Verbs with Dependent Prepositions.

Some verbs regularly use a particular preposition before an object: depend on someone, listen to something. Learning these combinations helps you connect ideas correctly, use nouns and -ing forms, and show different meanings clearly.

1.Learn the verb and preposition together

A dependent preposition is a preposition that goes with a verb in a particular meaning. You cannot always guess it, so learn the whole combination rather than the verb alone.

Compare:

• I listen to music on the bus.
• I wait for my sister outside school.
• I depend on my phone for directions.

The preposition stays the same when the verb changes tense: listen to, listened to, will listen to.

2.Common verb–preposition combinations

Combination	Main meaning	Example
depend on	need or be affected by	Our plans depend on the weather.
listen to	pay attention to a sound	We listened to the radio.
wait for	stay until someone or something arrives	I'm waiting for a taxi.
belong to	be someone's property	This bag belongs to Anna.
look at	direct your eyes towards	Look at this photo.
pay for	give money to buy something	I paid for the tickets.
apply for	formally ask to get something	She's applying for a job.
deal with	take action about a problem or situation	We must deal with this problem.
succeed in	achieve something you tried to do	They succeeded in finding a cheaper flat.
believe in	feel sure that something exists	Do you believe in ghosts?

These are useful combinations, not a list of every possible use of each verb. For example, believe someone means to accept what that person says as true: “I believe you.”

3.What comes after the preposition?

After a dependent preposition, use a noun, an object pronoun, or an -ing form.

Use object pronouns such as me, him, her, us and them, not subject pronouns such as I, he or they.

• You can depend on me.
• I agree with her.

When an action follows the preposition, use an -ing form:

• He apologised for arriving late.
• She insisted on paying for lunch.

4.Different prepositions, different relationships

Some verbs use more than one preposition. The choice can show who is involved or what the action concerns.

Pattern	Use	Example
apologise to someone	identify the person receiving the apology	I apologised to my neighbour.
apologise for something	give the reason for the apology	I apologised for the noise.
complain to someone	identify the person receiving the complaint	She complained to the manager.
complain about something	identify the problem	She complained about the service.
agree with someone	share someone's opinion	I agree with you.
agree on something	reach a shared decision	We agreed on a date for the meeting.
agree to something	accept a proposal or arrangement	They agreed to our proposal.

You can sometimes include two preposition phrases in one sentence.

5.Questions and common mistakes

In everyday questions, the preposition often comes at the end. Do not leave it out when you ask about its object.

• I'm waiting for Alex. → Who are you waiting for?
• This coat belongs to Maya. → Who does this coat belong to?
• They're talking about the film. → What are they talking about?

Some verbs do not need a preposition before their object. Learn these patterns too.

Incorrect pattern	Correct sentence
discuss about a problem	Let's discuss the problem.
enter into the room	Please enter the room.
listen music	I listen to music every evening.

Here, enter the room means go into it. The pattern enter into exists in other meanings, such as enter into an agreement.

You do not need to add an object every time. “Please listen” and “I'll wait here” are complete sentences when the situation makes the meaning clear.

6.A quick checking routine

1. Check the verb's meaning and learn its usual preposition.
2. Check what follows: a noun, an object pronoun, or an -ing form.
3. If the verb has several patterns, choose the one that shows the intended relationship: complain to a person, but complain about a problem.
4. In questions, keep the necessary preposition: What are you looking at?