Common English fixed prepositional phrases
What are fixed prepositional phrases in English?
Fixed prepositional phrases in English are phrases consisting of a verb and a preposition that commonly collocate and typically occur together (For example: talk about – to talk about, divide into – to divide into). The prepositions in these phrases are fixed based on the norms of usage in English. If you use a different preposition, like “divide in”, it would not sound idiomatic. The use of specific prepositions in fixed phrases is broadly accepted in proper English. In this article we will look at some examples of fixed prepositional phrases and how they are used in English, in order to speak the language accurately.
Examples of Fixed Prepositional Phrases in English
afraid of — indicates feeling fear or anxiety towards a specific object, situation or phenomenon. Used when wanting to express scare or uncertainty about something concrete.
- She is afraid of flying in airplanes.
amazed at/by — used to express impression, admiration or wonder about something or someone.
- She was amazed at the beautiful artwork.
ashamed of — used to express feeling shame or embarrassment about something, someone or one’s actions.
- He was ashamed of his rude behavior.
bored with — used to express feeling boredom or weariness from a situation or activity.
- She was bored with the repetitive tasks at work.
disappointed with/about — used to express feeling disappointment about something or someone.
- I was disappointed with the movie; it didn’t meet my expectations.
eager for — used to express strong desire for something or aspiration to achieve something.
- She is eager for new opportunities in her career.
excited about — used to express strong enthusiasm, joy or anticipation about something.
- They are excited about the upcoming vacation.
fed up with — used to express weariness, annoyance or boredom resulting from prolonged or unpleasant experience.
- I am fed up with the constant traffic jams in this city.
fond of — used to express liking or admiration for something or someone. Indicates positive attitude and passion towards a specific thing or person.
- She is fond of reading books in her free time.
happy about/with — used to express joy, contentment resulting from a situation, event or outcome. Shows positive emotions and satisfaction.
- She is happy about the success of the project.
keen on — used to express strong interest, admiration or passion for something. Indicates great interest and desire to engage in something.
- He is keen on learning new languages.
nervous of — used to express feeling anxiety, stress or nervousness about something or someone. Shows inner tension or restlessness.
- She is nervous of public speaking.
proud of — used to express feeling pride about something or someone.
- She is proud of her daughter’s achievements.
satisfied with — used to express inner contentment, acceptance or happiness about something.
- He is satisfied with the outcome of negotiations.
shocked at/by — used to express strong impression, surprise or objection to something.
- She was shocked by the sudden news of the accident.
surprised at/by — used to express feeling unexpectedness or astonishment about something.
- I was surprised by the thoughtful birthday gift.
tired of — used to express feeling exhaustion or annoyance about something.
- She is tired of the constant stress at work.
worried about — used to express concern, anxiety or preoccupation about something.
- He is worried about the upcoming exam.
accustomed to — used to express being familiar with a condition or circumstance.
- She is accustomed to cold weather, having lived in the north for years.
aware of — used to say someone has understanding, knowledge or information about something.
- He is aware of the changes in company policy.
capable of — used to express one’s ability or competence to accomplish a task, overcome difficulties or produce a result.
- She is capable of handling complex projects with ease.
different from — used to express dissimilarity or contrast between two or more objects, concepts or individuals.
- Her approach is different from her colleague’s.
famous for — used to express what something or someone is renowned or recognized by the public for.
- Paris is famous for its iconic landmarks and rich history.
fit for — used to express suitability or appropriateness of something for a specific use, standards or needs.
- This room is fit for use as a home office.
guilty of — used to express legal or moral culpability for committing a specific act.
- He was found guilty of stealing company funds.
involved in — indicates participation of a person or object in a specific process or activity.
- She is actively involved in community service projects.
prepared for — used to express readiness of something or someone for a situation, task or event.
- He is well-prepared for the upcoming exam.
ready for — indicates that an object or person is set up for successful execution.
- The team is ready for the important presentation.
responsible for — used to indicate who has the duty or obligation for a specific matter, process or group.
- She is responsible for managing the timeline.
safe from — indicates that an object or person is secure or protected from a specific danger or threat.
- The vault kept valuables safe from theft.
the same as — used to express identity or equivalence between two objects, individuals or concepts.
- Her answer was the same as mine.
similar to — indicates that one thing has common traits or characteristics with another.
- The building is similar in style to the old one.
typical of — used to express something that is characteristic or exemplary of a specific type, group, place or situation.
- His behavior is typical of dedicated workers.
used to — indicates that something serves or is utilized regularly for a specific purpose or practice.
- The old factory now stores archival documents.
We suggest memorizing these common prepositional phrases in English. Knowing such constructions will help you express your thoughts and feelings freely and correctly in English. Read through the examples of each phrase’s usage to gain an understanding of how to properly apply them in practice.