nouns,verbs and adjectives + prepositions and phrasal verbs

1. Expressions with prepositions
• In English, there are many
• expressions that include a preposition. There
are:
• Nouns + prepositions e.g. the reasons for,
under pressure, by chance (por casualidad)
• Verbs + prepositions e.g. look at, listen to,
deal with (tratar con), talk about.
• Phrasal verbs – turn on/off, take off ….
• Adjectives + prepositions – interested in,
afraid of, good at

2. Nouns + prepositions
• Here are some of the common ones:
• First, we travelled BY PLANE to Madrid and
then BY TRAIN to Barcelona. Finally, we went
ON FOOT to the hotel.
• I had an ARGUMENT ABOUT politics.
• We got ON BOARD the plane.
• The DECISION ON which university to study
at was difficult.
• I saw a great programme ON TV.
• (prepositions come before and after the
noun)

3. Verbs + prepositions
• There are lots of verbs in English that
need a preposition at the end to be used
correctly.
• I spent 50 euros ON clothes.
• I listened TO some music.
• He grew UP in Tenerife but then moved
TO Madrid.
• It depends ON (not of) the weather.
• Are you going to apply for the job in the
newspaper?

4. Phrasal verbs
• These verbs are very common and can be difficult
to learn. They often have more than one meaning.
• I must look AFTER (cuidar) my baby sister.
• I look FORWARD TO (tener ganas) meeting you.
• My father will pick me UP (recoger) at the airport.
• Can you turn DOWN the television? It’s very loud.
(turn up/ turn on/off switch on/off)
• I get ON well with my father. (llevarse bien)
• We need to look FOR a hotel. (buscar)
• You need a lawyer to sort OUT that problem.
(resolver)
• We went OUT to the cinema last night.
• (learn the most common ones)

5. Adjectives + prepositions
• After some adjectives you need a preposition.
• I am INTERESTED IN photography.
• She’s AFRAID OF snakes.
• I am FED UP with all this rain.
• I was ANNOYED BY his attitude.
• She is GOOD AT cooking.
• Students can be CONFUSED BY prepositions!
• (I hope you will not be)

6. How to learn these expressions
• Remember to learn new words in at
least groups of three i.e. learn the
new word, the word before it, and
the word after it.
• Case = In + case + of an emergency
• Look = Have a + look + at this menu
• Care = take + care + of yourself
• Regards = send my + regards+ to
John