Unit 132: Verb + preposition 1 (to and at)

English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 132: Verb + preposition 1 (to and at)

Verb + to

talk / speak TO somebody (with is also possible but less usual)

Who was that man you were talking to?

listen TO ...

We spent the evening listening to music. (not listening music)

apologise TO somebody (for ... )

They apologised to me for what happened. (not They apologised me)

explain something TO somebody

Can you explain this word to me? (not explain me this word)

explain / describe (to somebody) what/how/why ...

I explained to them why I was worried. (not I explained them)
Let me describe to you what I saw. (not Let me describe you)

We do not use to with these verbs:

phone / call / email / text somebody

I called the airline to cancel my flight. (not called to the airline)

but write (a letter) to somebody

answer somebody/something

He refused to answer my question. (not answer to my question)

but reply to an email / a letter etc.

ask somebody

Can I ask you a question? (not ask to you)

thank somebody (for something)

He thanked me for helping him. (not He thanked to me)

Verb + at

look / stare / glance AT ... , have a look / take a look AT ...

Why are you looking at me like that ?

laugh AT ...

I look stupid with this haircut. Everybody will laugh at me.

aim / point (something) AT ... , shoot / fire (a gun) AT ...

Don't point that knife at me. It's dangerous.
We saw someone with a gun shooting at birds, but he didn't hit any.

Some verbs can be followed by at or to, with a difference in meaning. For example:

shout AT somebody (when you are angry)

He got very angry and started shouting at me.

shout TO somebody (so that they can hear you)

He shouted to me from the other side of the street.

throw something AT somebody/something (in order to hit them)

Somebody threw an egg at the minister.

throw something TO somebody (for somebody to catch)

Lisa shouted 'Catch!' and threw the keys to me from the window.

132.1 Which is correct?

- a) Can you explain this word to me?
- b) Can you explain me this word?
- a) I got angry with Mark. Afterwards, I apologised to him.
- b) I got angry with Mark. Afterwards I apologised him.
- a) Amy won't be able to help you. There's no point in asking to her.
- b) Amy won't be able to help you. There's no point in asking her.
- a) I need somebody to explain me what I have to do.
- b) I need somebody to explain to me what I have to do.
- a) They didn't understand the system, so I explained it to them.
- b) They didn't understand the system, so I explained it them.
- a) I like to sit on the beach and listen to the sound of the sea.
- b) I like to sit on the beach and listen the sound of the sea.
- a) I asked them to describe me exactly what happened.
- b) I asked them to describe to me exactly what happened.
- a) We'd better phone the restaurant to reserve a table.
- b) We'd better phone to the restaurant to reserve a table.
- a) It was a difficult question. I couldn't answer to it.
- b) It was a difficult question. I couldn't answer it.
- a) I explained everybody the reasons for my decision.
- b) I explained to everybody the reasons for my decision.
- a) I thanked everybody for all the help they had given me.
- b) I thanked to everybody for all the help they had given me.
- a) My friend texted to me to let me know she was going to be late.
- b) My friend texted me to let me know she was going to be late.

132.2 Complete the sentences. Use these verbs + the correct preposition:

explain
~~laugh~~
listen
look
point
reply
speak
throw
throw

I look stupid with this haircut. Everybody will ⁽¹⁾ me.
I don't understand this. Can you ⁽²⁾ __________ it ⁽³⁾ __________ me?
Sue and Kevin had an argument and now they're refusing to ⁽⁴⁾ __________ each other.
Be careful with those scissors! Don't ⁽⁵⁾ __________ them ⁽⁶⁾ __________ me!
I'm not sure where we are. I'll have to ⁽⁷⁾ __________ the map.
Please ⁽⁸⁾ __________ me! I've got something important to tell you.
Don't ⁽⁹⁾ __________ stones ⁽¹⁰⁾ __________ the birds! It's cruel.
If you don't want that sandwich, ⁽¹¹⁾ __________ it ⁽¹²⁾ __________ the birds. They'll eat it.
I tried to contact Tina, but she didn't ⁽¹³⁾ __________ my emails.

132.3 Put in to or at.

They apologised me for what happened.
I glanced __________ my watch to see what time it was.
Please don't shout __________ me! Try to calm down.
I saw Sue as I was cycling along the road. I shouted __________ her, but she didn't hear me.
Don't listen __________ what he says. He doesn't know what he's talking about.
What's so funny? What are you laughing __________ ?
Could I have a look __________ your magazine, please?
I'm lonely. I need somebody to talk __________ .
She was so angry she threw a book __________ the wall.
The woman sitting opposite me on the train kept staring __________ me.
Can I speak __________ you a moment? There's something I want to ask you.

Answer Key

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