100 Verb-Preposition Combinations in English

Which one is correct?

• depend in
• depend of
• depend on

Many English learners aren’t sure which preposition to use after each verb… so they just guess and hope it’s right. But when you know the correct verb-preposition combinations, then you can use them confidently. It’s little details like this that really set you apart as someone who knows the English language well.

So today I’ll teach you 100 common verb-preposition combinations. You’ll definitely want to download the free PDF guide to Verbs + Prepositions, because it has all 100 verb-preposition combos PLUS example sentences for each one, so you can see exactly how they’re used!

Pay close attention, because a few verbs can be used with multiple prepositions – for example, you ask ABOUT a topic if you want to know information, but you ask FOR something if you want to receive that thing.

Verbs + FOR

• You apologize for doing something bad.
• You apply for a job or scholarship.
• Police arrest someone for a crime.
• We can beg for something when we ask with a lot of emotion.
• We can blame someone for something they did.
• We can forgive someone for what they did wrong.
• We hope for good things to happen.
• We pay for the things we buy.
• If you’re a religious person, you might pray for certain people or situations.
• We prepare for things in the future.
• Parents scold their kids for doing something wrong, meaning criticize them sternly.
• And if the thing was really bad, they’d punish their kids for it.
• You can substitute something for something else, meaning put one thing in place of another.
• You can thank someone for a gift or a favor.
• We vote for the people we want to be our leaders.
• We wait for things to happen.
• And if we long for something or yearn for something, it means we really, really want it.

Verbs + TO

• You agree to do something, agree to take action.
• You apologize to a person.
• We can adapt to or get used to a new situation.
• Someone’s possessions belong to that person.
• We can compare one thing to another thing.
• We can contribute to something by giving our money, time, or effort.
• We explain something to another person.
• And give something to another person.
• If you lend something to someone, you give it temporarily, and they’ll have to give it back later.
• You can introduce someone to someone else.
• And invite people to your house or to a party.
• We listen to music – careful, a lot of English learners forget this and say “listen music,” but it’s always listen TO music.
• When you object to something, you express an opposite or disapproving point of view.
• We react to news or situations.
• We reply/respond to someone who sends us a message.
• We can speak to or talk to someone else.
• We travel to a place on vacation.
• And finally we subscribe to our favorite YouTube channels, and I hope you’ll subscribe to mine!

Verbs + WITH

• You agree with a person/idea – so agree TO do something, but agree WITH a person or with an idea.
• If you disagree, you’d argue with a person or even fight with a person.
• We also use “with” after a lot of emotional states, so you can be angry, annoyed, bored, content, disappointed, pleased, or satisfied with someone or something.
• To collide with someone or something means to hit it with impact.
• We compete with others in sports and games.
• We need to learn to cope with difficulties, meaning handle them and learn to survive them.
• We can calmly discuss something with someone, meaning talk about it with them.
• We meet with someone when we encounter them and spend time together.
• We can help someone with a difficult task
• We can provide someone with resources
• And it’s always nice to share things with others.

I always like to provide you with the lessons and resources you need to help you with your English! Make sure you download the full Verbs-Prepositions Dictionary, with all the example sentences. This will allow you to go through them more slowly and even create your own examples for each one.

Verbs + OF

• We can approve or disapprove of something.
• We have some more emotional states here, so we can be afraid of, be fond of, be jealous of, be proud of, be scared of something or someone.
• We can also be capable of doing something, meaning have the ability to do something.
• We can be aware of something, meaning we know about it.
• We get rid of something when we eliminate it or throw it away.
• We might accuse someone of doing something wrong.
• A judge or jury would decide if someone is innocent of or is guilty of a crime.
• Something can remind you of another thing or a memory.
• Finally, we think of something, meaning have an idea or opinion.

Verbs + ABOUT

• We argue about a topic – argue WITH a person, argue ABOUT a topic.
• We ask about something when we want information.
• We can be or feel anxious about, concerned about, excited about, happy/sad about something.
• A proud person might boast about their accomplishments.
• If we care about someone or something, it’s important to us.
• We complain about or grumble about things that are bad or frustrating.
• When we hear about or learn about something, information is given to us.
• And then, we know about it – we have the information,
• To think about something means to consider it in your mind. Note that we say “think about” but NOT “consider about.”
• In the same way, we can talk about a topic but we DON’T say “discuss about” the topic.
• Finally, we would warn someone about a risk or danger.

Verbs + IN

• We can be interested in something.
• We’re involved in something or participate in something.
• You can specialize in a particular area of focus.
• Sometimes, things beyond our control might interfere in a situation.

Verbs + ON

• We comment on a topic when we say something about it.
• You concentrate on or focus on an area or a task when you give it all your attention.
• You can count on or depend on someone or something when you’re sure it’s reliable.
• We also plan on doing things.
• And we can insist on doing something when we express our firm demand.

Verbs + AT

• We arrive at a location – note that we arrive at a place, NOT arrive to the place.
• We can be good at or be bad at different skills.
• We have several verbs that have to do with our eyes – look at, glare at, meaning to look angrily, and gaze/stare at meaning to look for a long time.
• If you want to be friendly, you’d smile at someone.
• And if a joke is funny, you’d laugh at it.
• Finally we point at something when we use our finger to indicate direction.

Verbs + FROM

• We borrow something from someone else.
• If someone or something comes from a place, that is its origin.
• If something differs from another thing, that means it’s not the same.
• We can try to discourage someone from doing something, say things to make them not do it.
• Exclude from means to leave someone/something on the outside.
• If a student behaves really badly, he might be suspended from school (temporarily) or be expelled from school (permanently).
• If you finish all the years of college, you graduate from college.
• Kids often play a game where they try to hide from each other.
• Something can stop/prevent you from taking action.
• Firefighters and lifeguards help save/rescue people from being injured or killed.
• Things like helmets protect us from injury when riding a bike.

Verbs + BETWEEN

• We need to choose/decide/pick between two options.
• If it’s hard to see how two things are different, then we say we can’t differentiate or distinguish between them
• We can also divide or split the cookies, for example, between two children

Learn More Verb + Preposition Combinations

So now you’ve learned some of the most important verb + preposition combinations—but this is just the beginning.

If you want the complete list, including example sentences, go ahead and download my full verbs + prepositions dictionary.

And if you really want to master English prepositions – not just understand them, but actually use them correctly and confidently—then come join my Prepositions Pro Challenge!