Verb patterns with prepositions
Use verbs followed by specific prepositions to create natural expressions.
Use verbs followed by specific prepositions to create natural expressions.
Unit 66 – Verb patterns with prepositions (B2)
Introduction
At B2 level, your English becomes less about single words and more about patterns. One of the clearest signs of advanced, natural English is choosing the correct preposition after a verb: we depend on something, we apologise for something, we insist on something. These combinations are not random, and they often do not match the logic of your first language. In this unit, you will learn common verb + preposition patterns and practise using them accurately in realistic contexts.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify frequent verb + preposition patterns at B2 level; use them accurately in sentences and short texts; avoid common errors caused by translating prepositions; choose the correct structure after the preposition (noun, -ing form, or clause where possible).
1) Why verb + preposition patterns matter
Many English verbs are “incomplete” without a particular preposition. The verb may be correct, but the wrong preposition makes the sentence sound unnatural or even changes the meaning. Compare: “I agree with you” (correct) vs “I agree to you” (incorrect). These patterns are best learned as fixed partnerships rather than as separate items.
Important concept
After a preposition, English normally uses a noun or an -ing form: “They insisted on an apology.” / “They insisted on apologising.” This is why “insist on to do” is incorrect.
2) Core patterns: meaning and typical use
2.1 Agree with / agree on / agree to
agree with + person/opinion: “I agree with your point.” “I don’t agree with her.”
agree on + plan/decision: “We agreed on a deadline.”
agree to + proposal/terms (often formal): “They agreed to the conditions.”
2.2 Depend on / rely on
depend on and rely on express trust or necessity: “It depends on the weather.” “You can rely on him.”
2.3 Apologise for / complain about
apologise for + noun/-ing: “I apologise for the delay.” “She apologised for arriving late.”
complain about + noun/-ing: “Customers complained about the service.”
2.4 Succeed in / specialise in
succeed in + -ing: “He succeeded in convincing them.”
specialise in + field/-ing: “She specialises in corporate law.”
2.5 Insist on / focus on
insist on + noun/-ing: “He insisted on a refund.” “They insisted on meeting in person.”
focus on + topic/task: “Let’s focus on solutions.”
2.6 Apply for / respond to
apply for + job/course/visa: “I’m applying for a position in marketing.”
respond to + email/request/criticism: “Please respond to my message by Friday.”
2.7 Belong to / consist of
belong to shows ownership or membership: “This book belongs to me.” “She belongs to a professional association.”
consist of describes parts: “The committee consists of five members.”
3) Choosing the correct form after the preposition
Once you choose the correct preposition, you must also choose the correct grammar after it. Most commonly, you will use:
1) a noun: “They apologised for the mistake.”
2) an -ing form: “They apologised for making a mistake.”
3) a wh-clause (less common, but possible): “It depends on what you mean.”
Warning
Avoid adding “to” after a preposition: “insist on meeting” (not “insist on to meet”); “succeed in finding” (not “succeed in to find”). Also avoid changing the preposition because it “sounds logical”: English patterns are conventional, not mathematical.
4) Mini-context: a realistic narrative
Imagine you are coordinating a project with an international team. You might say: “We agreed on the timeline, but it depends on the supplier. I applied for additional funding and I’m waiting for a response. Some colleagues complained about the workload, so we focused on priorities. In the end, we succeeded in delivering the first phase, and the final report will consist of three sections.” Notice how the prepositions create a professional, natural rhythm.
Practice
Practice section
Complete each sentence with the correct preposition or verb + preposition pattern. Then check the answer column.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) We finally agreed ____ a meeting date that works for everyone. | on |
| 2) I completely agree ____ you about the main risk. | with |
| 3) The success of the launch depends ____ how quickly we can test the new feature. | on |
| 4) She apologised ____ not replying earlier. | for |
| 5) Several clients complained ____ the confusing instructions. | about |
| 6) He succeeded ____ securing a better contract after weeks of negotiation. | in |
| 7) Our training programme consists ____ six modules and a final assessment. | of |
| 8) Please respond ____ my email before the end of the day. | to |
| 9) I’m applying ____ a scholarship to study abroad next year. | for |
| 10) The manager insisted ____ speaking to the team in person. | on |
| 11) This laptop doesn’t belong ____ the office; it’s mine. | to |
| 12) Let’s focus ____ what we can control rather than what we can’t. | on |
Unit 66 – Verb patterns with prepositions (B2)
Introduction
At B2 level, your English becomes less about single words and more about patterns. One of the clearest signs of advanced, natural English is choosing the correct preposition after a verb: we depend on something, we apologise for something, we insist on something. These combinations are not random, and they often do not match the logic of your first language. In this unit, you will learn common verb + preposition patterns and practise using them accurately in realistic contexts.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify frequent verb + preposition patterns at B2 level; use them accurately in sentences and short texts; avoid common errors caused by translating prepositions; choose the correct structure after the preposition (noun, -ing form, or clause where possible).
1) Why verb + preposition patterns matter
Many English verbs are “incomplete” without a particular preposition. The verb may be correct, but the wrong preposition makes the sentence sound unnatural or even changes the meaning. Compare: “I agree with you” (correct) vs “I agree to you” (incorrect). These patterns are best learned as fixed partnerships rather than as separate items.
Important concept
After a preposition, English normally uses a noun or an -ing form: “They insisted on an apology.” / “They insisted on apologising.” This is why “insist on to do” is incorrect.
2) Core patterns: meaning and typical use
2.1 Agree with / agree on / agree to
agree with + person/opinion: “I agree with your point.” “I don’t agree with her.”
agree on + plan/decision: “We agreed on a deadline.”
agree to + proposal/terms (often formal): “They agreed to the conditions.”
2.2 Depend on / rely on
depend on and rely on express trust or necessity: “It depends on the weather.” “You can rely on him.”
2.3 Apologise for / complain about
apologise for + noun/-ing: “I apologise for the delay.” “She apologised for arriving late.”
complain about + noun/-ing: “Customers complained about the service.”
2.4 Succeed in / specialise in
succeed in + -ing: “He succeeded in convincing them.”
specialise in + field/-ing: “She specialises in corporate law.”
2.5 Insist on / focus on
insist on + noun/-ing: “He insisted on a refund.” “They insisted on meeting in person.”
focus on + topic/task: “Let’s focus on solutions.”
2.6 Apply for / respond to
apply for + job/course/visa: “I’m applying for a position in marketing.”
respond to + email/request/criticism: “Please respond to my message by Friday.”
2.7 Belong to / consist of
belong to shows ownership or membership: “This book belongs to me.” “She belongs to a professional association.”
consist of describes parts: “The committee consists of five members.”
3) Choosing the correct form after the preposition
Once you choose the correct preposition, you must also choose the correct grammar after it. Most commonly, you will use:
1) a noun: “They apologised for the mistake.”
2) an -ing form: “They apologised for making a mistake.”
3) a wh-clause (less common, but possible): “It depends on what you mean.”
Warning
Avoid adding “to” after a preposition: “insist on meeting” (not “insist on to meet”); “succeed in finding” (not “succeed in to find”). Also avoid changing the preposition because it “sounds logical”: English patterns are conventional, not mathematical.
4) Mini-context: a realistic narrative
Imagine you are coordinating a project with an international team. You might say: “We agreed on the timeline, but it depends on the supplier. I applied for additional funding and I’m waiting for a response. Some colleagues complained about the workload, so we focused on priorities. In the end, we succeeded in delivering the first phase, and the final report will consist of three sections.” Notice how the prepositions create a professional, natural rhythm.
Practice
Practice section
Complete each sentence with the correct preposition or verb + preposition pattern. Then check the answer column.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) We finally agreed ____ a meeting date that works for everyone. | on |
| 2) I completely agree ____ you about the main risk. | with |
| 3) The success of the launch depends ____ how quickly we can test the new feature. | on |
| 4) She apologised ____ not replying earlier. | for |
| 5) Several clients complained ____ the confusing instructions. | about |
| 6) He succeeded ____ securing a better contract after weeks of negotiation. | in |
| 7) Our training programme consists ____ six modules and a final assessment. | of |
| 8) Please respond ____ my email before the end of the day. | to |
| 9) I’m applying ____ a scholarship to study abroad next year. | for |
| 10) The manager insisted ____ speaking to the team in person. | on |
| 11) This laptop doesn’t belong ____ the office; it’s mine. | to |
| 12) Let’s focus ____ what we can control rather than what we can’t. | on |
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