Prepositions after adjectives in English
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Prepositions after adjectives: explanations with examples and tests
Learning English involves mastering many grammatical constructions, among which prepositions following adjectives hold a special place. In this article, we will explore the main rules for using prepositions after adjectives, provide examples, and explain how to correctly choose the right preposition in different situations.
What Are Prepositions?
Prepositions are words that show the relationship between other words in a sentence. For example, prepositions can indicate direction (to), location (at), time (before), and more. They are essential for conveying meaning and context in sentences.
Prepositions After Adjectives
Adjectives often require specific prepositions to convey accurate meaning. Choosing the wrong preposition can alter or even distort the meaning of the sentence. Below are some of the most common adjectives paired with their corresponding prepositions.
Adjectives with the Preposition “About”
- Anxious about: concerned or worried about something
Example: She is anxious about her exams.
(She is worried about her exams.) - Excited about: very enthusiastic or eager about something
Example: I’m excited about the new project.
(I am looking forward to the new project.) - Worried about: feeling concerned or anxious about something
Example: They are worried about the future.
(They are concerned about what will happen in the future.)
Adjectives with the Preposition “For”
- Famous for: well-known for a particular reason
Example: The city is famous for its beautiful architecture.
(The city is known for its stunning buildings.) - Responsible for: accountable or in charge of something
Example: He is responsible for the team’s success.
(He is accountable for the achievements of the team.) - Suitable for: appropriate or fitting for a particular purpose
Example: This book is suitable for children.
(This book is appropriate for kids.)
Adjectives with the Preposition “Of”
- Afraid of: scared or fearful of something
Example: She is afraid of spiders.
(She has a fear of spiders.) - Proud of: feeling pleased or satisfied about something or someone
Example: He is proud of his achievements.
(He takes pride in his accomplishments.) - Capable of: having the ability or capacity to do something
Example: She is capable of solving complex problems.
(She has the ability to resolve difficult issues.)
Adjectives with the Preposition “To”
- Accustomed to: familiar with something through repeated experience
Example: I am accustomed to waking up early.
(I am used to getting up early.) - Similar to: resembling or having common traits with something
Example: This painting is similar to that one.
(This artwork resembles the other one.) - Addicted to: having a strong dependence on something
Example: He is addicted to video games.
(He has a strong habit of playing video games.)
Adjectives with the Preposition “At”
- Good at: skilled or proficient in something
Example: She is good at mathematics.
(She is proficient in math.) - Bad at: lacking skill or proficiency in something
Example: He is bad at cooking.
(He lacks skill in cooking.) - Surprised at: feeling astonished or taken aback by something
Example: I was surprised at the news.
(I was astonished by the information.)
Adjectives with the Preposition “With”
- Angry with: feeling upset or annoyed with someone
Example: She is angry with her brother.
(She is upset with her brother.) - Satisfied with: feeling content or pleased with something
Example: They are satisfied with the results.
(They are pleased with the outcomes.) - Familiar with: having knowledge or experience of something
Example: He is familiar with this topic.
(He knows about this subject.)
Adjectives with the Preposition “In”
- Interested in: showing curiosity or concern about something
Example: I am interested in learning new languages.
(I have a curiosity about acquiring new languages.) - Involved in: taking part in something or being engaged in an activity
Example: She is involved in community service.
(She participates in volunteer work.) - Rich in: containing a large amount of something valuable
Example: This region is rich in natural resources.
(This area has abundant natural resources.)
Tips for Learning Prepositions After Adjectives
- Memorize Combinations: The best way to remember prepositions after adjectives is to learn them as phrases. For example, “afraid of” rather than “afraid” alone.
- Practice Usage: Use the learned examples in your own sentences. This will help solidify the knowledge and understand the context.
- Read More in English: Reading books, articles, and news in English helps you see how these constructions are used in real life.
- Use Dictionaries: Dictionaries often provide examples of adjectives with their corresponding prepositions.
- Practice with Native Speakers: Communicating with native speakers can improve your understanding of the correct use of prepositions.
Prepositions after adjectives are an important aspect of English grammar that requires attention and practice. Learning these constructions will help you express your thoughts more accurately and correctly in English. Remember to memorize, practice, and improve your knowledge to confidently use these constructions in both speaking and writing.
Table of the Top 50 most common adjectives and prepositions used after them in English, with examples and explanations
Here is a comprehensive table of 50 common adjectives and the prepositions that typically follow them, along with examples and explanations:
Adjective | Preposition | Example | Explanation |
Afraid | of | She is afraid of spiders. | She fears spiders. |
Angry | with | He is angry with his friend. | He is upset with his friend. |
Angry | about | She is angry about the delay. | She is annoyed because of the delay. |
Anxious | about | They are anxious about their future. | They are worried about their future. |
Bad | at | I am bad at drawing. | I am not skilled in drawing. |
Capable | of | She is capable of leading the team. | She has the ability to lead the team. |
Familiar | with | She is familiar with the new software. | She knows the new software. |
Famous | for | The city is famous for its museums. | The city is well-known for its museums. |
Fond | of | He is fond of music. | He likes music a lot. |
Good | at | He is good at solving puzzles. | He is skilled in solving puzzles. |
Interested | in | They are interested in technology. | They are curious about technology. |
Involved | in | She is involved in charity work. | She participates in charity work. |
Satisfied | with | We are satisfied with the service. | We are happy with the service. |
Surprised | at | I was surprised at his reaction. | I was taken aback by his reaction. |
Proud | of | He is proud of his son. | He takes pride in his son. |
Related | to | The book is related to history. | The book is about history. |
Responsible | for | He is responsible for the project. | He is in charge of the project. |
Thankful | for | I am thankful for your help. | I appreciate your help. |
Typical | of | It is typical of her to be late. | It is common for her to be late. |
Different | from | This is different from what I expected. | This is not what I expected. |
Happy | about | She is happy about her promotion. | She is pleased because of her promotion. |
Concerned | about | They are concerned about the changes. | They are worried about the changes. |
Opposed | to | He is opposed to the new plan. | He is against the new plan. |
Sensitive | to | She is sensitive to criticism. | She reacts strongly to criticism. |
Engaged | in | He is engaged in research. | He is involved in research activities. |
Keen | on | He is keen on sports. | He is very interested in sports. |
Eligible | for | She is eligible for the scholarship. | She qualifies for the scholarship. |
Dependent | on | They are dependent on financial aid. | They rely on financial aid. |
Accustomed | to | I am accustomed to the cold. | I am used to the cold weather. |
Addicted | to | He is addicted to coffee. | He cannot stop consuming coffee. |
Aware | of | She is aware of the risks. | She knows about the risks. |
Capable | of | He is capable of great things. | He has the potential to achieve great things. |
Confident | of | She is confident of her success. | She is sure she will succeed. |
Crowded | with | The room was crowded with people. | The room was full of people. |
Delighted | with | He is delighted with the results. | He is very pleased with the results. |
Dependent | on | They are dependent on their parents. | They rely on their parents. |
Famous | for | The city is famous for its parks. | The city is well-known for its parks. |
Frightened | of | She is frightened of the dark. | She is scared of the dark. |
Full | of | The box is full of books. | The box contains many books. |
Grateful | for | I am grateful for your help. | I appreciate your assistance. |
Guilty | of | He is guilty of the crime. | He committed the crime. |
Happy | for | I am happy for your success. | I am pleased with your success. |
Impressed | by | She was impressed by his performance. | She admired his performance. |
Jealous | of | He is jealous of his brother. | He envies his brother. |
Known | for | He is known for his generosity. | He is well-known for being generous. |
Nervous | about | She is nervous about the test. | She is anxious about the test. |
Optimistic | about | They are optimistic about the future. | They have a positive outlook on the future. |
Pleased | with | He is pleased with his new job. | He is happy with his new employment. |
Proud | of | I am proud of my achievements. | I take pride in what I have accomplished. |
Sick | of | She is sick of waiting. | She is tired of waiting. |
Sorry | for | I am sorry for being late. | I apologize for my tardiness. |
Surprised | by | She was surprised by the news. | She was astonished by the news. |
Terrified | of | He is terrified of heights. | He has a fear of heights. |
Tired | of | They are tired of the noise. | They are fed up with the noise. |
Worried | about | She is worried about her health. | She is concerned about her health. |
Practice. Test Tasks – Prepositions After Adjectives in English
Test your knowledge by completing the following test tasks. Choose the correct preposition that fits each sentence and see how well you’ve understood the topic.