the difference between the verb that follow "of" and that don't .

[liuchunsheng123456]

"think of something " and "think it "
"smell of something " and " smell it "
"complain of something" and "complain that "
'' cure of " and " cure something "
" approve of " and "approve something "
"accuse of " and " accuse sb as "
" suspect of " and " suspect sb "
" warn of "
Do these verbs that follow by "of " have a kind of feeling " indirect " ? they don't haver the strong feeling as the verbs followed by other prepositons or nouns ?
that just my guess , could you tell me more about it ?
many thanks .

[Rusty]

"think of something " and "think it "
"smell of something " and " smell it "
"complain of something" and "complain that "
'' cure of " and " cure something "
" approve of " and "approve something "
"accuse of " and " accuse sb as "
" suspect of " and " suspect sb "
" warn of "
Do these verbs that follow by "of " have a kind of feeling " indirect " ? they don't haver the strong feeling as the verbs followed by other prepositons or nouns ?
that just my guess , could you tell me more about it ?
many thanks . A dictionary will tell you if a verb is transitive (v.t.) or intransitive (v.i.). I used
http://www.m-w.com/ to check your verbs.

"think of something " and "think it " v.t., v.i.
"smell of something " and " smell it " v.t., v.i.
"complain of something" and "complain that " v.i.
'' cure of " and " cure something " v.t.,v.i.
" approve of " and "approve something " v.t., v.i.
"accuse of " and " accuse sb as " v.t., v.i.
" suspect of " and " suspect sb " v.t., v.i.
" warn of " v.t., v.i.
.
You can read about transitive and intransitive verbs at these websites, and I am sure there are many other similar sites.

http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/trnsintr.html
http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/grammar/archive/(in)transitiveverbs01.html (http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/grammar/archive/%28in%29transitiveverbs01.html)
http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/course/speech/1_3b.htm

[danmahaffey]

And Liuchunsheng, Rusty did not point out that there are differences in meaning too that a good dictionary will help you with.

For example, to cure smallpox and to cure Tommy of smallpox mean very different things. As do to smell a skunk and to smell of (like) a skunk.

If you still are puzzled with some words after looking them up, please ask us. We can help.

[liuchunsheng123456]

thank you very much for your recommendation ,but after checking them in the dictionary ,i am still puzzled about this problem . Could you give me a further explanation ?
thank you very much and i really like your answer .

[liuchunsheng123456]

could you give me a reply , thanks in advance .

[danmahaffey]

Liuchunsheng, I did not check back to see your response for some time. So I am sorry I am late in answering you.


To think of something is to get an idea or to remember something -- I don't know how to do this math problem, but I'll think of a way soon. I think of grandmother whenever I smell bread baking.

To think something is to believe or have in mind -- I think summer is my favorite time of year.


To smell of something is to smell like it -- My girlfriend always smells of fresh flowers.

To smell something is to detect an odor -- I smell smoke!


To complain of something is to say it is unpleasant -- The hotel guests complained of dirty towels.

To complain is to state a matter that is unpleasant -- The hotel guests complained to the manager that the towels were dirty.


To cure (someone) of something is to heal a sickness -- The doctors were heroes to cure Tommy of malaria.

To cure something is to treat a sickness and eliminate it -- I read in the newspaper that doctors think they have actually cured smallpox.


To approve of something is to agree with and permit it -- I don't think that Mother would approve of us staying up so late on a night before exams.

To approve something is to give it an official OK -- The town council approved a new speed limit for the road beside the school.


To accuse (somebody) of something is to make a charge that they commited a certain act -- The police accused the prisoner of robbery.

To accuse somebody as something is to name the person as the suspected guilty person -- Bugsy Malone was accused as the ringleader.


To suspect (somebody) of something is to think of them as committing a certain act -- The detective suspects the mayor of taking a bribe.

To suspect somebody is to think a person may be the guilty person -- The store keeper suspects the little children.


To warn somebody is to caution them -- My dad warned me not to drive like this.

To warn (somebody) of is to give them notice of danger -- The sirens warn the other vehicles of the oncoming fire truck.


I hope this helps.

[liuchunsheng123456]

i am certainly grateful to your answer, and it really help me a lot .
every best wishes to you .

[danmahaffey]

Good luck to you.