Prepositions used with verbs

in phrasal verbs 6.117 Some verbs always have a prepositional phrase after them in particular meanings. They are called phrasal verbs, and information about them can be found in paragraphs 3.84 to 3.117.

She sailed through her exams.

What are you getting at?

6.118 Some verbs can have a prepositional phrase instead of a direct object. For more information on these verbs, see paragraph 3.11.

The Polish Army fought the Germans for nearly five weeks.

She was fighting against history.

We climbed the mountain.

I climbed up the tree.

6.119 A prepositional phrase is used as the indirect object of a ditransitive verb when the indirect object comes after the direct object.

For information on ditransitive verbs see paragraphs 3.74 to 3.83.

If the action described by the verb involves the transfer of something from one person or thing to another, the preposition 'to' is used.

Woodward finished the second page and passed it to the editor.

The recovered animals will be given to zoos.

If the action involves a person doing something for the benefit of another person, the preposition 'for' is used.

She left a note for her on the table.

6.120 Some reciprocal verbs require a prepositional phrase when a second noun group is mentioned.

For information on reciprocal verbs, see paragraphs 3.69 to 3.73.

Our return coincided with the arrival of bad weather.

Catholic youths clashed with police in Belfast.

6.121 Prepositional phrases are used after verbs in the passive.

90 men found themselves cut off by storms.

Moisture must be drawn out first with salt.

The use of prepositional phrases after passive verbs is explained in paragraphs 10.14 to 10.16.

6.122 When verbs are followed by prepositional phrases and adverbs, a long prepositional phrase is usually placed after the adverb.

He listened calmly to the report of his aides.

A short prepositional phrase can come before or after the adverb.

The women shouted at me savagely.

Miss Burns looked calmly at Marianne.

Prepositional phrases after nouns and adjectives

6.123 Prepositional phrases are sometimes used as qualifiers to describe the subject or object of a clause rather than the manner of an action or situation. See the section beginning at paragraph 2.292 for more information.

...a girt in a dark grey dress.

...a man with a quick temper.

particular prepositions after nouns and adjectives 6.124 Particular prepositions are used after some nouns and adjectives when adding information. See paragraphs 2.49 to 2.54 and 2.304 to 2.307.

My respect for her is absolutely enormous.

We welcome the Governments emphasis on voluntary codes of practice.

...the solicitor responsible for pursuing the claim.

comparisons with 'than' and 'like' 6.125 A prepositional phrase with 'than' often indicates the person or thing that is the basis of a comparison.

He was smarter than you.

She was more refined than her husband.

For more information on comparisons, see the section beginning at paragraph 2.108.

The preposition 'like' is used to indicate that someone or something is similar to someone or something else, without comparing any specific quality.

The British forces are like permanent tourists.

We need many more people like these.

'of' 6.126 'Of' can be used in prepositional phrases after any noun to indicate various relationships between one noun group and another, especially belonging, possession, and connection. It can be used to state what something is, what it contains, what it is made from, of how much of it there is.

He was a member of the golf club.

She's a friend of Stephen's.

... the Mayor of Moscow.