Verb + of
accuse/suspect somebody OF ...:
* Sue accused me of being selfish.
*Three students were suspected of cheating in the examination.
approve OF ...:
* His parents don't approve of what he does, but they can't stop him.
die OF (an illness):
* 'What did he die of?' 'A heart attack.'
consist OF ...:
* We had an enormous meal. It consisted of seven courses.
Verb + for
pay (somebody) FOR ...:
* I didn't have enough money to pay (the waiter) for the meal. (not 'pay the meal')
but 'pay a bill/a fine/a tax/a fare/rent/a sum of money etc. (no preposition):
* I didn't have enough money to pay my telephone bill.
thank/forgive somebody FOR ...:
* I'll never forgive them for what they did.
apologize (to somebody) FOR ...:
* When I realized I was wrong, I apologized (to them) for my mistake.
blame somebody/something FOR ...:
* Everybody blamed me for the accident.
also: 'somebody is to blame for ...':
* Everybody said that I was to blame for the accident.
also: blame something ON ...:
* Everybody blamed the accident on me.
Verb + from
Suffer FROM (an illness etc.):
* The number of people suffering from heart disease has increased.
protect somebody/something FROM (or AGAINST) ...:
* Sun oil can protect the skin from the sun. (or . against the sun.)
Verb + on
depend ON.../rely ON ...:
* 'What time will you arrive?' 'I don't know. It depends on the traffic.'
* You can rely on Jill. She always keeps her promises.
You can use depend + when/where/how etc. (question words) with or without on:
* 'Are you going to buy it?' 'It depends how much it is.' (or depends on how much) live ON
(money/food):
* George's salary is very low. It isn't enough to live on.
congratulate (someone) ON .../compliment (somebody) ON ...
* I congratulated her on her success the exam.
EXERCISES
134.1 Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.
1. Sue said I was selfish. Sue accused me _of being selfish._
2. The misunderstanding was my fault, so I apologized.
I apologized ---.
3. She won the tournament, so I congratulated her.
I congratulated her ---.
4. He has enemies but he has a bodyguard to protect him.
He has a bodyguard to protect him ---.
5. There are 11 players in a football team.
A football team consists ---.
6. She eats only bread and eggs. She lives ---.
Complete the second sentence using for or on. (These sentences all have blame.)
7. Kay said that what happened was Jim's fault. Kay blamed Jim _for what happened._
8. You always say everything is my fault. You always blame me ---.
9. Do you think the economic crisis is the fault of the government?
Do you blame the government ---.
10. I think the increase in violent crime is because of television.
I blame the increase in ---.
Now rewrite sentences 9 and 10 using ... to blame for ...
11. (9) Do you think the government ---.
12. (10) I think that ---.
34.2 Complete the sentences using one of the following verbs (in the correct form) + the correct preposition:
accuse apologize approve congratulate depend live pay
1. His parents don't _approve of_ what he does, but they can't stop him.
2. When you went to the theatre with Paul, who --- the tickets?
3. It's not very pleasant when you are --- something you didn't do.
4. 'Are you playing tennis tomorrow?' 'I hope so. It --- the weather.'
5. Things are very cheap there. You can --- very little money.
6. When I saw Dave, I --- him --- passing his driving test.
7. You were very rude to Fiona. Don't you think you should --- her?
134.3 Put in the correct preposition. If no preposition is necessary, leave the space empty (-)
1. Three students were suspected _of_ cheating in the examination.
2. Sally is often not well. She suffers --- very bad headaches.
3. You know that you can rely --- me if you ever need any help.
4. It is terrible that some people are dying --- hunger while others eat too much.
5. Are you going to apologize --- what you did?
6. The accident was my fault, so I had to pay --- the damage.
7. I didn't have enough money to pay --- the bill.
8. I complimented her --- her English. She spoke fluently and made very few mistakes.
9. She hasn't got a job. She depends --- her parents for money.
10. I don't know whether I'll go out tonight. It depends --- how I feel.
11. They wore warm clothes to protect themselves --- the cold.
12. The apartment consists --- three rooms, a kitchen and bathroom.
134.1
2 for the misunderstanding (which was my fault).
3 on winning the tournament.
4 from his enemies./against his enemies.
5 of 11 players.
6 on bread and eggs.
8 for everything.
9 for the economic crisis?
10 violent crime on television.
11 is to blame for the economic crisis?
12 television is to blame for the increase in violent crime.
134.2
2 paid for
3 accused of
4 depends on
5 live on
6 congratulated him on
7 apologise to
KEY TO EXERCISES
134.3
2 from 3 on
4 of 5 for
6 for 7 -
8 on 9 on
10 on or -
11 from or against
12 of
