Combining Verb + Preposition in English: Verb Government
By Author Giljonnys Dias da Silva
In English grammar, verb + preposition combinations are very common and essential for fluent and natural communication. This structure is part of what is often called "verb government"—that is, how a verb governs or requires certain prepositions to complete its meaning.
Modern Dictionary of English-Portuguese and Portuguese-English Collocations (Complete Edition): https://www.recantodasletras.com.br/gramatica/8286877
Some verbs in English must be followed by a specific preposition when they are linked to an object, and the meaning can change depending on which preposition is used. These combinations are often idiomatic, which means they do not always translate literally into other languages like Portuguese. That’s why it's important to learn them as fixed expressions or collocations.
This book belongs to John.
Este livro pertence a João.
He complimented her on her new dress.
Ele a elogiou pelo vestido novo.
The waiter is waiting on the customers.
O garçom está atendendo os clientes.
You need to focus on your studies.
Você precisa focar nos seus estudos.
He warned us about the dangers of driving at night.
Ele nos avisou sobre os perigos de dirigir à noite.
I love listening to music in the morning.
Eu adoro ouvir música de manhã.
We talked about the new movie.
Nós falamos sobre o novo filme.
Below are some common verb + preposition combinations in English, each with an example sentence and its translation into Brazilian Portuguese:
The words somebody, something and some place are replaced when forming sentences in English.
abide by something
cumprir algo, obedecer a algo
abstain from something
abster-se de algo
accuse somebody of something
acusar alguém de algo
add something to something
adicionar algo a algo
adhere to something
aderir a algo
obedecer a algo
advise about something
aconselhar sobre algo
advise against something
aconselhar contra algo
advise somebody about something
aconselhar alguém sobre algo
advise somebody against doing something
aconselhar alguém a não fazer algo
advise somebody of something
informar alguém de algo
avisar alguém de algo
advise somebody on something
orientar alguém sobre algo
aconselhar alguém sobre algo
advise somebody to do something
aconselhar alguém a fazer algo
agree about something
concordar sobre algo
agree on something
chegar a um acordo sobre algo
concordar com algo
agree with somebody/something
concordar com alguém/algo
agree with somebody on something
concordar com alguém sobre algo
agree with something about something
concordar com algo sobre algo
aim at something
apontar para algo
mirar em algo
aim for something
almejar algo
objetivar algo
ter como meta algo
aim something at somebody/something
apontar algo para alguém/algo
allow into something
permitir entrada em algo
deixar entrar em algo
allow something for somebody/something
reservar algo para alguém/algo
destinar algo para alguém/algo
apologize for something
pedir desculpas por algo
apologize to somebody
pedir desculpas a alguém
apologize to somebody for something
pedir desculpas a alguém por algo
apply for something
candidatar-se a algo
solicitar algo
apply to somebody/something
aplicar-se a alguém/algo
ser válido para alguém/algo
apply to somebody/something for something
solicitar algo a alguém/algo
Why Are Verb + Preposition Constructions Important?
They add meaning and clarity to a verb.
They often form phrasal verbs, which are extremely common in spoken English.
They sometimes change the meaning of the verb entirely, making them unpredictable.
They are frequently tested in exams like TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge assessments.
Common Examples with Translations
Below are some common verb + preposition combinations in English, each with an example sentence and its translation into Brazilian Portuguese:
depend on
depender de
We depend on our teachers for guidance.
Nós dependemos de nossos professores para orientação.
believe in
acreditar em
Do you believe in ghosts?
Você acredita em fantasmas?
apologize for
pedir desculpas por
She apologized for being late.
Ela pediu desculpas por chegar atrasada.
look after
cuidar de
He looks after his younger brother on weekends.
Ele cuida de seu irmão mais novo nos fins de semana.
talk about
falar sobre
Let’s talk about your plans for the future.
Vamos falar sobre seus planos para o futuro.
dream of
sonhar com
I dream of becoming a pilot.
Eu sonho em me tornar piloto.
suffer from
sofrer de
She suffers from migraines.
Ela sofre de enxaquecas.
participate in
participar de
Many students participated in the debate.
Muitos alunos participaram do debate.
wait for
esperar por
We are waiting for the bus.
Estamos esperando pelo ônibus.
agree with
concordar com
I agree with your opinion.
Eu concordo com sua opinião.
rely on
confiar em/contar com
You can always rely on me.
Você sempre pode contar comigo.
object to
opor-se a
I object to the new rules.
Eu me oponho às novas regras.
specialize in
especializar-se em
She specializes in family law.
Ela é especializada em direito da família.
Important Tips
These combinations can sometimes appear confusing because they don’t always follow logic.
A single verb can take different prepositions with different meanings.
look at
olhar para
look after
cuidar de
look for
procurar
In questions or passive voice, the preposition often appears at the end of the sentence:
What are you looking for?
O que você está procurando?
He was taken care of by his aunt.
Ele foi cuidado por sua tia.
In conclusion, understanding verb + preposition combinations is crucial for mastering natural English. These structures reflect how English speakers conceptualize actions and relationships, and they are used in everyday conversations, writing, and formal contexts. Mastery of them will make your English more fluent, idiomatic, and clear.
Bibliographic References
Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. (1985). A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. London: Longman.
A classic reference that covers verb complementation, prepositions, and prepositional verbs in detail.
Huddleston, R., & Pullum, G. K. (2002). The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
This book offers a modern and in-depth syntactic analysis of verb-preposition constructions and their grammatical functions.
Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., & Finegan, E. (1999). Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. London: Longman.
This book provides corpus-based insights into the frequency and usage of verb + preposition structures across spoken and written English.
Celce-Murcia, M., & Larsen-Freeman, D. (1999). The Grammar Book: An ESL/EFL Teacher’s Course. Boston: Heinle & Heinle.
A practical guide for teachers and learners of English that explains verb-preposition combinations with examples and teaching strategies.
Dirven, R., & Verspoor, M. (2004). Cognitive Exploration of Language and Linguistics. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Discusses how verb-preposition constructions can be understood through cognitive linguistics and conceptual metaphors.
Jackendoff, R. (2002). Foundations of Language: Brain, Meaning, Grammar, Evolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Although broader in scope, this work delves into how prepositions and argument structures interact in language.
Fraser, B. (1976). The Verb-Particle Combination in English. New York: Academic Press.
This article focuses specifically on combinations of verbs with particles and prepositions, including phrasal verbs.
McCarthy, M., & O'Dell, F. (2004). English Phrasal Verbs in Use: Intermediate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
A learner-friendly resource that includes many verb + preposition structures with examples and practice exercises.