English Vocabulary in Use Elementary » Unit 57: Words and prepositions

Word List
  • afraid of
  • apologise for
  • ask for
  • bad at
  • be used to
  • belong to
  • come to
  • get used to
  • good at
  • happy about
  • interested in
  • listen to
  • look after
  • look at
  • look for
  • look forward to
  • pay for
  • proud of
  • thank for
  • think about
  • used to
  • wait for
Exercises

57.1 ‣ Match the words on the left with the words on the right.

  1. John is waiting
  2. This bicycle belongs _____
  3. The children thanked their aunt _____
  4. Molly is listening _____
  5. He apologised _____
  6. Let me pay _____
  7. Javier is thinking _____
  8. Over 100 people came _____
  1. a) for his mistake.
  2. b) about the holidays.
  3. c) for a train to London.
  4. d) to the hotel.
  5. e) for our tickets.
  6. f) to the football match.
  7. g) to music on her phone.
  8. h) for the money.

57.2 ‣ Complete these sentences using the appropriate preposition(s) and a word or phrase from the box.

  1. books
  2. the children
  3. me
  4. people
  5. my party
  6. it a new one
  7. them
  1. Isabel’s granddaughter can’t read yet but she likes looking .
  2. A nurse looks _____.
  3. I can’t find my glasses? Could you help me look _____?
  4. It’s my birthday soon. I’m really looking _____.
  5. Why are you looking _____ in that way? Is my face dirty?
  6. I don’t like my job very much. I’m looking _____.
  7. Alex is going to France in July. He is looking _____.
  8. I often look _____ when their parents go out.

57.3 ‣ Write prepositions.

Josephine has got used 1 her new school and is doing well there. She is very good 2 _____ English and maths. She always listens 3 _____ her teachers. She is very interested 4 _____ sport and she belongs 5 _____ a tennis club and a swimming club. Her parents were very proud 6 _____ her when she won a medal for swimming last month. Josephine was very happy 7 _____ her medal too, of course. She showed it to me when she came 8 _____ my house last Saturday.

57.4 ‣ Hiroshi is a visitor from Japan. Make sentences about what he found strange (✗) in Britain and what he didn’t find strange (✓).

  1. speaking English every day ✗
  2. driving on the left ✓
  3. eating British food ✗
    _____
  4. traffic jams ✓
    _____
  5. expensive shops ✓
    _____
  6. British money ✗
    _____

57.5 ‣ Answer the questions about yourself.

  1. What are / were you good at at school? What are / were you bad at?
    _____
  2. What do you usually ask for when you go to a café?
    _____
  3. What are you proud of?
    _____
  4. What are you afraid of?
    _____
  5. What kind of music do you like listening to?
    _____
  6. What are you looking forward to?
    _____
  7. Do you belong to any clubs?
    _____
  8. Are you used to eating different kinds of food?
    _____
Answer Key
A ‣ Phrasal and prepositional verbs

Some verbs are used with different particles and prepositions.

I listen to the radio in bed in the morning.

I waited for the bus for half an hour yesterday.

I asked for a black coffee, not a white one.

Where do I pay for our meal?

I hope you can come to my party.

This book belongs to Sarah Smith.

What are you thinking about?

Lauren thanked her mother for the present.

Damian apologised for being late.

B ‣ Phrasal verbs

Some verbs have different meanings when they are used with different prepositions, for example, look.

I love looking at old photographs.

If you want to find your key, you must look for it.

Parents look after their children. [they take care of them]

You look forward to something nice in the future, for example, a friend’s visit, or a holiday.

C ‣ Adjectives

Some adjectives are also followed by prepositions.

I’m good at geography but bad at maths.

I’m interested in (hearing) all your news.

He is afraid of mice.

Lucy is proud of winning a medal and her mother is proud of her.

Note: You are used to what you know well: I’m used to getting up early, I always do.

You have to get used to something new, for example a new school or driving on the other side of the road.

Common mistakes

She’s a lovely person and I’m really happy about her success [NOT happy for her success].

D ‣ Grammar

Prepositions are followed by a noun: Artur is good at tennis or by the -ing form of the verb: Artur is good at playing the piano.

Tip

Look carefully at prepositions when you read in English. Make a note of any phrases which use prepositions in a new way.

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