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	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
depend on	🔹 依赖于	need and be determined by	🔹 需要并由…决定	It depends on the weather.	🔹 这取决于天气。
agree with	🔹 同意	have the same opinion as	🔹 与…意见相同	I agree with you.	🔹 我同意你的观点。
belong to	🔹 属于	be owned by or be a member of	🔹 由…所有或是…的成员	This book belongs to Maya.	🔹 这本书属于玛雅。
apologize for	🔹 为…道歉	say sorry about a specific action	🔹 为某个具体行动道歉	He apologized for being late.	🔹 他为迟到了道歉。
listen to	🔹 听	give attention to sound or speech	🔹 注意声音或讲话	Please listen to me.	🔹 请听我说。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Talk about a topic; talk to a person	🔹 谈论一个主题；对一个人说话	We talked about the plan. / I talked to my manager.	🔹 我们谈论了这个计划。/ 我与我的经理谈过话。
Look at something directly; look for something you want to find	🔹 直接看向某物；寻找你想找到的东西	Look at this photo. / I’m looking for my keys.	🔹 看这张照片。/ 我在找我的钥匙。
Think about a topic; think of an idea or memory	🔹 思考一个主题；想到一个想法或记忆	Think about your answer. / I thought of a solution.	🔹 考虑你的答案。/ 我想到了解决方案。
Work on a task; work for an employer	🔹 致力于一个任务；为雇主工作	She’s working on a report. / He works for a bank.	🔹 她正在撰写一份报告。/ 他在一家银行工作。
Apply for a position; apply to an institution or person	🔹 将…申请；申请某机构或个人	I applied for the job. / I applied to the university.	🔹 我申请了这份工作。/ 我申请了这所大学。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Verb + preposition + noun phrase is very common	🔹 动词 + 介词 + 名词短语非常常见	She apologized for the mistake.	🔹 她为这个错误道歉。
Many verb + preposition patterns allow verb + -ing after the preposition	🔹 许多动词 + 介词的搭配在介词之后允许接动名词	They insisted on leaving early.	🔹 他们坚持要提前离开。
The preposition usually stays even if the object is a pronoun	🔹 即使宾语是代词，介词通常也保持不变	I’m waiting for him.	🔹 我在等他。
The object comes after the preposition, not between verb and preposition	🔹 宾语在介词之后出现，不在动词和介词之间	We looked after the kids.	🔹 我们照看孩子们。

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	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
speak to	🔹 speak to	talk directly to a person	🔹 直接对某人说话	I need to speak to you.	🔹 我需要和你说话。
explain to	🔹 explain to	make something clear to someone	🔹 向某人解释清楚	She explained it to the class.	🔹 她向全班解释了它。
apologize to	🔹 apologize to	say sorry to a person	🔹 向某人道歉	He apologized to his sister.	🔹 他向他的妹妹道歉。
react to	🔹 react to	respond to something	🔹 对某事作出反应	They reacted to the news quickly.	🔹 他们对这则新闻迅速作出反应。
listen to	🔹 listen to	give attention to sound or speech	🔹 注意声音或讲话	Listen to this song.	🔹 听这首歌。

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	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
ask for	🔹 ask for	request something	🔹 请求某物	He asked for help.	🔹 He asked for help.
wait for	🔹 wait for	stay until something happens or arrives	🔹 等待直到某事发生或到来	We’re waiting for the bus.	🔹 We’re waiting for the bus.
look for	🔹 look for	try to find	🔹 尝试找到	I’m looking for my phone.	🔹 I’m looking for my phone.
pay for	🔹 pay for	give money in exchange	🔹 付钱以换取	She paid for dinner.	🔹 She paid for dinner.
apologize for	🔹 apologize for	say sorry about an action	🔹 为某个行动致歉	I apologized for the confusion.	🔹 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	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
depend on	🔹 depend on	be determined by	🔹 由…决定	It depends on the schedule.	🔹 It depends on the schedule.
focus on	🔹 focus on	give attention to	🔹 专注于	Please focus on the main idea.	🔹 Please focus on the main idea.
work on	🔹 work on	spend effort improving or completing	🔹 投入精力改进或完成	I’m working on a proposal.	🔹 I’m working on a proposal.
insist on	🔹 insist on	demand that something happen	🔹 要求某事发生	She insisted on paying.	🔹 She insisted on paying.
concentrate on	🔹 concentrate on	focus strongly	🔹 集中于	He concentrated on driving.	🔹 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	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
look at	🔹 look at	direct your eyes toward	🔹 将目光转向	Look at the board.	🔹 Look at the board.
stare at	🔹 stare at	look for a long time	🔹 长时间地看	He stared at the screen.	🔹 He stared at the screen.
laugh at	🔹 laugh at	laugh in a way that targets someone or something	🔹 以针对某人或某物的方式笑	Don’t laugh at people.	🔹 Don’t laugh at people.
shout at	🔹 shout at	shout directed toward someone	🔹 对着某人喊叫	She shouted at him.	🔹 She shouted at him.
point at	🔹 point at	indicate a target with a finger or object	🔹 用手指或物体指向目标	He pointed at the sign.	🔹 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	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
agree with	🔹 agree with	share the same opinion	🔹 与…意见相同	I agree with your point.	🔹 I agree with your point.
argue with	🔹 argue with	disagree in conversation	🔹 在对话中表达不同意见	He argued with his brother.	🔹 He argued with his brother.
deal with	🔹 deal with	manage or handle a situation	🔹 处理或应对某情况	I can’t deal with this noise.	🔹 I can’t deal with this noise.
help with	🔹 help with	assist regarding a task	🔹 协助完成任务	Can you help with dinner?	🔹 Can you help with dinner?
connect with	🔹 connect with	build a relationship or link	🔹 与…建立关系或联系	I really connected with her story.	🔹 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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use the verb’s common pairing when it is fixed	🔹 当固定搭配存在时，使用动词的常用搭配	We listened to the instructions.	🔹 We listened to the instructions.
Use to for a recipient or person you address	🔹 将 to 用于接收者或你要对话的人	She explained it to me.	🔹 She explained it to me.
Use about for topics and ideas discussed	🔹 用于讨论的主题和想法	They argued about money.	🔹 They argued about money.
Use for for goals, requests, or what you want	🔹 将 for 用于目标、请求或你想要的事物	He applied for the program.	🔹 He applied for the program.
Use on for focus, dependence, or ongoing work	🔹 将 on 用于关注、依赖或持续工作	I’m focusing on pronunciation.	🔹 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.