English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 136: Verb + preposition 5 (in/into/with/to/on)

Verb + in

believe IN ...
  • Do you believe in God? (= Do you believe that God exists?)
  • I believe in saying what I think. (= I believe it is right to say what I think)
but believe something (= believe it is true), believe somebody (= believe they are telling the truth)
  • The story can't be true. I don't believe it. (not believe in it)

specialise IN ...
  • Helen is a lawyer. She specialises in company law.

succeed IN ...
  • I hope you succeed in finding the job you want.

Verb + into

break INTO ...
  • Our house was broken into a few days ago, but nothing was stolen.

crash / drive / bump / run INTO ...
  • He lost control of the car and crashed into a wall.

divide / cut / split something INTO two or more parts
  • The book is divided into three parts.

translate a book etc. FROM one language INTO another
  • She's a famous writer. Her books have been translated into many languages.

Verb + with

collide WITH ...
  • There was an accident this morning. A bus collided with a car.

fill something WITH ... (but full of ... - see Unit 131 B)
  • Take this saucepan and fill it with water.

provide / supply somebody WITH ...
  • The school provides all its students with books.

Verb + to

happen TO ...
  • What happened to that gold watch you used to have? (= where is it now?)

invite somebody TO a party / a wedding etc.
  • They only invited a few people to their wedding.

prefer one thing/person TO another
  • I prefer tea to coffee.

Verb + on

concentrate ON .. .
  • I tried to concentrate on my work, but I kept thinking about other things.

insist ON ...
  • I wanted to go alone, but some friends of mine insisted on coming with me.

spend (money) ON ...
  • How much do you spend on food each week?

136.1 Complete the sentences using these verbs (in the correct form) + a preposition:

  • believe
  • concentrate
  • divide
  • drive
  • fill
  • happen
  • insist
  • invite
  • succeed
  1. I wanted to go alone, but my friends (1) coming with me.
  2. I haven't seen Mike for ages. I wonder what has (2) __________ him.
  3. We've been (3) __________ the party, but unfortunately we can't go.
  4. It's a very large house. It's (4) __________ four apartments.
  5. I don't (5) __________ ghosts. I think people imagine that they see them.
  6. Steve gave me an empty bucket and told me to (6) __________ it (7) __________ water.
  7. I was driving along when the car in front stopped suddenly. I couldn't stop in time and (8) __________ the back of it.
  8. Don't try and do two things together. (9) __________ one thing at a time.
  9. It wasn't easy, but in the end we (10) __________ finding a solution to the problem.

136.2 Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.

  1. There was a collision between a bus and a car.
    A bus collided .
  2. I don't mind big cities, but I prefer small towns.
    I prefer __________ .
  3. I got all the information I needed from Jane.
    Jane provided me __________ .
  4. This morning I bought a pair of shoes which cost £70.
    This morning I spent __________ .
  5. There are ten districts in the city.
    The city is divided __________ .

136.3 Put in the correct preposition. If the sentence is already complete, leave the space empty (-).

  1. The school provides all its students (1) books.
  2. A strange thing happened (2) __________ me a few days ago.
  3. Mark decided to give up sport to concentrate (3) __________ his studies.
  4. Money should be used well. I don't believe (4) __________ wasting it.
  5. My present job isn't wonderful, but I prefer it (5) __________ what I did before.
  6. I hope you succeed (6) __________ getting what you want.
  7. As I was coming out of the room, I collided (7) __________ somebody who was coming in.
  8. There was an awful noise as the car crashed (8) __________ a tree.
  9. Patrick is a photographer. He specialises (9) __________ sports photography.
  10. Do you spend a lot of money (10) __________ clothes?
  11. I was amazed when Joe walked into the room. I couldn't believe (11) __________ it.
  12. Somebody broke (12) __________ my car and stole the radio.
  13. I was quite cold, but Tom insisted (13) __________ having the window open.
  14. The teacher decided to split the class (14) __________ four groups.
  15. I filled the tank, but unfortunately I filled it (15) __________ the wrong kind of petrol.
  16. Some words are difficult to translate (16) __________ one language (17) __________ another.

136.4 Use your own ideas to complete these sentences. Use a preposition.

  1. I wanted to go out alone, but my friend insisted .
  2. I spend a lot of money __________ .
  3. I saw the accident. The ca r crashed __________ .
  4. Chris prefers basketball __________ .
  5. The restaurant we went to specialises __________ .
  6. Shakespeare's plays have been translated __________ .

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