depend on, listen to…
Prepositions after verbs
Many verbs take a fixed little word before what comes next: depend on, listen to, believe in, pay for. Learn them as pairs.
- It depends on the weather.
- Listen to me.
- I don't believe in ghosts.
In Spanish you say «depender de» and «llegar a»; in English it is depend on and arrive at (or arrive in a city).
arrive is never followed by to: arrive at the station, arrive in London. With home, here and there, no little word: arrive home.
Also on this page: spend on · remind of · blame for · complain about
Try 6
Six quick questions, easiest first. At the end you'll see which mistake you make.
- I can't find my way without a map, so I rely ______ my phone when we travel.to · at · on · with
- My brother never listens ______ my advice about his studies.at · to · with · for
- Ben spends too much money ______ computer games.at · with · in · on
- I don't really believe ______ ghosts, but the old house still scares me.in · on · at · about
- We finally arrived ______ the campsite just before dark.to · into · at
- Anna reminds me ______ her mother when she laughs.of · at · on · from
- I need to pay ______ the museum tickets online before we go.to · with · for
- I've been searching ______ my passport all morning, but I can't find it.for · to · on
- Don't blame the dog ______ the mess. It was me.about · for · with · of
- It's hard to concentrate ______ reading when people are talking nearby.at · to · with · on
- I'm trying to make friends ______ some of the people in my new class.with · for · to · by
- My parents never complain ______ the noise when I practise the guitar.about · for · to · at
Show the answers
- onnot at: depend on, rely onnot to: depend on, rely onnot with: depend on, rely on
- tonot at: listen tonot for: listen tonot with: listen to
- onnot at: spend money or time onnot in: spend money or time onnot with: spend money or time on
- innot at: believe innot on: believe innot about: believe in
- atnot to: arrive at or in, not arrive tonot into: arrive at or in, not arrive to
- ofnot at: remind someone ofnot on: remind someone ofnot from: remind someone of
- fornot to: pay for somethingnot with: pay for something
- fornot on: search for, look fornot to: search for, look for
- fornot of: blame someone fornot with: blame someone fornot about: blame someone for
- onnot at: concentrate onnot to: concentrate onnot with: concentrate on
- withnot by: make friends withnot to: make friends withnot for: make friends with
- aboutnot at: complain aboutnot to: complain aboutnot for: complain about
Common mistakes on this point
Not: It depends of the weather.
Say: It depends on the weather.
depend and rely take on before the thing: It depends on the weather. (You can also just say "It depends.")
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: She never listens me.
Say: She never listens to me.
listen takes to before what you hear (listen to me, listen to music).
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: I spend a lot in clothes.
Say: I spend a lot on clothes.
spend money or time on something (on clothes, on games). But: spend time in a place, with a person, or doing something.
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: I don't believe on ghosts.
Say: I don't believe in ghosts.
Believing something exists or is good takes in.
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: We arrived to the hotel.
Say: We arrived at the hotel.
arrive at a place (the station, the hotel); arrive in a city or country.
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: She reminds me to her mother.
Say: She reminds me of her mother.
When someone or something makes you think of another, it's remind … of. (remind someone to do something is also right: it means help them remember.)
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: I need to pay my coffee.
Say: I need to pay for my coffee.
You pay for the thing you buy. But: pay a bill, pay the rent, pay a person.
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: I'm searching my keys.
Say: I'm searching for my keys.
search for the thing you want to find. search a place = look inside it (search my bag).
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: Don't blame me of the mess.
Say: Don't blame me for the mess.
blame, punish and forgive someone for what they did. (blame the mess on someone is also right.)
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: I can't concentrate in my work.
Say: I can't concentrate on my work.
concentrate and focus take on before what you think about (concentrate on my work).
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: I made friends to two people.
Say: I made friends with two people.
You make friends with someone.
See this mistake on its own page ›Not: They complained for the noise.
Say: They complained about the noise.
You complain about the problem (and to the person).
See this mistake on its own page ›