LESSON 14

DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS AND PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

EXPRESSING KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF
DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS AND PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
A. Verb + preposition.
1. as well as verbs of movement and place followed by prepositional phrases, we can
use verb + preposition combinations:
The film consists of nothing but car crashes.
Given the choice, Ill always opt for the cash prize.
2. sometimes, the verb and preposition are separated by an object:
He played off one side against the other and lost.
They subjected him to fierce interrogation.
It is primarily its greater size which distinguishes the raven from the
common crow.
3. very often, verbs with related meanings are followed by the same preposition.
Here is an example of such a group:
ask for appeal for
hope for
long for
yearn for
4. however, some verbs with similar meanings have different prepositions:
accuse someone of
blame someone for
B. Adjective + preposition some adjectives are commonly followed by collocating
prepositions. As with verb + preposition, the verbs can have related meanings:
similar to
related to
characteristic to
typical of
fraught with
sorry for
responsible forriddled with
annoyed about
upset about
deficient in
lacking in
C. Noun + preposition some nouns are commonly followed by collocating prepositions:
a prelude to
a sequel to
a taste for
a craving for

an attack on

insurance

against

a relationship with

a safeguard against

an extract from

D. Prepositional phrases prepositional phrases usually begin with a preposition which

may not be connected with the preceding noun, verb or adjective:
I arrived at the checkout out of breath.
I find his arrogance beyond belief.
Their luggage arrived in advance.
Please go to the Gate 11 without delay.

PRACTICE
1. Link the openings of the sentences (1-10) with their endings on the right (a-j).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

I cant suppress my craving

Have you heard
Im afraid I completely disagree
We are alarmingly deficient
I just think the whole situation is
fraught
6. Im afraid this is typical
7. They eventually succeeded
8. The exchange rate now stands
9. Im really getting a taste
10. He was subjected

a. with anger.
b. in adequately trained staff.
c. at 344.7 to the dollar.
d. to endless bullying as a child.
e. in persuading me to go with them
f. with you about that.
g. of such boys.
h. about Jeremys new job?
i. for a bar of chocolate.
j. for this type of exercise.

2. Match each group of verbs (a-j) with one of these dependent prepositions. Each
preposition matches with two groups.
about

against

in

over

of

a
boast
brag
rave
protest
enthuse

b
care
bother
forget
brood
dream

c
delight
revel
succeed
exult
bask

d
advise
warn
argue
protest
demonstrate

e
confide
result
culminate
persist
trust

f
rule
prevail
preside
triumph
argue

g
battle
compete
plot
campaign
win

h
cheat
strip
rid
deprive
starve

I
cure
convict
reassure
persuade
acquit

j
skip
skate
gloss
haggle
squabble

3. Put the corresponding letter of the right word into the blank of each sentence.
1. I really cant believe that anyone would ... to such underhand tactics.
a. dabble
b. stoop
c. reach
d. conceive
2. The crowds all ... towards the stadium as the time for kick off drew closer.
a. gravitated
b. entered
c. embarked
d. aspired
3. The whole situation has now deteriorated to the point where it is beyond a ...
a. control
b. joke
c. belief
d. help
4. The team were in remarkably high ... despite the appalling weather.

a. shape

b. standards

c. spirits

d. terms

5. Ive never had much of a(n) ... for languages, unfortunately.

a. capability
b. tendency
c. ability
d. aptitude
6. It occurs to me that we need to make sure there are ... against potential abuse
of the system.
a. preventions
b. provisions
c. safeguards
d. curbs
7. I think we should be ... of the potential implications of building on such a
sensitive site.
a. conversant
b. mindful
c. answerable
d. attuned
8. Your participation is ... to the success of the whole project.
a. dependent
b. indicative
c. desirous
d. integral

EXPRESSING KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF

1. What sort of belief? we can modify how strong our belief is in many ways. Here are
some examples:
I firmly believe that
It is my firm belief that
I believe wholeheartedly that
I have an unshakeable belief that
I tend to think
What things do you strongly believe in?
2. Belief, trust and faith we use belief, trust and faith and their related verbs in
various ways:
I believe you.
I trust you.
I believe in you.
I trust in you.
Its my belief that
Put your trust in me.
Have faith in me.
You need self-belief.
Keep faith with your ideals.
3. What sort of believers? as in all topic areas, certain adjectives collocate with certain
nouns. Here are some examples:
a devout Muslim
a strict vegetarian
a leading expert
a practising Christian
a firm believer
a die-hard Conservative
a staunch supporter
a fierce opponent
4. What sort of knowledge? note how adverbial phrases can be replaced by adjectives
used attributively and vice versa:
Adverbial phrase
Adjective
We need an account of what happened in full. We need a full account of what happened.
Youll have to report in detail what Well need a detailed report of what
happened.
happened.
He knows about his subject in depth.
He has an in-depth knowledge of the
subject.
We only have an idea of the plan in broad We only have a sketchy idea of the plan.
outline.

We also use a number of idiomatic phrases:

I know London like the back of my hand.
She knows the locking-up procedure inside out.
He knows the lyrics of at least twenty Beatles songs by heart.
The health and safety officer knows the regulations backwards.
5. Having no knowledge there are many ways to say we dont know or understand
something. Some are colloquial such as:
Im in the dark
Search me. The police have nothing to go on.
I havent (got) a clue. I havent (got) the faintest / slightest / foggiest idea.
I have no idea.
Its beyond me. It all goes over my head.
There are fewer formal common phrases we can use to express ignorance:
I am not familiar with the facts.
I am not fully acquainted with the facts of the case.
I must confess to ignorance regarding

PRACTICE
1. Put the corresponding letter of the right word into the blank of each sentence.
1. He has an knowledge of his subject.
a. intense
b. intensive
c. extensive
d. extended
2. Its knowledge that the Chancellor has not been entirely discreet in his
private life.
a. universal
b. general
c. common
d. full
3. Its a(n) secret that the two of them spent time together on the Caribbean
tour.
a. public
b. open
c. blatant
d. closed
4. I have a acquaintance with the facts of the case.
a. shaking b. slight
c. nodding
d. tiny
5. Im not all that well the ways of the world in economic terms.
a. up on
b. up to
c. on with
d. off with
6. Shes not really well in office procedures.
a. acquainted
b. versed
c. dressed
d. done
7. I have a mere of German.
a. smattering
b. knowledge
c. acquaintance
d. command
8. I have all the information I need at my
a. toenails b. fingertips
c. wits end
d. arms length
9. Were still trying to get the of these new computer systems.
a. hook
b. leaf
c. hang
d. view
10. How could any company use someone whose English and French are so?
a. tarnished
b. stained
c. rusty
d. faded

11. She has only a(n) knowledge of the subject under review, doesnt she?
a. scant
b. all-round
c. first-hand
d. common
12. Her knowledge of what we are trying to discuss is only
a. rudimentary
b. inadequate
c. common
d. comprehensive
2. Put the corresponding letter of the right word into the blank of each sentence. One,
two, three or all four may be possible.
1. I know it
a. for a fact
b. for sure
c. for certain
d. for this
2. The professor knows
a. his stuff
b. whats what
c. thats that
d. his subject
3. I know quite a lot of Shakespeares soliloquies
a. by heart
b. in full
c. to hand
d. on end
4. He has an belief in life after death.
a. unchangeable b. unalterable
c. unshakeable
d. unwavering
5. To my knowledge, he has no previous convictions.
a. certain
b. absolute
c. complete
d. personal
6. My of the issue is that he owes her rather a lot of money.
a. belief
b. reading
c. understanding
d. knowledge
7. You may say the boy should have known , but I dont think he was entirely
to blame.
a. more
b. less
c. better
d. worse
8. Her latest actions will presumably leave you in no as to her guilt.
a. question
b. doubt
c. uncertainty
d. response
9. Im convinced she had a part to play in the crime.
a. totally
b. quite
c. extremely
d. completely
10. I can still read you like a , my dear.
a. magazine
b. leaflet
c. book
d. paper
11. Have in your own abilities.
a. confidence
b. trust
c. faith
d. persuasion
12. I am still of the way things work here.
a. ignorant
b. unaware
c. unconscious
d. unknown