Dependent Prepositions
A dependent preposition is a preposition that is always used with a specific word to create a particular meaning. These prepositions are essential in forming correct and meaningful phrases, as they are tied to certain verbs, adjectives, or nouns.
For example, in the phrase "interested in," "in" is the dependent preposition required by the adjective "interested."
Understanding Dependent Prepositions
Dependent prepositions are specific prepositions that follow certain words to create phrases that convey specific meanings. They are crucial because they ensure clarity and correctness in your sentences.
Unlike other prepositions, dependent prepositions are fixed and must be used with particular words.
Difference Between Dependent Prepositions and Other Prepositions
While general prepositions can often be interchanged based on the context, dependent prepositions are fixed and specific to the words they accompany. For example, you say "interested in" but never "interested of."
Common Dependent Prepositions and Their Usage
Here are some common dependent prepositions along with examples to illustrate their usage:
Interested in: She is interested in learning new languages.
Good at: He is good at playing chess.
Afraid of: They are afraid of spiders.
Responsible for: She is responsible for the project.
Worried about: He is worried about the exam.
These examples highlight how the prepositions are tied to specific verbs or adjectives to form meaningful expressions.
Patterns and Rules
Often, verbs, adjectives, and nouns have specific prepositions that naturally follow them.
For example:
Verbs: apologize for, depend on, believe in
Adjectives: angry about, happy with, known for
Nouns: increase in, solution to, effect on
More Examples:
Apologize for: He apologized for his mistake.
Depend on: You can depend on her support.
Believe in: They believe in hard work.
Angry about: She was angry about the delay.
Happy with: He is happy with his new job.
Known for: The city is known for its architecture.
Increase in: There was an increase in sales.
Solution to: We found a solution to the problem.
Effect on: The new law has an effect on small businesses.
Tips for Learning Dependent Prepositions
Memorizing dependent prepositions can be challenging. Here are some tips:
Practice regularly: Use flashcards or apps to practice common dependent prepositions.
Read and listen: Pay attention to how native speakers use dependent prepositions in books, articles, and conversations.
Use mnemonic devices: Create memorable associations to help recall the correct prepositions.
Group similar prepositions: Group words with their dependent prepositions to see patterns.
Engage in conversation: Practice speaking with others and using dependent prepositions in context.
Exercises and Activities
Fill-in-the-blanks: Create sentences with missing prepositions for practice.
Matching games: Match verbs, adjectives, and nouns with their correct prepositions.
Writing practice: Write sentences or short paragraphs using a list of given words and their dependent prepositions.
Sentence correction: Identify and correct mistakes in sentences with dependent prepositions.
Common Mistakes
Misusing Prepositions
Saying "interested of" instead of "interested in."
Saying "responsible of" instead of "responsible for."
Saying "afraid for" instead of "afraid of."
Overusing or Omitting Prepositions
Incorrect: She is good in math.
Correct: She is good at math.
Incorrect: He apologized on his mistake.
Correct: He apologized for his mistake.
Practice Exercises
Try these practice sentences to test your knowledge:
She is afraid ___ heights.
He apologized ___ being late.
They are responsible ___ the event.
I am interested ___ photography.
She is good ___ solving puzzles.
He believes ___ honesty.
They are known ___ their generosity.
She is happy ___ her progress.
He is worried ___ his health.
The new policy has an effect ___ productivity.
Answers:
of
for
for
in
at
in
for
with
about
on