Verb and preposition combinations

A verb and its usual preposition form a pattern. Write depend on as two linked words in your notes. This helps you choose the phrase again when you speak or write.

The result depends on your final answer.

Depends on is the complete phrase. Your final answer is the thing that affects the result.

Which preposition completes The result depends ___ the weather?

Use on: The result depends on the weather.

Use depend on when one person, thing, or situation affects another. It is common when you explain a plan, a result, or a need. The object can be a noun, a pronoun, or a question word.

Whether we travel tomorrow depends on the forecast.

The forecast is the condition that affects the travel plan.

It depends on how much time we have.

How much time we have is the condition in this answer.

Complete the question: What does the final choice depend ___?

Use on: What does the final choice depend on?

Use listen to when you pay attention to a sound or to spoken information. Listen normally needs to before the person, message, music, or instruction. Do not confuse it with hear, which can describe receiving a sound without trying.

The class listened to the guide carefully.

The guide is the person whose words the class paid attention to.

I listened to the recording twice.

The recording is the sound source that received attention.

Which phrase fits: Please listen the instructions or Please listen to the instructions?

Use listen to the instructions. The preposition belongs with listen in this meaning.

Use think about when you consider an idea, choice, person, or activity. The phrase can be followed by a noun phrase or an -ing form. Think of may be used differently when an idea comes into your mind.

Have you thought about taking the later train?

Taking the later train is the possible action under consideration.

I am thinking about my next project.

My next project is the idea the speaker is considering.

Choose the natural ending: They are thinking about move or They are thinking about moving.

Use moving. A verb after about takes the -ing form.

Use apply for when you make a formal request for something. You can apply for a job, a course, a visa, or permission. The object after for is the thing you want to receive or be considered for.

Jordan applied for a training grant.

A training grant is the thing Jordan requested.

She is applying for a place on the course.

A place on the course is what she wants.

Complete the sentence: He applied ___ a new passport.

Use for: He applied for a new passport.

Use apologize for to name the problem, action, or behavior that caused the apology. Use apologize to when you name the person who receives it. One sentence can include both phrases.

We apologized for the delay.

The delay is the problem that caused the apology.

I apologized to my neighbour for forgetting the meeting.

My neighbour is the person who receives the apology, and forgetting the meeting is the reason for it.

Which preposition names the reason for an apology?

Use for: She apologized for arriving late.

After a preposition, use a noun phrase, a pronoun, or an -ing form. Do not usually put to plus a base verb after a preposition. Compare think about studying with decide to study. The first pattern has a preposition, while the second has an infinitive.

They are talking about meeting after work.

Meeting is an activity, so it takes the -ing form after about.

Can you listen to it now?

It is a pronoun, so it can follow to directly.

Choose the natural ending: We talked about start early or We talked about starting early.

Use starting early. The verb takes the -ing form after about.