ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE
UNIT 132. Verb + preposition 1 to and at
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A
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Verb+ to
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Talk
/speak TO somebody (with
is also possible but less usual)
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√
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Who was that man you were talking to?
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Listen
TO
...
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√
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We spent the evening listening to music. (not listening music)
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apologise
TO
somebody (for ...)
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√
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They apologised to me for what happened. (not They apologised
me)
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explain
something TO
somebody
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√
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Can you explain this word to
me? (not explain me this word)
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explain
/describe (to somebody) what/how/why ...
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√
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I explained to them why I was worried. (not I explained them)
Let me describe to you what I saw. (not Let me describe you)
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√
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B
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We do not use to with these verbs:
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phone
/call /email /text somebody
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√
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I called the airline to cancel my flight. (not called
to the airline)
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but write (a letter) to somebody
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answer somebody/something
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√
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He refused to answer my question. (not answer
to my question)
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but reply to an email I a
letter etc.
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ask somebody
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√
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Can I ask you a question? (not ask to you)
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thank somebody (for
something)
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√
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He thanked me for helping him. (not He thanked to me)
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C
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Verb + at
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Look
/stare /glance AT .. . , have a look /take a look AT ...
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√
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Why are you looking at me like that ?
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laugh
AT
.. .
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√
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I look stupid with this haircut.
Everybody will laugh at me.
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aim
/point
(something) AT ... , shoot /fire (a gun) AT ...
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√
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Don't point that knife at
me. It’s dangerous.
We saw someone with a gun shooting at birds, but he
didn't hit any.
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√
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D
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Some verbs can be followed by at or to, with a difference in meaning. For example:
shout
AT
somebody (when you are angry)
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√
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He got very angry and started shouting at me.
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shout
TO
somebody (so that they can hear you)
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√
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He shouted to me from the other side of the street.
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throw something AT somebody/something (in order
to hit them)
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√
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Somebody threw an egg at
the minister.
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throw something TO somebody (for somebody to
catch)
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√
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Lisa shouted 'Catch!' and threw the keys to me from the window.
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EXERCISES
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132.1
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Which is correct?
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132,2
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Complete the sentences. Use these verbs
+ the correct preposition:
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explain
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laugh
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listen
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look
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point
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reply
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speak
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throw
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throw
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1
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I look stupid with this
haircut. Everybody will ____ laugh at
_______ me.
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2
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I don’t understand this. Can
you _____ explain______ me?
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3
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Sue and Kevin had an argument
and now they're refusing to ______________ each other.
Be careful with those
scissors! Don't ______________ them ______________ me!
I'm not sure where we are.
I'll have to ______________ the map.
Please ______________ me! I’ve
got something important to tell you.
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4
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5
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6
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7
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Don't ______________ stones ______________
the birds! it's cruel.
If you don't want that
sandwich, ______________ it ______________ the birds. They'll eat it.
I tried to contact Tina, but
she didn’t ______________ my emails.
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8
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9
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132.3
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Put in to or at.
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1
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They apologised ___ to ___ me for what happened.
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2
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I glanced ____________ my
watch to see what time it was.
Please don’t shout ____________
me! Try to calm down.
I saw Sue as I was cycling
along the road. I shouted ____________ her, but she didn't hear me.
Don't listen ____________ what
he says. He doesn't know what he's talking about.
What's so funny? What are you
laughing ____________?
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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Could I have a look ____________
your magazine, please?
I’m lonely. I need somebody to
talk ____________.
She was so angry she threw a
book ____________ the wall.
The woman sitting opposite me
on the train kept staring ____________ me.
Can I speak ____________ you a
moment? There's something I want to ask you.
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8
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9
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10
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11
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ANSWER KEY
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