Verbs + Prepositions on the TOEIC®: A Simple Method to Stop Making Mistakes

Verbs followed by prepositions are constructions where a verb must be used with a specific preposition (depend on, rely on, succeed in).

In the TOEIC®, these constructions appear constantly in Parts 5 and 6, especially in professional emails and internal communications.

The main pitfall? Confusing similar prepositions. Or choosing the wrong preposition because you are translating literally from your native language. For example, saying "discuss about" instead of just "discuss".

The Most Tested Verb + Preposition Combinations

Some verbs require a specific preposition. You cannot replace or remove them without creating a grammatical error.

The combinations you must memorize:

Verbs + ON

• depend on
• rely on
• focus on
• insist on
• comment on

Verbs + FOR

• apply for
• wait for
• search for
• apologize for
• pay for

Verbs + TO

• contribute to
• respond to
• object to
• refer to
• lead to

Verbs + WITH

• provide with
• supply with
• agree with (a person)
• deal with

Verbs + IN

• succeed in
• participate in
• result in
• believe in

In the TOEIC®, you will see these constructions in typical professional contexts: confirmation emails, meeting reports, internal memos.

• The manager insisted on reviewing the budget before the meeting.
• We rely on our suppliers to deliver materials on time.

Common Traps in Part 5

Part 5 questions often test your ability to choose the correct preposition from four similar options.

Here are the most frequent mistakes:

On Flow Exam, several students have reported losing points needlessly on these questions because they were going too fast.

The reflex to adopt: as soon as you see a verb in a fill-in-the-blank sentence in Part 5, ask yourself if that verb requires a specific preposition.

Verbs That Do Not Take Prepositions (Direct Transitive Verbs)

Some verbs accept a direct object without a preposition. A big trap in the TOEIC®: the test presents you with "tempting" prepositions in the answers.

Verbs without prepositions to know:

• discuss
• enter
• reach
• approach
• attend
• marry
• explain
• mention
• answer

Typical TOEIC® Example:

• The team will discuss __ the new marketing strategy tomorrow.

A) about B) on C) Ø D) with

--> Answer: C (Ø)

Explanation: Even though in some languages one might say "discuss about," in English "discuss" is directly followed by the object.

• We need to discuss the contract terms before signing.
• Please enter your password to access the system.

Among the candidates we guide, this category of verbs causes a lot of confusion. It often goes against the intuition they have in their native language.

The simple rule: if you hesitate over a verb like "discuss" or "enter," mentally test it with a pronoun (discuss it, enter it). If it works directly, you don't need a preposition.

How to Identify the Right Preposition Under Pressure

In real conditions, you have about 30 seconds per question in Part 5. Here’s how to stop hesitating.

Checklist

Practical Strategy:

1. Identify the verb in the sentence
2. Identify the type of object that follows (person, thing, concept)
3. Eliminate prepositions that do not match that type
4. If you are hesitating between two options, prefer the one you have already encountered in a similar context

Example:

• The project's success depends __ effective communication between departments.

A) of B) on C) with D) to

-> Answer: B (on)

-> Explanation: "Depend" always works with "on" when referring to depending on something.

Double Preposition Constructions (Advanced)

Some verbs completely change their meaning depending on the preposition used. These variations are tested in Part 5 to check your fine understanding of the vocabulary.

Same Verb, Different Prepositions, Different Meanings:

What we regularly observe: students know the verb but choose the wrong preposition because they don't pay attention to the context.

TOEIC® designers exploit this confusion by offering several grammatically valid constructions, but only one that matches the sentence's meaning.

• The HR department is looking __ qualified candidates for the new position.

→ Answer: for (looking for = searching)

• The committee will look __ the proposal before making a decision.

→ Answer: into (look into = examine)

Mistakes That Cost Points (Quick Recap)

In fact, this is where many get tripped up. Here are the most common confusions that cause you to lose points needlessly in Part 5.

Top 5 Mistakes Observed:

1. Adding a preposition after a direct transitive verb
   • discuss about, enter into, attend to -> Incorrect
   • discuss, enter, attend -> Correct
2. Literal translation from French
   • depend of -> Incorrect
   • depend on -> Correct
3. Confusing "provide" with/without "with"
   • provide someone something -> Incorrect
   • provide someone with something -> Correct
4. Forgetting the required preposition
   • wait the bus -> Incorrect
   • wait for the bus -> Correct
5. Choosing the wrong preposition with multi-meaning verbs
   • agree with the terms (it should be agree to the terms) -> Incorrect
   • agree with a person / agree to a proposal / agree on a decision -> Correct

Even among candidates who already use a preparation platform through their school, confusion over these constructions comes up very often in Part 5. The reason? These tools emphasize the rule but rarely focus on the necessary reflex to adopt under pressure on D-Day.

Ready to Practice?

Verbs followed by prepositions represent a significant portion of the grammar questions on the TOEIC®, and this is exactly the type of point where you can gain ground quickly with the right training.

On Flow Exam, you can practice directly on the Prepositions topic in Part 5, with thousands of questions formatted exactly like the official TOEIC® ones. So if you have difficulty with this topic, you will never make the same mistakes again.

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• 150 truly exclusive tips resulting from the experience of over 500 candidates who scored +950 on the TOEIC®: clear, concrete, tested, and validated in the field.
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