What are adjectives + prepositions?
Some adjectives need a preposition after them before you add a noun or verb. We call these dependent prepositions. The preposition depends on the adjective — you cannot change it. For example, we say "afraid of" not "afraid about" or "afraid for". Learning these combinations helps you speak and write more naturally in English.
Common patterns
The most common prepositions with adjectives are: OF, AT, ON, IN, WITH, TO, and FOR. Each adjective has its own correct preposition. For example: afraid OF, good AT, keen ON, interested IN, angry WITH, married TO, responsible FOR. There is no grammar rule to explain why — you need to learn and remember these combinations.
How to use them
After the adjective + preposition, you can use a noun, gerund (verb + -ing), or noun phrase. Examples: "I am afraid of spiders" (noun), "She is good at swimming" (gerund), "He is interested in history" (noun). Remember: the preposition stays the same, but what comes after can change.
Adjectives + Prepositions List
| Preposition | Adjectives | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| of | afraid | She is afraid of spiders. | Fear / discomfort |
| aware / unaware | Are you aware of the risks? | Knowledge / consciousness | |
| fond | He is fond of jazz music. | Liking something | |
| proud / ashamed | She is proud of her results. | Feelings about achievements | |
| capable / incapable | He is capable of great work. | Ability / potential | |
| tired / sick | I'm tired of waiting. | Frustration / exhaustion | |
| at | good / bad / excellent / terrible | She is good at maths. | Skill level |
| surprised / amazed / shocked | I was surprised at the news. | Also used with by | |
| angry / annoyed / furious | He was angry at the decision. | Also angry with a person | |
| clever / skilled / hopeless | She's hopeless at cooking. | Skill level (informal) | |
| disappointed | We were disappointed at the result. | Also with for people | |
| on | keen | She's keen on photography. | Enthusiasm / interest |
| dependent / reliant | He is dependent on her help. | Reliance / need | |
| based | The film is based on a novel. | Origin / foundation | |
| focused / intent | Stay focused on your goal. | Concentration / purpose | |
| hard / easy | Don't be too hard on yourself. | Treatment / judgment | |
| with | angry / annoyed / furious / bored | She was annoyed with him. | Use with for people |
| pleased / satisfied / happy | I'm pleased with your progress. | Positive reaction | |
| familiar | Are you familiar with this topic? | Knowledge / experience | |
| disappointed | He was disappointed with her. | Use with for people | |
| obsessed / content | She's obsessed with fitness. | Strong interest / satisfaction | |
| about | worried / nervous / anxious | I'm worried about the exam. | Concern / apprehension |
| excited / enthusiastic | He's excited about the trip. | Positive anticipation | |
| certain / sure / unsure | Are you sure about this? | Confidence / doubt | |
| passionate / opinionated | She's passionate about environmental issues. | Strong feeling / conviction | |
| upset / touchy / sensitive | He's upset about the decision. | Emotional reaction |
Formula
✔ Positive
Subject
+
am/is/are
+
adjective
+
preposition
+
noun/gerund
I am afraid of dogs.
✖ Negative
Subject
+
am/is/are not
+
adjective
+
preposition
+
noun/gerund
She is not interested in football.
? Question
Am/Is/Are
+
subject
+
adjective
+
preposition
+
noun/gerund?
Are you good at English?
Examples
I am afraid of spiders.
Fear or worry · Common
My brother is very good at playing football.
Skill or ability · Common
She is keen on learning new languages.
Interest or enthusiasm · Formal
They are interested in art and music.
Interest or curiosity · Very common
He is angry with his friend because of the argument.
Emotion towards a person · Common
Are you excited about the trip?
Positive emotion · Very common
When to use it
Talking about feelings
Use these combinations when describing emotions or reactions to people or things.
"I am really excited about my new job!"
Describing skills
Say what you or others can do well using good at, bad at, skilled at.
"My sister is very good at drawing."
Relationships
Describe connections between people with adjectives like married to, related to.
"He is married to a doctor."
Interests and hobbies
Talk about what you enjoy or care about.
"Are you interested in science?"
Signal words
afraid of
good at
keen on
interested in
angry with
excited about
married to
responsible for
worried about
bored with
pleased with
famous for
proud of
aware of
capable of
Common Mistakes
✕
Wrong
I am afraid about spiders.
✓
Correct
I am afraid of spiders.
Afraid always needs OF, not ABOUT.
✕
Wrong
She is good in English.
✓
Correct
She is good at English.
Use AT for skills and abilities, not IN.
✕
Wrong
He is interested to football.
✓
Correct
He is interested in football.
Interested needs IN before a noun, not TO.
✕
Wrong
They are married with each other.
✓
Correct
They are married to each other.
Married always uses TO, not WITH.
✕
Wrong
I am responsible with the project.
✓
Correct
I am responsible for the project.
Responsible needs FOR, not WITH.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
What to Remember
- Some adjectives need a preposition after them before a noun or verb.
- The preposition depends on the adjective and cannot be changed or swapped.
- Common prepositions with adjectives are: of, at, on, in, with, to, for.
- Learn adjective-preposition pairs as fixed units, for example: afraid of, good at.
- Each adjective has only one correct preposition; using the wrong one is wrong.