Verb + Preposition (Count & Depend)

I mentioned yesterday about some trouble I had with my hosting company. I depend on the internet to be on and working every day so that I can create these lessons here and communicate with you guys, my readers. I think now you count on me to help you learn English, so if the internet is not working, or the website is down, we can’t get together like this. Can you count on your internet company?

Today, let’s continue looking at the verb + preposition combination. Some verbs are always followed by a certain preposition, and this can get confusing. Today we will look at these two verbs: count & depend. Do you know which prepositions follow these verbs? Have a look at the paragraph above and then check the lesson below:

Use count on followed by a person or thing. You can use count on in the progressive (verb + ing) form:

• I told Jane, “I am counting on you!”
• Can you count on your internet company?

We use count on [person/thing] + to Verb to show what we count on that person/thing to do. You can also use count on [person/thing] + for [something]

• You count on me to help you learn English.
• I count on my internet company for reliable service.

Use depend on followed by a person or thing. Note that we do not use depend on in the progressive (verb + ing) form:

• I told Jane, “I depend on you!” Not, I am depending on you.
• Can you depend on your internet company?

We use depend on [person/thing] + to Verb to show what we depend on that person/thing to do. You can also use depend on [person/thing] + for [something]

• You can depend on me to help you learn English here!
• I depend on my internet company for reliable service.

Happy English

Verb + Preposition (Apologize & Complain)

Last week the website was down. I hope not too many people were bothered by that. There was some problem at my hosing company. Of course I complained to the hosting company about the situation and they apologized to me for the trouble, but still I don’t know what happened. I hope we don’t have any more technical problems!

Today, let’s continue looking at the verb + preposition combination. Some verbs are always followed by a certain preposition, and this can get confusing. Today we will look at these two verbs: apologize & complain. Do you know which prepositions follow these verbs? Have a look at the paragraph above and then check the lesson below:

Use apologize to followed by the person that the apology is directed to:

• They apologized to me right away.
• You should apologize to your boss when you are late for work.

Use apologize for followed by reason an apology is given. The structures are apologize + for + something and apologize + for + Verb+ing:

• They apologized for the downtime of my website.
• You should apologize for being late to work

Of course, you can use both prepositions in one sentence with apologize:

• They apologized to me for the downtime of my website.
• You should apologize to your boss for being late to work.

Use complain to followed by the person or place that the complaint is directed to:

• I complained to the hosting company.
• The customer complained to the store manager.

Use complain about followed by reason a complaint is made. The structures are complain + about + something and complain + about + subject + Verb+ing:

• I complained about the downtime of my website.
• The boss complained about Mary coming late to work.

Of course, you can use both prepositions in one sentence with complain:

• I complained to the hosting company about the downtime of my website.
• The boss complained to Mary about her coming late to work.

Happy English