Noms/Verbes/Adjectifs + Prépositions
En anglais, il existe de nombreux noms, verbes et adjectifs qui sont suivis par une préposition spécifique. Dans le cas des verbes + préposition, ce n’est pas comme pour les verbes à particule où le verbe peut être suivi par beaucoup de prépositions différentes qui peuvent changer le sens initial du verbe. Les verbes à particule feront l’objet d’une autre fiche de grammaire.
Dans le test du Bright English, il y a souvent des questions où le candidat doit choisir la bonne préposition pour aller avec le nom, le verbe ou l’adjectif. On rencontre aussi des questions où la préposition est donnée dans la phrase, mais il faut alors choisir le bon nom, verbe ou adjectif. Un autre point délicat dont il faut se rappeler, c’est que certains noms et verbes sont similaires mais peuvent prendre des prépositions différentes ou, dans le cas d’un verbe, pas de préposition du tout (ex : a need for, to need).
Noms + Prépositions
an alternative to | some dealings with | a demand for |
an introduction to | some damage to | a substitute for |
a solution to | some responsibility for | a curb on |
a constraint on | some respect for | a threat to |
an agreement on | a need for | a fall in, of |
some involvement with | a reference to | a tax on |
a bid for | a relationship with | an increase in, of |
a contrast with | some resistance to | an exception for |
a ban on | some sympathy with |
Il en existe bien sûr d’autres, mais apprendre ceux-là est un bon début !
Les mots qui renvoient à une diminution ou une augmentation peuvent être suivis par ‘in’ ou ‘of’ : ‘in’ renvoie à quelque chose qui a augmenté ou diminué ; ‘of’renvoie à une quantité ou à un montant.
- There has been a large increase in unemployment since the beginning of the crisis.
- There has been an increase of about 40%.
Verbes + Prépositions
to complain about | to rely on | to succeed in |
to apologize for | to bet on | to result in |
to amount to | to refer to | to sympathize with |
to associate with | to account for | to comply with |
to opt for | to profit from | to agree with, on |
to invest in | to insist on | to consist of |
to lead to | to relate to | to object to |
to supply with | to pay for | to stem from |
to concentrate on | to depend on | |
to aim for, at | to benefit from |
Voici quelques exemples de phrases :
- The new product fully complies with European safety standards.
- We do not rely on rail transport, so our delivery will not be affected by the strike.
- The goods must be paid for no later than 60 days after receipt.
- She succeeded in passing her Bright with flying colors!
Certains verbes peuvent être suivis par un COD et une préposition :
- To ask someone for to borrow something from
- To divide something into to insure something against
- To congratulate someone on to provide someone with
- To spend something on to supply someone with
- To thank someone for to protect someone from
Exemple :
- The couple borrowed money from the bank to buy their new house.
- Don’t forget to thank him for offering to drive you to the airport.
- She asked him for a raise.
D’autres verbes ne nécessitent aucune préposition (contrairement au français !)
- To phone someone to discuss something
- To enter somewhere to ask someone something
- To answer a question to tell someone something
Exemple :
- I’ll phone the company tomorrow morning.
- They met to discuss the new smoking ban.
- She entered the room very quietly.
- He always asks his boss a lot of questions.
- His boss always patiently answers him.
- They told the unions that they wouldn’t sign the agreement.
Adjectifs + Prépositions
compatible with | parallel to | involved in |
lacking in | dependent on | guilty of |
aware of | contingent to | accustomed to |
pleased with | opposed to | interested in |
capable of | familiar with | filled with |
vulnerable to | satisfied with | essential to |
intent on | alternative to | focused on |
representative of | acceptable to | reliant on |
Exemple :
- Let me know if you would be interested in meeting with me. (the preposition ‘in’ is followed by a gerund)
- He is intent on finding the best deal even if he has to shop around.
- I’m not aware of anyone who knows how to cook as well as I do.
Pour vous souvenir de toutes ces prépositions, vous devez mémoriser et lire autant que possible en anglais. Quand vous rencontrez une combinaison verbe / nom / adjectif + préposition, prenez-en note et ajoutez-la à votre liste personnelle.