Verb + for.
Verb + from.
Verb + on.
Verb + of
accuse/suspect somebody OF ...:
Sue accused me of being selfish.
Three students were suspected of cheating in the examination.
approve OF ...:
His parents don't approve of what he does, but they can't stop him.
die OF (an illness):
'What did he die of?' 'A heart attack.'
consist OF ...:
We had an enormous meal. It consisted of seven courses.
Verb + for
pay (somebody) FOR ...:
I didn't have enough money to pay (the waiter) for the meal. (not 'pay the meal')
but 'pay a bill/a fine/a tax/a fare/rent/a sum of money etc. (no preposition):
I didn't have enough money to pay my telephone bill.
thank/forgive somebody FOR ...:
I'll never forgive them for what they did.
apologize (to somebody) FOR ...:
When I realized I was wrong, I apologized (to them) for my mistake.
blame somebody/something FOR ...:
Everybody blamed me for the accident.
also: 'somebody is to blame for ...':
Everybody said that I was to blame for the accident.
also: blame something ON ...:
Everybody blamed the accident on me.
Verb + from
Suffer FROM (an illness etc.):
The number of people suffering from heart disease has increased.
protect somebody/something FROM (or AGAINST) ...:
Sun oil can protect the skin from the sun. (or . against the sun.)
Verb + on
depend ON.../rely ON ...:
'What time will you arrive?' 'I don't know. It depends on the traffic.'
You can rely on Jill. She always keeps her promises.
You can use depend + when/where/how etc. (question words) with or without on:
'Are you going to buy it?' 'It depends how much it is.' (or depends on how much) live ON (money/food):
George's salary is very low. It isn't enough to live on.
congratulate (someone) ON .../compliment (somebody) ON ...
I congratulated her on her success the exam.
Exercise 1. Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.
1. Sue said I was selfish. Sue accused me _of being selfish._
2. The misunderstanding was my fault, so I apologized. I apologized ---.
3. She won the tournament, so I congratulated her. I congratulated her ---.
4. He has enemies but he has a bodyguard to protect him. He has a bodyguard to protect him ---.
5. There are 11 players in a football team. A football team consists ---.
6. She eats only bread and eggs. She lives ---. Complete the second sentence using for or on. (These sentences all have blame.)
7. Kay said that what happened was Jim's fault. Kay blamed Jim _for what happened._
8. You always say everything is my fault. You always blame me ---.
9. Do you think the economic crisis is the fault of the government? Do you blame the government ---.
10. I think the increase in violent crime is because of television. I blame the increase in ---.
Now rewrite sentences 9 and 10 using ... to blame for ...
11. (9) Do you think the government ---.
12. (10) I think that ---.
Exercise 2. Complete the sentences using one of the following verbs (in the correct form) + the correct preposition:
accuse apologize approve congratulate depend live pay
1. His parents don't _approve of_ what he does, but they can't stop him.
2. When you went to the theatre with Paul, who --- the tickets?
3. It's not very pleasant when you are --- something you didn't do.
4. 'Are you playing tennis tomorrow?' 'I hope so. It --- the weather.'
5. Things are very cheap there. You can --- very little money.
6. When I saw Dave, I --- him --- passing his driving test.
7. You were very rude to Fiona. Don't you think you should --- her?
Exercise 3. Put in the correct preposition. If no preposition is necessary, leave the space empty (-)
1. Three students were suspected _of_ cheating in the examination.
2. Sally is often not well. She suffers --- very bad headaches.
3. You know that you can rely --- me if you ever need any help.
4. It is terrible that some people are dying --- hunger while others eat too much.
5. Are you going to apologize --- what you did?
6. The accident was my fault, so I had to pay --- the damage.
7. I didn't have enough money to pay --- the bill.
8. I complimented her --- her English. She spoke fluently and made very few mistakes.
9. She hasn't got a job. She depends --- her parents for money.
10. I don't know whether I'll go out tonight. It depends --- how I feel.
11. They wore warm clothes to protect themselves --- the cold.
12. The apartment consists --- three rooms, a kitchen and bathroom.
Keys: 1
1.
2. for the misunderstanding (which was my fault).
3. on winning the tournament.
4. from his enemies./against his enemies.
5. of 11 players.
6. on bread and eggs.
8. for everything.
9. for the economic crisis?
10. violent crime on television.
11. is to blame for the economic crisis?
12. television is to blame for the increase in violent crime.
2
1.
2. paid for
3. accused of
4. depends on
5. live on
6. congratulated him on
7. apologise to
3
1.
2. from
3. on
4. of
5. for
6. for
7. -
8. on
9. on
10. on or -
11. from or against
12 of
