TOEFL GRAMMAR

I.
II.

Understand Basic Sentence Structure.

Understand Conjunctions and Linking Words,
Coordinators, and Subordinators.

III.

Understand Subject-Verb Agreement and Passive Voice.

IV.

Understand Reduced Relative Clauses and Reducing

Adverbial Clauses.

V.

Understand Participial Phrases and Introductory

Phrases.

VI.

Understand Parellelism and Inversions.

VII.

Understand Noun Clauses and Embedded Questions.

VIII.

Understand Parenthetical Statements, Gerunds, and

Infinitives.

IX.

Understand Stative Passives and Prepositions.

TOEFL Grammar
1. Understand Basic Sentence Structure.
There are five basic patterns around which most English sentences are built.*
They are as follows:
S-V

Subject-Verb

John sleeps.
Jill is eating.
Jack will arrive next week.

S-V-O

Subject-Verb-Object

I like rice.
She loves her job.
He's eating an orange.

S-V-Adj

Subject-Verb-Adjective

He is funny.
The workers are lazy.
Karen seems angry.

S-V-Adv

Subject-Verb-Adverb

Jim is here.
Flowers are everywhere.
No one was there.

S-V-N

Subject-Verb-Noun

She is my mom.

The men are doctors.

Mr. Jones is the teacher.

At the heart of every English sentence is the Subject-Verb relationship. Other elements can be
added to make a sentence more interesting, but they are not essential to its formation.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V pattern.

She sleeps.

Core sentence

She sleeps soundly.

An adverb is added to describe how she sleeps.

She sleeps on the sofa.

A prepositional phrase is added to tell where she sleeps.

She sleeps every afternoon.

A time expression is added to tell when she sleeps.

She is sleeping right now.

Verb tense is changed, but S-V relationship remains the

same.
Subject is named and another tense is used.

Mary will sleep later.

The dogs are sleeping in the
garage.

New subject may require a different form of the verb.

Note: Any action verb can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-O pattern.

They like rice.

Core sentence

The people like rice.

Specific subject

The friendly people like rice.

Subject modified with an adjective

The people in the restaurant like

rice.
The people like boiled rice.

Subject modified with an adjective

Object modified with an adjective

The people like hot, white rice.

Object modified with more than one adjective

Note: Only transitive action verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adj pattern.

He is fine.

Basic sentence with "be" verb

He seems happy.

Basic sentence with another linking verb

Jordan is tall, dark and handsome.

Series of adjectives

He appears very comfortable.

Adverb or intensifier added

George became sick last night.

Different tense and linking verb

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adv pattern.

The teacher is here.

Basic sentence

The teacher is over there.

Using an adverb phrase

Teachers are everywhere.

Plural noun and verb used

The teachers are in the lobby.

Prepositional phrase functioning as adverb

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-N pattern.

The man is a doctor.

Basic sentence

The women are doctors.

Using plural noun and verb

My father is a nice guy.

Modified subject and complement

My grandparents are senior

citizens.

Modified plural subject and complement

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
*Other, less common structures are dealt with in another unit.

2. Understand Conjunctions and Linking Words,

Coordinators, and Subordinators.
Coordinators
Coordinators connect elements of equal importance.
S + V , but S + V

(and, but, so, or, nor, for*, yet)

S + V and V
S and S + V
N and N
Adj. and Adj.
Phrase and Phrase
Can be used in a series: A, B, C, or D

Subordinators
Subordinators connect elements of unequal importance. One clause is not as strong as the
other.
S + V although S + V

Although S + V , S + V

(although, even though, because, since*,

when, while, before*, after*, whenever,
wherever*, if, unless, whether?[or not]
as, as [adjective] as, so that, whereas
anywhere*, anytime*)

Sentence Connectors
Sentence Connectors connect paragraphs or show relationship between very different
ideas.
S + V . However, S + V (however, therefore, thus, moreover,
nevertheless, first*, then*, next*, still*
S + V ; however, S + V besides, consequently, furthermore)

Prepositions
Prepositions show relationship among elements of a sentence. They are followed by noun
phrases only and cannot take on a S + V.
S + V (prep. phrase)

(during, after*, before*, in, on, at

despite, in spite of, for*, since*, by
(Prep. phrase), S + V
like, except, but*, about, to*, from
between [A and B], among, with
(Prep. phrase) V + S (unusual) within, without, beside, near, next to)
* These words have more than one function.

3. Understand Subject-Verb Agreement and Passive Voice.

Third person singular -s
Use the -s form of a verb in the present tense when the subject is third person singular.
For all other subjects, use the base form in the present tense.

Example:
base form
I live in Athens.
They live in Crete.
The Smiths live in Rome.
-s form

He lives in Cyprus.
She lives in Malta.
Tim lives in Naples.
Ms. Conner lives in Milan.
The verb have
The -s form of the verb have is has.
We have a winner.
He has a trophy.
The verb be
The -s form (present tense) for be is is. For the past tense, it is was.
Was is also used with first person singular subjects (I) in the past tense.
(Am is used in the present tense. Are is used with other subjects in the present, and were is used
in the past.)
She is here.
He is not here.
I am here too.
You are right.
They are wrong.
She was home yesterday.
Ron wasn't home yesterday.
I was here yesterday.
We were here too.

Auxiliary verbs
When auxiliary verbs are used, only the first verb carries the third person singular -s.
Jean does not like spaghetti. (Correct)
Jean does not likes spaghetti. (Wrong!)
Jean do not likes spaghetti. (Wrong!)
Elsa is eating her dinner. (Correct)
Elsa is eats her dinner. (Wrong!)
Leo is going to eat later.
Frank has eaten lunch already. (Correct)
Frank have eaten lunch already. (Wrong!)

Modals
Do not use the -s form of the verb with modals, regardless of the subject.
Ian can eat twelve bowls of rice. (Correct)
Ian can eats twelve bowls of rice. (Wrong!)
How to construct the passive.
1. Check to see if the active sentence contains an object.
John ate an apple.

(S V O)

Passive is possible.

John ate yesterday.

(S V)

Passive is not possible.

2. Move the object to the front of the sentence. Put the original subject in a "by" phrase .
An apple (V) by John.
3. Put the verb in the form "be" +3 (of main verb)*
An apple "be" eaten by John.

4. Put the "be" in the same tense as the original active sentence.
An apple was/were eaten by John. ( past tense)
5. Make the first verb agree with the new subject.
An apple was eaten by John.
(Put other elements of the sentence in grammatical and logical order.)
Yesterday the large green apple was quickly eaten by John, who didnt realize that it belonged
to his sister.
When other (auxiliary) verbs and modals are used in combination with the passive, remember:
be + 3*
be + V ing
have + 3

(Progressive)
(Perfect)

modal + 1
The apple

(Passive)

(Modal)

should have

been

being eaten by John.

Combination of auxiliary verbs with the passive.

be + 3
be + V ing
have + 3

(Passive)
(Progressive)
(Perfect)

modal +1

(Modal)

The apple

is

eaten by John. (Present tense)

The apple

was

eaten by John. (Past tense)

The apple

is

being eaten by John. (Present Progressive)

The apple

was

being eaten by John. (Past Progressive)

The apple

has

been

eaten by John. (Present Perfect)

The apple

had

been

eaten by John. (Past Perfect)

The apple
Progressive)

has

been

being eaten by John. (Pres. Perfect

The apple
Progressive)

had

been

being eaten by John. (Past Perfect

The apple

will

be

eaten by John. ( Future/Modal)

The apple

is going to

be

eaten by John. (Future/Modal)

The apple

must

be

eaten by John. (Modal)

The apple

must

have

been

The apple
(Combination)

must

have

been

eaten by John. (Past Modal)

being eaten by John.

*Note, to simplify things, we refer to the forms of the verbs with numbers, as follows:
1 base form (be, go, do)
2 past form (was/were, went, did)
3 past participle (been, gone, done)

4. Understand Reduced Relative Clauses and Reducing

Adverbial Clauses.
You may delete the relative pronoun and the be verb when:
1. they are followed by a prepositional phrase.
A. The man who is in the house is my father.
The man in the house is my father.
B. The books that are on the desk are mine
The books on the desk are mine.
2. the main verb in the relative clause is progressive.
A. The man who is swimming in the lake is my father.

The man swimming in the lake is my father.

B. The books that are lying on the floor are mine.
The books lying on the floor are mine.

You may NOT delete the relative pronoun and the be verb when :
1. they are followed by an adjective:
The man who is angry is my father
X The man angry is my father
(However, you may switch the positions of the adjective and noun.)
The angry man is my father. (okay)
2. they are followed by a noun:
The man who is a doctor is my father.
X The man a doctor is my father.

The relative pronoun can be deleted if there is a new subject and verb
following it:
A. This is the house that Jack built.
B. This is the house Jack built.
A. The person whom you see is my father.
B. The person you see is my father.
A. This is the place where I live.
B. This is the place I live.
A. I don't know the reason why she is late.

B. I don't know the reason she is late

(Also : I don't know why she is late. )
A. The woman whom he likes is married.
B. The woman he likes is married.
Notes:
Do not delete a relative pronoun that is followed by a verb other than be:
The man who likes lasagna is my father.
X The man likes lasagna is my father.
Never delete the relative pronoun whose:
The man whose car broke down went to the station.
X The man car broke down went to the station.

5. Understand Participial Phrases and Introductory Phrases.

Same time
Time clauses with "while" and "when" can be reduced by deleting the subject and "be"
verb.
While I was eating dinner, I watched television.
While eating dinner, I watched television.
When you are in Rome, (you) do as the Romans do.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
If there is no "be" verb, change the verb in the subordinating clause to its -ing form.
Sometimes the subordinator (when or while) can be deleted as well.
When I opened the door, I saw a strange sight.
When opening the door, I saw a strange sight.

Opening the door, I saw a strange sight.

Note: If the subjects are different, you may not reduce the adverbial clause.
While I was taking a shower, my sister called from California.
X While taking a shower, my sister called from California.
Be careful when reducing time clauses that come at the end of sentences.
We saw many beautiful birds while we were fishing in the lake.
We saw many beautiful birds while fishing in the lake.
X We saw many beautiful birds fishing in the lake.
In the last sentence, the meaning is ambiguous: Are we fishing or are the birds fishing?

Different times
After I finished my homework, I went to bed.
After finishing my homework, I went to bed.
After I had finished my homework, I went to bed.
After having finished my homework, I went to bed.
Having finished my homework, I went to bed.
Before he left the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend.
Before leaving the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend.

Other clauses
Sometimes clauses with because can be reduced.
Because he was a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.
Being a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.
As a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.

Introductory phrases and clauses

John invited Mary to a movie. Mary had seen the movie twice already. Mary was
reluctant to accept John's invitation.
Because she had seen the movie twice already, Mary was reluctant to accept John's
invitation (to the movie).
Having seen the movie twice already, Mary was reluctant to accept John's invitation.

Intermediary phrases and clauses

Senator James humbly submitted his resignation. The press hounded Senator James for
months on charges of tax evasion.
Senator James, whom the press hounded for months on charges of tax evasion, humbly
submitted his resignation.
Senator James, who was hounded by the press for months on charges of tax evasion,
humbly submitted his resignation.
Senator James, hounded by the press for months on charges of tax evasion, humbly
submitted his resignation.

Other
Mr. Smith swept the floor. Mr. Smith dusted the shelves. Mr. Smith turned out the lights.
Then he left the building.
Mr. Smith swept the floor, dusted the shelves, and turned out the lights before he left the
building.
Mr. Smith swept the floor, dusted the shelves, and turned out the lights before leaving the
building.
Before leaving the building, Mr. Smith swept the floor, dusted the shelves, and turned out
the lights.

After sweeping the floor, dusting the shelves, and turning out the lights, Mr. Smith left
the building.
Having swept the floor, dusted the shelves and turned out the lights, Mr. Smith left the
building.

6. Understand Parellelism and Inversions.

Parallelism means that words used in pairs or groups should all have the same gram-matical
form (verbs and verbs; nouns, nouns, and nouns; gerunds and gerunds, etc.) When using words
or phrases with coordinating conjunctions or in a series, make sure that they follow the same
grammatical structure. For example,
Terry likes swimming and to dive.

(Incorrect: not parallel)

Terry likes swimming and diving.

(Correct)

Terry likes to swim and (to) dive.

(Correct)

I'm taking history, math, and chemical.

(Incorrect)

I'm taking history, math, and chemistry.

(Correct)

Sometimes repeated words, such as auxiliary verbs, can be deleted in parallel constructions.
I have been to Paris and saw the Eiffel Tower.

(Incorrect)

I have been to Paris and have seen the Eiffel Tower.

(Okay)

I have been to Paris and seen the Eiffel Tower.

(Better)

Is she coming to the party or go to a movie?

(Incorrect)

Is she coming to the party or going to a movie?

(Correct)

When to Invert the Subject and Verb:

Questions
Negatives
(Necessary) Prepositional Phrases of Place
Conditionals
Comparisons

1. Questions
He is a doctor.

Is he a doctor?

(Direct inversion)

He ate an apple.

Did he eat an apple?

(With "do")

2. Negatives
He is a doctor.

Not only is he a doctor, (but) he is also a millionaire.

He ate an apple.

Not only did he eat an apple, (but) he also ate an orange.

3. Prepositional Phrases of Place (Necessary)

On the table is a book.

On the table (there) is a book.

The prepositional phrase is necessary here, because without it, the sentence would be
incomplete: ("is a book" is not a complete sentence.) Inversion is necessary.
At the restaurant, the food was too spicy.

(inversion is not necessary)

Without the prepositional phrase, the sentence the food was too spicy is still complete.
This structure is typically used with linking verbs (be, appear, seem, etc.) or words that
function as linking verbs.
In the doorway appeared two strangers.

In the doorway were two strangers.

On the table lies my textbook.

On the table is my textbook.

In the kitchen, he ate an apple.

(Action verb: no inversion necessary.)

4. In some situations, the conditional if is omitted and an inversion is

used in its place. (Only with verbs, were, should or had.) Note the
following examples:
If I were a doctor, I would be rich.
Were I a doctor, I would be rich.
If I had taken the subway, I would have arrived on time.
Had I taken the subway, I would have arrived on time.

If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
Had I known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
If I go to Chicago, I will visit my grandmother.
XX Go I to Chicago, I will visit my grandmother.
If I have enough money, I will buy a horse.
XX Have I enough money, I will buy a horse.

4. Comparisons with than may also be inverted, but the inversion is

optional. Note the following examples.
He has more marbles than John does.
He has more marbles than does John.
He has more marbles than John. (informal okay.)
**Be careful. On the TOEFL, when comparisons are used, sometimes important words
are left out or in error, thereby requiring only one of the possible options.

She loves her cat more than Jim.

She loves her cat more than she loves Jim.
She loves her cat more than Jim loves her cat./more than Jim does.
My dog is smarter than Jack.
My dog is smarter than Jack's.
My dog is smarter than Jack's dog.
My dog is smarter than that of Jack.
My classes are more challenging than those of Mindy.

7. Understand Noun Clauses and Embedded Questions.

Noun clause used as an object
He said something.
What did he say?
SVO
He said that he was sick.

Noun clause used as a subject

Something is your business.
What is your business?
SV
Whatever you do is your business.
Someone is still in the cafeteria.
Who is in the cafeteria?
SV
Whoever ate my lunch is still in the cafeteria.
The subordinator may take the "subject" or "object" position in a noun clause.

Note the usage of the following:

Henry loves Mary. (S V O)

Mary is the "object" of the sentence.

Mary loves Jim. (S V O)

Mary is the "subject" of the sentence.

The person who(m) Lee loves is a secret.

Relative clause (subordinator in obj. position)

The person who loves Tim is a secret.

Relative clause (subordinator in subj. position)

Who(m) Henry loves is a secret.

Noun clause (subordinator in obj. position)

Who loves Tim is a secret.

Noun clause (subordinator in subj. position)

Subordinators which are used in noun clauses:

(Some of these words are also used in Grammar: Relative Clauses and Grammar: Wh Questions.)
that

which

how much

what

where

how many

who

when

how long

whoever

how

how far

whatever

why

how often

whether

if

whose

Remember to preserve word order in noun clauses:

I don't know who he is.
Whoever she is is not important.
Whatever is in the box is a mystery.
Can you tell me what he is doing?
She doesn't undestand why he is leaving.
I wonder how much that costs.
Do you know how long it will take?

Embedded questions
Embedded questions are questions within another statement or question. They function as noun
clauses and as such should generally follow statement, not question, order.

What time is it?

(question order)

I know what time is it.

(Incorrect)

I know what time it is.

(Statement order: S+ V)

Where did she go?

(Question)

I don't know where did she go.

(Incorrect)

I don't know where she went.

(Correct)

What does he do for a living?

(Question)

I wonder what does he do.

(Incorrect)

I wonder what he does.

(Correct)

Who is she?

(Question)

Can you tell me who is she?

(Incorrect)

Can you tell me who she is?

(Correct)

When using adjectives as complements, it is okay to use question order for embedded questions:
Who's hungry?

(Question)

I wonder who is hungry.

(Okay)

In some cases, depending on the focus of the sentence, question order may be used:
Who is the doctor?
I know who the doctor is.
Who is a doctor?
I know who is a doctor (and who is not).

8. Understand Parenthetical Statements, Gerunds, and Infinitives.

Statements in parentheses ( ) can be ignored when it comes to Subject-Verb

agreement.
My husband (the doctor) works at Community Hospital.
My best friend (the one in the green shirt) wants to meet you.

Sometimes commas are used in place of parentheses:

His brother, John, lives in Sacramento.
My sister, who works in Miami, is visiting me this week.
Mr. Johnson, however, was not amused.
The teacher, along with her students, is coming to the party.

Prepositional phrases usually have no effect on Subject-Verb agreement.

The men in the car were shouting wildly.
The men in the cars were shouting wildly.
The books on the shelf next to the window are mine.

However, in some quantifying expressions, prepositional phrases do make a

difference.
A lot of people are traveling to Belize these days.
A lot of milk was left in the refrigerator last night.
Some of the apples were rotten.
Some of the wine is too old.
None of the water is safe to drink.

Relative clauses can have an effect, depending on the meaning.

Mary is the one who takes care of applications.
Mary is one of the people who take care of applications.
One of the men who live there is deranged.

Gerunds are defined as the -ing form of a verb. They have several functions.
1. Used as subjects and complements
Skiing is my favorite sport.
Hiking can be very strenuous.
Seeing is believing
2. Used as objects following prepositions and prepositional expressions
Thanks for tending my children.
The job consists of typing, filing, and answering the phone.
3. Used as objects following certain verbs.*
The children enjoyed watching the parade.
Ms. Terrell avoided paying her taxes until it was too late.
Gerunds can sometimes take objects of their own:
Roland is afraid of making mistakes.
Sandy is considering leaving New York.
*These verbs are commonly followed by gerunds.
admit

advise

anticipate

appreciate

attempt

avoid

begin

can't help

complete

consider

delay

deny

discuss

dislike

enjoy

finish

forget

go

hate

hesitate

imagine

intend

keep

like

love

mention

mind

miss

neglect

postpone

practice

prefer

quit

recall

recollect

recommend

regret

remember

resent

resist

risk

start

stop

suggest

threaten

tolerate

try

understand

9. Understand Stative Passives and Prepositions.

Stative passives are verb-like words that follow "be" in sentences and function as adjectives. See
the examples below:
He is hungry.

(Adjective)

He is interested

(Stative passive)

His leg is broken

(Stative passive)

Stative passives indicate a status or condition which may exist over a period of time. In contrast,
action verbs often indicate a change from one status to another.
We got married in 1998.

(Action: We changed from "single" to "married.")

We are married now.

Status: Our current condition is "married.")

Jack broke the window.

(Action: Indicates what happened at a given moment.)

The window is broken.

(Status: Indicates the condition of the window.)

Note how the action/status contrast works with other verbs:

Jared fell asleep.

(Action: Change in status from "awake" to "asleep").

Jared is asleep.

(Status: Indicates Jared's current condition.)

Joan became sick.

(Action: Joan changed from "healthy" to "sick.")

Joan is sick.

(Status: Joan's present condition.)

The building caught fire.

(Action: Indicates the point when the fire started.)

The building is on fire now.

(Status: Indicates the condition of the building.)

The doctor came in.

(Action)

The doctor is in.

(Status)

Stative passives are often used with prepositional expressions.

See Grammar: Preposition Collocations with "Be".
She is interested in photography.
Brad was worried about his mother.
Carmen is terrified of snakes.
Everyone was caught up in the excitement.
Some adjectives also fit in the same pattern:
Karen is fond of chocolates.
I'm crazy about sports cars.
You're full of baloney.
Prepositions indicate relationships between words or ideas. Most prepositions deal with location
and are easy to learn.
above

below

over

under

inside

outside

around

through

beside

beyond

behind

in front of

near

nearby

by

next to

up

down

toward

along (side)

before*

after*

during

since*

with

without

within

until*

into

out (of)

off

upon

between

among

except

but*

like

as

than

about

despite

in spite of

beneath

underneath

*These can also be used as conjunctions.

Some prepositions, however, have more than one meaning and can be very confusing.
in

on

at

to

from

for

of

Preposition Collocations with be

A
be absent from

be absolved of

be accepted as/to

be according to

be accused of

be accustomed to

be acquainted with

be adamant about

be addicted to

be affected by

be afraid of

be after

be alarmed at

be aligned with

be (all) set for

be amazed at/by

be an authority on

be angry about/at/with

be annoyed at/with

be anxious about

be appropriate for

be armed with

be around

be arrested for

be ashamed of

be associated with

be astonished at/by

be at it (again)

be attached to

be attracted to

be aware of

be away from

B
be back (from)

be bad at

be bad for

be banned from

be based (up)on

be behind (schedule)

be bent on

be biased about

be big on

be blamed for

be blessed with

be bored with

be bound for
C

be capable of

be carried away
about/with

be caught up in

be centered around

be certain of

be charged with

be classified as

be clear about

be clear to

be clever at

be close to

be cluttered (up) with

be a combination of

be compared to

be compensated for

be composed of

be comprised of

be concerned
about/with

be confident of

be confused about

be congratulated for/on

be connected to/with

be conned into

be considerate of

be considered for

be content with

be contrary to

be convenient for/to

be convinced of

be convicted of/for

be coordinated with

be covered with

be crammed into

be crazy about

be credited with

be criticized for/as

be dedicated to

be delighted with

be dependent (up)on

be devoted to

be different from/than

be disappointed
about/at/in/with

be discouraged about

be discriminated
against

be disgusted with

be disillusioned with

be disqualified for

be disposed of

be distinguished from

be divided into

be divorced (from)

be done with

be down

be down on/with

be dragged into

be dressed (up) in

be drunk with/on

be east of

be elected as/to

be eligible for

be embarrassed
about/at

be encouraged by

be entailed in

be engaged to/in

be entrusted with

be envious of

be equal/equivalent to

be equipped with

be estranged from

be evicted from

be excited about

be expelled from

be crowded with
D

F
be faithful to

be faced with

be familiar with/to

be famous for

be fanatic(al) about

be fascinated with

be fed up with

be filled with

be finished with

be fired for/from

be followed by

be fond of

be for the sake of

be fraught with

be free from/of

be friendly to/with

be frightened by/at

be full of

be glad to

be good at

be good to

be gone to/with

be grateful for/to

be guilty of

be half-hearted about

be hailed as

be happy about/with

be hard on

be headed
for/to/toward

be hired as/for

be immersed in

be imposed (up)on

be impressed by/with

be in

be in accordance with

be in agreement with

be an indication of

be an issue of

be in back of

be in bed with

be in cahoots with

be in charge of

be in common with

be in conjunction with

be in contact with

be in control of

be in danger of

be in exchange for

be in favor of

be in front of

be in honor of

be in hope(s) of

be in love with

be in need of

be in on

be in place of

be in possession of

be in proximity to

be in reference to

be in regard to

be in response to

be in return for

be in search of

be in store for

be in sync with

be in tandem with

be in the habit of

be in the middle of

be in the midst of

be furnished with
G

be hitched to
I

be in the vicinity of

be in time for

be in touch with

be in trouble with/for

be in tune with

be incensed with

be inducted into

be inferior to

be infested with

be informed about

be innocent of

be insecure about

be insistent (up)on

be interested in

be into

be involved in

be irritated at/with

be isolated from

be kind to

be knowledgeable
about

be labeled as

be leery of

be left of/with

be less than

be limited to

be located at/near

be mad at/about

be made of/from

be married to

be a matter of

be the matter with

be mean to

be meant to

be a measure of

be mindful of

be named as/after

be next to

be nice to

be notorious for

be north of

be nuts about

be oblivious about/to

be obsessed with

J
be jealous of
K
be kind of
be known as/for
L

be lower than
M

be more than
N

O
be obedient to

be obvious to

be off

be okay with

be on

be on behalf of

be on the brink of

be on the edge of

be on the verge of

be on time for

be on to

be on top of

be open about/for/to

be opposed to

be opposite from

be oppressed by

be out

be out of

be out of concern for

be out of contact with

be out of sync with

be out of touch with

be outraged about

be outspoken about

be over with

be parallel to

be partial to

be patient with

be a pattern of

be pegged as

be perturbed at/about

be pleased with

be polite to

be popular with

be praised for/about

be precious to

be preoccupied with

be prepared for

be prohibited from

be promoted to

be provided with

be proud of

be psyched about

be punished for

be put off by

Q
be qualified for

be a question of

R
be ready for

be regarded as

be related to

be relevant to

be relieved of

be remembered for

be rescued from

be reserved for

be responsible for

be retired from

be rid of

be rife with

be right to

be riled up (about)

be roped into

be satisfied with

be saved from

be scared of

be selected as/for

be sensible about

be separated from

be set on

be shocked at

be short of

be rude to
S

be sick of/about

be a sign of

be similar to

be soft on

be sorry about/for

be sort of

be south of

be specialized in

be spoken for

be startled at

be strange to

be a stranger to

be stressed out about

be stuck on/with

be stunned at

be subject to

be sufficient for

be suitable for

be superior to

be sure of

be surprised at/about

be suspected of

be suspended from

be a symbol of

be taken aback by/at

be taken in by

be tantamount to

be tapped as/by

be terrified of/with

be there for

be a threat to

be through with

be ticked off about

be tired of

be tuned (in)to

be to the left of

be uncalled for

be under arrest

be under fire for

be under investigation
for

be up against

be up front with

be up in arms about

be up on

be up to

be upset about/with

be uptight about

be used for

be used to

be useful to

be to the right of
U

V
be valued as/at

be vindicated of

W
be wary of/about

be west of

be whipped into

be wiped out

be with it

be with reference to

be with respect to

be worked up about

be worried about

be wrapped up in

be wrong with

Z
be zealous about

Verb and Preposition Collocations

The following is a list of verbs and prepositions which commonly appear
together.
accuse (someone) of ([doing] something)
add (something) to (something else)
admire (someone) for ([doing] something)
agree on (topic)
agree with (someone)
apologize to (someone) for ([doing] something)
apply to (a place) for (something)
approve of (something)
argue with (someone) about (topic)
arrive at (a building, room, site, event)
arrive in (a city, country)
ask (someone) about (someone/topic)
ask (someone) for (something)
believe in (something)
belong to (someone)
blame (someone) for ([doing] something)
borrow (something) from (someone)

care about (someone/something/topic)

comment on (topic)
compare (something) to/with (something else)
complain to (someone) about (something)
concentrate on ([doing] something)
congratulate (someone) for/on ([doing] something)
consist of (some things)
consent to ([doing] something)
contribute to (something)
count on (someone) to (do something)
cover (something) with (something else)
decide on (topic)
depend on (someone) for (something)
discuss (something) with (someone)
distinguish (something) from (something else)
dream about/of (someone/something)
escape from (somewhere)
explain (topic) to (someone)
excuse (someone) for ([doing] something)
forgive (someone for ([doing] something)
get rid of (something)
graduate from (a place)
happen to (someone)

help (someone) with (something)

hide (something) from (someone)
insist (up)on (something)
introduce (someone) to (someone else)
invite (someone) to (an event)
keep (something) for (someone)
matter to (someone)
object to (something)
participate in (something)
pay (price) for (something)
plan on ([doing] something)
pray for (someone/something)
prefer (something) to (something else)
prevent (someone) from ([doing] something)
prohibit (someone) from ([doing] something)
protect (someone) from (something)
provide (someone) with (something)
recover from (something)
rely (up)on (someone/something)
remind (someone) of (something)
rescue (someone) from (something)
respond to (someone/something)
save (someone) from (something)

search for (something)

separate (something) from (something else)
scold (someone) for ([doing] something)
smile at (someone) for ([doing] something)
speak to/with (someone) about (topic)
stare at (something/someone)
stop (someone) from ([doing] something)
subscribe to (something)
substitute (something) for (something else/someone)
subtract (something) from (something else)
succeed in ([doing] something)
suffer from (something)
take advantage of (someone/something/ situation)
take care of (something/someone)
talk to/with (someone) about (topic)
thank (someone) for ([doing] something)
travel to (somewhere)
vote for (someone)
vouch for (someone)
wait for (someone/something)
wish for (something)
work for (company/something/someone)

Compiled by chEegrid