Verb + preposition 3

Question 1

accuse/ suspect

Answer 1

somebody OF

Tina accused me of being selfish

Some students were suspected of cheating in the exam

Question 2

die

Answer 2

a) OF = diseases, illnesses or internal causes

She died of cancer.

Many people died of starvation during the famine.

b) FROM = injuries, accidents or external causes

He died from his injuries after the car accident.

Many soldiers died from the effects of the chemical attack.

Question 3

consist

Answer 3

OF

We had an enormous meal. It consisted of seven courses

Question 4

pay

Answer 4

(somebody) FOR = when buying something or covering the cost of a service

We didn’t have enough money to pay you for the meal

BUT

we say pay a bill/ a fine/ a fee/ tax/ rent/ a tuition, sum of money etc. = pay + direct object –> pay formal/official charges

We didn’t have enough money to pay the rent

Question 5

thank/ forgive

Answer 5

somebody FOR

I’ll never forgive them for what they did

Question 6

apologise

Answer 6

(TO somebody) FOR

I apologised (to them) for my mistake

Question 7

blame

Answer 7

a) somebody/ something FOR - somebody is to blame FOR

Everybody blamed me for the accident

Everybody said I was to blame for the accident

b) blame (a problem etc.) ON

It wasn’t my fault. Don’t blame it on me

Question 8

suffer

Answer 8

FROM an illness etc.

There’s been an increase in the number of people suffering from heart disease

Question 9

protect

Answer 9

somebody/something FROM

Sun cream protects the skin from the sun

Question 10

depend, rely

Answer 10

ON

depend on = To be influenced by or conditional on something; sometimes implies necessity or vulnerability.

I don’t know what time we’ll arrive. It depends on the traffic

rely on = To trust someone or something to do what you need, usually implies confidence.

You can rely on Anna. She always keeps her promises

b) you can use depend + WHEN/WHERE/HOW etc. with or without ON (with it, it’s slightly more formal)

Are you going to buy it?
It depends how much it is / It depends on how much it is

Question 11

live

Answer 11

ON money/food = per vivere/sopravvivere

Michael’s salary is not enough to live on

Things are cheap here. You can live on very little money

Question 12

congratulate/ compliment

Answer 12

somebody ON

I congratulated her on doing so well

I complimented Mark on his cooking skills

Question 13

lend/ borrow

Answer 13

a) lend something TO someone/something = to give temporarily

She lent her book to me

b) borrow something FROM someone/something = to take something temporarily

I borrowed a book from her

Question 14

agree

Answer 14

a) WITH

1) A person

I agree with you.

2) An opinion / idea / statement

She agrees with the decision.

3) Food (meaning it suits you)

That food doesn’t agree with me.

b) TO

1) a proposal

He agreed to the proposal.

2) a plan

They agreed to the plan

3) a request

She agreed to help.

4) terms/ conditions

They agreed to our terms.

c) ON

1) a topic after discussion

We agreed on a date.

2) something both sides decide together

Have you agreed on a name?

d) ABOUT (less common)

Used when referring to a subject or topic (similar to “agree on” but more about opinion than decision).

We agree about most political issues.

Question 15

disagree

Answer 15

a) WITH

1) a person

I disagree with you.

2) an opinion/ idea

She disagrees with the decision.

3) a statement

They disagree with the report.

b) ON

1) a topic

We disagree on politics.

2) a specific issue

They disagree on the price.

3) something discussed

The scientists disagree on the cause of the problem.

c) ABOUT (also possible)

Very similar to disagree on, often interchangeable:

We disagree about many things.

In British English, on is often slightly preferred in formal contexts, but both are correct.