Lecture by Dr.

Ali Shan Rao (KIPS Head Office)

CONFUSING PREPOSITIONS
Abound in/with His later novels abound in/with plots and schemes.
Abscond from/with He absconded from boarding school with his friend.
Absolve from/of the report absolved her from/of all blame for the
Accident
Accommodate with We always try to accommodate our clients with financial
assistance.
Accommodate to some find it hard to accommodate themselves to the new working conditions.
Accompanied by Depression is almost always accompanied by insomnia.
Accompanied with The food is accompanied with a very hot mango pickle.
Account for/to He gave a detailed account of the suspect's movements to his boss.
Accountable for/to Politicians should be accountable to the public for the policies they make.
Adapt for the play had been adapted for children.
Adapt from I adapted this recipe from one in an old cookbook.
Adapt to Many software companies have adapted popular programs to the new operating system.
Adequate to Will future oil supplies be adequate to meet world needs?
Adequate for It's not by any means a brilliant salary but it's adequate for our needs.
Agree to We agreed to her suggestion.
Agree with I agree with you on this issue.
Agree on/about we agreed on/about the price.
Angry at/with He's really angry at/with me for upsetting him.
Angry about I don't understand what he's angry about.
Annoyed at He was annoyed at the way she tried to take over the whole meeting.
Annoyed with I was so annoyed with him for turning up late.
Answer to The Minister promised to give a written answer to the Maps detailed question.
Answer for you must answer your father for your actions.
Anxious about The drought has made farmers anxious about the harvest.
Anxious for after a years work in the office, he is very anxious for promotion
Apologize to I must apologize to Mr.Shahid for my lateness.
Apprehensive for No one is apprehensive for the safety of the mountain climbers.
Apprehensive about I'm a bit apprehensive about tomorrow's meeting.
Apprehensive of I personally was somewhat apprehensive of my first jump.
Apprehensive at me was a bit apprehensive at the thought of attending the festival.
Apply for/for weve applied to a charitable organization for a grant for the project.
Argue over/about they were arguing over/about which film to go and see.
Argue with Kids, will you stop arguing with each other?
Argue for, against the minister argued for/against making cuts in military budget.
Arrive at It was dark by the time we arrived at the station.
Arrive in We arrived in Quetta later that day.
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Ask for you should ask for some financial advice.
Ask about She asked me about Pashton history.
Assist in The army arrived to assist in the search.
Assist with you will be expected to assist the editor with the selection of illustrations for the book.
Attend to I'm afraid I wasn't attending to what was being said.
Attend on unfortunately, no one attended on the guests.
Beg off we were invited to stay for dinner, but we had to beg off.
Beg for they begged for mercy.
Bore through The workmen bored through the rock.
Bored with, by I am getting really bored with/by this entire business.
Charge with Critics charged the writer with a lack of originality.
Charge for He did not charge me for the second cup of coffee.
Compare to The poet compares his lover's tongue to a razor blade.
Compare with Compare some recent work with your older stuff and you'll see how much you've improved.
Contend for There are three world-class tennis players contending for this title.
Contend with The army had to contend with long lines at the airport to gain the control of the territory.
Concur with The new report concurs with previous findings.
Concur on I certainly do concur on this matter with all of you.
Confer with/about I should like some time to confer with my lawyer about my case.
Confer about An honorary doctorate was conferred on him by
Quaid-e-Azam University
Consist of This bread consists of flour, water, sugar, oil, and yeast
Consist in The beauty of the artist's style consists in its simplicity.
Consist with The information consists with her account.
Contrast to/with my new school was a welcome contrast with/to the one
Before
Convenient for What time would it be convenient for me to come round?
Convenient to Our new flat is very convenient for/to (= near to) the kids' school.
Correspond to The American FBI corresponds to the British MI5.
Correspond with His story didn't correspond with the witness's version.
Deal with We only deal with companies which have a good credit record.
Deal in My uncle is a stockbroker. He deals in stocks and bonds.
Deliver to Mail is delivered to our office twice a day.
Deliver from something that can be done to deliver these starving people
from their suffering.
Defect in It's a character defect in her that she can't ever accept that she's in the wrong.
Defect to The former president who defected to UK passed away yesterday.
Defect from He was defected from the party over the issue of free trade.
Depart for the pop star has departed for an exciting world tour.
Depart from The train for Karachi departs from Platform 2.
Differ about/over The Coach differs with the captain rather loudly about/over who will open the innings.
Differ from His views differ considerably from those of his parents.

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Differ on Economists differ on the cause of inflation.
Differ with I beg to differ with you on that point.
Differ in The twins look alike, but they differ in temperament.
Disgusted at She was disgusted at the way they treated their children.
Disgusted with I'm totally disgusted with your behavior.
Disappointed at/about we were deeply disappointed at/about the result.
Disappointed in/with His parents were bitterly disappointed in/with him.
Divide between/among I think we should divide the costs equally among/
Between us
Divide into After World War Two, Germany was divided into two separate countries
End in The match ended in a draw.
End with He ended the concert with a song from his first album.
Engaged in They've been engaged in a legal battle with the council for several months.
Engaged on/upon a team of scientists is engaged on/upon cancer research.
Enagged to Her was engaged to some guy in the army.
Enter for/in both men have been entered for/in the 100 meters in Paris next month.
Enter into Many Asian nations entered into a trade agreement with one another.
Enter upon with the invention of computers; we enter on a new era in human history.
Essential for/to Water is essential for/to living things.
Familiar with He doesn't like to be too familiar with his staff.
Familiar to The Street was familiar to me.
Free of Both bookcases stand free of the wall.
Free from Rescuers took several hours to cut the survivors free from the wreckage.
Glad about We were glad about her success.
Glad of We'd be glad of the chance to meet her.
Good at/with She's very good at Geography. She's very good with
Children
Good for Too much sugar in your diet isn't good for you.
Good to/of its good of you to offer to help. He's very good to his mother.
Grateful for/ to I'm so grateful to you for all that you've done.
Hear about/of I havent heard of/about you very lately.
Impatient for People are increasingly impatient for change in this country
Impatient with He's a good teacher, but inclined to be a bit impatient with slow learners.
Interfere in Interfering in other people's relationships is always a
mistake.
Interfere with I'd never interfere with a husband and wife
Involved in The government thinks that media is involved in the conspiracy against
it.
Involved with Try not to become too emotionally involved with the children in your care
Look at They looked at the picture and laughed.
Look for I'm looking for my keys.
Meddle in People shouldn't meddle with things they don't understand.
Meddle with Never meddle in someone's private affairs

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Necessity for You can come early if you want to, but there's no necessity for it.
Necessity of The report stresses the necessity of eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Necessary for/to Is it necessary for all of us to be present at the meeting this afternoon
Occupy by The house hasn't been occupied (= lived in) by anyone for a few months.
Occupy with The rest of the time was occupied with writing a report.
Opposite to/from they sat at opposite ends of the table to/from each other.
Opposite to/of two sisters are completely opposite to/of each other in every way.
Part from me couldn't part with my teddy bear
Part with He didnt part from his cash easily.
Proceed to having relaxed, he proceeded to his destination.
Proceed with His lawyers have decided not to proceed with the case.
Proceed from Evil intentions proceed from heart.
Proceed against The bank proceeded against its defaulting debtors.
Provide for the government will be able to provide viable social
services for poorer families
Provide with The government will be able to provide poorer families with viable social services.
Quarrel with She quarreled with everyone in the village.
Quarrel over/about what did you quarrel about/over?
Reconcile to He finally reconciled himself to the change in management.
Reconcile with how can you reconcile your fur coat with your love of animals?
Responsible to The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are responsible to the people.
Responsible for Praveen is directly responsible for the efficient running of the office.
Rejoice at everyone rejoiced at the news of his safe return.
Rejoice in She rejoiced in her good fortune.
Reward for/with The Company rewarded him for his years of service with a grand farewell party and several
presents.
Speak to/with/about Can I speak to/with you about your performance in the test.
Speak for He's old enough to speak for himself.
Speak of His manners spoke of his good upbringing.
Succeed in you need to be pretty tough to succeed in politics.
Succeed to When the Queen dies, her eldest son will succeed to the throne.
Talk to/with/about I have talked to/with my doctor about my fathers health.
Vote for/against did you vote for or against the motion?
Vote in She was too young to vote in the national election.
Wait for/at the dentist kept me waiting for ages at his clinic.

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 PREPOSITION
IN
To fall in line, to come in light, to take in hand, dipped in water, steeped in poverty. Immersed in pleasure,
bathed in blood, involved in difficulty, implicated in crime, sink in depression, enlist in the army, inspired in
our hearts, engaged in business.
Other words that take in after them
Defective in body, deficient in learning, deformed in limbs, experience in teaching, firm in opinion, failed in
attempt, fruitful in attempt, honest in dealing, base in morals, obstinate in disposition, polite/temperate in
mood profuse in apologies, slothful in business, abound in living things, abound in experience, absorbed in
thought, acquiesce in decision, backward in learning, believed in his word, agree in an opinion, or wish a
person, confirmed in appointment, confide a secret to a person delight in his company. Disappointed in a
thing, happen in a place (at a time, to a person) enveloped in a fog, excel in drawing, expensive in dress, exult
in success, remiss in duty, rich in cattle, succeed in attempt, versed in logic, trust in a person, to a thing,
involved in a disgrace, negligent in attendance, officiate in a post, preserve in study, persist in wanting in
courage. Acquiesce in, dabble in, employ in, enlist in, excel in, glory in, indulge in persist in.

INTO
Falling into passion, burst into tears, coming into the mind, coming into a persons possession, taking
into consideration, prying into a matter, introduce into society, plunged into a debt, come into collisions,
sinking into insignificance, imported into a country, come into contact with person.

Note: - Dynamic verbs are followed by dynamic preposition into

Example
The swimmer dived into the river.

Explanation: -
By dynamic verbs we mean the verbs that show some motion and the verb dived is the verb that shows
motion that why it has been followed by a dynamic preposition into

ON
Example
He came on time
Congratulate on/upon ones success, decide on/upon a course of action. Determine on/upon going, embark
on/upon on enterprise, fix on/upon a day, incumbent on/upon him, resole on/upon fighting, urge on/upon
his consideration, drawn on/upon me, discourse on/upon a proposal, dilate on/upon his plans, effect
on/upon his health, encroach on/upon my rights, enlarge on/upon his topic, reflect on/upon the past,
meditate on/upon his life, bestowed on/upon the poor, confer on/upon the applicant, on/upon children.
Insist on/upon perch on/upon.

OF
Accused of, afraid of, Approve of, Aware of, Beware of, Certain of, Complain of, Conscious of, Curd of,
Die of, Full of, guilty of, In front of, In spite of, Instead of, In need of, Jealous of, In pursuit of, Shy of, Smell of,
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Sure of, thought of, worthy of, Found of, Frightened of, Terrified of, Tired of, Suspicious of, Scared of, proud
of, Nervous of, Think of.
Words that take of and not in
Blind of an eye, hard/dull of hearing, ease of access, infirm of purpose, lame of one leg Lavish of expenditure,
Forgetful/Negligent of duty, slow of speech, Sound of limb, envious of fame, Abhorrence/hate/love of some
this, Acceptance of favor, Admonished of fault, Ambitious of glory, Answer of person, Apprise of some bodys
loss, Approve of some bodys conduct.

OFF

TO
Access to, approach to, assent to, alternative to, accommodate to circumstances, appropriate to, according
to, agree to, apologize to, acceptable to, attend to, equal to, faithful to, genial to, indifferent to, grateful to,
introduce to, loyal to, preface to, key to obedient to, opposite to, prefer to, peculiar to, proportionate to,
reduce to, relate to, talk to, write to, yield to, hesitate to, license to, reference to, resemblance to, temptation
to, traitor to, surrender to, object to, listen to,

AT
Arrive at, Angry at a thing, concern at some event, Glance at some object, Grieve at some event, Move at
some right, Rejoice at something, Connive at crime, Amaze at, Surprise at, Laugh at, Quick at, Snatch at the
chance, Bad at, pleased at shocked at, stare at,

FROM
Alight, Abstain from, Benefit, Banish, Cease, Debar, Deviate, Digress, Dissent, Depart, Different, Differ,
Difficult, Escape, Elicit, Emerge, Extract, Exclude, Hide, Obtain Part, Prevent, Protect, Prohibit, Pressure Recoil,
Recover, Refrain, Recover, Retire, Suffer, Separation, Withdraw.

WITH
Adorned with something, Afflicted with something. Agree with somebody, Angry with some body, Alliance
with, Associate with, Busy with, Chare somebody with, Compare with something, Comply with, Condole
compatible, Consistent, Contemporary, contented, Contrasted, Cope, Conversant, Convulsed, Covered, Deal,
Delighted, Disgrace, Disappoint, Drench with rain, Distracted with power, Endow with talent, Engage with
some work, Familiar, Fell, Fined with zeal, Fatigue, Fire, Fight, Gift, Inspire with hope, Menaced with attack,
Over come with fatigue, provided with money, Stained with views, Sanction with grief, Touched with pity,
Transported with joy indignant with a fellow, Disgust with somebody, Cognate with, Coincide with.

FOR
Affection, Ambition, Anxiety, Apology, Appetite, Aptitude, Blame, Candidate, Capacity, Compassion,
Compensation, Contempt, Craving, Disliking, Desire, Famous, Fight, Fondness, Greedy, Hope, Liking, Longing,
Pay, Prepare, Punish, Passion, Ready, Run, Reputation, Remorse, Pretext, Surety, Suitable, Taste, Vote, Wait,
Young, Zest.

BY

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Abide, attended, appointed, bound, discovered, employed, followed, killed by some body, owned, pursued,
puzzled, saddened, summoned, written, Worm.

TOWARD

DOWN

Nouns Followed by Prepositions

Against
take precautions against

For
have affection for make allowances for
have compassion for an excuse for / need for
a reason for have a reputation for
have respect for have sympathy for
have a talent for lie in wait for (ambush)
pave the way for (prepare for) have liking for /

From
absence from

In
have confidence in have faith in
have an interest in take part in
make progress in

Into
have insight into

Of
have an abhorrence of an acknowledgement of
take advantage of take care of
take command of evidence of
an example of an excess of
make a fool of make fun of (ridicule)
have an impression of a lack of
neglect of a number of
a pair of be part of
a possibility of make a practice of (do often)
a proof of a quantity of
recognition of a recollection of
a result of run the risk of (risk)
catch sight of (see suddenly) a sign of
a survey of a symbol of
a symptom of a token of
make use of a way of
wash one's hands of (stop caring
about and dealing with)

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 On
an attack on dependence on
make an impression on play a joke on
shed light on (explain) have pity on

To
have access to pay attention to
an objection to a reply to
a response to lay siege to (besiege)
shut one's eyes to (deliberately
ignore a problem)

Toward or Towards
animosity toward(s) an attitude toward(s)

With
have a connection with find fault with (criticize)
fall in love with change places with

Adjectives Followed by Prepositions

About
anxious about concerned about
curious about depressed about
doubtful about enthusiastic about
excited about happy about
pleased about wrong about
worried about

At
adept at alarmed at
amazed at overjoyed at
shocked at surprised at

Between
torn between

By
accompanied by caused by
guided by manufactured by
obsessed by written by

For
blamed for eligible for
famous for fit for
known for late for
noted for praised for
punished for qualified for
ready for responsible for
ripe for sorry for
suitable for

From

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 absent from apart from
derived from descended from
detached from different from
distinct from exempt from
far from isolated from
omitted from protected from
removed from safe from
Separated from

In
absorbed in disappointed in
engaged in immersed in
Interested in involved in

Of
accused of afraid of
ashamed of aware of
capable of certain of
Composed of conscious of
Convinced of deprived of
devoid of fond of
ignorant of independent of
jealous of proud of
Regardless of reminded of
sure of suspicious of
Suspected of terrified of
tired of worthy of

On
based on dependent on
intent on

To
acceptable to accessible to
accustomed to adapted to
addicted to adjacent to
attached to attributable to
close to committed to
comparable to dedicated to
detrimental to devoted to
due to equal to
equivalent to essential to
exposed to faithful to
favorable to foreign to
impervious to indifferent to
indispensable to inferior to
kind to loyal to
next to obedient to
obliged to oblivious to
opposed to parallel to
partial to peculiar to
Preferable to prior to
proportional to reconciled to
reduced to related to

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 relative to relevant to
resigned to resistant to
Restricted to senior to
sensitive to similar to
subject to subordinate to
suited to superior to
susceptible to tied to

Toward or Towards
Protective toward(s)

With
acquainted with affiliated with
associated with besieged with
Compared with compatible with
confronted with consistent with
covered with cursed with
exasperated with familiar with
finished with identified with
Infatuated with patient with
pleased with satisfied with
synonymous with threatened with

Verbs Followed by Prepositions

About
care about complain about
forget about lie about (tell a lie)
Reminisce about talk about
think about wonder about
worry about

Against
discriminate against protest against
react against rebel against
turn against

At
aim at bark at
connive at frown at
gaze at glare at
growl at hint at
look at point at
shoot at smile at
snap at sneer at
stare at wave at
wink at

For
apply for apologize for

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 beg for blame for
budget for hope for
long for look for
mourn for pay for
plead for pose for
pray for prepare for
press for register for
search for shop for
Substitute for vouch for
wait for wish for

From
abstain from benefit from
deduct from derive from
desist from deter from
detract from deviate from
differ from divert from
escape from extricate from
flee from infer from
profit from protect from
quote from radiate from
recoil from recover from
refrain/prevent from shrink from
stem from suffer from

In
believe in engage in
indulge in intervene in
invest in participate in
persist in succeed in

Into
change into convert into
delve into dip into
develop into divide into
fall into merge into
plunge into pry into
sink into transform into

Of
approve of beware of
conceive of consist of
deprive of die of
disapprove of smell of

On
blame on concentrate on
depend on impinge on
impose on insist on
intrude on pounce on
reflect on rely on
report on spy on
subsist on thrive on

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Over
preside over trip over

To
adapt to adhere to
adjust to amount to
belong to conform to
contribute to correspond to
listen to object to
pertain to prefer to
refer to relate to
respond to resort to
revert to submit to
subscribe to succumb to
surrender to yield to

With
agree with associate with
collaborate with combine with
communicate with comply with
concur with consort with
contend with cooperate with
cope with correspond with
flirt with mingle with
share with sympathize with

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WORDS FOLLOWED BY PREPOSITIONS

1. Nouns followed by Prepositions

WITH
>) Acquaintance with: I have no acquaintance with Maria.
>) Influence with: I have no influence with the Magistrate.
>) Peace with: I am always at peace with my neighbors.
>) Quarrel with: I know nothing of his quarrel with her.
>) Sympathy with: I have no sympathy with her foolish views.
>) Acquainted with: Are you acquainted with her?
>) Afflicted with: The old man is afflicted with gout.
>) Angry with: The teacher was very angry with us.
>) Blessed with: May you always are blessed with good health.
>) Busy with: Jack is busy with his lessons.
>) Charged with: The beggar was charged with theft.
>) Contented with: She is contented with her lot.
>) Disgusted with: I am disgusted with her conduct.
>) Familiar with: I am not familiar with her tricks.
>) Infested with: - This house is infested with rats.
>) Occupied with: He is just now occupied with the translation of a French novel.
>) Offended with, at: She was offended with her husband at his remarks.
>) Overwhelmed with: She was overwhelmed with grief.
>) Popular with: Mr. George is popular with his neighbors.
>) Reconciled with: Ultimately she became reconciled with her husband.
>) Satisfied with: I am satisfied with her conduct.
>) Abound with: The hut abounded with vermin.
>) Bear with: You must bear with my weakness.
>) Charge with: We charged her with theft.
>) Compare with (to show difference):
*) Compare the character of Mohan with that of Ali.
>) Compete with: I compete with Harry for the first prize.
>) Comply with: We always complied with his request.
>) Deal with: Deal fairly with everyone.
>) Deposit in, with: *) He deposited all his money in State bank of India.
*) He deposited all the documents with his lawyer.
>) Differ with: I differ with you on this subject.
>) Disagree with: I disagree with you on this point.
>) Furnish with: *) They furnished the library with books [or]
*) they furnished books to her.
>) Infest with: Warehouses were infested with rats.
>) Interfere in, with: *) Please don't interfere in my business.
*) He interfered with her in her private affairs.
>) Meddle in, with: *) Don't meddle in my affairs.
*) Don't meddle in politics.
*) Who has been meddling with my papers?
>) Meet with: I met with many obstacles, but pressed on.
>) Mix with: *) Oil will not mix with water.
>) Perish with: They perished with cold and hunger.
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>) Play with: Don't play with fireworks.
>) Present with: We presented her with a watch.
>) Provide with: You must provide your children with food and clothes.
>) Quarrel with: Do not quarrel with your friends over a trifle.
>) Rest with: It rests with her to take action against him.
>) Reward with: I rewarded her with a watch for saving my child from drowning.
>) Side with: After sided with us in the dispute.
>) Supply with: He supplied the poor with food.
>) Wrestle with: Wrestle bravely with difficulties.
>) Ill with: Panorama is ill with fever.
>) agree with (a person): *) Sami does not agree with me.
>) Level with: The enemy leveled the city with the ground.
>) Live within; Live within your means.
>) Part with: *) He parted with all his wealth.
*) He parted with (or from) his old parents with tears.
>) Treat with: If we are to treat with you, it must be on equal terms.
>) Sympathize with: we sympathize with her in her troubles.

FOR
>) Affection for: Raman has a strong affection for that poor girl.
>) Apology for: She offered him an apology for her conduct.
>) Aptitude for: The Marwaris have great aptitude for business.
>) Blame for: Adjani accepted blame for the accident.
>) Candidate for: Raman is a candidate for the post.
>) Capacity for: After has no capacity for mastering facts.
>) Cause for: There is no cause for anxiety.
>) Fondness for: His fondness for her is natural.
>) Hatred for: Her hatred for him was very great.
>) Leisure for: I have no leisure for amusement.
>) Longing for: Her longing for her son is great.
>) Match for: Peter is no match for Abraham.
>) Pity for: The king felt pity for the poor.
>) Regard for: I have a great regard for him.
>) Remedy for: Quinine is a remedy for malaria.
>) Reputation for: Ghaffar has a reputation for honesty.
>) Respect for: The young have no respect for old age.
>) Sympathy for: All the people felt great sympathy for her in her troubles.
>) Taste for: Kamala has no taste for music.
>) Bound for: The ship is bound for England.
>) Convenient for: Will the 4.50 train be convenient for you?
>) Eligible for: He is not eligible for promotion.
>) Famous for: He is famous for his learning.
>) Good for: This medicine is good for headache.
>) Greedy for: Arsenal is greedy of gain/honors.
>) Fit for: Salam is fit for the job.
>) Excuse for : He has no excuse for remaining absent.
>) Sorry for: The Headmaster was sorry for his mistake.
*) Can we be sure of his honesty? Movements
>) Thankful for: We ought to be thankful to God for His small mercies.

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>) Useful for: Salt is useful for many purposes.
>) Blame for: He blamed his teacher for his failure.
>) Call for: Your conduct calls for punishment.
>) Care for: I do not care for her opinion.
>) Exchange for: He exchanged the cow for the horse.
>) Feel for: We all felt for her in her troubles.
>) Fight for: They were fighting for their independence.
>) Hope for: We always hope for better times.
>) Labor for All his life he labored for the public good.
>) Lament for: Do not lament for the dead.
>) Mourn for, over: *) Do not mourn for the dead.
*) They mourned over the child's death.
>) Pass for: Robert passed for a learned man.
>) Pine for: She pined for the lost child.
>) Provide for: He died without providing for his widow.
>) Search for: We searched for the lost watch everywhere.
>) Seek for: All of us seek for happiness.
>) Send for: They sent for the doctor.
>) Wait for: We waited impatiently for the train.
>) Grieve for: *) Don't grieve much for the dead.
OF
>) Assurance of: Mr.Desai gave us no assurance of his support.
>) Care of: Take care of your health.
>) Cause of: She is the cause of the whole trouble.
>) Charge of: A charge of murder was laid at his door.
>) Need of: Raman is always in need of money.
>) Neglect of: He is blamed for neglect of duty.
>) Slave of: You mustnt make a slave of your servant girl.
>) (The) Victim of: She is the victim of her own foolishness.
>) Accused of: Guam was accused of theft.
>) Acquitted of: The thief was acquitted of her charge.
>) Addicted of: Tom is addicted to gambling.
>) Afraid of: Don't be afraid of telling the truth.
>) Ashamed of: Mary is ashamed of her conduct.
>) Born of: Gandhi was born of rich parents.
>) capable of: She is capable of improvement.
>) Confident of: Peter is confident of success.
>) Conscious of: Shakuntala is conscious of her faults.
>) Desirous of: Raman is desirous of going abroad.
>) Fond of: Girls are fond of dolls.
>) Full of: This book is full of mistakes.
>) Glad of: I am glad of your success.
>) Good at: She is good at Mathematics.
>) Guilty of: The beggar was found guilty of theft.
>) Hopeful of: Is she hopeful of success?
>) Ignorant of: The Headmaster is ignorant of facts.
>) Jealous of: He is jealous of his friend's success.
>) Negligent of: He was negligent of his duties.
>) Proud of: He is proud of his wealth.
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>) Repentant of: Mary is repentant of her folly.
>) Short of: Jack is always short of money.
>) Slow of: Slow of hearing, slow to make up one's mind, slow at accounts,
>) sick of: I am sick of being blamed for everything that goes wrong.
>) Sure of: *) Are you sure of your facts?
>) Suspicious of: The policeman became increasingly suspicious of his
>) tired of: Everyone is tired of doing nothing.
>) Vain of: She is vain of her beauty.
>) Worthy of: He is worthy of our reverence and esteem.
>) Acquit of: The judge acquitted him of theft.
>) Admit of: You conduct admits of no excuse.
>) Avail of: You should avail yourself of every opportunity to practice speaking English.
>) Beg of: We all begged pardon of her.
>) Beware of: Beware of false friends.
>) Boast of: She boasts of being the best actress in the town.
>) Complain of: *) She complained to me of his rudeness.
*) We have nothing to complain of (about).
*) He never complains of not having enough money.
>) Convict of: The judge convicted him of theft.
>) Cure of: The medicine cured him of his disease.
>) Deprive of: Slaves are deprived of their freedom.
>) Despair of: Tami never despaired of success.
>) Die of: Seem died of typhoid.
>) Dispose of: She has disposed of all her property.
>) Dream of: She dreamt of becoming a queen one day.
>) Get out of: I have not yet been able to get out of debt.
>) Inquire of: I inquired of her why she had insulted her husband.
>) Learn of: I am sorry to learn of her illness.
>) Partake of: We partook of the feast spread before us.
>) Relieve of: *) The medicine relieved me of my pain.
*) He was relieved of his post.
>) Remind of: He reminded me of my promise.
>) Repent of: *) He repents of the mistake he has made.
>) Treat of: This book treats of every important subject.
>) Warn against, of: We warned her of the danger, against pickpockets.

To
>) Claim to: He set up a claim to the throne.
>) Disgrace to : She is a disgrace to her family.
>) Duty to : We owe a duty to our country.
>) Heir to: The prince is heir to the throne.
>) Invitation to: She has sent us an invitation to dinner.
>) Leniency to: You have shown undue leniency to her.
>) Limit to: There is no limit to his ambition.
>) Obedience to: I praise her obedience to her husband.
>) Objection to: I have no objection to your going there.
>) Slave to: A dunked is a slave to drink.
>) Subscription to: What is your subscription to the Famine Relief Fund?
>) Traitor to: He is a traitor to his country.
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>) Adjacent to: The hotel is adjacent to the Post Office.
>) Appropriate to: The Prime Minister made a stirring speech appropriate to the occasion.
>) Averse to: Prate is averse to regular work.
>) Beneficial to: Fresh air and good food are beneficial to the health.
>) Blind to: Rashid is blind to her own faults.
>) Contrary to: The boys acted contrary to my instructions.
>) Deaf to: He was deaf to all her entreaties.
>) Courteous to: She is courteous to all.
>) Engaged to: Sheila is engaged to Harry.
>) Equal to: Islander was equal to the occasion.
>) Essential to: Health is essential to happiness.
>) Faithful to: The dog is very faithful to his master.
>) False to: Abraham proved false to his friends.
>) Familiar to: Her name seems quite familiar to me.
>) Injurious to: Alcohol is injurious to health.
>) Lost to: Tom is lost to all sense of shame.
>) Loyal to: The princes were loyal to the Government.
>) Married to: Sheila was married to Raman.
>) Obedient to: After is obedient to his parents.
>) Obliged to: I am obliged to her for kindness.
>) Open to: She is not open to conviction.
>) owing to: Owing to his careless driving, we had a bad accident.
>) Partial to: We are all partial to our friends.
>) Peculiar to: This is a custom peculiar to the Japanese.
>) Preferable to: Health is preferable to wealth.
>) reduced to: The prince was reduced to poverty.
>) Related to: Is she related to you?
>) Respectful to: Good boys are respectful to all.
>) Sensitive to: She is sensitive to praise and blame.
>) Serviceable to: This umbrella will be serviceable to you in the rainy season.
>) Similar to: Their customs are similar to ours.
>) Suited to: His speech was suited to the occasion.
>) True to: Abraham is true to his friends.
>) Accede to: The Principal acceded to my request.
>) agree to (a proposal): I agree to your offer of marriage.
>) Appeal to (a person): We appealed to her for help.
>) appoint to (a person): Jack was appointed to the vacant post.
>) Attend to: Attend to your lessons, please.
>) Call to: Jill called to her father for help.
>) Compare to (to show resemblance):
*) Anger may be compared to fire.
>) Confide to: Confide your secrets to none.
>) Explain to: Explain this question to me.
>) Impute to: Do not impute motives to her action.
>) Introduce to: Mary introduced me to Sheila.
>) Invite to: I have invited Rashid also to dinner.
>) Jump to: *) The Superintendent jumped to the conclusion that the
*) prisoner had escaped from the jail.
>) Keep to: Keep to the point, please.
>) Lay to: We laid this sin to her charge.
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>) Lean to: This judge seems to lean to his side.
>) Listen to: Don't listen to that foolish fellow.
>) Object to: She objects to my going there.
>) Prefer to: I prefer milk to tea.
>) Submit to: We must all submit to God's will.
>) Subscribe to: He subscribed Rs.1000 to the Flood Relief Fund.
>) Succeed to: He succeeded to the throne at the age of ten.
>) Supply to: He supplied food to the poor.
>) Talk to: He was talking to his friend.
>) Due to: The accident was due to careless driving.
>) Indifferent to: They are indifferent to their own business.
>) Intent to: He was intent on winning a scholarship.
>) Introduced to: I was introduced to the Collector.
>) Sympathetic to: She is sympathetic to (towards) suffers.
>) apologize to (a person): I apologize to her for my mistake.
>) Lead to: This road leads to Poona.
>) Occur to: It did not occur to me to search his pockets.
>) Present to: We presented a watch to her.
>) Reconcile to: You must reconcile yourself to a life of hardship and poverty.
>) Stick to: Stick to your point.
>) Yield to: Never yield to temptation.
>) Get to: In the evening they got to their journey's end.

IN
>) Confidence in: I hope she will justify my confidence in her.
>) Interest in: I have no interest in music.
>) Pride in: Her great pride in her wealth is foolish.
>) Progress in: Jack had made no progress in her studies.
>) Backward in: John is backward in his studies.
>) Blind in: The carpenter is blind in the right eye.
>) Deficient in: She is deficient in common sense.
>) Interested in: Why are you interested in Maria?
>) Honest in: Sami is not honest in his dealings.
>) Occupied in: He is occupied in translating a French novel.
>) Proficient in: John is proficient in Mathematics.
>) Steeped in: Mahmud is steeped in vice and poverty.
>) Versed in: He is well versed in Mathematics.
>) Weak in: My daughter is weak in Mathematics.
>) Abound in: Vermin abounded in the hut.
>) Believe in: I do not believe in her honesty.
>) Confide in: The king confided in his ministers.
>) Deal in: He deals in Japanese goods.
>) Lack in: He is lacking in experience.
>) Originate in: The fight originated in a foolish quarrel.
>) Persevere in: Mary persevered in her studies.
>) Persist in: Raman persists in annoying his sister.
>) Lame in: The beggar was lame in the left leg.
>) Negligent in: He was negligent in his work.
>) Consist of, in: *) The committee consists of ten members.
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 *) The happiness of a country consists in the freedom of its citizens.
>) End in: The scheme ended in failure.
>) Trust in: Trust in God and do the right.

AT
>) Annoyed at: Raman was annoyed at her behavior.
>) Quick at: This boy is quick at inventing excuses.
>) Shocked at: All of us were shocked at the news of his death. Slow to anger.
>) Vexed at: He was vexed at his failure.
>) Aim at: All of us aim at excellence.
>) arrive at (a place): We arrived at the station at ten.
>) Buy format: He bought them for/at Rs.10 each.
>) Fly at: The dog flew at the beggar.
>) Get at: get at (find out) the facts.
>) Grieve at: They grieved at the news of my failure.
>) Grumble at: He is always grumbling at his low pay.
>) Jeer at: Never jeer at a defeated enemy.
>) Jump at: Praveen jumped at the office at once.
>) Knock at: *) He knocked at every door for money.
*) Somebody is knocking at the door (on the window).
>) Land at: We landed at Bombay.
>) Laugh at: We all laughed at her bad manners.
>) Leap at: He leapt at the opportunity.
>) Look at: A cat may look at a king.
>) Murmur at: We all murmur at injustice.
>) Play at: The children were playing at keeping shop.
>) Present at: We presented the cherub at the bank.
>) Preside at, over: *) The prime Minister presides at meetings of the Cabinet.
>) Rejoice at, over: *) We all rejoiced at her success.
*) We all rejoiced over the victory.
>) Shudder at: I shudder at her act of cruelty.
>) Throw at: don't throw stones at birds.
>) Grief at: He felt grief at the death of his son.
>) Amazed at: I was amazed at her impudence.
>) Astonished at: All were astonished at her disobedience.
>) Kick at: Arif kicked at my offer.
>) Smile at: I smiled at her foolish threat.

AGAINST
>) Complaint against: Why don't you lodge a complaint against your noisy neighbors?
>) Prejudice against: He has a prejudice against Hakims.
>) Beat against: The waves beat against the rocks.
>) Defend from, against: *) I defended her from all blame.
*) They bravely defended their country against enemies.
>) Fight with or against: *) Great Britain fought against (or with)

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 *) Germany in two wars.
>) Guard against: We must guard against vices.
>) Inform of, against: *) Have you informed her of your intended departure?
*) She has informed the police against the neighbor who is a smuggler. >) Kick
against: Do not kick against authority.
>) Murmur against: We must not murmur against new taxes.
*) The Mayor presides over the City Council.
>) Protect against: Protect these tender plants against the weather.
>) Protest against: You must protest against injustice.
>) Provide against: A wise man provides against a rainy day.
>) Struggle against: She struggled against many difficulties.

FROM
>) Act from: She acted from fear.
>) Freedom from: Health means freedom from care.
>) Different from: His religious views are different from hers.
>) Free from: No one is free from faults.
>) Abstain from: Abstain from evil and do well.
>) Averse to, from: *) He is averse to hard work.
*) We are averse from taking action.
>) Borrow from: Rahman borrowed Rs.500 from me.
>) Buy from: He bought this watch from Grand leys.
>) Derive from: Can pleasure be derived from bad actions?
>) Differ from: This cloth differ from that.
>) Dissuade from: Fatal dissuade her from going there.
>) Distinguish from: Distinguish truth from falsehood.
>) Export from: Cotton goods are exported from India.
>) Hide from: I will not hide the truth from my parents.
>) Hear about, of, from: *) Have you heard about his dismissal?
*) I've never heard of her.
*) How often do you hear from your sister?
>) Hinder from: What hindered you from coming here?

>) Import from, into: Wool is imported from Australia into India.
>) Infer from: Am I to infer from your remarks that you think I am a liar?
>) Keep from: Keep away from wine.
>) Preserve from: May God preserve you from all harm.
>) Prevent from: She prevented me from coming here.
>) Prohibit from: You are prohibited from entering the class.
>) Protect from: God will protect you from all harm.
>) Recover from: He has just recovered from illness.
>) Refrain from: She refrained from shedding tears.
>) Save from: He saved her from drowning.

Page 20 of 27
ON
>) Claim on: I have every claim on you.
>) Bent on: Joseph is bent on mischief.
>) Dependent on: She is dependent on her parents.
>) Avenge on: He avenged himself on his enemies.
>) Bestow on: The Queen bestowed high honor on her.
>) Call on: We called on Miss Hill yesterday.
>) Confer on: She conferred a favor on us.
>) Feed on: The cow feeds on grass.
>) Get on: He is sure to get on (make a progress) in life.
>) Impress on: I impressed on her the value of cleanliness.
>) Insist on: He insisted on my leaving the place at once.
>) Play on: Smile played on her lips.
>) Rely on: Do not rely on her support.
>) Resolve on: She resolves on going there.
>) Revenge on: He revenged himself on his enemy for the murder of his brother.
>) Wait on: All her maids waited on her.
>) Congratulate on: I congratulated her on her success.

ABOUT
>) Anxious for, about: 1) He is anxious for (about) her safety.
2) She is very anxious about her son's health.
>) Careful about: She is very careful about her dress.
>) Grieve about: Don't grieve much about your misfortunes
>) Jest about: Don't jest about serious things.
>) Wonder at, about: *) I wonder at your stupidity.
*) I was wondering about that.

BY
>) Occupied by: This house is occupied by his fianc.
>) Abide by: You must abide by your promise.
>) Die by: He died by his own hand.
>) Live by: Live by honest labor.
>) Profit by: A wise man profits by the mistakes of others.

UPON
>) Attend upon: Sheila has many servants attending upon her.
>) Enter upon: *) Sami has entered upon a new career
>) Fall upon: The robbers fell upon the merchant.
>) Press upon: Don't press your opinions upon her.
>) Prevail upon: We prevailed upon her to come to the meeting.
>) Smile upon: Fortune seemed to smile upon him.

OVER

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>) Control over: Miss Helen has no control over her class.
>) Brood over: Do not brood over past grievances.
>) Get over: He got over (recovered from) his illness.
>) Prevail over: We prevailed over (=gained victory over) our enemies.
>) Rule over: The king ruled over a vast empire.
>) Show over: Mohan showed her over his new house.
>) Triumph over: Virtue always triumphs over vice.

INTO
>) Fly into: Seeing me, she flew into a rage.
>) Inquire into: The police are inquiring into the matter.
>) Break into: The thieves broke into his house at night.

UNDER
>) fall under: He fell under the displeasure of the king.
>) Lay under: I have laid her under deep obligation by helping her in distress.

ACROSS
>) come across: I came across this in a curio shop.

BEFORE
>) lay before: Peter laid all the facts before her.

AFTER
>) look after: The shepherd looked after his sheep.

Prepositions of Location: in, at, and on

and No Preposition
IN AT ON NO
(the) bed* class* the bed* PREPOSITION
the bedroom home the ceiling downstairs
the car the library* the floor downtown
(the) class* the office the horse inside
the library* school* the plane outside
school* work the train upstairs
uptown

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Prepositions with Nouns, Adjectives, and Verbs
Prepositions are sometimes so firmly wedded to other words that they have practically become
one word. (In fact, in other languages, such as German, they would have become one word.) This
occurs in three categories: nouns, adjectives, and verbs.

NOUNS and PREPOSITIONS

approval of fondness for need for
awareness of grasp of participation in
belief in hatred of reason for
concern for hope for respect for
confusion about interest in success in
desire for love of understanding of

ADJECTIVES and PREPOSITIONS

afraid of fond of proud of
angry at happy about similar to
aware of interested in sorry for
capable of jealous of sure of
careless about made of tired of
familiar with married to worried about

VERBS and PREPOSITIONS

apologize for give up prepare for
ask about grow up study for
ask for look for talk about
belong to look forward to think about
bring up look up trust in
care for make up work for
find out pay for worry about

Certain words require a Preposition followed by a Gerund or a Verbal Noun.

In such cases, do not use the Infinitive.

1. Sami persisted in going there. [Not: to go]

2. I insisted on her leaving this place at once.
3. We should refrain from doing well.
4. The prince aims at helping poor.
5. The poor beggar is addicted to smoking.
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6. I prohibited her from smoking in the kitchen.
7. We prevented her from selling her ornaments.
8. Abstain from speaking ill of others.
9. Dr.Katju excels in writing good English.
10. He is intent on winning.
11. He is confident of winning.
12. Bimala had no excuse for remaining absent.
13. Young boys and girls are fond of reading novels.
14. The prince was desirous of visiting India.
15. He is disqualified from holding any responsible post.
16. We hindered her from going there.
17. He succeeded in achieving his aim.

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WORDS FOLLOWED BY PROPER PREPOSITIONS
WORDS FOLLOWED BY APPROPRIATE PREPOSITIONS
A
Abide by a promise, a decision: to stick to it: Once you have made a promise, you ought to abide by it.
Abound in: to be rich in: This tank abounds in fish.
Abound with: to be infested with: The forest abounds with elephants and tigers.
Absolve from: to free from, to acquit of: Nothing can absolve you from your responsibility.
Absorbed in: engrossed in: The singer was absorbed in singing.
Abstain from: to keep away from, to avoid, especially strong drinks: This doctor advised the patient to
abstain from liquor (Distinguish from Refrain from)
Accede to a request, to the terms and conditions of an agreement, to agree to: My friend will accede
to my wishes in this matter.
Acceptable to: Your terms are not acceptable to me.
Access to: approach to: A financially sound person can manage an easy access to the authorities.
Accompanied with something: Rain was accompanied with a hail storm
Accompanied by a person: I went to the movies accompanied by my cousin
Accord with: to agree to: Your present statement does not accord with what you said last week.
Accord to: to extend, to grant: We accorded a hearty welcome to Dr. Rao when he came to preside
over our annual function. The President accorded sanction to the new bill.
Accordance with: He acts strictly in accordance with the rules.
According to: He helped me according to his word
Account for: to explain: His extravagance accounts for his poverty.
Accuse of theft, treason, etc.: to charge with, to blame for.
Accustomed to: to be used to: Indians, accustomed to playing on slow courts, lost the match to the
Australians.
Acquainted with: having knowledge of: I am not in a position to give any decision since I am not
acquainted with all the facts of the case.
Acquiesce in: to agree silently, passively: Dont just acquiesce in any proposal brought forward:
accept it only if you find it reasonable.
Acquit of: free from: For want of any definite evidence against him, he was acquitted of the charges.
Acquit oneself in: to behave: He acquitted himself creditably in the discharge of his duties.
Act upon an advice, order, etc.
Adapt to: to adjust with: Try to adapt yourself to your circumstances if you want to be happy.
Add to: to increase: Do not add injury to insult.
Addicted to: given to something usually evil: Being addicted to drinking and gambling, he soon
squandered away his property.
Adhere to: to stick to: We must adhere to our principles at all costs.
Adjacent to: next to: His shop is adjacent to a departmental store.
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Admit to: He was admitted to the college.
Admit of: to allow, leaving room for: Your conduct does not admit of any excuse. This essay admits of
much improvement.
Afflicted with: The old man was afflicted with pain in the joints
Afraid of: You are afraid of your mother.
Agree to a thing, proposal: They unanimously agreed to my proposal.
Agree with a person: They agreed with me that corruption is at the root of the slow progress of our
country.
Agree on a subject: We all agree on this point.
Aim at: He aimed his rifle at the leopard.
Akin to: related to: I experienced a feeling akin to response.
Alarmed at: We were alarmed at the news of a theft in our locality
Alien to: foreign to: He is alien to any feeling of self-respect.
Alight from: to get down from: The soldier alighted from the horse and saluted his commander.
Alive with: Connaught Place is always alive with people.
Alliance with: union with: We desired a marriage alliance with a noble family living in our
neighborhood.
Allot to: Occupy only the seats allotted to you.
Allude to: to refer to: He alluded to partition of India in his speech.
Amazed at: surprised at: I am amazed at your courage.
Angry at something
Angry with a person
Annoyed at something
Annoyed with a person
Anxious for or about: The child is quite safe; you need not feel anxious for or about him.
Apologies to a person for something: He had to apologies to the principal for his misconduct in the
class.
Appeal to a person for or against something.
Appetite for a thing: How can the appetite for worldly riches b appeared?
Apply to a person for something.
Appoint a person to a situation: He was appointed to the post of the general manager of reputed
industrial concern.
Apprise of: to inform: If you apprise me of the situation in time, I shall help you to face it.
Approve of: Everybody approved of his plan of joining I.E.
Aptitude for: talent for: Don not undertakes any assignment unless you have aptitude for it.
Argue with a person on a subject, for or against something.
Arrive at a place.
Ashamed of: One should be ashamed of ones mistake.
Page 26 of 27
Ask about: I asked my friend about the welfare of his family.
Ask for: Go to the top floor and ask for Mr. Chopra.
Aspire to, after
Assent to: A bill has to be passed by both the Houses before the President gives his assent to it.
Associate with: He does not want to be associated with his father in the running of the shop.
Assure of: I can assure you of my innocence.
Astonished at: His father was astonished at his cleverness
Authority on: Our principal is an authority on Modern Algebra.
Authority over: I have no authority over this gentleman; I can only request him to lend me his co-
operation.
Atone for a fault: to make amends for it: He atoned for his earlier betrayal with a life-long devotion.
Attend to: to look after: He had no servant to attend upon him.
Attribute to: to assign to, to ascribe to: His success may be attributed to his diligence.
Avail oneself of: to make use of: Unless you avail yourself of the opportunities that fall your way, you
cannot be successful.
Avenge on or upon: He took a pledge to avenge himself on his brothers murderers.
Averse to: to have a dislike for: I am averse to hypocrisy more than anything else.
Award to: A prize was awarded to him for having won the rifle shooting championship.
Aware of: to have knowledge of: Are you aware of the latest changes in the syllabus?

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