Question 1

Why do adjectives take specific prepositions?

Accepted Answer

Adjective + preposition combinations are fixed collocations in English - they must be memorized. Unlike in some languages where the preposition is predictable, English uses specific prepositions with certain adjectives by convention. For example, we say "afraid OF" (not "afraid from"), "good AT" (not "good in"), and "interested IN" (not "interested for"). These patterns developed over centuries of English usage.

Question 2

Can an adjective take different prepositions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, some adjectives can take different prepositions depending on the meaning or context. For example: "angry WITH a person" but "angry ABOUT a situation". "Sorry FOR someone" (sympathy) but "sorry ABOUT something" (regret). "Good AT a skill" but "good FOR your health". Learning these distinctions is part of mastering English adjective + preposition patterns.

Question 3

How do I know which preposition an adjective takes?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, there is no universal rule - you must learn these through exposure and memorization. However, grouping by preposition helps: learn all "adjective + OF" combinations together (afraid of, proud of, aware of), then all "adjective + AT" combinations (good at, surprised at, bad at), and so on. Over time, patterns emerge through frequent use.

Question 4

Are adjective + preposition combinations tested in exams?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Adjective + preposition combinations appear frequently in Cambridge exams (FCE Use of English Part 2 and Part 4, CAE, CPE), IELTS Writing Task 2, and TOEFL. They are considered a marker of natural English usage. Mastering 50-80 common combinations will significantly improve your exam scores.

Question 5

What's the difference between 'good at' and 'good for'?

Accepted Answer

"Good AT" describes someone's skill or ability: "She is good at maths" (she has ability). "Good FOR" describes benefit or suitability: "Exercise is good for your health" (it benefits you). Similarly, "bad at" means lacking skill while "bad for" means harmful. The preposition completely changes the meaning.

Question 6

How many adjective + preposition combinations should I know?

Accepted Answer

For B2 level (upper-intermediate), aim to master 50-80 common combinations. For C1 (advanced), 100-150 combinations is a good target. Our exercises cover over 70 combinations across 8 prepositions (at, of, in, for, to, with, about, from), organized by difficulty level. Focus on the most frequent ones first (good at, afraid of, interested in) before learning less common combinations.

Adjective + Preposition Combinations

All 9 Exercises

Mixed Practice (Easy)

Mixed Practice (Intermediate)

Mixed Practice (Advanced)

OF, FOR & TO (Part 1)

OF, FOR & TO (Part 2)

OF, FOR & TO (Part 3 - Recall)

AT & IN

WITH, ABOUT & FROM

Final Test

What are adjective + preposition combinations?

Adjective + OF

Adjective + FOR

Adjective + TO

Adjective + AT

Adjective + IN

Adjective + WITH

Adjective + ABOUT

Adjective + FROM

What are common adjectives with OF?

afraid of, scared of, terrified of

proud of, ashamed of

aware of, conscious of

capable of, incapable of

tired of, fond of, jealous of

What are common adjectives with FOR?

famous for, known for

responsible for, accountable for

suitable for, appropriate for

grateful for, thankful for

ready for, prepared for, sorry for

What are common adjectives with TO?

similar to, identical to, equal to

married to, engaged to

addicted to, accustomed to

allergic to, sensitive to

dedicated to, committed to, close to, prone to

What are common adjectives with AT?

good at, bad at, terrible at

surprised at, shocked at, amazed at

brilliant at, excellent at, skilled at

What are common adjectives with IN?

interested in, keen on

involved in, engaged in

experienced in, skilled in

fluent in, proficient in

absorbed in, lost in, rich in

What are common adjectives with WITH, ABOUT, and FROM?

WITH: satisfied with, pleased with, familiar with

ABOUT: worried about, excited about, concerned about

FROM: different from, safe from, free from

How do I remember adjective + preposition combinations?

Learn in context

Group by preposition

Look for meaning patterns

Practice with spaced repetition

Use them in writing and speaking

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do adjectives take specific prepositions?

Can an adjective take different prepositions?

How do I know which preposition an adjective takes?

Are adjective + preposition combinations tested in exams?

What's the difference between 'good at' and 'good for'?

How many adjective + preposition combinations should I know?

Sources

Speaking Practice: Adjective + Preposition

Tips for Adjective + Preposition Discussion Practice

Free Downloads

Adjective + Preposition Infographics (2 Charts)

Worksheet (PDF)

Answer Key (PDF)

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