- We complained to the manager of the restaurant about the food.

• concentrate ON something:

- Don't look out of the window. Concentrate on your work!

• consist OF something:

- We had an enormous meal. it consisted of seven courses.

• crash/drive/bump/run INTO someone/something;

- He lost control of the car and crashed into a wall.

• depend ON someone/something:

- 'What time will you arrive?' 'I don't know. It depends on the traffic.' You can leave our on before question words (when/where/how etc.):

- 'Are you going to buy it?' It depends (on) how much it is.'

• die OF an illness:

- 'What did he die of?' "A heart attack.'

• dream ABOUT someone/something:

- I dreamt about you last night. dream OF being something/doing something (= imagine):

- I often dream of being rich. also: '(I) wouldn't dream (of doing something)':

- 'Don't tell anyone what I said.' 'No, I wouldn't dream of it.'

• happen TO someone/something:

- A strange thing happened to me the other day.

- What happened to that gold watch you used to have?

• hear ABOUT something (= be rold about something):

- Did you hear about the fight in the dub on Saturday night?

-Have yon heard about Jane? She's getting married.

• hear OF someone/something (= know that someone/something exists):

- 'Who is Tom Madely?' 'I have no idea. I've never heard of him.'

-Have you heard of a company called 'Smith Electrics'? hear FROM someone (= receive a letter/telephone call from someone);

- 'Have you heard from Ann recently?' 'Yes, she wrote to me last week.'

• laugh/smile AT someone/something;

- I look stupid with this haircut. Everyone will laugh at me.

• listen TO someone/something:

- We spent the evening listening to records.

• live ON money/food:

- George's salary is very low. It isn't enough to live on.

• look AT someone/something (= look in the direction of):

-Why are you looking at me like that? also:

have a look AT, stare AT, glance AT

• look FOR someone/somerhing (= try to find):

-I've lost my keys. Can you help me look for them?

• look AFTER someone/something (= take care of):

- She's very old. She needs someone ro look after her.

- You can borrow this book if you promise to look after it.

• pay (someone) FOR something:

- I didn't have enough money to pay for the meal. hut; pay a bill / a fine / £50 / a fare / taxes etc. (no preposition).

• rely ON someone/something:

- You can rely on Jack. He always keeps his promises.

• search (a person / place / a bag etc.) FOR someone/something:

- I've searched the whole house for my keys but I still can't find them.

-The police arc searching for the escaped prisoner.

• shout AT someone (when you are angry):

- He was very angry and started shouting at me. but: shout TO someone (so thai they can hear you):

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

• speak/talk TO someone ('with' is also possible but less usual):

- (on the telephone) Hello, can I speak to Jane, please?

- Who was that man I saw you talking to in the pub?

• suffer FROM an illness:

-The number of people suffering from heart disease has increased.

• think ABOUT someone/something (= consider, concentrate the mind on):

- You're quiet this morning. What are you thinking about?

- I've thought about what you said and I’ve decided to take your advice.

-'Will you lend me the money?' 'I'll think about it.'

• think OF someone/something (=remember, bring to mind, have an idea}:

- He told me his name but I can't think of it now. (not 'think about it')

- That's a good idea. Why didn't I think of that? We also use think OF when we ask for or give an opinion:

- 'What did you think of the film?' 'I didn't think much of it.' The difference between think OF and think ABOUT is sometimes very small. Often you can use OF or ABOUT:

- My sister is thinking of (or about) going to Canada.

- Tom was thinking of (or about) buying a new car bur changed his mind.

-When I'm alone, I often think of (or about) you.

• wait FOR someone/something:

- I'm not going out yet. I'm waiting for the rain ro Stop.

• write TO someone:

- Sorry I haven't written to you for such a long time.

We do not use a preposition with these verbs:

• phone someone

-Did you phone your father yesterday?

• discuss something

-We discussed many things at the meeting.

• enter (= go into a place)

-She felt nervous ;is she entered the room.

• accuse someone OF (doing) something:

-Tom accused Ann of being selfish.

-Three students were accused of cheating in the examination.

• ask (someone) FOR something:

- I wrote to the company asking them for more information about the job. but: 'ask (someone) a question' (no preposition)

• blame someone/something FOR something:

-Everybody blamed me for the accident. or: blame something ON someone/something:

-Everybody blamed the accident on me. We also say: '(someone is) to blame for something':

- Everybody said that I was to blame for the accident.

• borrow something FROM someone:

- I didn't have any money. I had to borrow some from a friend of mine.

• charge someone WITH (an offence /a crime):

-Three men have been arrested and charged with robbery.

• congratulate someone ON (doing) something:

-When I heard that he had passed his examination, I phoned him to congratulate him on his success.

• divide/cut/split something INTO (two or more parts):

- The book is divided into three parts.

-Cut the meat into small pieces before frying it.

• do something ABOUT something (= do something to improve a bad situation):

- The economic situation is getting worse and worse. The government ought to do something about it.

• explain ( a problem / a situation / a word etc.) TO someone:

-Can you explain this word to me? (not 'explain me this word') also: 'explain (to someone) that/what/how/why ...' (note the word order):

- Let me explain to you what I mean.