Understanding Prepositional Verbs
Imagine you're in a crucial business meeting with international colleagues.
Everyone is discussing their roles in a new project.
You want to say you are responsible for a specific part of the project.
How do you say this clearly? Using prepositional verbs correctly can help you express your role confidently and clearly.
This skill is essential in professional English.
What are Prepositional Verbs?
Prepositional verbs are verbs followed by a preposition. This preposition changes the meaning of the verb. For example, "look at" is different from "look for."
The Role in Sentences
Prepositional verbs help us connect ideas in a sentence. They often link verbs to objects or actions. For instance, in "She looks after the clients," "looks after" is a prepositional verb that means taking care of clients.
Essential Prepositional Verbs for Business English
Here are some prepositional verbs often used in business:
| Prepositional Verb | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| account for | To explain or justify something | "The manager accounted for the expenses in the meeting." |
| add up to | To result in a particular amount or figure | "The total expenses add up to $5,000." |
| back up | To support or confirm | "Can you back up your claim with some data?" |
| bring about | To cause something to happen | "The new policy will bring about significant changes." |
| call off | To cancel | "The meeting was called off due to scheduling conflicts." |
| come across | To find by chance | "She came across an interesting article about market trends." |
| count on | To rely on someone or something | "You can count on me to deliver the presentation on time." |
| deal with | To handle a situation or problem | "We need to deal with the client complaints immediately." |
| drop off | To decrease significantly | "Sales dropped off in the fourth quarter." |
| follow up on | To take additional steps or action after something | "Please follow up on the email I sent last week." |
| look into | To investigate or explore | "We will look into potential market opportunities there." |
| run by | To explain something to someone to obtain their approval | "Let's run this idea by the team before we proceed." |
Common Mistakes
One common mistake is using the wrong preposition. This can change the meaning of what you say.
| Prepositional Verb | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| look at | To examine or view something | "Let's look at the quarterly report and discuss the figures." |
| look for | To search for something | "She's looking for the latest sales data." |
| look after | To take care of someone or something | "He's looking after the arrangements for the conference." |
| look into | To investigate something | "We need to look into the reasons behind this decline." |
| turn to | To seek help or advice from someone | "You can turn to the HR department for guidance on this issue." |
| turn off | To switch off a device or machine | "Don't forget to turn off the projector after the presentation." |
| turn down | To reject or refuse an offer or proposal | "The board decided to turn down the acquisition offer." |
| turn up | To increase the volume or arrive unexpectedly | "Please turn up the microphone, it's too quiet." |
| run through | To explain or go over details quickly | "Let's run through the agenda before we start the meeting." |
| run over | To exceed a planned time or amount | "The meeting ran over by thirty minutes." |
| run into | To meet someone unexpectedly or encounter a problem | "I ran into John at the convention yesterday." |
| run by | To present something for approval or review | "I need to run this report by you before submitting it." |
Interactive Quiz
Conclusion
Using prepositional verbs correctly can greatly improve your professional English. Start using them in your emails and meetings. See how they change the way others perceive your communication skills.
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