Grammar

1. Verbs+ preposition
patterns
Upper-intermediate Exercises

2. Match the meanings on the right with the right verb +
preposition on the left
1. 1. concerning a particular thing a. talk, learn, know of
2. to try to get information about a person ( b. to be about
but not a thing), particularly concerning
their health
3. to talk about what people want c. agree with
4. to take care of d. ask, enquire after
5. discussing, having or getting information ( e. agree with
+ formal than talk about):
6. to make or talk about requests f. agree with
7. to say that someone allows something to g. talk, agree on
happen
8. concerned with a particular topic h. ask for
9. when we mention the person involved i. care for
10. two people have the same opinion j. argue, talk with
11. to say that we approve of a particular k. agree to
idea or action
12. to say that 2 descriptions are the same l. ask of

3. Check your answers
about after for of on with
agree x x x
argue x x x
ask x x x x
care x x
enquire/inquire x x
know x x
learn x x
talk x x x x

4.  keys
 1. b, 2-d, 3- h, 4-I, 5-a, 6- l, 7-k, 8-g, 9-
j, 10, 11, 12- c, e,f

5. Put in the correct preposition
from those in A. Sometimes 2
answers are possible
 Exercise 3.
 1. If you want to enquire………………..a motor
insurance quotation, please press 1.
 2. I hope you’re brother’s feeling better soon.
When you see him, tell him I asked………him
 3. I first learnt……………………about his decision
to resign when it was announced on the radio
last night.
 4. We’re going to talk ………………the council
about the possibility of planting some new trees
in the park.
 5. I don’t care……………….pop music at all. I
much prefer classical music.

6.  6. The teacher says we’ve got to do the
test, so there’s no point in arguing……………..it
 7. The government has agreed…………..a
public inquiry into the helicopter crash.
 8. If you know …………………any reasons why
you should not be given medical insurance,
you must declare them here.
 9. ‘Josh can be really stupid sometimes. ‘
‘You shouldn’t talk …………………..your brother
like that’.
 10. I’m calling to enquire …………………Mr
Dawes, who was operated last night.

7.  11. She’s always arguing…………………..her parents
about what to watch on television
 12. I know it’s a lot to ask………………you, but would
you look after the children while I’m in Japan on
business?
 13. The course was brilliant. We learnt………………using
the Internet in language learning.
 14. Dan said he’ll try to fix my car’.‘ What does he
know ……………..cars?
 15. ‘I don’t think the government cares
enough………………………nursery education to fund it
properly
 16. After hours of discussion, the committee finally
agreed ……………..the amount of money to donate

8. End these sentences:
 1. Yesterday I applied……………………………………..( job)
 2. She insisted …………………paying the bill, helping me
 3. I usually worry…………………( exams, money, my family)
 4. The last time I apologized ………..anyone I apologized…………….( taking
things without his/her permission, being late, not doing what I promised to do
 5. The person in my life I most depend…………….is my………….
 6. I can’t cope…………………….( stress, exams, people who annoy you)
 7. I like spending money…………………
 8. The last time I complained………………….something was when I ………..
 9. Sometimes people shout at ………………….when they………….
 10. I regularly talk …………..the phone to………….
 11. To enrol in an English class at the Official School of Languages you have
to provide the secretary………………..the following information such as,……………….

9.  KEYS
 1. FOR
 2. ON
 3. ABOUT
 4. TO/FOR
 5. ON.
 6. WITH
 7. ON
 8. ABOUT..
 9. AT
 10. ON
 11. WITH

10. Speaking task File 2: answer to these
questions in pairs. Ask follow-up questions
 Have you applied for any store cards
recently?
 Do you usually insist on paying when you and
a friend go out for a meal?
 What do you worry about most?
 Have you apologised to anyone recently? If
so, what did you apologise for?
 Which person in your life do you depend on
most?

11.  How do you usually cope with people who annoy you?
 What do you most like spending money on?
 When was the last time you complained about something? Who
did you complain to?
 Has anyone shouted at you this week?
 When was the last time someone had to explain something to you
more than once?
 Who do you talk to on the phone regularly?
 What kind of information do people have to provide their bank
with when they open an account?