English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
VERBS THAT DO NOT TAKE PREPOSITIONS
We need to ~stress on~ the importance of honesty (nonstandard).
We need to *stress* the importance of honesty (standard).
If you stress a point in a discussion, you put extra emphasis on it because you think it is important. Note that “stress” attracts “on” when used as a noun:
Place the *stress on* the first syllable (standard).
He was not allowed to ~answer to~ the question (nonstandard).
He was not allowed to *answer* the question (standard).
“Answer” attracts the preposition “to” when used as a noun:
I gave *an answer to* the question (standard).
He ~ordered for~ a new watch (nonstandard).
He *ordered* a new watch (standard).
As a noun, it attracts a preposition:
He placed *an order for* a new watch (standard).
GAB
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