Certain verbs, adjectives and nouns are used with particular prepositions to connect them to the people, things or ideas they relate to. These are called dependent prepositions because the correct preposition depends on the preceding verb, adjective or noun. Although prepositions have meanings of their own, these meanings do not always explain why a particular preposition is used. Learning dependent prepositions is therefore as much about vocabulary as it is about grammar.
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How to use dependent prepositions
A dependent preposition connects a verb, adjective or noun to an object. The object can be a noun, noun phrase, object pronoun, noun clause or gerund. When the object is a personal pronoun, we use the object form (me, him, her, us, them). When the object is a verb, we use the gerund (-ing form), which allows an action to function as a noun.
Dependent prepositions with verbs
Intransitive verbs do not take direct objects in English. However, we often still need to connect these verbs to the person or thing an action is directed towards, the cause of an action or reaction, or another type of relationship. To make this connection, we use a dependent preposition. For example:
- She listened to the announcement. (to directs the action towards the source of the sound)
- He laughed at the joke. (at identifies what caused the laughter)
- The committee consists of twelve members. (of identifies the people who make up the committee)
Dependent prepositions with adjectives
Adjectives describe people, things, feelings and characteristics. A dependent preposition identifies the person, thing or idea that the description relates to. For example:
- He’s afraid of spiders. (of identifies the source of his fear)
- She’s good at mathematics. (at identifies the area of her ability)
- This painting is similar to that one. (to identifies the object of comparison)
Dependent prepositions with nouns
A noun can also use a dependent preposition to establish a relationship with another person, thing or idea. For example:
- We need an answer to the question. (to identifies the question requiring an answer)
- There was an increase in prices. (in identifies what increased)
- He has a good relationship with his neighbours. (with identifies the people involved in the relationship)
Common dependent prepositions
The following table lists some common verbs, adjectives and nouns used with dependent prepositions. Some words can take more than one preposition, depending on the intended meaning. These are grouped together under the same word:
| Verbs | Adjectives | Nouns |
|---|---|---|
| agree/disagree with / on / about | afraid/scared of | access to |
| apologise to / for | angry with / at / about | advantage/disadvantage of |
| apply for / to | capable/incapable of | answer/solution to |
| ask for / about | concerned/worried about | attitude to / towards |
| believe in | different from / to | cause of |
| belong to | disappointed with / in / by | change in / to |
| complain to / about | familiar with / to | connection with / between |
| consist of | famous/known for | damage to |
| depend/rely on | full of | decision about / on |
| dream of / about | good/bad at / for / with | demand/need for |
| hear about / from / of | grateful to / for | difference between / in |
| insist on | happy about / with / for | difficulty with / in |
| laugh at / about | important to / for | effect/impact on |
| listen to | interested/uninterested in | experience of / in / with |
| look at | involved in / with | increase/decrease in / of |
| object to | married to | information about / on |
| participate in | proud/ashamed of | interest in |
| pay for | ready/prepared for | knowledge of / about |
| refer to | responsible for / to | opinion of / about / on |
| speak/talk to / with / about | similar to | problem/trouble with |
| think of / about | sorry about / for | relationship with / between |
| wait for | suitable/unsuitable for | reason for |
| work for / on / with | tired of | risk of |
| worry about | be/get used to | support for |
Words with multiple dependent prepositions
Some verbs, adjectives and nouns can take more than one preposition. Changing the preposition can change the meaning or identify a different relationship. The following examples show how different prepositions are used with the same word:
| Word | First preposition and example | Second preposition and example |
|---|---|---|
| agree | with + person sharing your opinion | on + a mutual decision |
| I agree with Daniel. | We agreed on a colour to paint the walls. | |
| angry | with + person causing anger | about + situation causing anger |
| She’s angry with her colleague. | She’s angry about the cancellation. | |
| apologise | to + person receiving the apology | for + cause of the apology |
| He apologised to his neighbour. | He apologised for the noise. | |
| change | in + what has changed | to + what has been modified |
| There’s been a change in his attitude. | They made a change to the contract. | |
| complain | to + person receiving a complaint | about + subject of a complaint |
| She complained to the receptionist. | She complained about the room. | |
| dream | about + experience during sleep | of + something desired |
| I dreamt about falling. | I dream of owning a restaurant. | |
| familiar | with + something a person knows | to + person recognising something |
| I’m familiar with this software. | Her voice sounds familiar to me. | |
| good/bad | at + skill or activity | for + person/thing benefiting/suffering |
| He’s good at repairing bicycles. | Walking is good for your health. | |
| happy | with + source of satisfaction | for + person experiencing good fortune |
| I’m happy with the results. | I’m happy for my sister. | |
| increase | in + what increased | of + size of the increase |
| There was an increase in crime. | There was an increase of 12%. | |
| responsible | for + people or tasks under someone’s care | to + who someone answers or reports to |
| She’s responsible for staff training. | She’s responsible to the director. | |
| think | about + subject under consideration | of + idea that comes to mind |
| I’m thinking about his suggestion. | I’ve thought of a better idea. |
Some prepositions can be used interchangeably without changing the basic meaning. For example, both thinking of moving abroad and thinking about moving abroad express the idea of considering a possible future action. Likewise, while dream about is commonly used for experiences during sleep and dream of is particularly common for hopes and ambitions, both prepositions are commonly used in either meaning.
Common mistakes with dependent prepositions
The correct dependent preposition cannot always be predicted from its meaning, so learners often make mistakes when choosing which preposition to use or deciding whether one is needed. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:
Using the wrong preposition
Some words require a particular preposition to express the intended relationship. Choosing the wrong preposition can make the sentence grammatically incorrect or change its meaning.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| ❌ It depends of the weather. | ✅ It depends on the weather. |
| ❌ I’m thinking on buying a new car. | ✅ I’m thinking of buying a new car. |
| ❌ Her approach is similar with mine. | ✅ Her approach is similar to mine. |
| ❌ My brother is interested about history. | ✅ My brother is interested in history. |
Omitting a necessary preposition
When a verb, adjective or noun requires a preposition to introduce its object, do not omit it.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| ❌ I’m listening music. | ✅ I’m listening to music. |
| ❌ She asked a coffee. | ✅ She asked for a coffee. |
| ❌ He was looking a dog outside. | ✅ He was looking at a dog outside. |
| ❌ We need a solution this problem. | ✅ We need a solution to this problem. |
Adding an unnecessary preposition
Not every verb needs a preposition to introduce an object. Transitive verbs take their direct objects without a preposition.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| ❌ We discussed about the proposal. | ✅ We discussed the proposal. |
| ❌ She entered to the building. | ✅ She entered the building. |
| ❌ I contacted with the manager. | ✅ I contacted the manager. |
| ❌ He helped to my parents a lot. | ✅ He helped my parents a lot. |
Note: Some words take a dependent preposition in their noun form but take a direct object without a preposition in their verb form. For example:
- The entrance to the building is on Main Street. (noun form with preposition)
- He entered the building. (verb form with no preposition)
- We had a discussion about the proposal. (noun form with preposition)
- We discussed the proposal. (verb form with no preposition)
Using an infinitive instead of a gerund
When a verb follows a preposition as its object, use the gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| ❌ She’s interested in study economics. | ✅ She’s interested in studying economics. |
| ❌ There’s a risk of lose the deposit. | ✅ There’s a risk of losing the deposit. |
| ❌ Lisa insists on leave pots in the sink. | ✅ Lisa insists on leaving pots in the sink. |
| ❌ He admitted to steal the money. | ✅ He admitted to stealing the money. |
Be particularly careful with to. It can be a preposition or part of a to-infinitive. Compare:
- I used to drive to work. (used to describes a past habit and is followed by an infinitive verb)
- I’m used to driving to work. (be used to describes something familiar, and to is a preposition followed by a gerund)
Using a subject pronoun instead of an object pronoun
When a personal pronoun is the object of a preposition, use the object form (me, him, her, us, them), not the subject form (I, he, she, we, they).
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| ❌ I’m waiting for she. | ✅ I’m waiting for her. |
| ❌ The decision depends on he. | ✅ The decision depends on him. |
| ❌ She was angry with we. | ✅ She was angry with us. |
| ❌ I worry about they. | ✅ I worry about them. |
Free dependent prepositions worksheets
Click on the links below to download a PDF version of this guide as well as a number of dependent preposition activities.
Dependent prepositions grammar guide
Dependent prepositions – grammar guide
Dependent prepositions activities
Dependent prepositions activity – speaking activity
Dependent prepositions activity – correct preposition
Dependent prepositions activity – sentence completion
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