Question 1

What are the most common adjective + preposition phrases in English?

Accepted Answer

The phrases you will hear and use most often are: "good at" and "bad at" for ability, "interested in" for topics you like, "afraid of" for fears, "worried about" for concerns, "different from" for comparisons, "responsible for" for duties, and "similar to" for things that are alike. These seven phrases cover most everyday situations and appear in almost every English textbook from A2 level onwards. Start by learning these well before moving to less common phrases. Write each one in a sentence — "I am good at drawing" — rather than just memorising the preposition alone, as this helps your brain remember the full pattern.

Question 2

Why do I keep choosing the wrong preposition?

Accepted Answer

Choosing the wrong preposition is normal and happens to nearly every English learner. The reason is that adjective + preposition phrases are not based on grammar rules — they are fixed phrases that developed through hundreds of years of usage. Your first language probably uses different prepositions (or no preposition at all) with the same adjectives, so your brain tries to translate directly. The solution is practice and repetition: the more times you see and use "good at" in sentences, the more natural it feels. Try reading English texts and underlining every adjective + preposition phrase you find — this trains your eye to notice the correct combinations in real English.

Question 3

Can I guess the correct preposition from the meaning of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes, yes. Adjectives about ability (good, bad, terrible) usually take "at." Adjectives about feelings towards a topic (worried, excited, curious) usually take "about." Adjectives about involvement (interested, involved, experienced) usually take "in." However, these are only general patterns, not rules — there are many exceptions. "Fond of" means you like something, but the preposition is "of," not "about." The safest approach is to learn each phrase individually and check when you are unsure. Over time, you will start to feel which preposition sounds right, just as native speakers do — but this feeling comes from lots of practice, not from logical rules.

Adjective + Preposition Mixed Practice (Easy)

Quick Rule

All 20 questions

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-ed vs -ing Adjectives

Conditionals

Present Perfect