Figuring out Adjectives Plus Prepositions in Writing

 By: TOEFL consultant

Some adjectives followed by prepositions have different meanings. But, these adjectives must precede the following proper prepositions.

1.    FROM

(From) someone/something

Different

This book is different from mine.

2.    TO

a.       (To) someone

Engaged and married

I am engaged to Linda.

b.      (To) something

Similar

This article is similar to mine.

c.       (To) someone/something

Different

 His car is different to mine.

3.    IN

(In) something

Interested

She is not interested in Linguistics.

4.    ON

(On) something

Keen

I am keen on studying English.

5.    FOR

a.       (For) doing something

Sorry

I am sorry for kicking you last night.

b.      (For) something

Famous and Responsible

I was responsible for the mistakes.

6.    WITH

a.       (With) something

Bored, delighted, disappointed, fed up, impressed, pleased, satisfied, and sorry

I am fed up with studying mathematics.

b.      (With) someone (for) doing something

Angry, annoyed, and furious

I am annoyed with you for not inviting me to your wedding.

c.       (With) people

Crowded

The supermarket is crowded with people in Sunday.

7.    ABOUT

(About) something

Angry, annoyed, excited, furious, worried, and upset

I am furious about the test result.

8.    AT/BY

a.       (At/by) something

Amazed, astonished, shocked, and surprised

Her mother is shocked at the news.

b.      (At) doing something

Bad, brilliant, excellent, good, and hopeless

She is not good at working physics.

c.       (By) someone/something

Impressed

I am impressed by your skills.

9.    OF

a.       (Of) someone (to) do something/ (to) someone

Clever, generous, good intelligent, kind, mean, nice, polite, impolite, rude, silly, stupid, and unreasonable

It is very clever of her to work statistics.

She is impolite to her parents.

b.      (Of) someone/something

Afraid, ashamed, envious, fond, frightened, jealous, proud, suspicious, scared, and terrified

The child is frightened of the cat.

c.       (Of) something

Aware, conscious, capable, incapable, full, short, and tired

I am incapable of mathematics.



 References
Murphy, Raymond. 1985. English Grammar in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.