Intermediate grammar · Unit 136 · B2

Verb + preposition 5 in/into/with/to/on

Prepositions

This unit groups more common verbs by the preposition that follows them: in, into, with, to and on.

Go to the exercises

A Verb + in

believe in something = believe that it exists, or believe that it is a good thing to do.

Compare believe something (believe that it is true) and believe somebody (believe what they say). Neither takes in.

specialise in a subject or kind of work.

succeed in something, or succeed in doing something.

  • Do you believe in ghosts? (= do you think they exist?)
  • My mum believes in telling people exactly what she thinks.
  • He says he found the money in a hedge. I don't believe it. (not believe in it)
  • Farah is a solicitor. She specialises in family law.
  • Did you succeed in getting a refund?

B Verb + into

Verb Example pattern
break into break into a house
crash / drive / bump / run into crash into a lamp post
divide / cut / split something into parts cut a cake into eight
translate something from one language into another translate a letter from Polish into English
  • Our garage was broken into last week, though they only took a bag of compost.
  • She skidded on the ice and crashed into a bin.
  • The course is divided into four modules.
  • His novels have been translated into thirty languages.

C Verb + with

collide with something.

fill something with something. Note that the adjective is different: a glass is full of water (see Unit 131).

provide / supply somebody with something.

  • A delivery van collided with a cyclist on Station Road.
  • Fill the bucket with warm water and add a squeeze of washing-up liquid.
  • The company provides every new starter with a laptop.

D Verb + to

happen to somebody or something. What happened to ...? often means "Where is it now?" or "What became of it?"

invite somebody to a party, a wedding and so on.

prefer one thing to another.

  • Whatever happened to that red bike you used to ride everywhere?
  • They invited forty people to the christening.
  • I prefer the seaside to the countryside.

E Verb + on

concentrate on something.

insist on something, or insist on doing something.

spend money or time on something.

  • I tried to concentrate on the report, but the drilling next door went on all morning.
  • I said I'd get the bus, but Uncle Mo insisted on driving me.
  • How much do you spend on petrol each month?

Exercises

136.1 Complete the sentences using these verbs in the correct form, together with a preposition.

believebreakconcentratedividedrivefillhappeninsistinvitesucceed

  1. I offered to pay for the meal, but Gran insisted on paying her share.

    I offered to pay for the meal, but Gran insisted on paying her share.

  2. Nobody has seen Kieran since the summer. I wonder what has him.

  3. The old mill is enormous. It's been twelve flats.

  4. We've been Maddie's leaving do, but sadly we can't go.

  5. I don't luck. I think people make their own.

  6. Mum handed me a jug and told me to it cold water.

  7. Somebody the community centre last night and took the laptops.

  8. You can't revise with the telly on. one thing at a time.

  9. It took three hours, but in the end we getting the sofa up the stairs.

  10. The van in front braked suddenly. I couldn't stop in time and the back of it.

136.2 Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Begin with the words in brackets.

  1. There was a collision between a tractor and a van. (A tractor collided ...)

    A tractor collided with a van.

    A tractor collided with a van.

  2. I don't mind the bus, but I prefer the train. (I prefer ...)

  3. The council gave us all the information we needed. (The council provided us ...)

  4. Yesterday I bought a coat, which cost sixty pounds. (Yesterday I spent ...)

  5. There are four houses in the school. (The school is divided ...)

136.3 Put in the correct preposition. If the sentence is already complete, write - (or leave the space empty).

  1. The gym provides all its members with a towel.

    The gym provides all its members with a towel.

  2. Something very odd happened me on the train this morning.

  3. Jade gave up her Saturday job to concentrate her exams.

  4. I don't believe smacking children.

  5. My new flat is smaller, but I prefer it the old one.

  6. I hope you succeed getting a place at music college.

  7. Ryan broke his nose when he collided the goalpost.

  8. There was a horrible crunch as the lorry crashed the bridge.

  9. Dr Okafor is a vet. She specialises horses.

  10. Leanne spends most of her wages concert tickets.

  11. He told me he'd had tea with the King. I didn't believe him.

  12. Someone broke our shed and took the lawnmower.

  13. I wanted to walk, but Dad insisted driving us to the station.

  14. The coach split the squad three teams.

  15. I filled the kettle, but I filled it sparkling water by mistake.

  16. Jokes are often hard to translate one language another.

136.4 Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use a preposition.

  1. I wanted to walk home alone, but my friend insisted ...

    Example answer: I wanted to walk home alone, but my friend insisted on coming with me.

  2. I spend a lot of money ...

  3. I saw an accident. A car crashed ...

  4. Megan prefers rugby ...

  5. The restaurant we went to specialises ...

  6. Dylan Thomas's poems have been translated ...

See also