2.2 Dependent Prepositions, Idiomatic Expressions & Fixed Phrases

Cambridge B2 First Exam

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1 Chapter 1: Exam Architecture, Cambridge English Scale & Administration

1.1 Exam Architecture & CEFR B2 Benchmark 1.2 The Cambridge English Scale, Subscale Scoring & Results Profiles 1.3 Delivery Formats: Computer-Based vs. Paper-Based Testing & Interface Strategy 1.4 Registration, Exam-Day Regulations, Permitted Materials & Timing Rules

2 Chapter 2: Reading & Use of English — Part 1: Multiple-Choice Cloze

2.1 Part 1 Mechanics, Lexical Precision & Collocations 2.2 Dependent Prepositions, Idiomatic Expressions & Fixed Phrases 2.3 Phrasal Verbs & Eliminating High-Frequency Distractors

3 Chapter 3: Reading & Use of English — Part 2: Open Cloze

3.1 Part 2 Grammar Focus: Determiners, Pronouns & Quantifiers 3.2 Relative Clauses, Auxiliary Verbs & Structural Linkers 3.3 Fixed Grammatical Patterns & Prepositional Phrases

4 Chapter 4: Reading & Use of English — Part 3: Word Formation

4.1 Part 3 Strategy: Identifying Parts of Speech & Sentence Context 4.2 High-Yield Prefixes: Negation, Reversal & Degree 4.3 High-Yield Suffixes: Nouns, Adjectives, Verbs & Adverbs 4.4 Internal Spelling Shifts, Irregular Stems & Compound Derivatives

5 Chapter 5: Reading & Use of English — Part 4: Key Word Transformations

5.1 Part 4 Rules: Word Limits, Exact Stems & Dual-Point Scoring 5.2 Conditional Structures, Wishes & Regrets 5.3 Passive Voice, Causative Structures & Reported Speech 5.4 Modals of Deduction, Speculation & Inverted/Comparative Structures

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9 Chapter 9: Listening Paper — Strategy & Parts 1–2

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10 Chapter 10: Listening Paper — Parts 3–4 & Transfer Protocol

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12 Chapter 12: Speaking Paper — Parts 3–4 & Final Exam Execution

12.1 Part 3: Collaborative Task — Discussion Phase, Spidergram Exploration & Negotiation 12.2 Part 3: Reaching a Decision & Productive Disagreement Techniques 12.3 Part 4: Discussion Phase — Broadening Themes, Abstract Reasoning & Justification 12.4 Final Preparation Blueprint: 8-Week Study Schedule, Mock Exams & Confidence Routine

2.2 Dependent Prepositions, Idiomatic Expressions & Fixed Phrases

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

Dependent prepositions are bound to specific adjectives, verbs, and nouns; checking the preposition immediately following a gap often eliminates three out of four choices instantly.

Cambridge test writers frequently offer four verbs or adjectives with nearly identical semantic meanings, where only one is syntactically compatible with the trailing preposition.

Fixed phrases and idiomatic expressions (e.g., 'at first glance', 'in the long run', 'take for granted') are invariable lexical blocks that resist synonym substitution.

Scanning the immediate 'one-word window' adjacent to the gap is the single fastest tactical heuristic for solving dependent preposition questions.

Last updated: September 2026

2.2 Dependent Prepositions, Idiomatic Expressions & Fixed Phrases

Quick Answer: Dependent prepositions are prepositions governed strictly by a preceding adjective, verb, or noun (e.g., interested in , rely on , demand for ). In Part 1, identifying the preposition that appears immediately after or before the gap is the single fastest way to solve a question. Even if all four options share the same general definition, only one will be syntactically compatible with the governing preposition.

The Mechanical Power of Dependent Prepositions

When Cambridge assessment specialists author Part 1 items, they routinely construct questions where the distinguishing factor is not vocabulary knowledge in isolation, but syntactic complementation .

Consider this sentence:

The success of the wildlife rehabilitation project _____ entirely on the continued commitment of local volunteers.

A) trusts
B) insists
C) counts
D) believes

All four verbs convey positive expectation, faith, or reliance. However:

trust is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition ( trusts the volunteers ).

insist takes on , but demands an action or assertion ( insists on helping ), not a subject's state of existential reliance.

believe takes in ( believes in the volunteers ).

count governs the dependent preposition on to mean depend or rely ( counts on the commitment ).

Scanning just one word past the gap to notice the word on eliminates three options instantly, reducing decision time from forty seconds to five.

Comprehensive B2 Dependent Preposition Inventory

Below is the definitive inventory of dependent prepositions tested at CEFR Level B2, categorized by part of speech.

1. Adjective + Preposition Partnerships

Governing Preposition Adjectives Requiring This Preposition Example Context

on keen on, based on, dependent on, intent on, focused on He is particularly keen on marine biology.

of fond of, capable of, proud of, ashamed of, aware of, conscious of, jealous of, typical of, suspicious of, tired of, worthy of She was fully aware of the financial risks involved.

in interested in, involved in, successful in, skilled in, experienced in, deficient in Were you involved in organizing the symposium?

for suitable for, responsible for, famous for, notorious for, eager for, eligible for, renowned for The candidate was deemed exceptionally suitable for the post.

to similar to, married to, dedicated to, opposed to, allergic to, polite to, addicted to, sensitive to Their approach is remarkably similar to our original model.

about curious about, enthusiastic about, anxious about, optimistic about, doubtful about, passionate about Archaeologists remain curious about the subterranean chamber.

from different from, safe from, absent from, distinct from, immune from The final outcome was markedly different from what we projected.

with pleased with, obsessed with, familiar with, crowded with, satisfied with, associated with, compatible with The laboratory was crowded with diagnostic apparatus.

Note

Subtle Nuances: Pay close attention to adjectives that alter their dependent preposition depending on the target complement:

good at (a skill or discipline: good at mathematics )
good to (kindness towards someone: she was very good to us )
good for (health or benefit: leafy vegetables are good for you )
anxious about (worried: anxious about the exam )
anxious for (eager: anxious for news )
2. Verb + Preposition Partnerships

Governing Preposition Verbs Requiring This Preposition Example Context

on depend on, rely on, insist on, congratulate (someone) on, concentrate on, comment on, count on, base (something) on We congratulated her on winning the prestigious award.

from prevent (someone) from, protect (someone) from, ban from, recover from, suffer from, distinguish from, escape from, deter from Protective barriers prevented visitors from falling.

in succeed in, participate in, result in, believe in, invest in, specialize in, persist in After hours of trying, she succeeded in opening the vault.

to belong to, refer to, apologize to (someone), object to, adapt to, contribute to, confess to, appeal to Does this luggage belong to anyone on this coach?

for apologize for (something), blame (someone) for, forgive for, pay for, apply for, search for, admire for, mistake for The manager apologized for the administrative delay.

of approve of, accuse (someone) of, consist of, die of, remind (someone) of, suspect of, convict of The council did not approve of the proposed highway route.

with cope with, deal with, collide with, agree with, associate with, provide (someone) with, equip with Urban planners must cope with rising traffic congestion.

3. Noun + Preposition Partnerships

Governing Preposition Nouns Requiring This Preposition Example Context

for reason for, demand for, need for, reputation for, sympathy for, taste for, request for There is a skyrocketing demand for renewable energy specialists.

in increase in, decrease in, rise in, fall in, drop in, interest in, belief in, confidence in The region experienced a sudden drop in annual precipitation.

towards / to attitude towards/to, reaction to, answer to, access to, threat to, alternative to, damage to, invitation to Public attitude towards remote work has shifted permanently.

with relationship with, contact with, connection with, contrast with She maintained close contact with her former university mentors.

between difference between, link between, connection between, choice between What is the precise difference between the two methods?

of cause of, cost of, risk of, advantage of, knowledge of Investigators determined the primary cause of the system outage.

Fixed Phrases & Invariable Idiomatic Expressions

In addition to individual dependent prepositions, Cambridge Part 1 frequently tests fixed prepositional phrases —formulaic multi-word units that cannot be modified, reordered, or substituted with synonyms.

Temporal and Modal Markers

at first glance : based on a quick initial inspection, before deeper analysis ( At first glance, the data appeared flawless. )

in the long run : over an extended future timeframe ( Investing in solar panels saves substantial money in the long run. )

for the time being : temporarily; until future changes occur ( Use this temporary office for the time being. )
at short notice : with very little prior warning ( He was required to travel to Tokyo at short notice. )

in due course : at an appropriate, natural time in the future ( All candidates will receive feedback in due course. )

by chance : accidentally; without design or premeditation ( They encountered each other by chance in Lisbon. )
on purpose : intentionally; with deliberate premeditation ( He did not spill the drink on purpose. )
Condition and State Indicators

under pressure : subjected to urgent demands, stress, or coercion ( The medical staff worked heroically under severe pressure. )

out of reach : beyond physical grasp or financial attainment ( Properties in the capital are completely out of reach for junior buyers. )

on the verge of : immediately prior to a major event or breakthrough ( The astrophysicists are on the verge of an unprecedented discovery. )

behind schedule : delayed compared to the planned timetable ( The renovation is running three weeks behind schedule. )

off the beaten track : in an isolated or unusual location rarely visited by tourists ( We stayed in a charming hamlet far off the beaten track. )

Evaluative and Relational Expressions

in terms of : regarding; with reference to a specific aspect ( In terms of durability, composite materials outperform timber. )

as far as [something] is concerned : introducing a specific topic or boundary ( As far as the budget is concerned, we remain solvent. )

make sense of : comprehend or interpret complex information ( I cannot make sense of these contradictory diagnostic readings. )

catch sight of : glimpse briefly or suddenly ( The birdwatcher caught sight of an endangered falcon. )

take [something] for granted : assume something is permanently guaranteed without appreciating its value ( Never take access to clean water for granted. )

Practical Walkthroughs: Instant Elimination in Action
Walkthrough 1: The Verb-Preposition Filter

Exam Sentence: The local wildlife trust managed to (1) _____ the historic woodland from being cleared by property developers.

A) prevent
B) forbid
C) avoid
D) refuse

Step-by-Step Tactical Elimination:

Inspect the forward co-text: Notice the structure directly following the gap: the historic woodland (noun phrase object) + from being cleared (preposition from + passive gerund).

Test Option B (forbid): Forbid governs an object plus full infinitive ( forbid developers to clear ), never from .

Test Option C (avoid): Avoid is strictly transitive and takes a direct gerund without an object intermediary ( avoided being cleared ), but cannot take an object followed by from .

Test Option D (refuse): Refuse governs a full infinitive ( refused to clear ), never an object + from .

Evaluate Option A (prevent): Prevent precisely governs the pattern prevent + object + from + -ing ( prevent the woodland from being cleared ). Option A is correct.

Walkthrough 2: The Invariable Prepositional Phrase

Exam Sentence: At first (2) _____, the old oil painting appeared worthless, but restoration revealed a masterpiece underneath.

A) view
B) glimpse
C) glance
D) observation

Step-by-Step Tactical Elimination:

Inspect the co-text: The gap forms part of a three-word introductory adverbial phrase: At first _____ .

Analyze options:

At first view is not standard English (we say in view of or on view ).

Glimpse takes catch a glimpse of , not at first glimpse .

Observation takes under observation , not at first observation .

At first glance is the established, immutable B2 idiom meaning 'upon initial appraisal'. Option C is correct.