Verb + Preposition 1 to and at

Question 1

Can I ask (…)/to you a question?

Answer 1

Can I ask you a question? (not ask to you)

Question 1

Put in to where necessary or leave the space empty.

Mike described __ me exactly what happened.

Answer 1

Put in to where necessary or leave the space empty.

Mike described to me exactly what happened.

Question 2

Put in to/at where necessary or leave the space empty.

Sue and Kevin had an argument and now they’re refusing to speak __ each other.

Answer 2

Put in to/at where necessary or leave the space empty.

Sue and Kevin had an argument and now they’re refusing to speak to each other.

Question 3

He thanked (…)/to me for helping him.

Answer 3

He thanked me for helping him.

^{(<em>not</em> He thanked to me)}

Question 3

I look stupid with this haircut. Everybody will laugh __ me.

Answer 3

I look stupid with this haircut. Everybody will laugh at me.

Question 3

Put in to/at where necessary or leave the space empty.

Please don’t shout __ me! Try to calm down.

Answer 3

Put in to/at where necessary or leave the space empty.

Please don’t shout at me! Try to calm down.

Question 4

He refused to answer (…)/to my question. (not answer to my question)

Answer 4

He refused to answer my question.

^{(<em>not</em> answer to my question)}

Question 4

Throw can be followed by at or to, with a difference in meaning:

• You throw something at somebody/something in order to h__ them.
• You throw something to somebody (to c___).

Answer 4

Throw can be followed by at or to, with a difference in meaning:

• You throw something at somebody/something in order to hit them.
• You throw something to somebody (to catch).

Question 5

We spent the evening listening __ music.

Answer 5

We spent the evening listening to music.

^{(not listening music)}

Question 6

Complete. I don’t understand this question. Can you explain it ___.

Answer 6

Complete. I don’t understand this question. Can you explain it to me.

Question 7

Put in to where necessary or leave the space empty.

We’d better call __ the restaurant to reserve a table.

Answer 7

Put in to where necessary or leave the space empty.

We’d better call the restaurant to reserve a table.

Question 9

I explained / described __ them why I was worried.

Answer 9

I explained/described to _(somebody) them why _(what/how) I was worried. _{(<em>not</em> I explain them)}

Let me describe to you what I saw. _{(<em>not</em> let me describe you)}

Question 10

Shout can be followed by at or to, with a difference in meaning:

• You shout at somebody means you are a__ about him.
• You shout to somebody in order to he can h___ you.

Answer 10

Shout can be followed by at or to, with a difference in meaning:

• You shout at somebody means you are angry about him.
• You shout to somebody in order to he can hear you.

Question 11

Put in to where necessary or leave the space empty.

I thanked __ everybody for all the help they had given me.

Answer 11

Put in to where necessary or leave the space empty.

I thanked everybody for all the help they had given me.

Question 12

Don’t point/aim that knife or shoot/fire __ me. It’s dangerous.

Answer 12

Don’t point/aim that knife or shoot/fire at me. It’s dangerous.

Question 13

I called/phone/email (…) or to the airline to cancel my flight. (not called to the airline)

Answer 13

I called/phone/**email **the airline to cancel my flight.

^{(<em>not</em> called to the airline)}

Question 14

Complete. I don’t understand how this machine works. Can you explain ___ ___ ___ this machine works.

Answer 14

Complete. I don’t understand how this machine works. Can you explain to me how this machine works.

Question 15

Put in to where necessary or leave the space empty.

I explained __ everybody the reasons for my decision.

Answer 15

Put in to where necessary or leave the space empty.

I explained to everybody the reasons for my decision.

Question 18

Why are you looking / staring / glancing __ me like that?

Answer 18

Why are you looking/staring _(fixer)/glancing _{(jeter un oeil)} at me like that?

Question 19

Put in to/at where necessary or leave the space empty.

Don’t throw stones __ the birds. It’s cruel!

Answer 19

Put in to/at where necessary or leave the space empty.

Don’t throw stones at the birds. It’s cruel!

Question 20

Put in to where necessary or leave the space empty.

“Did Mike apologize __ you?” “Yes he said he was very sorry”

Answer 20

Put in to where necessary or leave the space empty.

“Did Mike apologize to you?” “Yes he said he was very sorry”

Question 21

Can you explain this word __ me?

Answer 21

Can you explain _(something) this word to _(somebody) me?

^{(not explain me this word)}

Question 22

Put in to/at where necessary or leave the space empty.

I glance __ my watch to see what time it was.

Answer 22

Put in to/at where necessary or leave the space empty.

I glance at my watch to see what time it was.

Question 23

Complete. I don’t understand what I have to do. Can you explain ___ ___ ___ I have to do.

Answer 23

Complete. I don’t understand what I have to do. Can you explain to me what I have to do.

Question 24

Put in to/at where necessary or leave the space empty.

I saw Sue as I was riding along the road. I shouted __ her, but she didn’t hear me.

Answer 24

Put in to/at where necessary or leave the space empty.

I saw Sue as I was riding along the road. I shouted to her, but she didn’t hear me.

Question 25

They apologised __ me f__ what happened. (not They apologised me)

Answer 25

They apologised to me for what happened.

^{(not They apologised me)}

Question 27

Who was that man you were talking / speaking __?

Answer 27

Who was that man you were talking / speaking to?

Question 28

Put in to/at where necessary or leave the space empty.

If you don’t want that sandwich, throw it __ the birds. They’ll eat it.

Answer 28

Put in to/at where necessary or leave the space empty.

If you don’t want that sandwich, throw it to the birds. They’ll eat it.