VERB + PREPOSITION EG

2. verb + preposition

eg: look after

This type of phrasal verb is also called a "prepositional verb".

Because a preposition always has an object, all prepositional verbs have direct objects (if they are

transitive).

Examples of prepositional verbs:

prepositional

meaning

example sentence

verb

direct object

believe in

have faith in the

I believe in

God.

existence of

look after

take care of

He is looking after

the dog.

talk about

discuss

Did you talk about

me?

wait for

await

John is waiting for

Mary.

Prepositional verbs cannot be separated. That means that we cannot put the direct object

between the two parts. For example, we must say "look after the baby". We cannot say "look the

baby after":

Who is looking after

Who is looking the baby

It is a good idea to write "something/somebody" in your vocabulary book when you learn a new

prepositional verb, like this:

•

believe in something/somebody

•

look after sthg/sby

This reminds you that the verb needs a direct object (and where to place it).