21 Prepositions (2)

B Grammar
1 Prepositions which follow verbs and adjectives
Verb + preposition
Some verbs are nearly always followed by a particular preposition. These include:
● approve of: Yasmina doesn’t approve of children having too many toys.
● enquire about: I am writing to enquire about your advertisement.
● insist on: She insisted on paying for the taxi.
● look forward to: I’m really looking forward to eating it.
● succeed in: Did Pierre succeed in finding accommodation?
Notice that prepositions are followed by a noun or by the -ing form of a verb:
We enquired about our reservation at the hotel. We enquired about booking a room.
Verb + object + preposition
Some verbs are nearly always followed by an object and a particular preposition. These include:
● accuse someone of: The rock group accused their manager of stealing their money.
● congratulate someone on: Heidi congratulated me on my exam results.
● forgive someone for: She can’t forgive Maurice for all the lies he told.
● prevent someone/something from: The bus strike hasn’t prevented people from coming to work.
● suspect someone of: I suspect Maryann of being dishonest.
Verb + different prepositions
Some verbs can be followed by different prepositions with a change in the meaning. These include:
● agree with someone and agree about something:
I quite agree with you, I think you’re right. (= with a person)
My father and I don’t agree about politics. (= about a subject)
● ask for something and ask about something:
He asked me for some money. (= he requested)
She asked me about my plans for the summer. (= she enquired)
● laugh about and laugh at:
I was late but he wasn’t angry, he just laughed about it. (= found it funny)
I can’t wear this hat. Everyone will laugh at me. (= make fun of)
● think of and think about:
‘What do you think of my new jacket?’ ‘It’s great.’ (= what is your opinion?)
‘What are you thinking about?’ ‘Lunch – I’m hungry!’ (= what is on your mind?)
● throw at and throw to (also shout at / shout to and point at / point to):
The little boy threw the ball to his father. (= expecting him to catch it)
Don’t throw toys at your sister – you might hurt her. (= intending to hit her)
to be + adjective + preposition
Some adjectives are usually followed by particular prepositions, for example:
● angry about (something): She’s angry about the theft of her purse.
● angry with (someone): He’s very angry with his assistant.
● good/bad at (something): She’s good at drawing flowers.
● pleased about (something): My parents weren’t pleased about my bad report.
● pleased with (something or someone): Granny was very pleased with the book you sent her.
● rude / polite / (un)kind to (someone): Don’t be rude to anyone at the party.

148
34 Time off

A B C D

E F G H

2.1 Match the pictures with the words for games and pastimes.
Vocabulary note
1 jigsaw G 2 crossword 3 computer game
We play games, e.g. chess. We
4 dominoes 5 scrabble 6 backgammon do puzzles, e.g. a crossword.
7 chess 8 sudoku We collect objects, e.g. stamps.

2.2 Complete this paragraph about hobbies, using the correct form of play, do and collect.

Everyone in my family has a hobby. My brother (1) plays chess; he only took it up recently and he is
really good at it. My sister (2) unusual shells and my parents (3) the crossword in the
newspaper every day. As for me, someone showed me how sudoku puzzles work and I’ve really taken to
them, so I (4) them all the time now. When we’re all together, we often (5) scrabble and
we sometimes (6) board games like snakes and ladders or backgammon too.

3.1 PHRASAL VERBS Match these phrasal verbs with an object and a meaning.
Object Meaning
take after a few days withdraw Vocabulary note
take off a business accept
Take up means to begin doing
take out someone you’ve just met resemble something as a hobby:
take over money fill up I took up chess last year.
take to space develop a liking for Take to means to really enjoy
take up someone in your family gain control of doing something:
take on responsibility spend time away I’ve really taken to sudoku puzzles.
from work

3.2 Use the phrasal verbs with take to complete these sentences.
1 I took to Gemma’s flatmate, Kate, as soon as I met her.
2 I couldn’t pay for my coursebooks by card, so I some cash at lunchtime.
3 Peter several days so that he could attend his sister’s wedding.
4 Luke his father – he looks and sounds just like him at times.
5 Amanda’s decided to some more teaching now the children are older.
6 GDC Electronics has finally its rival, Telectrical.
7 The piano a lot of space downstairs, but we all enjoy playing it.

204
Exam practice Time off 34
Reading and Use of English Part 3
For questions 1–6, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form
a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

The benefits of having a hobby

Hobbies can add (0) excitement to everyday life. Sometimes the daily routine EXCITE
at work or school starts to drag, making you feel that everything is a bit
(1) , and in these circumstances a hobby offers fun and escape POINT
from your regular (2) . COMMIT

In fact, (3) pastimes such as watching TV or listening to music, LIKE

a hobby usually involves learning new skills. In (4) , if there is a ADD
social element to the hobby, you will have to interact with other people and so go
on to form new (5) . It is also very positive to feel that you are FRIEND
making progress with your own (6) development, and as well as PERSON
giving you the chance to learn new skills, a hobby will be a way of building on the
(7) you already have. It’s certainly the case that the more different STRONG
activities you try as hobbies, the closer you’ll get to being (8) TRUE
fulfilled and the better you’ll get to know yourself.

Exam tip
Think about what type of word
is needed grammatically, e.g. an
adjective, noun or verb.

Writing Part 2: email

You have received this email from your English-speaking friend Karen.

From: Karen
Subject: new hobby

Hi
I’m interested in taking up a new hobby, and I wondered if you could help. What hobbies are popular in
your country? And could you tell me which hobby you would advise me to try, and why?
Thanks a lot,
Karen

Write your email (140–190 words).

205