Learn more about using verbs with prepositions
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Braden: Is This American Safe Safe? |
| Braden: In this lesson, you’ll learn about Verbs + Prepositions and Neutral commenting. |
| Barbara: This conversation takes place at work at the end of the shift. |
| Braden: And it’s between Alex and June. |
| Barbara: The speakers are co-workers but Alex, seems disconnected. June will be speaking professionally, butAlex will be speaking causally. |
| Braden: Let’s listen to the conversation. |
| DIALOGUE |
| Alex: I'm so tired. I've worked so hard today! |
| June: Good for you! What did you get done? |
| Alex: I reorganized the filing cabinet. It took me all day. |
| June: What filing cabinet? |
| Alex: The silver one that's under the cash register. |
| June: You mean the safe? |
| Alex: I don't know. It had one of those dials in the middle of the door. |
| June: You're telling me you confused a filing cabinet with a safe? |
| Alex: There's a difference? |
| June: Alex, you impress me. Just thought you should know. |
| Alex: Thanks! |
| June: I'm curious, how did you open it? |
| Alex: I attribute it to my parents having a filing cabinet like that. |
| June: It's a safe, Alex. |
| Alex: Okay then, a safe. They always packed it with things they didn't want me to touch. It provided me with a lot of practice picking locks. |
| June: Wow, that makes me very nervous. Did you take anything out? |
| Alex: No. I did take a glance at the magazines, but there wasn't much else in there. |
| June: I'm lost as to why there were magazines in the store safe but, if there was hardly anything in it, why did it take you so long to organize? |
| POST CONVERSATION BANTER |
| Braden: So, we wanted to talk a little bit about Neutral commenting. |
| Barbara: An important technique for conversation at the workplace is neutral commenting. This is when you comment on someone else's statement in a neutral manner in order to avoid confrontation, encourage conversation, promote friendship, or avoid direct conflict. |
| Braden: For example, one of your coworkers spends a considerable amount of time explaining to you why purple is the best hair color. You are not convinced by her argument but also don't really care. A good phrase in a situation like this is – |
| Barbara: “I see what you mean.” This is a neutral comment. You are not committed to agreeing with your coworker but you're also not disagreeing with your coworker. |
| Braden: Some other very useful neutral comments are – “That's interesting.” Or “I never thought about it that way before.” |
| Barbara: or “I get your point.” |
| VOCAB LIST |
| Braden: Let's take a look at the vocabulary for this lesson. The first word we shall see is: |
| Barbara: reorganized [natural native speed] |
| Braden: change the way in which something is organized |
| Barbara: reorganized [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Barbara: reorganized [natural native speed] |
| Next: |
| safe [natural native speed] |
| Braden: metal container where valuables (money) are kept |
| safe [slowly - broken down by syllable] safe [natural native speed] |
| Next: |
| Barbara: dial [natural native speed] |
| Braden: a circular object used to make incremental adjustments to a larger mechanism |
| Barbara: dial [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Barbara: dial [natural native speed] |
| Next: |
| combinations [natural native speed] |
| Braden: a joining or merging of different parts or qualities. |
| combinations [slowly - broken down by syllable] combinations [natural native speed] |
| Next: |
| Barbara: glance [natural native speed] |
| Braden: take a brief or hurried look |
| Barbara: glance [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Barbara: glance [natural native speed] |
| Next: |
| organize [natural native speed] |
| Braden: arrange into a structure |
| organize [slowly - broken down by syllable] organize [natural native speed] |
| Next: |
| Barbara: pack [natural native speed] |
| Braden: cram a large number of things into |
| Barbara: pack [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Barbara: pack [natural native speed] |
| Next: |
| lock [natural native speed] |
| Braden: a mechanism for keeping a door, lid, etc., fastened, typically operated only by a key of a particular form |
| lock [slowly - broken down by syllable] lock [natural native speed] |
| Next: |
| Barbara: pick (a lock) [natural native speed] |
| Braden: open a lock with an instrument other than the proper key |
| Barbara: pick (a lock) [slowly - broken down by syllable] |
| Barbara: pick (a lock) [natural native speed] |
| VOCAB AND PHRASE USAGE |
| Braden: Let's have a closer look at the usage for some of the words and phrases from this lesson. |
| Barbara: In the dialogue, we heard the phrase Filing cabinet |
| Braden: if you’ve ever worked In office context, you will know what a filing cabinet is. If you haven’t, then it’s a tall metal cabinet where you put files. That isn’t particularly complicated, However, apparently Alex had a difficult time distinguishing it from a safe in the dialogue. |
| Barbara: This is partially, a true story. And no I was not Alex. |
| Braden: Could you break this down? |
| Barbara: Filing cabinet (slowly) |
| Braden: And one time fast? |
| Barbara: Filing cabinet (fast) |
| Braden: Perfect! What’s next? |
| Barbara: Our next phrase is cash register |
| Braden: A “cash register” Is a machine that registers the inflow and outflow of cash within a store. Depending on the size of the store there could be one or multiple cash registers. |
| Barbara: Most cash registers are standardized With a simple computer on the top to detail the inflow and outflow of merchandise and a drawer underneath where the money is kept. |
| Braden: Could you break this down? |
| Barbara: cash register(slowly) |
| Braden: And one time fast? |
| Barbara: cash register (fast) |
| Braden: Excellent! |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| Braden: Let’s take a look at the grammar point. |
| Braden: Barbara, what’s the focus of this lesson? |
| Barbara: The focus of this lesson is verbs and prepositions, Part 4 |
| Braden: In the dialogue, we heard the phrase… |
| Barbara: “I attribute it to my parents having a filing cabinet like that.” |
| Braden: This lesson is set up as a reference lesson. We've gathered together a list of over 100 verb/preposition combinations and put them together for this series. This is part 4 in the series. |
| Barbara: These are not phrasal verbs. However, they are verb/preposition combinations that are frequently used and maybe in the next 50 years, some of these might become phrasal verbs! |
| Braden: We have quite a few of these so we’ll go through them with minimal explanation. |
| Barbara: First let’s look at Verbs that are frequently used with the preposition “To.” First, to answer to someone. For example, "I answer to Ms Smith." |
| Braden: Second, to appeal to someone. For example, "Let me appeal to you for your help in this matter." |
| Barbara: Third, to apply oneself to (doing) something. For example, "I think you should apply yourself more at work." |
| Braden: Fourth, to apply to something. For example, "He applied glue to the board." |
| Barbara: Fifth, to attend to (doing) something. For example, "Chris attended to doing the grocery shopping." |
| Braden: Sixth, to attribute something to someone. For example, "Professor Samson attributes this painting to Leonardo." |
| Barbara: Next we’ll look at verbs that are frequently used with the preposition “With.” First, to acquaint someone with something. For example, "I acquainted Mary with French cuisine." |
| Braden: Second, to associate something with (doing) someone. For example, "Susan associates chocolate with childhood." |
| Barbara: Third, to be faced with (doing) something. For example, "She's faced with working overtime this weekend." |
| Braden: Fourth, to charge someone with (doing) something. For example, "The officer charged Mr Smith with blackmail." |
| Barbara: Fifth, to clutter with something. For example, "The office was cluttered with paper." |
| Braden: Sixth, to coincide with something. For example, "My birthday coincides with a national holiday." |
| Barbara: Seventh, to collide with something. For example, "The car collided with a truck and blocked traffic." |
Outro |
| Braden: That just about does it for today. Thanks for listening. |
| Barbara: See you later! |
Comments
HideHi listeners! So, have you ever reorganized a "filing cabinet?"
Hello Nelia,
Thank you for reaching out and for your continuous effort to improve your English. I'm here to help you with your sentences. 😄
Here are my corrections and explanations:
1. "I wanted to appeal to my principle with some important questions but he didn’t have time on me."
Correction: "I wanted to appeal to my principal with some important questions, but he didn’t have time for me."
Reason: The correct term is "principal" when referring to a school official. Also, we use "time for me" not "time on me".
2. "My son started to apply more time to history and passed the exam well."
Correction: "My son started to devote more time to history and passed the exam with flying colors."
Reason: We "devote time" to something rather than "apply time".
Also, "passed the exam with flying colors" is a more natural way to express that he did very well.
3. "We applied a lot of methods to avoid the problem."
Correction: "We implemented a lot of methods to avoid the problem."
Reason: We "implement methods" rather than "apply methods" when we're putting them into action.
4. "Mr Jenkins have made all the preparations but they were attributed to Mrs Bellington. I think it’s unfair!"
Correction: "Mr Jenkins has made all the preparations, but they were attributed to Mrs Bellington. I think it’s unfair!"
Reason: When referring to a singular person, we use "has" instead of "have".
5. "I know that he attends to growing rare plants."
Correction: "I know that he is dedicated to growing rare plants."
Reason: The verb "attend" is not typically used in this context. "Dedicated to" is more appropriate.
6. "He didn’t get a promotion at work and he was resigned to this fact."
Correction: "He didn’t get a promotion at work and he has resigned himself to this fact."
Reason: The expression is "resign oneself to something", meaning to accept something reluctantly but without protest.
Keep up the good work and don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions!
Thank you!
Éva
Team EnglishClass101.com
Hello!
This is the continuation of my sentences with verbs plus with.
11. Finally I got home. But when it came in, I've heard some strange sound. It turned out that the tap was opened and all the bath was crammed with the water.
12. This newcomer ingratiated himself with our professor and stole a very ancient statue.
13. Sometimes we have problems which we have to meet with in our life.
14. He's made so many mistakes that he had to plead with her to stay.
15. I advise you not to tamper with this device.
16. I can't believe this. I trusted all my secrets with her and she has told them to all students in our group.
P. S. I realise that it will take some time to check my sentences. But it's very important to me. I want to use these words in my speech and be sure that I do it properly.
Hello! It's me again!😅
Here are my sentences with verbs plus with.
1. During my one day trip I acquainted tourists with the old castle of out suburbs.
2. I associate melons with my sister's jam.
3. I was faced with unfair things due to the women in one of the muslim countries.
4. John has charged his classmate with steal of this new trainers.
5. When I came home I found that my apartment was cluttered with a lot of chairs.
6. It's so strange that our dating coincided with her birthday celebration.
7. Unfortunetely, I was a witness when buses collided with each other.
8. When he complies all their requirements, we will be free.
9. I always confront with difficulties while starting something new in my life.
10. Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't want to confuse you with my presence!
Hello again!😄
7. Andrew committed himself to the church and never complained about it.
8. When the lawyer stopped asking questions, the man has confessed to the crime finally.
9. Ms Sue always loved children so she devoted herself to teaching.
10. I refused from playing golf because I prefer badminton to this kind of sport.
11. I always knew about his abilities and I reffered him to this professor to study physics.
12. Students make the professor mad and he resorted to this measure of punishment.
13. Mike's friend was always naughty, so he subjected him to bad doings all time.
Hello!
Yes, I have and it's so boring. I wouldn't have such wish to do it again.😒
Could you check my sentences with verbs and propositions? Thank you in an advance!
1. I wanted to appeal to my principle with some important questions but he didn't have time on me.
2. My son started to apply more time to history and passed the exam well.
3. We applied a lot of methods to avoid the problem.
4. Mr Jenkins have made all the preparations but they were attributed to Mrs Bellington. I think it's unfair!
5. I know that he attends to growing rare plants.
6. He didn't get a promotion at work and he was resigned to this fact.
Hi there Maleeha,
Thanks for taking the time to write to us.
There are many words to learn in the English language. The best way to learn and retain them is to practice and use the language. You can do this through our platform, it of course is a process in learning but chipping away at it and studying regularly will get you there.
Please feel free to shoot through any questions you have throughout your studies.
Kindly,
Éva
Team EnglishClass101.com
Hi...I want to ask how I can remember these verb preposition combinations because they are more than hundred?😣
Hi AungZW.
Great to see you here!
If you have any questions, feel free to ask us.
Cheers,
Cristiane
Team Englishclass101.com
?
Hi Paul,
It's a useful, but bad skill. I hope that Alex doesn't get in trouble with the police later!
Kellie
Team EnglishClass101.com
No, I haven't. Unfortunately, picking the locks is not my best attribute:smile: Very funny story:thumbsup: Alex, from this story, seems to be a silly man. However, he has a useful skill for opening safes without an original key.