- adjectives and the prepositions

- Some adjectives can be followed by either

of two or more prepositions
- adjectives with prepositions may be
followed
by noun or noun phrase.
- When followed by a verb, the -ing form
must be used.
1. List of common adjectives and the prepositions that normally
follow them
Gerund after prepositions (adjectives)
We use the Gerund after prepositions.
adjective + preposition

We use the Gerund after the following phrases:

afraid of They are afraid of losing the match.
angry about/at Pat is angry about walking in the rain.
bad at
John is good at working in the garden.
good at
interested in Are you interested in writing poems?
keen on Joe is keen on drawing.
proud of She is proud of riding a snowboard.
sick of We're sick of sitting around like this.
sorry about/for He's sorry for eating in the lesson.
tired of I'm tired of waiting you.
used to She is used to smoking.
worried about I'm worried about making mistakes.
clever at He is clever at skateboarding.
crazy about The girl is crazy about playing tennis.
disappointed
He is disappointed about seeing such a bad report.
about/at
excited about We are excited about making our own film.
famous for Sandy is famous for singing songs.
fed up with I'm fed up with being treated as a child.
fond of Hannah is fond of going to parties.
glad about She is glad about getting married again.
happy about/at The children are not happy about seeing a doctor.
2. Some adjectives can be followed by either of two or more prepositions

annoyed about something

The Ministry was annoyed about criticism in the paper

annoyed with someone

They were annoyed with us for charging them

good/bad at something
I'm very bad at mathematics.

good/bad for something

The expected cut in interest will be good for industry.

good/bad with something

She should be in Marketing. She's very good with customers.
responsible to someone
The Export Manager is responsible to the Sales Director.

responsible for something

He is responsible for preparing handouts.

sorry about something

I am sorry about the job. It's a shame you didn't get it.

sorry for doing something

He said he was sorry for keeping me waiting.

(feel) sorry for someone

I feel very sorry for Peter. He has been fired.

3. These combinations of adjectives with prepositions may be

followed by noun or noun phrase.

The students were very excited about the results of the experiment.
4. When followed by a verb, the -ing form must be used.

Please let me know whether you would be interested in arranging

a meeting.
accustomed to  afraid of  answerable to  attached to
aware of  capable of dependent on  different to 
doubtful about  enthusiastic about  excited about  famous for 
fond of guilty of  interested in  keen on
opposed to  pleased with  popular with proud of 
related to   rich in  satisfied with  serious about
similar to  suitable for suspicious of  used to (=
accustomed to)
 We were curious ___ what they were doing. (about, for)
  We were curious about what they were doing.

The design of most computers is based __ binary arithmetic. (for,

on)
The design of most computers is based on binary arithmetic.
1. We are ready ____ anything. (for, to)
2. I was anxious ____ her. (about, to)
3. Photographic film is sensitive ____ light. (of, to)
4. Seals are adapted ___ life in the water. (at, to)
5. He is descended ____ Mary, Queen of Scots. (from, of)
6. Cotton is more resistant ___ fire than nylon is. (for, to)
7. After the show, the radio station was besieged ____
telephone calls. (from, with)
8. She was praised _______ her achievements. (for, to)
9. The public library is accessible _____ everyone. (to, with)
10. Are you familiar ________ the procedures? (for, with)
11. They were overjoyed ______ the news. (at, to)
12. We are proud _______ our accomplishments. (for, of)
13. I was pleased ________ the results. (of, with)
14. Are you aware ________ the risks involved? (of, with)
15. Lack of exercise can be detrimental ______ one's health.
(of, to)
16. We are satisfied ________ the arrangement. (for, with)
17. She is interested _______ animals. (for, in)
18. He is well qualified _______ the job. (for, to)
19. Young children are often suspicious ___ strangers.
(of, to)
20. A knowledge of mathematics is essential ________ an
engineer. (to, with)
8. She was praised for her achievements.
9. The public library is accessible to everyone.
10. Are you familiar with the procedures?
11. They were overjoyed at the news.
12. We are proud of our accomplishments.
13. I was pleased with the results.
14. Are you aware of the risks involved?
15. Lack of exercise can be detrimental to one's health.
16. We are satisfied with the arrangement.
17. She is interested in animals.
18. He is well qualified for the job.
19. Young children are often suspicious of strangers.
20. A knowledge of mathematics is essential to an
engineer.
 We were curious _____ what they were doing. (about, for)
    We were curious about what they were doing. (about, for)

The design of most computers is based __ binary arithmetic.

(for, on)
The design of most computers is based on binary arithmetic.

1. We are ready for anything.

2. I was anxious about her.
3. Photographic film is sensitive to light.
4. Seals are adapted to life in the water.
5. He is descended from Mary, Queen of Scots.
6. Cotton is more resistant to fire than nylon is.
7. After the show, the radio station was besieged with
telephone calls.