GV

Prepositions After Adjectives

Fixed combinations: afraid of, good at, interested in, proud of

intermediate

When to Use Prepositions After Adjectives

  • •Afraid OF: I'm afraid of spiders.
  • •Good/Bad AT: She's good at math. He's bad at cooking.
  • •Interested IN: I'm interested in history.
  • •Proud OF: We're proud of you.
  • •Different FROM: This is different from that. (UK: different to)

How to Form Prepositions After Adjectives

Affirmative (+)

Be + adjective + preposition + noun/-ing

Negative (-)

Be + not + adjective + preposition

Question (?)

Be + subject + adjective + preposition...?

💡 These are fixed combinations that must be memorized.

Examples of Prepositions After Adjectives

✓I'm interested in learning English.

✗I'm interested to learn English.

Interested takes 'in', not 'to'.

✓She's good at playing piano.

✗She's good in playing piano.

Good takes 'at' for skills.

✓He's afraid of flying.

✗He's afraid from flying.

Afraid takes 'of'.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions After Adjectives

💡 Practice Tips for Prepositions After Adjectives

  • • OF: afraid, proud, tired, fond, aware, capable.
  • • AT: good, bad, excellent, terrible, surprised, amazed.
  • • IN: interested, involved, successful.
  • • WITH: pleased, satisfied, bored, angry, fed up.
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.I'm really good   math — I usually get top marks.
  2. 2.They've been married   each other for fifteen years.
  3. Question 3: I'm getting bored blank the same routine every day. (= losing interest in)
    3.I'm getting bored the same routine every day. (= losing interest in)
  4. Question 4: Are you afraid blank flying? (= scared of)
    4.Are you afraid flying? (= scared of)
  5. Question 5: His parents are very proud blank his achievements at school.
    5.His parents are very proud his achievements at school.
  6. Question 6: I'm not interested blank politics at all. (negative form)
    6.I'm not interested politics at all. (negative form)
  7. Question 7: My new flat is quite different blank the old one — much bigger and brighter.
    7.My new flat is quite different the old one — much bigger and brighter.
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