GUIDE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOK

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You just can't live on £80 a week.
I objected to being kept waiting.
An idea has just occurred to me.
He hates parting with his money.
Seventy countries participated in the Games.
The man pointed at/to a sign.
I ran into/bumped into Alex yesterday. (= met by chance)
What does this number refer to?
Please refrain from smoking.
The professor is researching into tropical diseases.
You can't rely on/count on the bus being on time.
If all else fails, people will resort to violence.
I'm revising for/preparing for my exam.
I'll have to see to/attend to the arrangements.
We had to send for the doctor.
What does BBC stand for?
Let's stick to our original plan.
Simon succeeded in starting the car.
Tim suffers from back-ache.
The girl takes after her mother. (= is like)
You'll have to wait for the results.
You couldn't wish for anything nicer.
For prepositional verb + gerund, e.g. insisted on playing, • 132(2).
NOTE
Sometimes the choice of preposition depends on the meaning.
a Yes, you're right. I quite agree with you.
We all agreed to/with the suggestion.
b The doctor is going to call on Mrs Phillips to see how she is.
Tony is giving me a lift. He's going to call for me at ten.
The United Nations has called for a cease-fire. (= demanded)
c I don't care about the exam. It isn't important.
Ben doesn't care for modern art. (= like)
Someone has to care for the sick. (= look after)
d I'm sure Helen can deal with the situation. (= handle)
The company deals in commercial properties. (= buys and sells)
e People are dying of hunger.
I was dying for/ longing for a coffee. (= want very much)
f Poor management resulted in huge losses.
The huge losses resulted from poor management.
233 Prepositional verbs
3 We can use about, of and to with some verbs expressing speech or thought.
a
About can come after many verbs.
We were talking about house prices. They complained about the noise.
Someone was enquiring about reservations.
NOTE
a Compare ask about, ask for and ask after.
We asked about cheap tickets. ('Please tell us ...')
We asked for cheap tickets. ('Please give us ...')
Sarah asked after you. (= asked how you are)
b We can also use on with comment and report.
The company refused to comment on/ about the article.
c Discuss takes a direct object.
We were discussing house prices. . . .