GUIDE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOK

28 PHRASAL VERBS AND PATTERNS WITH PREPOSITIONS PAGE 312
4 Sometimes the verb + object + preposition has an idiomatic meaning.
You'd better take care of your passport. (= look after)
You have to give way to traffic on the main road. (= allow to pass)
The speaker took no notice of the interruption. (= ignored)
5 We can use about, of and to after some verbs expressing speech and thought.
a
We can use about after tell and ask.
Has anyone told you about the new timetable?
I asked Dave about his plans.
After inform, and warn we can use about or of.
The management will inform the staff about/of the proposed changes.
I should warn you about/of the difficulties you may face.
NOTE
a We can also use against after warn.
The pupils were warned against taking drugs.
b Compare remind about and remind of.
Tracy reminded me about the meeting. (= told me not to forget)
Tracy reminds me of her elder sister. (= is like, makes me think of)
b
After write, explain and describe we use to before a person.
Lots of people write letters to the Queen.
I explained our problem to the official.
NOTE
Compare throw to and throw at.
Wayne threw the ball to Gary, who caught it.
Rachel was so angry with Tom that she threw a plate at him.
235 Verb + adverb + preposition
1 A verb can have both an adverb and a preposition after it. This is sometimes called
a 'phrasal-prepositional verb'.
Verb
Adverb Preposition
Lucy fell down on the ice.
The room looked out over farmland.
The astronomer gazed up at the stars
It's windy. Hold on to your hat.
Sometimes the meaning is idiomatic. Here are some examples.
I might call/drop in on Paul. (= pay a short visit)
Martin left half an hour ago. I'll never catch up with him now.
We were making good progress until we came up against the bureaucracy.
A scientist has come up with an interesting new invention.
I'm trying to cut down on sugar. (= reduce)
The Old Greater London Council was done away with. (= abolished)
You've got to face up to the situation. (= not avoid)
I've got no job and no savings to fall back on. (= use if necessary)
I've got back-ache. I don't feel up to physical work.
I don't mind. I'll fit in with what you want to do.