Dependent Prepositions

Prepositions that are fixed with specific verbs, adjectives, and nouns

What are Dependent Prepositions?

Dependent prepositions are prepositions that MUST follow certain verbs, adjectives, or nouns. These combinations are fixed - you can't choose a different preposition. They must be memorized as collocations.

Examples: "depend on" (NOT "depend of"), "interested in" (NOT "interested for"), "reason for" (NOT "reason of").

Verbs + Dependent Prepositions

Verb + ABOUT:

talk about something, think about, worry about
I'm thinking about my future.
She worries about her exams.
Let's talk about the project.
They complained about the noise.
I dream about traveling the world.

Verb + FOR:

wait for, look for, ask for, apply for, thank for
I'm waiting for the bus.
She's looking for her keys.
He asked for help.
They applied for the job.
Thank you for your help!
I apologize for being late.

Verb + ON:

depend on, rely on, concentrate on, insist on
It depends on the weather.
You can rely on me.
Please concentrate on your work.
He insisted on paying the bill.
They agreed on a solution.

Verb + TO:

listen to, belong to, talk to, apologize to, respond to
Listen to me!
This book belongs to John.
I need to talk to you.
She apologized to her friend.
He didn't respond to my email.

Verb + WITH:

agree with, disagree with, help with, deal with
I agree with you.
She disagrees with his opinion.
Can you help me with this?
We need to deal with this problem.
I'm pleased with the results.

Verb + FROM:

suffer from, differ from, prevent from, protect from
He suffers from allergies.
This differs from the original.
Nothing can prevent me from succeeding.
This will protect you from the cold.

Verb + OF:

think of, dream of, remind of, consist of, approve of
What do you think of this idea?
I dream of becoming a doctor.
She reminds me of my sister.
The team consists of 10 people.
I don't approve of his behavior.

Adjectives + Dependent Prepositions

Adjective + ABOUT:

worried about, excited about, sorry about
I'm worried about the exam.
She's excited about the trip.
I'm sorry about the mess.
He's nervous about the interview.

Adjective + FOR:

responsible for, famous for, ready for, sorry for
Who's responsible for this?
Paris is famous for the Eiffel Tower.
Are you ready for the test?
I'm sorry for you. (sympathy)

Adjective + IN:

interested in, involved in, successful in
I'm interested in history.
She's involved in many projects.
He was successful in his career.
They're experienced in teaching.

Adjective + OF:

afraid of, proud of, tired of, full of, aware of
I'm afraid of spiders.
She's proud of her children.
I'm tired of waiting.
The room is full of people.
Are you aware of the problem?

Adjective + AT:

good at, bad at, surprised at, amazed at
She's good at math.
I'm bad at singing.
I was surprised at the news.
They were amazed at the view.

Adjective + TO:

similar to, married to, kind to, cruel to
This is similar to mine.
She's married to a doctor.
He's always kind to everyone.
Don't be cruel to animals.

Adjective + WITH:

happy with, satisfied with, angry with, disappointed with
I'm happy with my results.
Are you satisfied with the service?
She's angry with me.
He's disappointed with the outcome.

Nouns + Dependent Prepositions

Common noun + preposition combinations:

reason for, solution to, answer to, increase in
What's the reason for the delay?
We need a solution to this problem.
I don't know the answer to that question.
There's been an increase in prices.
She has a talent for music.
There's a need for change.

Common Mistakes

❌ I'm interested for history. → ✅ I'm interested in history.
❌ It depends of you. → ✅ It depends on you.
❌ I'm good in math. → ✅ I'm good at math.
❌ Listen me! → ✅ Listen to me!
❌ I agree to you. → ✅ I agree with you.
❌ She's married with a doctor. → ✅ She's married to a doctor.
❌ I'm afraid from dogs. → ✅ I'm afraid of dogs.
❌ Thank you about your help. → ✅ Thank you for your help.

Practice Tips

📚 Memorize as chunks: Learn "interested in," "good at," "depend on" as fixed units, not separate words.
📝 Keep a list: Make flashcards or a list of common combinations you encounter. There's no logical rule - you must memorize them.
🎯 Notice patterns: Some adjectives about feelings often use "about": worried about, excited about, nervous about.
✍️ Practice in sentences: Don't just memorize "depend on" - use it: "It depends on the weather," "I depend on you."
🔍 Check dictionaries: Good dictionaries show which prepositions go with each word. Look up "depend" → you'll see "depend on."