Adjectives and prepositions
Do you know how to use adjectives with prepositions like interested in or similar to?
Look at these examples to see how adjectives are used with prepositions.
- I'm interested in the idea.
- My jacket is similar to yours.
- She's brilliant at maths.
- My neighbour is angry about the party.
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
Some adjectives carry certain prepositions. There are no grammatical rules about which preposition goes with which adjective, so it's a good idea to learn them together. To help you with this, jot down a phrase or new word in a phrase in your notebook.
However, there are some patterns that can help you. Let's look at them first. Remember that a preposition is followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form).
With at
We use at with adjectives like good/bad/amazing/brilliant/terrible, etc. to talk about skills and abilities.
- He's really good at English.
- She's amazing at the piano.
- They're terrible at organising anything.
- I'm not very good at drawing.
With about
We often use about with adjectives of feelings like angry/excited/happy/nervous/sad/stressed/worried, etc. to explain what is causing that feeling.
- I'm angry about the decision.
- He's nervous about the presentation.
- She's excited about the new job.
- They were worried about the exam.
With of
However, sometimes we use of with feelings.
- She was afraid of telling her mum.
- I'm frightened of having an accident.
- He's scared of flying.
- You should be proud of your progress.
With to
We can use to to show the connection between people or things.
- He's married to the director.
- I'm addicted to my phone.
- I'm allergic to nuts.
- It's similar to the old one.
We can also use to to talk about someone's behaviour towards someone else.
- They were really friendly to me.
- Was he nice to you?
- He is always polite to everyone.
- She was very rude to the waitress.
Here are some other useful adjectives with prepositions.
With for
- Exercise is good for you.
- Stress is bad for you.
- The town is famous for its cheese.
- I'm responsible for the financial side of the business.
With in
- She's interested in the project.
- They want someone who's experienced in design.
- I didn't want to get involved in the argument.
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