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Grammatica
Prepositions and particles B1 B2 C1

Preposition patterns

Learn how common verbs, adjectives, and nouns choose prepositions and how prepositions take noun or -ing complements.

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Visuele uitleg

The preposition socket

Think: a word has a preposition socket.

[partner word] --chosen PREP--> [complement]
 verb / adjective / noun           noun phrase OR -ing

Verb socket:
depend --on--> reliable data
We depend on reliable data.

Adjective socket:
interested --in--> learning more
I'm interested in learning more.

Noun socket:
solution --to--> this problem
We need a solution to this problem.

After a preposition, use -ing for an action:
I'm looking forward to seeing you.

Learn the partner word + preposition together; the preposition then needs a noun phrase or an -ing form.

Introduction

Prepositions as word partners

Many English words prefer a particular preposition after them. A verb, adjective, or noun often opens a slot: depend on something, interested in something, reason for something. The slot is part of the pattern, not a word-by-word choice. Learn the whole connection with a useful complement: wait for the bus, good at solving problems, solution to a problem. This lesson focuses on which words choose a preposition, what kind of complement the preposition can take, and where common confusions happen.
Core Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

We depend on reliable data.

Depend is learned with on, not as a verb alone.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

depend on
verb plus required preposition
Depend normally connects to its complement with on.
Leer als één geheel
reliable data
noun complement
A noun phrase can complete the preposition pattern.
Cognitive metaphor

The connector socket

Think of a preposition pattern as a connector socket. The first word gives the main meaning, and the preposition shows how the next idea attaches. A socket is not always predictable from meaning: listen normally connects with to, apply with for, and depend with on. Some prepositions still carry a useful direction of thought: for often points to a purpose, target, or reason; on often shows support, effect, or topic; to often points to a person, destination, or solution. Use the metaphor to remember patterns, but check real usage.
Core logic

Prepositions need complements

A preposition is not normally the end of the pattern. It needs a complement: a noun phrase, a pronoun, or an -ing form. That is why English uses patterns like interested in the idea, interested in it, and interested in learning more. Do not put an infinitive directly after a real preposition: use before making a decision, not before to make a decision. The word to can be a preposition or an infinitive marker, so look at the whole pattern, not the word alone.
Core Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

Before making a decision, check the dates.

Prepositions can take -ing clauses as complements.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

Before making a decision
preposition plus -ing complement
Before is followed by an -ing form when an action follows it.
Leer als één geheel
check the dates
main instruction
The main clause gives the action to do.
Core pattern

Verb plus preposition patterns

Common verbs select different prepositions. Many are best learned as whole verb-preposition chunks: depend on, listen to, wait for, apply for, apologize to someone for something. The preposition may introduce the object, the person affected, or the reason. Some verbs have more than one pattern with a meaning change or focus change: agree with a person or idea, but agree to terms or a plan. When you learn a new verb, record the pattern with a typical complement, not only the verb.
Question Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A1 Neutral

Can you listen to me for a minute?

Listen to is a common verb-preposition pattern.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

Can you
question opener
A common way to make a polite request or question.
listen to
verb plus required preposition
Listen normally needs to before the person or thing heard.
Leer als één geheel
for a minute
time phrase
For can introduce a length of time.
Core Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A1 Neutral

I'm waiting for the bus.

Wait for is a high-frequency verb-preposition chunk.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

waiting for
verb plus required preposition
Wait connects to the expected person or thing with for.
Leer als één geheel
the bus
noun complement
The noun phrase completes the preposition pattern.
Negative Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

She didn't apply for the job.

Negatives do not remove the required preposition.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

didn't apply for
negative verb pattern
The negative form still keeps the verb-preposition pattern apply for.
Leer als één geheel
the job
noun complement
The noun phrase completes for.
Core Grammatica B2 Woordenschat B1 Neutral

He apologized to Maya for the delay.

Some verbs can take two prepositional phrases with different roles.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

apologized to
verb plus person preposition
Apologize to introduces the person who receives the apology.
Leer als één geheel
for the delay
reason phrase
For introduces the reason for the apology.
Form variations

Adjective and noun patterns

Adjectives and nouns also choose prepositions. Adjectives often describe a feeling, skill, attitude, or responsibility: interested in, good at, worried about, responsible for. Nouns often package a relationship between two ideas: reason for, solution to, effect on, increase in. The preposition belongs to the noun or adjective pattern, so changing it can sound unnatural or change the meaning. Learn the pattern together with the grammar after it: good at doing something, responsible for doing something, a solution to a problem.
Core Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

I'm interested in learning more.

Adjective-preposition patterns can take -ing complements.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

interested in
adjective plus required preposition
Interested normally connects to its object or activity with in.
Leer als één geheel
learning more
-ing complement
After the preposition in, use an -ing form for an action.
Core Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

They're good at solving problems.

Skill adjectives commonly use at plus a noun or -ing form.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

good at
adjective plus required preposition
Good uses at before a skill or activity.
Leer als één geheel
solving problems
-ing complement
The -ing phrase names the activity or skill.
Question Grammatica B1 Woordenschat B1 Neutral

Are you worried about the deadline?

Many emotion adjectives select a specific preposition.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

Are you
question opener
A common question frame with an adjective.
worried about
adjective plus required preposition
Worried connects to the cause of worry with about.
Leer als één geheel
the deadline
noun complement
The noun phrase names the thing causing worry.
Formal Grammatica B2 Woordenschat B1 Formal

She is responsible for training new staff.

Responsible for is common in work and formal contexts.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

responsible for
adjective plus required preposition
Responsible uses for before the duty, person, or activity.
Leer als één geheel
training new staff
-ing complement
The -ing phrase names the duty.
Core Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

There is a clear reason for the change.

Nouns can control preposition patterns, just like verbs and adjectives.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

There is
existence frame
This frame introduces a noun phrase.
reason for
noun plus required preposition
Reason normally uses for before the thing being explained.
Leer als één geheel
the change
noun complement
The noun phrase completes the pattern.
Core Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

We need a solution to this problem.

Solution to is a common noun-preposition pattern.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

solution to
noun plus required preposition
Solution commonly uses to before the problem.
Leer als één geheel
this problem
noun complement
The noun phrase names what the solution is for.
Formal Grammatica B2 Woordenschat B1 Formal

The decision had a serious effect on costs.

Effect on is useful for explaining results and consequences.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

effect on
noun plus required preposition
Effect commonly uses on before the thing affected.
Leer als één geheel
Formal Grammatica B2 Woordenschat B1 Formal

There was a sharp increase in prices.

Increase in is common in reports and data descriptions.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

There was
existence frame
This frame introduces a situation or change.
increase in
noun plus required preposition
Increase often uses in before the thing that rises.
Leer als één geheel
Sentence xray

X-ray the pattern

To read a sentence with a preposition pattern, find the head word, the preposition, and the complement. In the pattern responsible for training new staff, the head word is responsible, the preposition is for, and the complement is the -ing phrase training new staff. In the noun pattern solution to this problem, solution controls the preposition to, and this problem completes it. This X-ray helps you avoid guessing. If the complement is an action after a preposition, use -ing.
Contrast

The nearest traps

The closest confusions are patterns that look similar but use different grammar. Discuss is a direct-object verb, so it does not take about; talk is different and normally takes about for a topic. Looking forward to is not the same as want to. In looking forward to seeing you, to is a preposition and must be followed by -ing. In want to see you, to is an infinitive marker and is followed by the base verb. Learn these contrasts as separate patterns, not as one rule for the word to.
Mistake Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

I'm looking forward to see you.

In looking forward to, to is a preposition, so an infinitive is not used after it.

Corrected Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

I'm looking forward to seeing you.

Use looking forward to plus -ing.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

looking forward to
fixed adjective-like expression plus preposition
In this expression, to is a preposition.
Leer als één geheel
seeing you
-ing complement
After the preposition to in this pattern, use an -ing form.
Contrast Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A1 Neutral

I want to see you soon.

This contrasts infinitive to with preposition to.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

want to see
verb plus infinitive
Here to marks an infinitive, so it is followed by the base verb see.
Leer als één geheel
Mistake Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

We discussed about the plan.

Discuss is normally followed by a direct object, not about.

Corrected Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

We discussed the plan.

Use discuss plus a direct object.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

discussed the plan
verb plus direct object
Discuss takes the topic as a direct object with no preposition.
Leer als één geheel
Contrast Grammatica B1 Woordenschat A2 Neutral

We talked about the plan.

Talk about contrasts with discuss plus direct object.

Bouwstenen

Lees de zin in woordgroepen, niet woord voor woord.

talked about
verb plus topic preposition
Talk normally uses about before a topic.
Leer als één geheel
the plan
noun complement
The noun phrase names the topic.
Danger zone

Boundaries and exceptions

Do not assume that one preposition works everywhere. English often uses fixed patterns, and small changes can change meaning: agree with a person or opinion, agree to a condition; arrive at a small place, arrive in a city or country. Also notice verbs that do not need a preposition in standard use, such as discuss the plan, enter the room, and reach the airport. If you are unsure, search or record the word with its usual partner and complement.
Summary

What to remember

Use three checks. First, ask what word controls the pattern: verb, adjective, or noun. Second, learn the preposition with a useful complement: depend on data, good at solving problems, a reason for the change. Third, check the form after the preposition: noun phrase, pronoun, or -ing, not infinitive. Contrasts matter because similar meanings do not guarantee the same pattern. Talk about a topic, but discuss a topic. Look forward to seeing someone, but want to see someone.
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