Adjective + Preposition
1. What are adjective + preposition combinations?
Some adjectives are commonly followed by a specific preposition.
We use them to add more information about feelings, opinions, or situations.
Structure:
subject + (be / feel / seem) + adjective + preposition + noun/pronoun/-ing
Examples:
- I am interested in music.
- She is good at tennis.
- He is afraid of dogs.
After the preposition, the object can be a noun, a pronoun, or a verb in the -ing form:
- She is good at tennis. (noun)
- I’m angry about it. (pronoun)
- He is interested in learning English. (-ing form)
-ing form or to-infinitive?
After a preposition, use the -ing form, not to + verb:
- She is afraid of flying.
- I’m sorry for shouting.
- He is interested in learning Spanish.
This pattern is also common when the adjective describes an activity:
- She is good at explaining things.
- He is responsible for closing the shop.
Some adjectives are followed by to + infinitive instead. Compare the meaning and structure:
- She is afraid to fly. (She does not want to take a flight.)
- I’m sorry to hear the news. (I feel sad about the news.)
- We’re keen to start. (We are eager to start.)
2. Common adjective + preposition combinations
Very common (learn these first)
- interested in → I’m interested in art.
- good at → She’s good at maths.
- bad at → He’s bad at cooking.
- afraid of → They’re afraid of spiders.
- happy about → I’m happy about the result.
- proud of → She’s proud of her work.
Also very useful
- excited about → We’re excited about the trip.
- worried about → He’s worried about the exam.
- angry about → She’s angry about the mistake.
- angry with → She’s angry with her brother.
- famous for → The city is famous for its food.
- tired of → I’m tired of this noise.
- different from → My new school is different from my old one.
- similar to → Your jacket is similar to mine.
- keen on → She’s keen on photography. (mainly British English)
- married to → He’s married to a doctor.
- satisfied with → We’re satisfied with the result.
- ashamed of → She was ashamed of her behaviour. (Behaviour is the British spelling; American English uses behavior.)
- capable of → They’re capable of doing the work.
More useful B1 combinations
| Adjective | Preposition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| aware | of | I’m aware of the problem. |
| full | of | The bag is full of books. |
| fond | of | She’s fond of her old teacher. |
| responsible | for | He’s responsible for the project. |
| sorry | for | I’m sorry for being late. (apology) |
| dependent | on | The result is dependent on the weather. |
| sorry | about | I’m sorry about the noise. (regret about a thing) |
| annoyed | about | She’s annoyed about the delay. |
| bored | with | We’re bored with this game. |
| annoyed | with | He’s annoyed with his colleague. |
| disappointed | with | I’m disappointed with the service. |
| disappointed | in | Her parents were disappointed in her. |
| disappointed | by | I was disappointed by the ending. |
For pity, use feel sorry for: I feel sorry for him.
Different from is standard in both British and American English. Different to is also common in British English, while different than is more common in American English.
3. Common mistakes
❌ He is married with a doctor.
✅ He is married to a doctor.
❌ She’s good in tennis.
✅ She’s good at tennis.
Be careful: angry about names the cause, while angry with names the person:
- Maya is angry about the cancelled meeting.
- Maya is angry with Tom because he cancelled it.
Quick check
Try one question now
Check your answer when you are ready.
4. Key takeaway
In these expressions, the preposition is usually fixed for a given meaning, so learn the whole adjective + preposition combination.
Notice meaning-changing pairs such as angry about a situation and angry with a person.
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Participial adjectives and complements
B1Adjective + Preposition
29 wordsLast updated August 23, 2026