Dependent Prepositions & Collocations

Concept

Many verbs and adjectives are always followed by a fixed preposition. These combinations must be learned as whole units, not translated word by word.

بعض الأفعال والصفات تلازمها حروف جر محددة، وتُحفظ كوحدة واحدة لا بالترجمة الحرفية.

Rules & forms

• Verb + preposition: depend on, believe in, consist of, apply for, listen to, agree with, succeed in, apologise for, insist on, result in

  • • It depends on the weather.
  • • He applied for a scholarship.

• Adjective + preposition: interested in, afraid of, good at, responsible for, famous for, different from, similar to, married to, proud of, aware of

  • • She is good at maths.
  • • He is aware of the risks.

• Verbs with no preposition: discuss, enter, answer, marry, approach, lack

  بعض الأفعال لا يتبعها حرف جر.

  • • We discussed the plan. (not: discussed about)

• Noun + preposition: reason for, solution to, increase in, effect on, need for

  • • a solution to the problem
  • • an increase in prices

Common mistakes & STEP traps

• ❌ We discussed about the report.

  ✅ We discussed the report.

  Discuss takes no preposition.

• ❌ She is married with a doctor.

  ✅ She is married to a doctor.

  Married is followed by to.

• ❌ This is different than mine.

  ✅ This is different from mine.

  Different from is the standard STEP form.

• ❌ He is good in English.

  ✅ He is good at English.

  Good is followed by at for skills.