Lesson 6 of 125 min read
Preposition Partners
A small preposition can change the relationship between ideas. Store it with the word that needs it, then check the direction of the whole sentence.
Understand the pattern
Learn depend on, contribute to and be responsible for as complete units. Translating the main word and adding a guessed preposition is unreliable. After a preposition, use a noun phrase or an -ing form where an action is intended: responsible for checking, not responsible for check.
Some words permit different prepositions with different meanings. Result in introduces an outcome; result from introduces a cause. The delay resulted from a power failure and The power failure resulted in a delay describe the same relationship from opposite directions. Swapping only the preposition would reverse the claim.
Do not add a preposition just because another language or a similar English phrase uses one. Discuss the issue takes a direct object, whereas talk about the issue uses about. During checking, read a complete phrase aloud and ask what each participant does, rather than proofreading one isolated word at a time.
Language in context
| Word or pattern | Meaning or use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| depend on | Be determined by or need | The price depends on the length of the booking. |
| contribute to | Help bring about | Training can contribute to better service. |
| responsible for | Having a duty concerning | I am responsible for updating the records. |
| result in / result from | Introduce effect / cause | Ice resulted in delays. The delays resulted from ice. |
Worked example
Reason through the choice
Complete: The closure resulted ___ staff shortages. The shortages resulted ___ longer waits.
Answer: From; in.
Staff shortages are the stated cause of the closure, so from introduces them. Longer waits are the outcome in the second sentence, so in introduces that result. Check meaning before selecting the preposition.
Try it yourself
Write your answers before opening the key. For open responses, the suggested answer is one possible version; keep the meaning and check the target pattern.
- Complete: The success of the plan depends ___ reliable transport.
- Correct: She is responsible for organise the event.
- Rewrite A booking error caused the delay using resulted from.
Check answers and explanations
1. On. Depend on is the complete pattern.
2. She is responsible for organising the event. For is a preposition, so the following action uses an -ing form here.
3. The delay resulted from a booking error. Place the effect first and introduce its cause with from.
Use it in your PTE preparation
PTE Academic
In a gap or paraphrase exercise, check the cause-and-effect direction around the missing word. A grammatically valid phrase can still reverse the argument. Be especially careful when changing an active verb into a noun-based expression.
PTE Core
Practise the complete patterns needed for service messages: apply for a permit, respond to an email, apologise for a delay and provide someone with information. Add the actual person or item so the request stays specific.
Recall and transfer
Write a cause and an effect from daily life. Express the relationship once with result in and once with result from. Then say a sentence with responsible for plus an action, keeping the -ing form.