositions

We commonly use prepositions after adjectives. Here are the most common adjective + preposition patterns. It is
good to note them.
adjectives preposition
aware, full of They weren’t aware of the time.
different, separate from Is French very different from Spanish?
due, similar to This picture is similar to the one in our living room.
familiar, wrong with What’s wrong with Isabelle?
good, surprised* at We were really surprised at the price of food in restaurants on our holiday.
interested in Lots of people are interested in Grand Prix racing but I’m not.
responsible, good for Exercise is good for everyone.
worried, excited about We’re really excited about our trip to Argentina.
good In Mary is good in typing fast on the computer
*We can also say surprised by
2. Verbs followed by prepositions

Preposition
Verbs
To
They should adhere to the terms of the contract
Adhere to

Life is often compared to a dream (to point out similarities)

Compare to

The kitchen does not conform to hygiene regulations

Conform to

Correspond to Statutory law corresponds to the theories in English law (similar)

she was referred to a clinical psychologist for counselling (direct to)
Refer to

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 Preposition
Verbs
In
I want to believe in my self-confidence
Believe in

Stephanie fell in love with the beautiful city

Fall in

My producer will have to find someone to fill in for me

Fill in
You have to work hard if you want to succeed in life (achieve)
Succeed in
Our company specializes in computer software.
Specialize in

Preposition
Verbs
With
Weekend duties would interfere with his studies
Interfere with

The asteroid is expected to collide with the planet (hit by)

Collide with

Father always compared me with my brother who used to get better grades.
Compare with
(to point out the differences)

You have to correspond with different people as a lawyer (communicate)

Correspond with
My assistant will provide you with more information if you need it
Provide with
Our views on this issue coincide closely with those of the British government
Coincide with

Preposition
Verbs
On
Their decision will depend on the test results.
Depend on
So far, Mr. Cook has not commented on these reports
Comment on
If you make so much noise, I can't concentrate on my work
Concentrate on
I know I can rely on your discretion
Rely on
The film is based on a novel by Pat Conroy
Based on

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 Preposition
Verbs
Of

The crew consists of five men

Consist of

He was accused of murdering his wife's lover

Accuse of

I don't approve of hunting animals for their fur.

Approve of

She was acquitted of all the charges against her

Acquit of

The cabinet is composed of thirty ministers

Composed of

Preposition
Verbs
From

Many suffer from behavioural and emotional problems

Suffer from

security products are designed to protect information from unauthorized

Protect from access

she refrained from commenting on the political agendas

Refrain from

The second edition slightly differed from the first

Differ from

The child is perfectly capable of distinguishing reality from fantasy

Distinguish from

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Preposition Combinations with Adjectives, Nouns, and Verbs

A account for accused of accustomed to acquainted with addicted to

advantage of afraid of alternative to apply for approve of
associated with attached to aware of
B bad at based on believe in belong to benefit of
blame for borrow from busy with
C capable of cause of cluttered with committed to composed of
congratulate on connected to concerned about conscious of consist of
content with contribute to cost of convinced of covered with
D dressed in devoted to different from dissatisfied with distinguish from
divorced from done with discriminated against
E eligible for envious of equipped with escape from example of
excited about excuse for exhausted from exposed to
F faithful to familiar with famous for fed up with filled with
fond of forget about frightened of full of
G gentle with gone from good at guilty of
H hide from hope for
I immune to incapable of inferior to innocent of insure against
interested in introduce to invest in invitation to
J jealous of
K keep from kind to
L late for lack of lend to limited to look forward to
M married to
N nervous about notorious for
O object to opposed to
P participate in patient with pleased with polite to pray for
prepared for prevent from prohibit from protect from proud of
provide with punished for
Q qualified for
R ready for recover from related to reply to rescue from
respond to rid of responsible for
S sad about safe from satisfied with serious about shocked by
similar to solution to spend on stare at stop from
subscribe to substitute for succeed in suitable for superior to
surprised by suspicious of
T take care of thank for tired of trouble with typical of
U unaware of used to
V vote for
W worried about
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 Phrasal verbs
❖ Phrasal verbs are very common in English, especially in more informal contexts. They are made up of
a verb and a particle or, sometimes, two particles.

A. The particle often changes the meaning of the verb.

• She called out the guards when she was sinking into the pool. (Call out= to ask for help)
• They've called off the meeting. (call off = to cancel)
• He got angry when they started to ask about/inquire about his private life. (getting information
about something or someone)
• I am calling to ask/inquire after/about Mrs. Brown. She is in Ward 4. (Ask after= to ask for
information about a person (but not a thing).
• He finished the drink quickly and asked for another. (Ask for= to ask someone to give you
something or do something)

B. In terms of word order, there are two main types of phrasal verbs:
separable and inseparable.
• Separable
❖ With separable phrasal verbs, the verb and particle can be apart or together.

✓ They've called the meeting off.

OR
✓ They've called off the meeting.

❖ However, separable phrasal verbs must be separated when you use a personal pronoun.
✓ The meeting? They've called it off.

Here are some common separable phrasal verbs:

✓ I didn't want to bring the situation up at the meeting.

(bring up = start talking about a particular subject)

✓ Please can you fill this form in?

(fill in = write information in a form or document)

✓ I'll pick you up from the station at 8 p.m.

(pick up = collect someone in a car or other vehicle to take them somewhere)

✓ She turned the job down because she didn't want to move to Glasgow.

(turn down = to not accept an offer)

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• Non-separable

❖ Some phrasal verbs cannot be separated.

✓ Who looks after the baby when you're at work?

❖ Even when there is a personal pronoun, the verb and particle remain together.
❖ Who looks after her when you're at work?

❖ Here are some common non-separable phrasal verbs:

✓ I came across your email when I was clearing my inbox.
(come across = to find something by chance)
✓ The caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly.
(turn into = become)
✓ It was quite a major operation. It took months to get over it and feel normal again.
(get over = recover from something)
✓ We are aware of the problem and we are looking into it.
(look into = investigate)

C. With two particles

❖ Phrasal verbs with two particles are also inseparable. Even if you use a personal pronoun, you put
it after the particles.
✓ Who came up with that idea?

(come up with = think of an idea or plan)

✓ Let's get rid of these old magazines to make more space.

(get rid of = remove or become free of something that you don't want)

✓ I didn't really get on with my stepbrother when I was a teenager.

(get on with = like and be friendly towards someone)

✓ Can you hear that noise all the time? I don't know how you put up with it.

(put up with = tolerate something difficult or annoying)

✓ The concert's on Friday. I'm really looking forward to it.

(look forward to = be happy and excited about something that is going to happen)

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Exercise 1
• Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions given below.
(passed away, do without, look forward to, called off, made up, carried away, break out, run out, put up
with, keep up)

1. Don't smoke in the forest. Fires ……………………….. easily at this time of the year.
2. I……………………………….. seeing my friends again.

3. I'm afraid; we have ………………………..of apple juice. Will an orange juice do?
4. Your website has helped me a lot to ……………………..the good work.

5. A friend of mine has …………………………….her wedding.

6. His mother can't …………………………..his terrible behaviour anymore.

7. As an excuse for being late, she ………………………….a whole story.

8. I got …………………………by his enthusiasm.

9. I just cannot ………………………………..my mobile. I always keep it with me.

10. she was very sad because her father …………………………….last week.

Exercise 2
• Complete the phrasal verbs with the correct particles

11. I don't know where my book is. I must look ……………… it.
12. Fill ………………… the form, please.
13. The music is too loud. Could you turn …………….. the volume, please?

14. Quick, get ………………..the bus or you'll have to walk home.

15. Turn ………………… the lights when you go to bed.

16. Do you mind if I switch ……………….. the TV? I'd like to watch the news.
17. The dinner was ruined. I had to throw it …………… .

18. When you enter the house, take …………….. your shoes and put ……………… your slippers.
19. If you don't know this word, you can look it ………………. in a dictionary.

20. He didn’t know that the candles were lighted ………………………. in the house.