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S-V-N

Subject-Verb-Noun

She is my mom.

There are several things you can do to prepare for the TOEFL ?Structure? section.

Mr. Jones is the teacher

At the heart of every English sentence is the Subject-Verb relationship. Other elements can be added to make a sentence more

1. Understand Basic Sentence Structure.

interesting, but they are not essential to its formation.

2. Understand Conjunctions and Linking Words, Coordinators, and Subordinators.
The following sentences are examples of the S-V pattern.
3. Understand Subject-Verb Agreement and Passive Voice.
She sleeps.

Core sentence

She sleeps soundly.

An adverb is added to describe how she sleeps.

She sleeps on the sofa.

A prepositional phrase is added to tell where she sleeps.

7. Understand Noun Clauses and Embedded Questions.

She sleeps every afternoon.

A time expression is added to tell when she sleeps.

8. Understand Parenthetical Statements, Gerunds, and Infinitives.

She is sleeping right now.

Verb tense is changed, but S-V relationship remains the same.

9. Understand Stative Passives and Prepositions.

Mary will sleep later.

Subject is named and another tense is used.

The dogs are sleeping in the garage.

New subject may require a different form of the verb.

4. Understand Reduced Relative Clauses and Reducing Adverbial Clauses.

5. Understand Participial Phrases and Introductory Phrases.
6. Understand Parellelism and Inversions.

There are five basic patterns around which most English sentences are built.* They are as follows:
S-V

Subject-Verb

John sleeps.

Note: Any action verb can be used with this sentence pattern.

Jill is eating.
Jack will arrive next week.
S-V-O

Subject-Verb-Object

I like rice.

They like rice.

Core sentence

She loves her job.

The people like rice.

Specific subject

The friendly people like rice.

Subject modified with an adjective

The people in the restaurant like rice.

Subject modified with an adjective

Karen seems angry.

The people like boiled rice.

Object modified with an adjective

Jim is here.

The people like hot, white rice.

Object modified with more than one adjective

He's eating an orange.

S-V-Adj

Subject-Verb-Adjective

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-O pattern.

He is funny.
The workers are lazy.

S-V-Adv

Subject-Verb-Adverb

Flowers are everywhere.

No one was there.

Note: Only transitive action verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adj pattern.

Coordinators

He is fine.

Basic sentence with "be" verb

Coordinators connect elements of equal importance.

He seems happy.

Basic sentence with another linking verb

S + V , but S + V

Jordan is tall, dark and handsome.

Series of adjectives

(and, but, so, or, nor, for*, yet)

S + V and V
S and S + V

He appears very comfortable.

Adverb or intensifier added

George became sick last night.

Different tense and linking verb

N and N
Adj. and Adj.
Phrase and Phrase

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
The following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adv pattern.
The teacher is here.

Basic sentence

The teacher is over there.

Using an adverb phrase

Teachers are everywhere.

Plural noun and verb used

The teachers are in the lobby.

Prepositional phrase functioning as adverb

Can be used in a series: A, B, C, or D

Subordinators
Subordinators connect elements of unequal importance. One clause is not as strong as the other.
S + V although S + V

(although, even though, because, since*,

when, while, before*, after*, whenever,
wherever*, if, unless, whether?[or not]
as, as [adjective] as, so that, whereas

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
The following sentences are examples of the S-V-N pattern.

anywhere*, anytime*)
Although S + V , S + V
Sentence Connectors

The man is a doctor.

Basic sentence

The women are doctors.

Using plural noun and verb

My father is a nice guy.

Modified subject and complement

My grandparents are senior citizens.

Modified plural subject and complement

Sentence Connectors connect paragraphs or show relationship between very different ideas.
S + V . However, S + V

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.
*Other, less common structures are dealt with in another unit.

(however, therefore, thus, moreover,

nevertheless, first*, then*, next*, still*

S + V ; however, S + V

besides, consequently, furthermore)

I hate to sing but, I love to dance. (Incorrect)

I hate to sing, but I love to dance. (Correct)
Prepositions
Prepositions show relationship among elements of a sentence. They are followed by noun phrases only and cannot take on
a S + V.
S + V (prep. phrase)

John and George both play football.

(two subjects)

Paul listens to music and reads books.

(two verbs)

John, Paul, George, and Harry are classmates.

(series)

*For is also commonly used as a preposition. Yet can sometimes be used as an adverb.
(during, after*, before*, in, on, at

The most common subordinators are:

despite, in spite of, for*, since*, by

although, even though,

(to show slight contrast)

because, since*, so that,

(to give reasons)

when, while, before*, after*, whenever,

(to indicate time relationships)

wherever, anywhere,

(to indicate place)

if, unless, whether [or not]

(to indicate conditions)

as, as [adjective] as,

(to give comparisons)

Coordinators (and, but, so, or, nor, for*, yet*) connect elements of equal importance.

whereas

(to show major contrast)

S + V , but S + V

(A comma is normally used.)

*These words can also be used as prepositions.

S + V and V

(No comma is necessary.)

(Prep. phrase), S + V

like, except, but*, about, to*, from

between [A and B], among, with

(Prep. phrase) V + S
within, without, beside, near, next to)
(unusual)
* These words have more than one function.

S or S + V

Subordinators have an interesting effect on words in a sentence. A clause (S +V) without a subordinator can stand alone as a
complete statement.

N and N

I went to the store yesterday.

(Complete statement)

Adj. and Adj.

However, when a subordinator is added, the statement seems incomplete.
Phrase and Phrase
Can be used in a series: A, B, C, or D

When I went to the store yesterday, . . .

Examples:

The subordinating clause becomes dependent on something else to complete its meaning:

He drinks coffee, but she drinks tea.

(S + V , coordinator S +V)

When I went to the store yesterday, I saw an old friend.

(Well, what happened?)

(Idea is complete)

Gary lives in Ohio, and Deana lives in Michigan.

Subordinating or "dependent" clauses can occur at the beginning or end of asentence. When used at the beginning of a sentence,

She loves to dance, so she bought a studio.

a comma is necessary after the clause itself.

You could buy a car, or you could put the money in the bank.

S + V although S + V

When there is a new subject and verb, a comma is used before (not after) the coordinator.

Although S + V , S + V

In English, the subordinator always comes before the subject and verb in a clause.

(Am is used in the present tense. Are is used with other subjects in the present, and were is used in the past.)

I went to the grocery store after, I stopped at the bank.

(Incorrect)

After I went to the grocery store, I stopped at the bank.

(Correct)

She is here.

He is not here.

I am here too.

You are right.

They are wrong.

Subordinators and coordinators should not be used in the same sentence to introduce clauses. Choose one or the other, but do
he was home yesterday.

not use both together.

Ron wasn't home yesterday. I was here yesterday.

We were here too.

Auxiliary verbs

Although Nina won the prize, but she was not happy.

(Wrong)

Although Nina won the prize, she was not happy.

(Correct)

When auxiliary verbs are used, only the first verb carries the third person singular -s.

Nina won the prize, but she was not happy.

(Also correct)

Jean does not like spaghetti. (Correct)

Elsa is eating her dinner. (Correct)

Jean does not likes spaghetti. (Wrong!)

Elsa is eats her dinner. (Wrong!)

Jean do not likes spaghetti. (Wrong!)

Leo is going to eat later

Third person singular -s

Use the -s form of a verb in the present tense when the subject is third person singular.

.Frank has eaten lunch already. (Correct)

For all other subjects, use the base form in the present tense.

Frank have eaten lunch already. (Wrong!)

Modals

Example:

Do not use the -s form of the verb with modals, regardless of the subject.

base form
I live in Athens.

They live in Crete.

Ian can eat twelve bowls of rice. (Correct)

The Smiths live in Rome.

Ian can eats twelve bowls of rice. (Wrong!)

-s form
He lives in Cyprus.

She lives in Malta.

Tim lives in Naples.

Ms. Conner lives in Milan.

The verb have

The -s form of the verb have is has.

How to construct the passive.

We have a winner.

1. Check to see if the active sentence contains an object.

He has a trophy.

The verb be

John ate an apple. (S V O) Passive is possible.

John ate yesterday. (S V) Passive is not possible.

The -s form (present tense) for be is is. For the past tense, it is was.
Was is also used with first person singular subjects (I) in the past tense.

2. Move the object to the front of the sentence. Put the original subject in a "by" phrase .
An apple (V) by John.

3. Put the verb in the form "be" +3 (of main verb)*

The apple is going to be eaten by John. (Future/Modal)

An apple "be" eaten by John.

The apple must be eaten by John. (Modal)

4. Put the "be" in the same tense as the original active sentence.

The apple must have been eaten by John. (Past Modal)

An apple was/were eaten by John. ( past tense)

The apple must have been being eaten by John. (Combination)

5. Make the first verb agree with the new subject.

An apple was eaten by John.
(Put other elements of the sentence in grammatical and logical order.)
Yesterday the large green apple was quickly eaten by John, who didn?t realize that it belonged to his sister.

*Note, to simplify things, we refer to the forms of the verbs with numbers, as follows:
1 base form (be, go, do)
2 past form (was/were, went, did)
3 past participle (been, gone, done)

When other (auxiliary) verbs and modals are used in combination with the passive, remember:
be + 3* (Passive)
be + V ing (Progressive)
have + 3 (Perfect)
modal + 1 (Modal)
The apple should have been being eaten by John.
Combination of auxiliary verbs with the passive.
be + 3 (Passive)

You may delete the relative pronoun and the be verb when:
1. they are followed by a prepositional phrase.
A. The man who is in the house is my father.
The man in the house is my father.
B. The books that are on the desk are mine

be + V ing (Progressive)
have + 3 (Perfect)

The books on the desk are mine.

modal +1 (Modal)

2. the main verb in the relative clause is progressive.

The apple is eaten by John. (Present tense)

A. The man who is swimming in the lake is my father.

The apple was eaten by John. (Past tense)

The man swimming in the lake is my father.

The apple is being eaten by John. (Present Progressive)

The apple was being eaten by John. (Past Progressive)
The apple has been eaten by John. (Present Perfect)
The apple had been eaten by John. (Past Perfect)
The apple has been being eaten by John. (Pres. Perfect Progressive)

B. The books that are lying on the floor are mine.

The books lying on the floor are mine.
You may NOT delete the relative pronoun and the be verb when :
1. they are followed by an adjective:

The apple had been being eaten by John. (Past Perfect Progressive)
The apple will be eaten by John. ( Future/Modal)

The man who is angry is my father

The man angry is my father

Never delete the relative pronoun whose:

(However, you may switch the positions of the adjective and noun.)

The man whose car broke down went to the station.

The angry man is my father. (okay)

X The man car broke down went to the station.

2. they are followed by a noun:

Same time
The man who is a doctor is my father.
The man a doctor is my father.
The relative pronoun can be deleted if there is a new subject and verb following it:
A. This is the house that Jack built.
B. This is the house Jack built.
A. The person whom you see is my father.
B. The person you see is my father.

Time clauses with "while" and "when" can be reduced by deleting the subject and "be" verb.
While I was eating dinner, I watched television.
While eating dinner, I watched television.
When you are in Rome, (you) do as the Romans do.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
If there is no "be" verb, change the verb in the subordinating clause to its -ing form. Sometimes the subordinator
(when or while) can be deleted as well.

A. This is the place where I live.

When I opened the door, I saw a strange sight.
B. This is the place I live.
When opening the door, I saw a strange sight.
A. I don't know the reason why she is late.
Opening the door, I saw a strange sight.
B. I don't know the reason she is late
Note: If the subjects are different, you may not reduce the adverbial clause.
(Also : I don't know why she is late. )
While I was taking a shower, my sister called from California.
A. The woman whom he likes is married.
X While taking a shower, my sister called from California.
B. The woman he likes is married.
Notes:
Be careful when reducing time clauses that come at the end of sentences.
Do not delete a relative pronoun that is followed by a verb other than be:
We saw many beautiful birds while we were fishing in the lake.
The man who likes lasagna is my father.
We saw many beautiful birds while fishing in the lake.
X The man likes lasagna is my father.
X We saw many beautiful birds fishing in the lake.

In the last sentence, the meaning is ambiguous: Are we fishing or are the birds fishing?

Before leaving the house, Mr. Russo remembered to turn off the oven.

Different times

*Make sure the subject of the main clause and the subject of the participial phrase are the same.

After I finished my homework, I went to bed.

While taking a shower, my sister called from California. (INCORRECT)

After finishing my homework, I went to bed.

While I was taking a shower, my sister called from California.

After I had finished my homework, I went to bed.

While taking a shower, I received a call from my sister in California.

After having finished my homework, I went to bed.

In Absolutes:

Having finished my homework, I went to bed.

The vase was knocked over by the cat. It lay in a hundred pieces on the floor.

Before he left the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend.

Knocked over by the cat, the vase lay in a hundred pieces on the floor.

Before leaving the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend.

The mouse snatched up the larger pieces, and it left the crumbs for the cockroaches.

Other clauses

The mouse snatched up the larger pieces, leaving the crumbs for the cockroaches.

Sometimes clauses with because can be reduced.

The little boy was lost and afraid. He called for his mother.

Because he was a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.

The little boy, lost and afraid, called for his mother.

Being a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.

Lost and afraid, the little boy called for his mother.

As a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.

Introductory phrases and clauses
In Time Clauses:

John invited Mary to a movie. Mary had seen the movie twice already. Mary was reluctant to accept John's invitation.

While I was coming to class this morning, I witnessed an accident.

Because she had seen the movie twice already, Mary was reluctant to accept John's invitation (to the movie).

While coming to class this morning, I witnessed an accident.

Having seen the movie twice already, Mary was reluctant to accept John's invitation.

Coming to class this morning, I witnessed an accident.

Intermediary phrases and clauses

When she opened the box, Jocelyn gasped at the sight of the diamond ring.

Senator James humbly submitted his resignation. The press hounded Senator James for months on charges of tax evasion.

When opening the box, Jocelyn gasped at the sight of the diamond ring.

Senator James, whom the press hounded for months on charges of tax evasion, humbly submitted his resignation.

Opening the box, Jocelyn gasped at the sight of the diamond ring.

Senator James, who was hounded by the press for months on charges of tax evasion, humbly submitted his resignation.

Before he left the house, Mr. Russo remembered to turn off the oven.

Senator James, hounded by the press for months on charges of tax evasion, humbly submitted his resignation.

Other
Mr. Smith swept the floor. Mr. Smith dusted the shelves. Mr. Smith turned out the lights. Then he left the building.
Mr. Smith swept the floor, dusted the shelves, and turned out the lights before he left the building.

1.

Conditionals
Comparisons

Questions

Mr. Smith swept the floor, dusted the shelves, and turned out the lights before leaving the building.
Before leaving the building, Mr. Smith swept the floor, dusted the shelves, and turned out the lights.
After sweeping the floor, dusting the shelves, and turning out the lights, Mr. Smith left the building.

2.

Having swept the floor, dusted the shelves and turned out the lights, Mr. Smith left the building.

Parallelism means that words used in pairs or groups should all have the same gram-matical form (verbs and verbs; nouns,

3.

He is a doctor.

Is he a doctor?

(Direct inversion)

He ate an apple.

Did he eat an apple?

(With "do")

Negatives
He is a doctor.

Not only is he a doctor, (but) he is also a millionaire.

He ate an apple.

Not only did he eat an apple, (but) he also ate an orange.

Prepositional Phrases of Place (Necessary)

nouns, and nouns; gerunds and gerunds, etc.) When using words or phrases with coordinating conjunctions or in a series, make
On the table is a book.

sure that they follow the same grammatical structure. For example,
Terry likes swimming and to dive.

(Incorrect: not parallel)

Terry likes swimming and diving.

(Correct)

Terry likes to swim and (to) dive.

(Correct)

I'm taking history, math, and chemical.

(Incorrect)

I'm taking history, math, and chemistry.

(Correct)

The prepositional phrase is necessary here, because without it, the sentence would be incomplete: ("is a book" is not a
complete sentence.) Inversion is necessary.
At the restaurant, the food was too spicy.

This structure is typically used with linking verbs (be, appear, seem, etc.) or words that function as linking verbs.

I have been to Paris and saw the Eiffel Tower.

(Incorrect)

I have been to Paris and have seen the Eiffel Tower.

(Okay)

I have been to Paris and seen the Eiffel Tower.

(Better)

Is she coming to the party or go to a movie?

(Incorrect)

Is she coming to the party or going to a movie?

(Correct)

Questions
Negatives

(inversion is not necessary)

Without the prepositional phrase, the sentence the food was too spicy is still complete.

Sometimes repeated words, such as auxiliary verbs, can be deleted in parallel constructions.

When to Invert the Subject and Verb:

On the table (there) is a book.

4.

In the doorway appeared two strangers.

In the doorway were two strangers.

On the table lies my textbook.

On the table is my textbook.

In the kitchen, he ate an apple.

(Action verb: no inversion necessary.)

In some situations, the conditional if is omitted and an inversion is used in its place. (Only with verbs, were,
should or had.) Note the following examples:
If I were a doctor, I would be rich.
Were I a doctor, I would be rich.
If I had taken the subway, I would have arrived on time.
Had I taken the subway, I would have arrived on time.
If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

(Necessary) Prepositional Phrases of Place

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.

Whatever you do is your business.

Had I known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.

What is your business?

Someone is still in the cafeteria.

If I go to Chicago, I will visit my grandmother.

XX Go I to Chicago, I will visit my grandmother.

SV

If I have enough money, I will buy a horse.

Whoever ate my lunch is still in the cafeteria.

XX Have I enough money, I will buy a horse.

5.

Who is in the cafeteria?

Comparisons with than may also be inverted, but the inversion is optional. Note the following examples.

The subordinator may take the "subject" or "object" position in a noun clause.

He has more marbles than John does.

He has more marbles than does John.

Note the usage of the following:

He has more marbles than John. (informal okay.)

Henry loves Mary. (S V O)

Mary is the "object" of the sentence.

**Be careful. On the TOEFL, when comparisons are used, sometimes important words are left out or in error, thereby

Mary loves Jim. (S V O)

Mary is the "subject" of the sentence.

requiring only one of the possible options.

The person who(m) Lee loves is a secret.

Relative clause (subordinator in obj. position)

She loves her cat more than Jim.

The person who loves Tim is a secret.

Relative clause (subordinator in subj. position)

She loves her cat more than she loves Jim.

Who(m) Henry loves is a secret.

Noun clause (subordinator in obj. position)

She loves her cat more than Jim loves her cat./more than Jim does.

Who loves Tim is a secret.

Noun clause (subordinator in subj. position)

My dog is smarter than Jack.

Subordinators which are used in noun clauses:

My dog is smarter than Jack's.

(Some of these words are also used in Grammar: Relative Clauses and Grammar: Wh - Questions.)

My dog is smarter than Jack's dog.

that

which

how much

My dog is smarter than that of Jack.

what

where

how many

My classes are more challenging than those of Mindy.

who

when

how long

whoever

how

how far

whatever

why

how often

whether

if

whose

Noun clause used as an object

He said something.
SVO

What did he say?

Remember to preserve word order in noun clauses:

He said that he was sick.

Noun clause used as a subject

I don't know who he is.

Something is your business.

Whatever is in the box is a mystery.

SV

Whoever she is is not important.

Can you tell me what he is doing?

She doesn't undestand why he is leaving.

Statements in parentheses ( ) can be ignored when it comes to Subject-Verb agreement.

I wonder how much that costs.

My husband (the doctor) works at Community Hospital.

Do you know how long it will take?

My best friend (the one in the green shirt) wants to meet you.

Embedded questions are questions within another statement or question. They function as noun clauses and as such should

Sometimes commas are used in place of parentheses:

His brother, John, lives in Sacramento.

generally follow statement, not question, order.

What time is it?

(question order)

I know what time is it.

(Incorrect)

I know what time it is.

(Statement order: S+ V)

Where did she go?

(Question)

I don't know where did she go.

(Incorrect)

Prepositional phrases usually have no effect on Subject-Verb agreement.

I don't know where she went.

(Correct)

The men in the car were shouting wildly.

What does he do for a living?

(Question)

I wonder what does he do.

(Incorrect)

I wonder what he does.

(Correct)

Who is she?

(Question)

However, in some quantifying expressions, prepositional phrases do make a difference.

Can you tell me who is she?

(Incorrect)

A lot of people are traveling to Belize these days.

Can you tell me who she is?

(Correct)

My sister, who works in Miami, is visiting me this week.

Mr. Johnson, however, was not amused.
The teacher, along with her students, is coming to the party.

The men in the cars were shouting wildly.

The books on the shelf next to the window are mine.

A lot of milk was left in the refrigerator last night.

When using adjectives as complements, it is okay to use question order for embedded questions:
Who's hungry?

(Question)

I wonder who is hungry.

(Okay)

In some cases, depending on the focus of the sentence, question order may be used:
Who is the doctor?

Some of the apples were rotten.

Some of the wine is too old.
None of the water is safe to drink.
Relative clauses can have an effect, depending on the meaning.

I know who the doctor is.

Who is a doctor?
I know who is a doctor (and who is not).

Mary is the one who takes care of applications.

Mary is one of the people who take care of applications.
One of the men who live there is deranged.

To live in Hawaii is my lifetime dream.

Gerunds are defined as the -ing form of a verb. They have several functions.

2. Used as objects following certain verbs.*

1. Used as subjects and complements

I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your gift.

Skiing is my favorite sport.

He hesitated to ask the embarrassing question.

Hiking can be very strenuous.

3. Used as a shortened form of in order to.

Seeing is believing

You must take this medicine (in order) to get well.

2. Used as objects following prepositions and prepositional expressions

I went to the bank to cash a check.

Thanks for tending my children.

The job consists of typing, filing, and answering the phone.
3. Used as objects following certain verbs.*
The children enjoyed watching the parade.
Ms. Terrell avoided paying her taxes until it was too late.
Gerunds can sometimes take objects of their own:

Infinitives can sometimes take objects of their own.

Roland is afraid of making mistakes.

We hope to find the person who did this.

Sandy is considering leaving New York.

I was asked to make a dessert for the potluck dinner.

*These verbs are commonly followed by gerunds.

*These verbs are commonly followed by infinitives.

admit

advise

anticipate

appreciate

attempt

avoid

afford

agree

appear

arrange

ask

attempt

begin

can't help

complete

consider

delay

deny

beg

begin

care

choose

claim

consent

discuss

dislike

enjoy

finish

forget

go

decide

demand

deserve

desire

expect

fail

hate

hesitate

imagine

intend

keep

like

forget

go

happen

hate

hesitate

hope

love

mention

mind

miss

neglect

postpone

intend

know how

learn

like

love

manage

practice

prefer

quit

recall

recollect

recommend

mean

need

neglect

offer

plan

prefer

regret

remember

resent

resist

risk

start

prepare

pretend

promise

refuse

regret

remember

stop

suggest

threaten

tolerate

try

understand

seem

start

stop

struggle

swear

tend

threaten

try

volunteer

wait

want

wish

Infinitives are defined as to + base form of the verb. They have several functions.
1. Used as subjects and subject complements.
To know me is to love me.

Stative passives are verb-like words that follow "be" in sentences and function as adjectives. See the examples below:
He is hungry.

(Adjective)

He is interested

(Stative passive)

be absent from

be absolved of

be accepted as/to

His leg is broken

(Stative passive)

be according to

be accused of

be accustomed to

Stative passives indicate a status or condition which may exist over a period of time. In contrast, action verbs often indicate a

be acquainted with

be adamant about

be addicted to

change from one status to another.

be affected by

be afraid of

be after

We got married in 1998.

(Action: We changed from "single" to "married.")

be alarmed at

be aligned with

be (all) set for

We are married now.

Status: Our current condition is "married.")

be amazed at/by

be an authority on

be angry about/at/with

Jack broke the window.

(Action: Indicates what happened at a given moment.)

be annoyed at/with

be anxious about

be appropriate for

The window is broken.

(Status: Indicates the condition of the window.)

be armed with

be around

be arrested for

Note how the action/status contrast works with other verbs:

be ashamed of

be associated with

be astonished at/by

Jared fell asleep.

(Action: Change in status from "awake" to "asleep").

be at it (again)

be attached to

be attracted to

Jared is asleep.

(Status: Indicates Jared's current condition.)

be aware of

be away from

Joan became sick.

(Action: Joan changed from "healthy" to "sick.")

Joan is sick.

(Status: Joan's present condition.)

The building caught fire.

(Action: Indicates the point when the fire started.)

The building is on fire now.

(Status: Indicates the condition of the building.)

The doctor came in.

(Action)

The doctor is in.

(Status)

Stative passives are often used with prepositional expressions.

be back (from)

be bad at

be bad for

be banned from

be based (up)on

be behind (schedule)

be bent on

be biased about

be big on

be blamed for

be blessed with

be bored with

be capable of

be carried away about/with

be caught up in

be centered around

be certain of

be charged with

be classified as

be clear about

be clear to

be clever at

be close to

be cluttered (up) with

be a combination of

be compared to

be compensated for

be composed of

be comprised of

be concerned about/with

be confident of

be confused about

be congratulated for/on

be connected to/with

be conned into

be considerate of

be considered for

be content with

be contrary to

be convenient for/to

be convinced of

be convicted of/for

be bound for
C

See Grammar: Preposition Collocations with "Be".

She is interested in photography.
Brad was worried about his mother.
Carmen is terrified of snakes.
Everyone was caught up in the excitement.
Some adjectives also fit in the same pattern:
Karen is fond of chocolates.
I'm crazy about sports cars.
You're full of baloney.
A

be coordinated with

be covered with

be crammed into

be gone to/with

be crazy about

be credited with

be criticized for/as

be crowded with
D

be grateful for/to

be guilty of

be half-hearted about

be hailed as

be happy about/with

be hard on

be headed for/to/toward

be hired as/for

be immersed in

be imposed (up)on

be impressed by/with

be in

be in accordance with

be in agreement with

be an indication of

be an issue of

be in back of

be in bed with

be in cahoots with

be in charge of

be in common with

be in conjunction with

be in contact with

be in control of

be in danger of

be in exchange for

be dedicated to

be delighted with

be dependent (up)on

be hitched to

be devoted to

be different from/than

be disappointed about/at/in/with

be discouraged about

be discriminated against

be disgusted with

be disillusioned with

be disqualified for

be disposed of

be distinguished from

be divided into

be divorced (from)

be done with

be down

be down on/with

be dragged into

be dressed (up) in

be drunk with/on

E
be east of

be elected as/to

be eligible for

be in favor of

be in front of

be in honor of

be embarrassed about/at

be encouraged by

be entailed in

be in hope(s) of

be in love with

be in need of

be engaged to/in

be entrusted with

be envious of

be in on

be in place of

be in possession of

be equal/equivalent to

be equipped with

be estranged from

be in proximity to

be in reference to

be in regard to

be evicted from

be excited about

be expelled from

be in response to

be in return for

be in search of

be in store for

be in sync with

be in tandem with

be in the habit of

be in the middle of

be in the midst of

be in the vicinity of

be in time for

be in touch with

be in trouble with/for

be in tune with

be incensed with

be inducted into

be inferior to

be infested with

be informed about

be innocent of

be insecure about

be insistent (up)on

be interested in

be into

be involved in

be irritated at/with

be isolated from

F
be faithful to

be faced with

be familiar with/to

be famous for

be fanatic(al) about

be fascinated with

be fed up with

be filled with

be finished with

be fired for/from

be followed by

be fond of

be for the sake of

be fraught with

be free from/of

be friendly to/with

be frightened by/at

be full of

be furnished with

G
be glad to

be good at

be good to

be jealous of

P
K
be kind of

be kind to

be knowledgeable about

be known as/for
L
be labeled as

be leery of

be left of/with

be less than

be limited to

be located at/near

be lower than

be parallel to

be partial to

be patient with

be a pattern of

be pegged as

be perturbed at/about

be pleased with

be polite to

be popular with

be praised for/about

be precious to

be preoccupied with

be prepared for

be prohibited from

be promoted to

be provided with

be proud of

be psyched about

be punished for

be put off by

M
be qualified for
be mad at/about

be made of/from

be married to

be a matter of

be the matter with

be mean to

be meant to

be a measure of

be mindful of

be more than
N
be named as/after

be next to

be nice to

be notorious for

be north of

be nuts about

be a question of

R
be ready for

be regarded as

be related to

be relevant to

be relieved of

be remembered for

be rescued from

be reserved for

be responsible for

be retired from

be rid of

be rife with

be right to

be riled up (about)

be roped into

be satisfied with

be saved from

be scared of

be selected as/for

be sensible about

be separated from

be set on

be shocked at

be short of

be sick of/about

be a sign of

be similar to

be soft on

be sorry about/for

be sort of

be south of

be specialized in

be spoken for

be startled at

be strange to

be a stranger to

be stressed out about

be stuck on/with

be stunned at

be subject to

be sufficient for

be suitable for

be rude to
S

be obedient to

be oblivious about/to

be obsessed with

be obvious to

be off

be okay with

be on

be on behalf of

be on the brink of

be on the edge of

be on the verge of

be on time for

be on to

be on top of

be open about/for/to

be opposed to

be opposite from

be oppressed by

be out

be out of

be out of concern for

be out of contact with

be out of sync with

be out of touch with

be outraged about

be outspoken about

be over with

be superior to

be sure of

be surprised at/about

be suspected of

be suspended from

be a symbol of

be taken aback by/at

be taken in by

be tantamount to

be tapped as/by

be terrified of/with

be there for

be a threat to

be through with

be ticked off about

be tired of

be tuned (in)to

be to the left of

Prepositions indicate relationships between words or ideas. Most prepositions deal with location and are easy to learn.

be to the right of
U

above

below

over

under

inside

outside

around

through

beside

beyond

behind

in front of

near

nearby

by

next to

up

down

toward

along (side)

be uncalled for

be under arrest

be under fire for

before*

after*

during

since*

be under investigation for

be up against

be up front with

with

without

within

until*

be up in arms about

be up on

be up to

into

out (of)

off

upon

be upset about/with

be uptight about

be used for

between

among

except

but*

be used to

be useful to

like

as

than

about

despite

in spite of

beneath

underneath

V
be valued as/at

*These can also be used as conjunctions.

be vindicated of

Some prepositions, however, have more than one meaning and can be very confusing.

W
be wary of/about

be west of

be whipped into

be wiped out

be with it

be with reference to

be with respect to

be worked up about

be worried about

be wrapped up in

be wrong with

Z
be zealous about

in

on

at

to

from

for

of

Generally, in, on and at indicate location.

See also : Grammar - Prepositions of Location
The most common prepositions of location are :

o
o
o
o
o
o

in
On
at
(See: In, On, At)
by

near

nearby

above

below

Over

Unde

Up

down

around

through

inside

outside (of)

between

Beside

beyond

in front of

in back of

behind

next to

on top of

Within

beneath

underneath

among

along

against

These prepositions are most commonly followed by "the" and a noun.

Of is used in partitives (all of, some of . . .) and other expressions.

See also : Grammar - Quantifiers

Both the speaker and the listener likely know which object is being referred to.
Many prepositions are also used in expressions.
To and from imply movement toward or away from something. However, to can also function as part of an infinitive.

See also : Grammar - Preposition Collocations with "Be"; Verb and Preposition Collocations

See also : Grammar - Infinitives, To V or Not To V

For further reference:
To and for can introduce indirect objects.
See also : Grammar - Indirect Objects

For and since can also indicate duration.

See also : Grammar - Present Perfect Progessive

Grammar : Prepositions and Time Words

Grammar : Adverbs and Prepositions
Grammar : Prepositions and Subordinators
The Preposition (from Grammar Bytes)