Verb + into.
Verb + with.
Verb + to.
Verb + on.
Verb + in
believe IN ...:
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)
specialize IN ...:
Helen is a lawyer. She specializes in company law.
succeed IN ...:
I hope you succeed in finding the job you want.
Verb +into
break INTO ...:
Our house was broken into a few days ago but nothing was stolen.
crash/drive/bump/run INTO ...:
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.
Cut the meat into small pieces before frying it.
translate (a book etc.) FROM one language INTO another:
George Orwell's books have been translated into many languages.
Verb + with
collide WITH ...:
There was an accident this morning. A bus collided with a car. (but 'crashed into')
fill something WITH:
Take this saucepan and fill it with water.
provide/supply somebody WITH...:
The school provides all its students with books.
Verb + to
happen TO ...:
What happened to that gold watch you used to have? (= where is it now?)
prefer one thing/person TO another:
I prefer tea to coffee.
Verb + on
concentrate ON ...:
Don't look out of the window. Concentrate on your work.
insist ON ...:
I wanted to go alone but they insisted on coming with me.
spend (money) ON ...:
How much money do you spend on food each week?
Exercise 1. Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.
1. There was a collision between a bus and a car. A bus collided _with a car._
2. I don't mind big cities but I prefer small towns. I prefer ---.
3. I got all the information I needed from Jill. Jill provided me ---.
4. This morning I bought a pair of shoes which cost -'60. This morning I spent ---.
Exercise 2. Complete the sentences using one of the following verbs (in the correct form) + the correct preposition: believe concentrate divide drive fill happen insist succeed
1. I wanted to go alone but Sue _insisted on_ coming with me.
2. I haven't seen Harry for ages. I wonder what has --- him.
3. I was driving along when the car in front of me stopped suddenly. Unfortunately, I couldn't stop in time and --- the back of it.
4. It's a very large house. It's --- four flats.
5. I don't --- ghosts. I think people only imagine that they see them.
6. Steve gave me an empty bucket and told me to --- it --- water.
7. Don't try and do two things together --- one thing at a time.
8. It wasn't easy but in the end we --- finding a solution to the problem.
Exercise 3. Put in the correct preposition.
1. The school provides all its students _with_ books.
2. A strange thing happened --- me a few days ago.
3. Mark decided to give up sport so that he could concentrate --- his studies.
4. I don't believe --- working very hard. It's not worth it.
5. My present job isn't wonderful, but I prefer it --- what I did before.
6. I hope you succeed --- getting what you want.
7. As I was coming out of the room, I collided --- somebody who was coming in.
8. There was an awful noise as the car crashed --- a tree.
9. Jim is a photographer. He specializes --- sports photography.
10. Do you spend much money --- clothes?
11. The country is divided --- six regions.
12. I prefer travelling by train --- driving. It's much more pleasant.
13. Somebody broke --- my car and stole the radio.
14. I felt quite cold but Peter insisted --- having the window open.
15. Some words are difficult to translate --- one language another.
16. What happened --- the money I lent you? What did you spend it?
17. The teacher decided to split the class --- four groups.
18. I filled the tank but unfortunately I filled it --- the wrong kind of petrol.
Exercise 4. Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use a preposition.
1. I wanted to go out alone but my friend insisted _on coming with me._
2. I spend quite a lot of money ---.
3. I saw the accident. The car crashed ---.
4. Sarah prefers basketball ---.
5. Shakespeare's plays have been translated ---.
Keys: 1
1.
2. small towns to big cities.
3. with all the information I needed.
4. L60 on a pair of shoes.
2
1.
2. happened to
3. drove into
4. divided into
5. believe in
6. fill it with
7. Concentrate on
8. succeeded in
3
1.
2. to
3. on
4. in
5. to
6. in
7. with
8. into
9. in
10. on
11. into
12. to
13. into
14. on
15. from one language into another
16. happened to ... spend it on
17. into
18. with
4 Example answers:
1.
2. on books.
3. into a wall.
4. to volleyball.
5 into many languages.
