In English, some adjectives are followed by specific prepositions. These combinations are called adjective + preposition collocations. You can’t always guess them from logic — they just “sound right” to native speakers and must be learned over time.
Why it's important
The same adjective can take different prepositions depending on what follows, and using the wrong one can confuse the meaning. For example:
- She’s angry with him. (She’s upset at a person)
- She’s angry about the mistake. (She’s upset at a situation)
Let’s look at some of the most common and useful adjective + preposition patterns.
Common adjective + preposition combinations
1. Adjective + at (skills and abilities)
- He’s good at playing the guitar.
- She’s terrible at spelling.
2. Adjective + in (fields or areas)
- They’re experienced in customer service.
- I’m interested in photography.
3. Adjective + of (opinions or feelings)
- That’s nice of you to say.
- She’s afraid of heights.
4. Adjective + about (thoughts, feelings, topics)
- He’s excited about the concert.
- They were nervous about the results.
5. Adjective + with (relationships or reactions)
- I’m angry with him.
- She’s happy with her results.
6. Adjective + to (attitudes or behavior toward someone)
- Be kind to your classmates.
- He’s always polite to strangers.
