MULTI-PART VERBS / PREPOSITIONAL VERBS
A prepositional verb is a verb + preposition.
The most common combinations of verbs and prepositions are in the table below.
agree with
apologise for
apply for
argue with
believe in
belong to
comment on
consist of
cope with
depend on
dream about / of
escape from
explain to
laugh at
lie about
listen to
search for
talk to / about
wait for
I could never agree with his decision.
She apologised for losing her temper.
He wants to apply for the job.
You are always arguing with your parents!
Do you believe in UFOs?
He belongs to the Students’ Association.
I’m afraid I cannot comment on this matter.
The test consists of three parts.
We all ask ourselves how we managed to cope with life before the mobile phone was invented.
Your success depends on your attitude.
She dreams of / about becoming a famous singer.
Reading is a means to escape from routine.
The flight attendant explained to them what to do in an emergency.
They all laughed at her attitude.
He lied about his marital status.
I like listening to hip hop.
She searched in vain for her passport.
Who were you talking to just now? // They only talk about fashion.
I’m waiting for the bus.
A multi-part verb is also followed by one or more particles, but very often the meaning of a multi-part verb
is quite different from the usual meaning of the words taken separately. These are often called “phrasal
verbs”. However, the distinction between phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs is not very clear.
Example: Fires were breaking out everywhere. // The telephone system has broken down.
A. Complete with a preposition.
1. Who are you waiting ________?
2. Do you believe _______ God?
3. Three men escaped _______prison last night.
4. Everyone laughed ______the joke.
5. They are searching ______new faces.
6. Don’t talk _____me ______that.
7. They didn’t agree ______his opinion.
8. The exam consists _______two parts.
9. He didn’t listen _____what I said.
10. I’d love to comment _____this quotation.
11. She apologised _______the delay.
12. More countries have applied ______
membership of the EU.
B. Complete the sentences with the missing
preposition / particle.
1. You must do _________ my help tomorrow as I
won’t be here.
2. What have they found ______about the robbery?
3. I gave _______cigarettes six months ago.
4. The plane took _______at one o’clock.
5. We heard a loud noise and the lights went
______.
6. He promised to help me, but he let me
______again.
C. Complete the sentences with the missing particle.
1. Who looks _________the baby when you are away?
2. Mary looks exactly ________her mother.
3. I’ve lost my bag. I must look ________it.
4. I’m looking __________to my holidays.
5. Look _______for holes in the road surface.
6. Look _______this word in the dictionary.
7. Don’t look _______. You have all your life ahead of you.
8. She always looks _______ on other people.
2008
Score
25 to 27 16 -


Less than 15 -
 Try again!
Key
A.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
for
in
from
at
for
to….about
with
of
to
on
for
for
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
without
out
up
off
out
down
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
after
like
for
forward
out
up
back
down
B.
C.