Commonly Used Preposition Collocations in English with Useful Examples

Preposition Collocations! In this lesson, we learn commonly used preposition collocations in English with useful examples.

Preposition Collocations in English

“Verb + Preposition” Combinations

Verb + TO

• Listen to

Example: Little girls like to listen to lullabies at bedtime.

• Speak to

Example: You should speak to the boys about their behaviors.

• Apologize to

Example: Go and apologize to your sister for what you said!

• Belong to

Example: This book belongs to me.

• Happen to

Example: What happened to you at the party?

• Turn to

Example: A student who needs money turns to his parents.

• Talk to

Example: Are you talking to me?

• Used to

Example: She used to be lonely until she found Mr.Right.

• …

Verb + FOR

“Adjective + Preposition” Combinations

• Accused of  

He’s been accused of robbery/murder.

• Accustomed to

It’ll take time for me to accustom myself to the changes.

• Addicted to

A lot of people nowadays have become addicted to the internet.

• Afraid of

Are you afraid of the dark?

• Allergic to

My dad’s allergic to pop music.

• Amazed at/by

She was amazed at how calm she felt after the accident.

• Angry about

I’m really angry about our losses on the stock market!

• Angry with someone for something

I’m really angry with John for his total lack of responsibility.

• Annoyed about/with/at 

He’s annoyed with Tim because he told his secret.

• Anxious about/to

The drought has made farmers anxious about the harvest..

• Appreciated for

We appreciate the need for immediate action.

• Ashamed of  

I’m not ashamed of what I did.

• Associated with/at/by

I don’t want my children associating with drug addicts and alcoholics.

• Attached to

I don’t attach any importance/significance to these rumors.

• Aware of

Were you aware of the risks at the time?

• Awful at

I’m awful at names.

• Bad at/for

Jack is really bad at keeping his promises.

• Based on

The film is based on a short story by Thomas Mann.

• Beneficial to

A stay in the country will be beneficial to his health.

• Blessed with

You are blessed with many talents.

• Bored with

You get bored / fed up with doing the same thing every day.

• Brilliant at

He’s brilliant at football.

• Busy with

The kids are busy with their homework.

• Capable of         

You are capable of better work than this.

• Careful with/to/about/of

Be careful with the glasses.

Be careful to look both ways when you cross the road.

He’s in a really foul temper so be careful (about/of) what you say to him.

• Careless with

Don’t be careless with your ATM card.

• Certain about/of

He was quite certain about/of his attacker’s identity.

• Clever at/about/of/for/with

Fiona is very clever at physics.

My mother is very clever with her hands.

How clever of you to buy chocolate chip cookies – they’re my favorites.

• Cluttered with

The floor was cluttered with my situation

• Comfortable with/in

I’m not comfortable with the idea of leaving her on her own.

I don’t feel comfortable in high heels.

Her job is something concerned with computers.

• Connected with/to

He was connected in some way with that fraud scandal a couple of years back.

First, connect the printer to the computer.

• Conscious of

She’s very conscious of the problems involved.

• Content with

Not content with stealing my boyfriend, she has turned all my friends against me.

• Coordinated with

Our program is coordinated with yours

• Concerned about/for/with/to

I’m a bit concerned about/for your health.

He was concerned to hear that two of his trusted workers were leaving…

Commonly Used Preposition Collocations in English

Preposition Collocations | Picture

Preposition Collocations in English