To
| talk/ speak to | |
| listen to | |
| write (a letter) to | |
| apologise to smb (for ...) | |
| explain smth to smb | |
| explain/ describe to smb what/how/why | Let me describe to you what I saw. |
| complain to | |
| apply (to a person, a company) | |
| belong to |
| phone/ telephone/ call smb | Did you phone your father yesterday? |
| answer smb/smth | He refused to answer my question. |
| ask smb | Can I ask you a question? |
| thank smb | He thanked me for helping him. |
| discuss smth | We discussed a lot of things at the meeting. |
| look/ stare/ glance at | While are you looking at me like that? |
| have a look at/ tale a look at | |
| laugh at | Everybody will laugh at me. |
| to aim/ point to | Don't point that knife at me. |
| to shout at(to) | |
| to throw at(to) | |
| to fire at |
| tell smb about | |
| talk/ read/ know about | We talked about a lot of things at the meeting. |
| have a discussion about | We had a discussion about what we should do. |
| do smth about smth | |
| worry about |
| ask smb for smth | |
| apply for a job | Why don't you apply for this job. |
| wait for | Don't wait for me. |
| search smth for | |
| leave (a plcae) for (another place) | She left home for the office this morning. |
| depend on | |
| afraid of | |
1. List of common verbs and the prepositions that normally follow them
| account for | agree on | agree with | apply for |
| belong to | take care of | complain to | comply with |
| consist of | depend on | hear about | hear from |
| look at | look for | pay for | rely on |
| talk to | think about | think of | wait for |
| write to |
Examples.
After several hours, the committee agreed on a joint statement.I really like the new design. What do you think of it?
The new building will have to comply with though planning regulation.
2. The following verbs can be followed by an object and a preposition
| ask someone for | blame someone for |
| borrow something from | congratulate someone on |
| divide something into | insure something against |
| invest something in | protect someone from |
| provide something with | spend something on |
| supply someone with | thank someone for |
Examples.
We spent too much on advertising last year.Could you supply the plant with two tonnes a month.
Management blamed the union for provoking the strike.
3. The following verbs are not usually followed by preposition
| phone | meet | enter | tell | discuss |
Examples.
I'll phone the committee tomorrow. (NOT: phone to committee)Do you need visa to enter the EU? (NOT: enter to the EU)
NOTE. In AmE we can say meet with someone.