macmillan

Worksheet English
dictionary

Finding correct prepositions Activity 3

▲
Choose the correct preposition from the box and
and verb patterns complete each sentence. Use the dictionary to check
the prepositions that follow each adjective.
Introduction
The dictionary can show you which prepositions to use about at for from in of on with
after certain verbs and adjectives, and also when to use
the infinitive or the -ing form of the verb. This worksheet of ____________________
a You should be tolerant _____ other people’s
will enable you to become familiar with how to find this opinion
_____________________________________________ .
information in the dictionary.
b I’ve always been interested _____ _________________
Activity 1
▲

_____________________________________________ .
Look at these examples of how the dictionary tells c I’m very fond _____ ____________________________
you which preposition to use after certain verbs and
adjectives. _____________________________________________ .
that they got divorced last year.
d My country is famous _____ _____________________
long4 / lQN / verb [ I ] # to want something very much
= YEARN : long to do sth She longed to see him again. o _____________________________________________ .
f I f i id dM i l df h
generous / "dZen@r@s / adj ## e I’m very good _____ ____________________________
1 giving
usual people more
or expected of your
: Merton time
is clearly or money
a warm than is
and generous
person. o +to Billy was very generous to people who had
_____________________________________________ .
less than he did. o +with Lawyers have been generous with
their time and talents. o generous of sb (to do sth) That’s
f If you work as a political correspondent, you need to
1 i l be familiar _____ ______________________________

Activity 2 _____________________________________________ .
▲

Complete these sentences with the correct prepositions, g I usually feel guilty _____ _______________________
and guess if you are not certain. Then check your
_____________________________________________ .
answers in the dictionary.
a The children looked scared: they were clinging ______
Activity 4
▲

to their mother.
_____
b Rachel has never worried ___________ finding a job.
c She wanted to prevent him ___________ driving her
car.
d They were always arguing ___________ silly things.
e Please put out your cigarette. I object ___________
people smoking in the house.
f He succeeded ___________ passing his exams, to my
great surprise.
Some verbs are followed by the infinitive form of the verb
and some are followed by the -ing form of the verb. The
dictionary shows this information in this way:
remember / rI"memb@(r) / verb ###
1 [ I / T ] to have an image in your mind of a person, a
place, or something that happened or was said in the
past : I can still remember every word of our conversation. o
That was a beautiful summer, as I remember. o remember
doing sth She remembers seeing him leave an hour ago. o
+(that) I remember that I was really nervous on my first
remember that it has been underfunded for over 20 years.
3 [ T ] to do something that you promised to do or that
you have to do, and not forget about it : I hope she
remembers my book when she comes (=remembers to bring
it). o remember to do sth He never remembered to lock
the door when he went out.

This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2007.
 macmillan

Worksheet English
dictionary

Activity 5
▲

Complete these sentences with the infinitive or the -ing

form of the verb shown in brackets. Check your answers
in the dictionary.
a If there is a mechanical problem, we suggest
contacting
________________ (contact) the manufacturer
directly.
b He’s considering ________________ (buy) a car.
c The committee decided unanimously ______________
__ (accept) the offer.
d I don’t enjoy ________________ (go) on holiday as
much as I used to.
e I happened ________________ (meet) an old friend in
town.
f She closed her eyes and pretended ________________
(be) asleep.
g They don’t mind ________________ (go) if no-one else
wants to.
h I expect ________________ (get) paid on time.
i She had just finished ________________ (dress) the
children when the phone rang.
j I do think you should have offered ________________
(help).

This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2007.