Let's see what comes to mind — no notes, and don't worry about mistakes.
You already know plenty of these pairs. Complete this sentence:
"I've always been interested psychology, but I never thought about studying it."
Have a go out loud: think of a decision you made recently. Say one sentence about what you were aware of, and one about what you weren't aware of, when you made it.
Kit: How's the move going?
Ren: Honestly? We only agreed to it because rent here doubled. It wasn't really a joint decision in the end — I gave in at the expense of staying near my parents.
Kit: That's rough. Did you at least agree on a date?
Ren: Not yet. Everything's still subject to the landlord confirming the contract.
Look again at "agreed to it" and "agree on a date." Same verb — agree — but two different prepositions, and two different meanings. Why do you think that happens? Say your idea out loud before you check.
Nouns, adjectives and verbs that describe needs, awareness and problems each pair with one fixed preposition — no other one works.
Before you check: is there any logical reason each word takes that particular preposition?
"Resort to" adds a nuance the plain version doesn't have: this was a last option, not a first choice.
Complete each sentence. Type only the missing preposition.
1. Since the schedule changed, she has had to cope far more responsibility at work.
2. After the printer broke down twice, we finally resorted borrowing one from the office next door.
3. Growing up in a small flat with five siblings, he always felt deprived any real privacy.
Think about a change in your life — a move, a new job, a new routine. Say one sentence with cope with or resort to about how you managed.
Whole phrases that act as a single preposition — for stating a reason, a cost, or a condition.
What job is each bold phrase doing? Say it before you check.
"In the light of" isn't quite the same as "in the face of" — it's about new information changing a decision, not about opposing a difficulty.
Complete each sentence. Type only the missing word.
1. the face of criticism from almost everyone, she still refused to change her plans.
2. He started saving early, a view to buying a flat before he turned thirty.
3. The final price is to change, depending on how much material we need.
Describe a decision you or someone you know made recently. Try to include one reason with on the grounds that and one cost with at the expense of.
The verb doesn't change — the preposition does, and that changes exactly what you mean.
What's different about who or what each preposition connects to? Say it before you check.
"Result from" points backwards to the cause. "Result in" points forwards to the effect: "Poor planning resulted in the delay" says the same thing the other way round.
1. To be honest, I don't agree him about how we should split the bill.
2. It took two meetings, but the team agreed a new deadline in the end.
3. Rewrite this sentence using "resulted in": "Bad weather caused the flight to be delayed."
Think of a recent disagreement or decision at work, home or with friends. Say one sentence with agree with, and one with result in or result from.
Time to use all three patterns in one real story. It's your turn to talk.
Think of a real decision — yours, or one made by someone close to you — about a job, a move, money or a relationship. (If nothing comes to mind, invent one.)
Tell the story out loud for one minute. Try to answer:
Write a short message (3–5 sentences) to a friend about the same decision. Use at least one dependent preposition (aware of, cope with, resort to...), one linking phrase (on the grounds that, at the expense of, subject to...), and one meaning-changing verb (agree with/to/on, result in/from) — the checker will tell you which ones it finds.
Real life doesn't tell you which pattern to use. Here everything is mixed — you decide.
Each sentence has one preposition mistake. Rewrite the whole sentence correctly.
1. "She has always been aware about how much her sister struggled financially."
2. "In the end, they resorted with hiring extra staff for the weekend."
3. "The whole trip nearly fell apart, but in the end we agreed with a new date."
4. "He took the job on the ground that it paid better, even though it meant relocating."
5. "The whole project is still ___ the client's final approval."
6. "The delay ___ a shortage of parts, not poor planning."
7. "I ___ you completely — we should postpone the launch."
One-minute challenge: imagine you're explaining to a friend why you turned down a job offer. Use at least one reason with on the grounds that, one cost with at the expense of, and one outcome with result in or result from. Use the timer above if you like the pressure.
1. A pair you already knew before today — complete it: "My sister has always been very good languages — she picked up Spanish in a year."
2. Say out loud: name two adjective+preposition pairs you learned at an earlier level, and use each in a sentence.
3. You can't really compare the two flats — they're not comparable each other at all; one has three bedrooms, the other has one.
4. Nobody in the office was aware the change until the email went out this morning.
5. the light of the positive feedback, they decided to extend the trial for another month.
Which pattern gave you the most trouble today — the fixed pairs after single words, the multi-word phrases, or the verbs that change meaning? Say why you think that one was hardest.
At the start we said: prepositions after abstract words, phrases that link your reasons, and verbs that change meaning with the preposition. Tick what's true: