Adjective + Preposition

-

 

Adjective + Preposition Combinations

There are many cases in which adjectives are combined with prepositions – but there is no rule stating when to use which combination. As you read and listen to more English, you will become more and more familiar with how these adjective-prepositions combinations are used.

Here are a few of the most common combinations of adjectives and prepositions in English:

at – surprised at, angry at, good at, terrible at

• I’m surprised at how fast my students are learning.
• My mother is angry at me because I forgot her birthday.
• Jamila is good at songwriting and painting.
• He’s terrible at math – he failed the class twice!

of  – proud of, afraid of, fond of, full of

• You practiced a lot and gave a great performance – I’m proud of you!
• Jewell is afraid of swimming in the ocean.
• The kids are very fond of the puppy.
• The mall is always full of teenagers on the weekend.

with – satisfied with, busy with, fed up with, associated with

• I wasn’t satisfied with the customer service at the bank.
• We’ve been working overtime lately because we’ve been busy with a new project.
• I was fed up with my boyfriend’s lies, so I ended the relationship.
• There are many health risks associated with smoking.

in – disappointed in, skilled in, interested in, involved in

• The teacher was disappointed in the behavior of the class.
• She was highly skilled in physics and chemistry.
• Giovanni is interested in classic English literature.
• Marlene is very involved in volunteer work.

*Notice that in can have a similar function to at. Ex) She’s skilled at soccer. She’s skilled in playing soccer.

for – known for, good for, terrible for, excellent for

• Brazil is known for its wonderful music and friendly people.
• Chocolate and red wine are actually good for your heart!
• Looking at screens all day is bad for your eyesight.
• Playing memory games is excellent for improving your brain function.

to – married to, friendly to, similar to, rude to

• He’s married to an Australian woman.
• Everyone I met on the trip was friendly to me.
• The movie is very similar to the book.
• The little boy was punished after being rude to his grandfather.

https://www.espressoenglish.net/common-adjective-preposition-combinations/