Prepositions

Dependent prepositions

Many nouns, verbs and adjectives are always followed by the same preposition when they have a particular meaning. These prepositions are dependent prepositions.

• Online education dispenses with many of the inconveniences of traditional classes.
• Not everyone has access to the technology required.
• You need to be able to take responsibility for your own learning.
• You have to be good at organising your own time.
• I don't really believe in these alternative medicines.
• There are so many different colours to choose from.
• I'm trying to concentrate on my vowel sounds.
• This really depends on how much we want to spend.
• I really must insist on your dressing neatly when you come to the office.
• Is there no way of preventing the chickens from getting into the vegetable patch?
• Amy is struggling with her Spanish verb endings.

Some verbs take different prepositions but with a change in meaning.

• We laugh at a funny thing or person.
  We laugh about a funny situation.

• We think of ideas.
  We think about a situation.