What Are Dependent Prepositions?
Dependent prepositions are prepositions that regularly follow certain verbs, adjectives, or nouns. They are "dependent" because their use is fixed by the word they follow—not by logic or meaning alone.
For example:
- Good at (not "good in") — She is good at math.
- Interested in — He is interested in history.
- Believe in — They believe in equality.
Common Verb + Preposition Combinations
- agree with / agree on
- apologize for
- belong to
- complain about
- depend on
- listen to
- look at / look for / look after
- succeed in
- wait for
Common Adjective + Preposition Combinations
- afraid of
- angry at / angry with
- bad at
- different from
- excited about
- famous for
- good at
- interested in
- responsible for
- sorry for / sorry about
Common Noun + Preposition Combinations
- advantage of
- attitude toward(s)
- connection between / connection with
- difference between
- effect on
- reason for
- relationship with
- solution to
Tips for Learning Dependent Prepositions
- Learn them in chunks (e.g., “interested in” as one unit).
- Read and listen to authentic English materials.
- Keep a personal list of common combinations.
- Practice through writing and speaking.