Foundation grammar · Unit 113 · A2

listen to ..., look at ... etc. (verb + preposition)

Prepositions

Many verbs take a fixed preposition: ask for, belong to, happen to, listen to, speak to, thank for, think about or of, wait for, write to; but phone somebody with no preposition. look at, look for and look after mean different things. It depends on ... (never depends of).

Go to the exercises

A verb + preposition

phrase example
ask (somebody) for ... A woman stopped me and asked me for directions.
belong to ... Does this scarf belong to you? (= Is this your scarf?)
happen to ... I can't find my keys. What's happened to them?
listen to ... Listen to this song. It's brilliant.
speak / talk to somebody about something Did you talk to your boss about the problem? / (on the phone) Can I speak to Ruth, please?
thank somebody for ... Thanks very much for the lift.
think about ... or think of ... She never thinks about (or of) anyone else. / Leo is thinking of (or about) moving to Bristol.
wait for ... Hang on. Wait for me.
write to somebody I never get postcards. Nobody writes to me.
but phone somebody (no preposition) I must phone my gran. (not phone to my gran)
  • Does this scarf belong to you?
  • Listen to this song. It's brilliant.
  • I must phone my gran. (not phone to my gran)

B look at, look for, look after

look at ... = direct your eyes at something.

look for ... = search for something you want to find.

look after ... = care for someone, or keep something safe.

  • She's looking at the clock.
  • Look at that sunset! It's stunning.
  • Why are you staring at me?
  • He's lost his phone. He's looking for it.
  • I'm looking for Omar. Have you seen him?
  • When Hannah is at work, her mum looks after the baby.
  • Don't lose this ticket. Look after it. (= keep it safe)

C depend on

We say depend on (not depend of).

Before what, where, how etc., the on is optional. (For the word order, see unit 49.)

  • "Do you enjoy camping?" "Sometimes. It depends on the weather." (not it depends of)
  • "Do you want to come with us?" "It depends where you're going." (or It depends on where ...)

Exercises

113.1 Read each scene and complete the sentence with a preposition (to, for etc.).

  1. A woman glancing down at her watch.

    She's looking at her watch.

    She's looking at her watch.

  2. A man sitting by a radio, head tilted towards it.

    He's listening the radio.

  3. Two people at the kerb with suitcases, one arm raised as a cab approaches.

    They're waiting a taxi.

  4. Tom and Lena chatting face to face.

    Tom is talking Lena.

  5. Two people in a gallery, studying a painting on the wall.

    They're looking a painting.

  6. Mia searching through a crowded room, calling "Tom? Where are you?"

    Mia is looking Tom.

113.2 Complete the sentences with a preposition (to, for, about etc.) if necessary. If there is no preposition, type a dash (-).

  1. Thanks very much for the lift.

    Thanks very much for the lift.

  2. This isn't my bike. It belongs my cousin.

  3. (on the phone) Could I speak Mrs Okafor, please?

  4. (on the phone) Thanks calling. Bye.

  5. What happened Josh yesterday? Why didn't he turn up?

  6. We're thinking getting a dog.

  7. I asked the shop assistant a bag, but she didn't have one.

  8. "Do you enjoy films?" "It depends the film."

  9. The teacher was explaining the homework, but nobody was listening her.

  10. We waited Ruby for an hour, but she never came.

  11. "Who's the card for?" "I'm writing my grandad."

  12. Don't forget to phone your dad tonight.

  13. He lives on his own and never talks anyone.

  14. "How much is a ticket?" "It depends the day you travel."

  15. Grace is thinking going back to college.

113.3 Complete the sentences. Use at, for or after.

atforafter

  1. I looked the menu, but I didn't read it properly.

  2. When you're unwell, you need someone to look you.

  3. Excuse me, I'm looking the library. Do you know where it is?

  4. Bye! Have a great trip and look yourself.

  5. I'm going to take your photo. Look the camera and say cheese.

  6. Ravi is looking a new job. He'd like to work outdoors.

See also