Explanations

Prepositions • About
following verbs agree about, argue about, boast about, dream about, know about, laugh about,
read about, talk about

• At
guess at, laugh at, look at

• For
apply for, arrange for, ask for something, blame someone for, care for, forgive
someone for, look for, pay for something, search for, vote for, wait for

- In
believe in, confide in someone, involve someone in something, specialise in,
succeed in, take part in

- Of
accuse someone of something, (dis)approve of, die of something, dream of,
remind someone of something, rob someone of something, smell of, taste of,
warn someone of something

• On
blame something on someone, concentrate on, congratulate someone on
something, depend on, insist on, rely on

- To
add something to, admit to, apologise to someone for something, be accustomed
to, be used to, belong to, confess to, explain something to someone, lend
something to someone, listen to, object to, reply to, talk to someone about
something

• With
agree with, argue with, begin with, charge someone with a crime, deal with,
discuss something with someone, provide someone with something, share
something with someone, trust someone with something

Prepositions • About
following annoyed about, anxious about, certain about, excited about, happy about,
adjectives pleased about, right about, sorry about, upset about

• At
angry at, annoyed at, bad/good at, surprised at

• By
bored by, shocked by, surprised by
 G R A M M A R 29 VERB/ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION

• For
famous for, late for, ready for, sorry for

- From
absent from, different from, safe from

- In
interested in

- Of
afraid of, ashamed of, aware of, capable of, fond of, full of, it is good of you (to
do something), jealous of

• On
keen on

- To
grateful to, kind to, married to

- With
angry with, annoyed with, bored with, happy with, pleased with

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FIRST C E R T I F I C A T E L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E

1 Put one suitable w o r d in each space.

a) A lot of people I know really believe in ghosts.

b) Martin grew to be very fond his pet snake.
c) This bread tastes fish!
d) Everyone was shocked Susan's strange appearance.
e) The company blamed the drop in sales the economic situation.
f) Brenda decided to discuss her problems a psychiatrist.
g) When Harry made his speech, everyone laughed him.
h) Robert has been married Deborah for over a year.
i) You were right after all the result of the election.
j) The woman who lived next door admitted the robbery.

2 Rewrite each sentence beginning as shown. Do not change the meaning.

a) Two men stole the old lady's handbag.

The old lady was robbed of her handbag,
b) John finds photography interesting.
John is
c) Helen has a good knowledge of car engines.
Helen knows a lot
d) The food in France is famous.
France is
e) I'd like to thank your brother for his help.
I am very grateful
f) Can you and Stephen share this book, please?
Can you share this book
g) I find studying all night rather difficult.
I'm not used to
h) Harry feels frightened when he sees a snake.
Harry is afraid
i) I'm sorry about breaking your camera.
Please forgive me
j) Peter knows how to draw well.
Peter is good
 G R A M M A R 29 VERB/ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION

3 Put one suitable w o r d in each space.

a) David was .ashamed... of what he had done, and he blushed.

b) I'm not very on the idea of going climbing.
c) Mary is always about all the famous people she has met.
d) Jim was often for work, and lost his job as a result.
e) There were no empty seats on the train, which was of soldiers.
f) Bill decided not to Bob with his secrets.
g) The two boys were of stealing a sports car.
h) We in persuading Carol to lend us her boat.
i) You have worked very hard! I am very with you!
j) I can't remember her name, but it with 'J'.

4 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the w o r d given. Do not change the w o r d given. You must use
between t w o and five words, including the w o r d given.

a) William could do better work.

capable
William is capable of doing better work.
b) I own this car.
belongs
This car me.
c) The job received over a hundred applications.
applied
Over a hundred people the job.
d) Mrs Jones' death was caused by old age.
died
Mrs Jones old age.
e) 'Well done, Tony, you have passed the exam,' said Joe.
congratulated
Joe the exam.
f) Jean borrowed Shirley's camera.
lent
Shirley camera.
g) Graham found the film very boring.
by
Graham the film.
h) We all pitied Stephen.
sorry
We all Stephen.

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FIRST C E R T I F I C A T E L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E

5 Put one suitable w o r d in each space.

a) My boss shouted at me - he was really angry. with me!

b) I can see your point, but I just don't with you.
c) Terry doesn't of his children going to rock concerts.
d) George and I about politics all night!
e) Can I have a at the evening paper?
f) This story me of a novel by Dickens.
g) Peter feels of anyone who talks to his girlfriend.
h) I didn't expect you to behave like that! I'm at you!
i) Oh dear, I forgot to any baking powder to the cake.
j) I think you should your boss for a rise.

6 Complete each sentence w i t h the most suitable w o r d or phrase.

a) Thank you very much. It's very B. you to help me.

A) good with B) good of C) good for D) good about
b) The bad weather was the series of power cuts.
A) blamed for B) blamed on C) blamed with D) blamed by
c) I'm sorry, but I seeing the manager at once!
A) arrange for B) look for C) agree with D) insist on
d) Why do you spend all your time your sister!
A) arguing about B) arguing for C) arguing with D) arguing at
e) Helen is very going to work in Germany.
A) excited about B) excited for C) excited with D) excited to
f) The tourists were not the danger of bandits in the hills.
A) known about B) aware of C) provided with D) guessed at
g) I understood the problem after it had been me.
A) explained to B) admitted to C) confessed to D) replied to
h) I wish you wouldn't show off and your success so much!
A) full of B) bored by C) boast about D) congratulate on
i) If you listen to music, you can't your homework.
A) read about B) arrange for C) specialise in D) concentrate on
j) Will we be the storm if we shelter under a tree?
A) happy about B) safe from C) depended on D) cared for

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 G R A M M A R 29 VERB/ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION

Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a w o r d
which should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a w o r d which
should not be there, write the w o r d in the space.

Brothers and sisters

When I was young I had argued with my
brothers and sisters all the time. I used to
share with most of my toys with my brother,
but he specialised in to keeping them for
himself. When I asked about him for anything
he simply used to refuse to give it to me, and
then I became and very angry with him. Our
sisters blamed for everything on us when our
parents accused us of quarrelling all the time.
My brother and I got up annoyed about this,
but only succeeded them in making matters
worse. Our parents didn't approve of our
quarrelling so much, and insisted us on
not taking sides. They either laughed about
it, or told us to forgive and each other for
everything. Soon we became ashamed of
quarrelling, and became good at last getting
on well with each other.

Key p o i n t s 1 Check verbs and adjectives in a dictionary to be certain which prepositions

follow them.
2 In some cases different prepositions give different meanings.
3 Note the difference between used to (see Grammar 1) and be used to.
I used to go to the beach every weekend when I was a child.
This is a habit in the past which is no longer true. To is part of the infinitive to
go in this sentence.
I am not used to getting up so early in the morning.
If you are used to something you have done it many times so that it no longer
seems surprising or difficult. In this case to is a preposition, and getting up is the
noun form of the verb (gerund).

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