📍 Grammar · Prepositions
Verb + Preposition (Dependent Prepositions)
Some verbs come glued to one fixed preposition — learn the pairs as chunks and stop guessing.
Grammar › Prepositions › Verb + Preposition (Dependent Prepositions)
The rule in one sentenceMany English verbs are always followed by one fixed preposition — depend on, believe in, wait for — and there’s rarely a logical reason for which one, so learn each verb and its preposition together as a single chunk.
Why these pairs feel so unpredictable
A “dependent preposition” is the preposition a verb always brings with it, no matter what the sentence is about. You can’t usually guess it from meaning, and it often doesn’t match the preposition your own language would use — which is exactly why these pairs trip learners up so often.
The fix isn’t a rule you can apply logically; it’s memorising each verb with its partner preposition as one unit. Marvel Studios relies on post-credit scenes to tease its next film. Not “relies for”, not “relies to” — relies on, always. Frances McDormand stars in Nomadland as Fern. Not “stars on” or “stars at” — always in.
Some verbs even change their preposition depending on who or what follows, and the meaning shifts with it. Amy Adams apologised to the director for arriving late uses to before the person, but for before the reason.
🎬 Compare: “Morgan Freeman agreed with Rosamund Pike on how to play their shared scenes” (with + a person) vs. “Morgan Freeman agreed to a limited promotional tour for the film” (to + a plan or condition) vs. “The studio and Freeman agreed on a wider theatrical release” (on + a shared decision).
Same verb, three different prepositions, three different jobs — with a person, to a proposal, on a decision.
The good news: the prepositions themselves are a small, repeating set — mostly on, in, for, to, about, of and with. Once you’ve learned twenty or thirty common pairs, new ones start to feel familiar because the same small group of prepositions keeps reappearing.
How to build it
Verb + ON
Alejandro G. Iñárritu insisted on using long unbroken takes for Birdman’s continuous-shot illusion.
A film’s success often depends on strong reviews, like those The Lives of Others received.
Verb + IN
Frances McDormand stars in Nomadland as Fern.
Choi Min-sik believes in preparing intensely for every role.
Verb + FOR
Sergio Leone searched for the right actor before casting Clint Eastwood as the Man with No Name in A Fistful of Dollars.
Fans have waited for years for a sequel to Cold War (2018).
Verb + ABOUT / OF / WITH
The Three Colours trilogy consists of three films directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski.
Critics compared Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria (2018) to Dario Argento’s 1977 original.
When to use which
Same verb, different preposition, different meaning
- Agree with a person: The crew agreed with Helen Mirren’s approach to the role.
- Agree on a shared decision: The producers agreed on a shooting schedule for Amour.
- Agree to a proposal or condition: The distributor agreed to a wider release for A Separation after strong festival buzz.
Followed by a noun or -ing, never “to + base verb”
- ✅ Robert Rodriguez insisted on using practical props, not CGI, for El Mariachi.
- ❌ Robert Rodriguez insisted on to use practical props.
- ✅ Isabelle Huppert succeeded in mastering a demanding physical role for Elle.
Common combinations to know
A quick reference of frequent verb + preposition pairs, grouped by the preposition they take.
+ to
+ about
+ at
+ on / in / for
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
Common mistakes
❌ The film’s success depends of strong reviews, like those The Lives of Others received.
✅ The film’s success depends on strong reviews, like those The Lives of Others received.
Depend is always paired with on, never of.
❌ Amy Adams is married with actor Darren Le Gallo.
✅ Amy Adams is married to actor Darren Le Gallo.
Married pairs with to, not with — a very common false-friend mistake.
❌ Fans are waiting the next Terminator sequel.
✅ Fans are waiting for the next Terminator sequel.
Wait always needs for before its object — you can’t wait something directly.
Exceptions & tricky cases
Three things worth knowing once you’ve got the basics down.
1. Some verbs drop the preposition entirely before a person. Call, phone, email and text all take a person directly, with no preposition at all.
✅ Sebastián Lelio called Daniela Vega personally to offer her the lead role in A Fantastic Woman. (not “called to Daniela Vega”)
2. British vs American English sometimes disagrees. British English usually keeps the preposition before a person; American English often drops it.
✅ UK: I’ll write to the studio. ✅ US: I’ll write the studio. Exams generally expect the British pattern.
3. The preposition can change the whole meaning of the verb. Look at, look for and look after are three completely different actions built from the same base verb.
✅ Fans look forward to every new trailer for a Penélope Cruz film.
Practice: choose the right preposition
Eight quick questions, all built from real films and filmmakers. Pick the answer you’d actually say.
1. The film’s success depends ___ strong reviews, like those The Lives of Others received.
Depend always pairs with on.
2. Fans have waited ___ years for a sequel to Cold War (2018).
Wait always needs for before its object.
3. Frances McDormand stars ___ Nomadland as Fern.
Star is always followed by in.
4. The Three Colours trilogy consists ___ three films directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski.
Consist always pairs with of.
5. Amy Adams is married ___ actor Darren Le Gallo.
Married always pairs with to.
6. Alejandro G. Iñárritu insisted ___ using long unbroken takes for Birdman’s continuous-shot illusion.
Insist always pairs with on.
7. Sergio Leone searched ___ the right actor before casting Clint Eastwood as the Man with No Name in A Fistful of Dollars.
Search always pairs with for.
8. The Academy congratulated Marion Cotillard ___ her historic Oscar win for La Vie en Rose.
Congratulate someone always pairs with on.
Keep going
Related lessons in Prepositions:
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