English Grammar Exercises – Prepositions – Verb + preposition 2: about/for/of/after

Exercise 1   

Put in the correct preposition. If no preposition is necessary, leave the space empty.

1   I’m not going out yet. I’m waiting ……………………. the rain to stop.

2   Don’t ask me ……………………. money. I don’t have any.

3   I’ve applied ……………………. a job at the factory. I don’t know if I’ll get it.

4   I’ve applied ……………………. three colleges. I hope one of them accepts me.

5   I’ve searched everywhere ……………………. Joe, but I haven’t been able to find him.

6   I don’t want to talk ……………………. what happened last night. Let’s forget it.

7   I don’t want to discuss ……………………. what happened last night. Let’s forget it.

8   We had an interesting discussion ……………………. the problem, but we didn’t reach a decision.

9   We discussed ……………………. the problem, but we didn’t reach a decision.

10   I sent her an email. Now I’m waiting ……………………. her to reply.

11   Ken and Sonia are travelling in Italy. They’re in Rome right now, and tomorrow they leave ……………………. Venice.

12   The roof of the house is in very bad condition. I think we ought to do something ……………………. it.

13   We waited ……………………. Steve for half an hour, but he never came.

14   Tomorrow morning I have to catch a plane. I’m leaving my house ……………………. the airport at 7.30.

Exercise 2   

Put in the correct preposition after care. If no preposition is necessary, leave the space empty.

1   He’s very selfish. He doesn’t care ……………………. other people.

2   Who’s going to take care ……………………. you when you are old?

3   She doesn’t care ……………………. the exam. She doesn’t care whether she passes or fails.

4   ‘Do you like this coat?’ ‘Not really. I don’t care ……………………. the colour.’

5   Don’t worry about the shopping. I’ll take care ……………………. that.

6   He gave up his job to care ……………………. his elderly father.

7   I want to have a good holiday. I don’t care ……………………. the cost.

8   I want to have a good holiday. I don’t care ……………………. how much it costs.

Exercise 3   

Complete the sentences with look for or look after. Use the correct form of look (looks/looked/looking).

1   I ……………………. my keys, but I couldn’t find them anywhere.

2   Kate is ……………………. a job. I hope she finds one soon.

3   Who ……………………. you when you were ill?

4   I’m ……………………. Liz. I need to ask her something. Have you seen her?

5   The car park was full, so we had to ……………………. somewhere else to park.

6   A babysitter is somebody who ……………………. other people’s children.

Exercise 4   

Complete the sentences with these verbs (in the correct form) + a preposition:

apply   ask   do   leave   look   search   talk   wait

1   Police are ……………………. the man who escaped from prison.

2   Sarah wasn’t ready. We had to ……………………. her.

3   I think Ben likes his job, but he doesn’t ……………………. it much.

4   When I’d finished my meal, I ……………………. the waiter ……………………. the bill.

5   Cathy is unemployed. She has ……………………. several jobs, but she hasn’t had any luck.

6   If something is wrong, why don’t you ……………………. something ……………………. it?

7   Helen’s car is very old, but it’s in excellent condition. She ……………………. it very well.

8   Diane is from Boston, but now she lives in Paris. She ……………………. Boston ……………………. Paris when she was 19.