In English, many verbs are commonly followed by a specific preposition. This preposition connects the verb to its object and often changes or completes the meaning. Some verb + preposition pairings are flexible, but many are fixed and must be learned together. In this module you will learn how verb + preposition combinations work and how to choose the correct preposition in common patterns.

Some verbs strongly prefer one preposition, and changing it usually sounds wrong or changes the meaning. Treat these as vocabulary: learn the verb together with its preposition. These pairings are especially common with verbs about feelings, communication, and relationships. When you see a verb used repeatedly with the same preposition, assume it may be fixed.

Word/Phrase	Definition	Example
depend on	need and be determined by	It depends on the weather.
agree with	have the same opinion as	I agree with you.
belong to	be owned by or be a member of	This book belongs to Maya.
apologize for	say sorry about a specific action	He apologized for being late.
listen to	give attention to sound or speech	Please listen to me.

For some verbs, the choice of preposition changes the meaning. The verb stays the same, but the preposition signals a different relationship: target, topic, direction, or purpose. Learning these as contrast sets helps you avoid misunderstandings. Pay close attention when the same verb appears with different prepositions in different contexts.

Rule	Example
Talk about a topic; talk to a person	We talked about the plan. / I talked to my manager.
Look at something directly; look for something you want to find	Look at this photo. / I’m looking for my keys.
Think about a topic; think of an idea or memory	Think about your answer. / I thought of a solution.
Work on a task; work for an employer	She’s working on a report. / He works for a bank.
Apply for a position; apply to an institution or person	I applied for the job. / I applied to the university.

Verb + preposition combinations follow common object patterns. Some take a noun phrase after the preposition, while others often take an -ing form. In many cases, the preposition cannot be omitted because it is the link to the object. Choosing the correct pattern helps your sentence sound natural and complete.

Rule	Example
Verb + preposition + noun phrase is very common	She apologized for the mistake.
Many verb + preposition patterns allow verb + -ing after the preposition	They insisted on leaving early.
The preposition usually stays even if the object is a pronoun	I’m waiting for him.
The object comes after the preposition, not between verb and preposition	We looked after the kids.

Many verbs are commonly followed by to when the verb points toward a person, a target, or a recipient. This includes communication, reactions, and relationships. To often answers the question who is affected or who receives the action. Do not confuse this to with the infinitive marker to in verb + to + base verb patterns.

Word/Phrase	Definition	Example
speak to	talk directly to a person	I need to speak to you.
explain to	make something clear to someone	She explained it to the class.
apologize to	say sorry to a person	He apologized to his sister.
react to	respond to something	They reacted to the news quickly.
listen to	give attention to sound or speech	Listen to this song.

The preposition for often expresses purpose, reason, or a desired goal. With certain verbs, for introduces what someone wants, searches for, waits for, or asks for. For can also connect the verb to a benefit or intended recipient in some contexts. These uses are common in everyday requests and explanations.

Word/Phrase	Definition	Example
ask for	request something	He asked for help.
wait for	stay until something happens or arrives	We’re waiting for the bus.
look for	try to find	I’m looking for my phone.
pay for	give money in exchange	She paid for dinner.
apologize for	say sorry about an action	I apologized for the confusion.

The preposition on often signals dependence, focus, or continuing work toward something. With some verbs it introduces the thing that supports a decision or the topic someone concentrates on. It can also appear in patterns that suggest persistence and effort. These combinations are frequent in work, study, and planning contexts.

Word/Phrase	Definition	Example
depend on	be determined by	It depends on the schedule.
focus on	give attention to	Please focus on the main idea.
work on	spend effort improving or completing	I’m working on a proposal.
insist on	demand that something happen	She insisted on paying.
concentrate on	focus strongly	He concentrated on driving.

The preposition at often shows a target or point of attention. It is common with verbs about looking, aiming, laughing, or shouting, where the action is directed toward something or someone. At can feel more like pointing at a target than describing a topic. Using at correctly helps clarify whether you mean direction or subject.

Word/Phrase	Definition	Example
look at	direct your eyes toward	Look at the board.
stare at	look for a long time	He stared at the screen.
laugh at	laugh in a way that targets someone or something	Don’t laugh at people.
shout at	shout directed toward someone	She shouted at him.
point at	indicate a target with a finger or object	He pointed at the sign.

The preposition with commonly expresses association, cooperation, or the idea of dealing with something. It often appears when someone agrees, argues, connects, or helps. With can also signal the tool or company involved, but in verb + preposition learning, focus on fixed pairings where with is required. Choosing with often answers the question together with whom or in relation to what.

Word/Phrase	Definition	Example
agree with	share the same opinion	I agree with your point.
argue with	disagree in conversation	He argued with his brother.
deal with	manage or handle a situation	I can’t deal with this noise.
help with	assist regarding a task	Can you help with dinner?
connect with	build a relationship or link	I really connected with her story.

To choose the right preposition, first ask what relationship you want to express: target, topic, reason, dependence, or association. Then check whether the verb has a fixed pairing that overrides general meaning. If multiple prepositions are possible, each one usually creates a different meaning or emphasis. The most reliable strategy is to learn common verbs in chunks and notice patterns in real examples.

Rule	Example
Use the verb’s common pairing when it is fixed	We listened to the instructions.
Use to for a recipient or person you address	She explained it to me.
Use about for topics and ideas discussed	They argued about money.
Use for for goals, requests, or what you want	He applied for the program.
Use on for focus, dependence, or ongoing work	I’m focusing on pronunciation.

Verb + preposition combinations are a core part of natural English because they connect actions to topics, targets, and reasons. Some combinations are predictable, but many are fixed and should be learned as a single unit. Notice when changing the preposition changes the meaning, and practice recognizing the common patterns like to for recipients and on for focus. Mastering these pairings will make your speaking and writing clearer and more idiomatic.