question | réponse | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
talk ... somebody Probably should talk ... Cassie first.
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talk to
|
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speak ... somebody I want to speak ... the president.
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speak to
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listen ... something OK, Giles, you have to listen ... me very carefully.
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listen to
|
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apologise ... somebody (for) There's no need for you to apologise ... me.
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apologise to
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explain something ... somebody I was trying to explain ... Tristan the importance of love.
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explain to
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explain ... somebody (what/how/why) And no one will explain ... me why.
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explain to
|
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describe ... somebody (what/how/why) I couldn't attempt to describe ... you the horrors committed by the Germans.
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describe to
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phone ... somebody I need to phone ... my accountant.
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- phone / call / e-mail / text somebody - NO PREPOSITION
|
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call ... somebody I need to call ... my accountant.
|
- phone / call / e-mail / text somebody - NO PREPOSITION
|
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email ... somebody I need to email ... my accountant.
|
- phone / call / e-mail / text somebody - NO PREPOSITION
|
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text ... somebody I need to text ... my accountant.
|
- phone / call / e-mail / text somebody - NO PREPOSITION
|
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write (a letter) ... somebody Perhaps I could write ... the State Senate and request funds from them.
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write to
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answer ... somebody/something He refused to answer ... my question.
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-
|
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reply ... an email / a letter I received no reply ... my letter.
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reply to
|
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ask ... somebody Can I ask ... you a question?
|
-
|
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thank ... somebody He thanked ... Alice for a bottle of water.
|
- thank somebody (for something) NO PREPOSITION | thank FOR something
|
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look... Why are you looking ... me like that?
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look at
|
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stare... It is rude to stare ... someone.
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stare at
|
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glance... If you even glance ... another woman...
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glance at
|
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laugh... I look stupid with this haircut. Everybody will laugh ... me.
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laugh at
|
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aim... In the longer term, we should aim ... the introduction of a visa-free travel regime.
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aim at
|
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point... Don’t point that knife ... me.
|
point at
|
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shoot... We saw someone with a gun shooting ... birds, but he didn’t hit any.
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shoot at
|
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fire... And, he was willing to fire ... the police officials.
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fire at
|
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shout ... somebody (when you are angry) He got very angry and started shouting ... me.
|
shout at
|
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shout ... somebody (so that they can hear you) He shouted ... me from the other side of the street.
|
shout to
|
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throw something ... somebody/something (in order to hit them) Somebody threw an egg ... the minister.
|
throw at
|
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throw something ... somebody (for somebody to catch) Lisa shouted ‘Catch!’ and threw the keys ... me from the window.
|
throw to
|
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talk ... something We talked ... a lot of things at the meeting.
|
talk about
|
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read ... something I just read ... you in the Tribune
|
read about
|
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know ... something Vivian can never know ... that.
|
know about
|
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tell somebody... There's one person I'd like to tell ... our conversation.
|
tell about
|
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have a discussion ... something We had a discussion ... what we should do.
|
discussion about
|
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discuss ... something We discussed ... a lot of things at the meeting.
|
-
|
|||
do something ... something = do something to improve a bad situation If you’re worried about the problem, you should do something ... it.
|
do about
|
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ask (somebody) ... something I sent an email to the company asking them ... more information about the job.
|
ask for
|
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apply ... something I think you’d be good at this job. Why don’t you apply ... it?
|
apply for
|
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wait ... something Don’t wait ... me. I’ll join you later.
|
wait for
|
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search (a person / a place / a bag etc.)... I’ve searched the house ... my keys, but I still can’t find them.
|
search for
|
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leave (a place) ... another place I haven’t seen her since she left (home) ... the office this morning.
|
leave for I haven’t seen her since she left (home) for the office this morning. (not left to the office)
|
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care ... somebody/something = think that somebody/something is important He’s very selfish. He doesn’t care ... other people.
|
care about
|
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care ... somebody/something I don’t care ... very hot weather.
|
care for
|
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take care ... = look after, keep safe, take responsibility for Don’t worry about me. I can take care ... myself
|
take care of
|
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look ... = search for, try to find I’ve lost my keys. Can you help me to look ... them?
|
look for
|
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look ... = take care of, keep safe or in good condition Alan is 85 and lives alone. He needs somebody to look ... him.
|
look after
|
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hear ... = be told about something Did you hear ... the fire at the hotel yesterday?
|
hear about
|
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hear ... = know that somebody/something exists ‘Who is Tom Hart?’ ‘I have no idea. I’ve never heard ... him.’
|
hear of
|
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hear ... = be in contact with somebody ‘Have you heard ... Jane recently?’ ‘Yes, she called me a few days ago.’
|
hear from
|
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When you think ... something, you consider it, you concentrate your mind on it ‘Will you lend me the money?’ ‘I’ll think ... it.
|
think about
|
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When you think ... something, the idea comes to your mind It was my idea. I thought ... it first.
|
think of It was my idea. I thought of it first. (not thought about it)
|
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I felt embarrassed. I couldn’t think ... anything to say.
|
think of (not think about anything)
|
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We also use think ... when we ask or give an opinion ‘What did you think ... the movie?’ ‘I didn’t think much ... it.’ (= I didn’t like it much)
|
think of
|
|||
dream ... (when you are asleep) I dreamt ... you last night.
|
dream about
|
|||
dream ... being something / doing something = imagine Do you dream ... being rich and famous?
|
dream of
|
|||
I wouldn’t dream ... doing something = I would never do it ‘Don’t tell anyone what I said.’ ‘No, I wouldn’t dream ... it.’ (= I would never do it)
|
dream of
|
|||
complain (to somebody) ... = say that you are not satisfied We complained to the manager of the restaurant ... the food.
|
complain about
|
|||
complain ... a pain, an illness etc. = say that you have a pain etc We called the doctor because George was complaining ... a pain in his stomach.
|
complain of
|
|||
remind somebody ... = tell somebody not to forget I’m glad you reminded me ... the meeting. I’d completely forgotten about it.
|
remind about
|
|||
remind somebody ... = cause somebody to remember This house reminds me ... the one I lived in when I was a child.
|
remind of
|
|||
warn somebody ... a person or thing which is bad, dangerous, unusual etc. Vicky warned me ... the traffic. She said it would be bad.
|
warn about
|
|||
warn somebody ... a danger, something bad which might happen later Scientists have warned us ... the effects of climate change.
|
warn about
|
|||
accuse somebody... Sue accused me ... being selfish.
|
accuse of
|
|||
suspect somebody... Some students were suspected ... cheating in the exam.
|
suspect of
|
|||
approve... His parents don’t approve ... what he does, but they can’t stop him.
|
approve of
|
|||
disapprove... His parents disapprove ... what he does, but they can’t stop him.
|
disapprove of
|
|||
die ... OR... They're so sensitive they die ... nostalgia. | ‘What did he die ...?’ ‘A heart attack.’
|
die of die from
|
|||
consisted... We had an enormous meal. It consisted ... seven courses.
|
consisted of
|
|||
pay (somebody)... I didn’t have enough money to pay ... the meal.
|
pay for
|
|||
pay ... a bill You can't even pay ... a bill?
|
-
|
|||
pay ... a fine Yes, and the driver will pay ... a fine.
|
-
|
|||
pay ... a fee You will need to pay ... a fee to register the mortgage.
|
-
|
|||
pay ... tax So we don't have to pay ... tax.
|
-
|
|||
pay ... rent He who signs the lease, must pay ... rent.
|
-
|
|||
pay ... a sum of money
|
-
|
|||
forgive ... something I’ll never forgive them ... what they did
|
forgive for
|
|||
thank ... something He thanked Alice ... a bottle of water.
|
thank for thank somebody for something NO PREPOSITION | thank FOR something
|
|||
apologise (TO somebody)... When I realised I was wrong, I apologised (to them) ... my mistake.
|
apologise for
|
|||
blame somebody/something ..., somebody is to blame... Everybody blamed me ... the accident. | Everybody said that I was to blame ... the accident
|
blame for
|
|||
blame (a problem etc.)... The accident wasn’t my fault. Don’t blame it ... me.
|
blame on
|
|||
suffer ... an illness etc. There’s been an increase in the number of people suffering ... heart disease.
|
suffer from
|
|||
protect somebody/something... Sun block protects the skin ... the sun.
|
protect from
|
|||
depend... ‘What time will you be home?’ ‘I don’t know. It depends ... the traffic.’
|
depend on
|
|||
rely... You can rely ... Anna. She always keeps her promises.
|
rely on
|
|||
live ... money/food Michael’s salary is very low. It isn’t enough to live...
|
live on
|
|||
congratulate somebody... I congratulated her ... doing so well in her exams.
|
congratulate on
|
|||
compliment somebody... The meal was really good. I complimented Mark ... his cooking skills.
|
compliment on
|
|||
believe ... something Do you believe ... God? (= Do you believe that God exists?)
|
believe in believe IN something | believe something / somebody (its true or sb is telling true)
|
|||
believe ... something (= believe it is true) The story can’t be true. I don’t believe ... it.
|
- believe IN something | believe something / somebody (its true or sb is telling true)
|
|||
believe ... somebody (= believe they are telling the truth) The story can’t be true. I don’t believe ... it.
|
- believe IN something | believe something / somebody (its true or sb is telling true)
|
|||
specialise ... something Helen is a lawyer. She specialises ... company law.
|
specialise in
|
|||
succeed ... something I hope you succeed ... finding the job you want.
|
succeed in
|
|||
break ... place Our house was broken ... a few days ago, but nothing was stolen.
|
break into
|
|||
crash... He lost control of the car and crashed ... a wall.
|
crash into
|
|||
drive... A machine told me to drive ... a lake.
|
drive into
|
|||
bump... I'm trying not to bump ... Joy again.
|
bump into
|
|||
run... We don't want to run ... any more scary animals.
|
run into
|
|||
divide something ... two or more parts The book is divided ... three parts.
|
divide into
|
|||
cut something ... two or more parts The book is cut into three parts.
|
cut into
|
|||
split something ... two or more parts The book is split ... three parts.
|
split into
|
|||
translate a book etc. FROM one language ... another She’s a famous writer. Her books have been translated ... many languages.
|
translate into
|
|||
collide ... something There was an accident this morning. A bus collided ... a car.
|
collide with
|
|||
fill something... Take this saucepan and fill it ... water.
|
fill with
|
|||
provide somebody ... something The school provides all its students ... books.
|
provide with
|
|||
supply somebody ... something At the beginning of termthe semester, students are supplied ... a list of books that they are expected to read.
|
supply with
|
|||
happen... What happened ... that gold watch you used to have? (= where is it now?)
|
happen to
|
|||
invite somebody ... a party / a wedding etc. They only invited a few people ... their wedding.
|
invite to
|
|||
prefer one thing/person ... another I prefer tea ... coffee.
|
prefer to
|
|||
concentrate... I tried to concentrate ... my work, but I kept thinking about other things.
|
concentrate on
|
|||
insist... I wanted to go alone, but some friends of mine insisted ... coming with me.
|
insist on
|
|||
spend (money)... How much do you spend ... food each week?
|
spend on
|