Home Grammar Adjective + Preposition ExercisesAdjective + OF, FOR & TO (Part 3 — Recall)

Adjective + OF, FOR & TO (Part 3 — Recall)

B2-C1 Level

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At advanced levels, mastering adjective + preposition combinations with of, for, and to requires moving beyond common phrases into the academic and formal register. With of: "incapable of" means unable to do something, "contemptuous of" shows strong disrespect, "mindful of" means carefully aware, "dismissive of" means treating as unimportant, "indicative of" means suggesting or pointing towards, and "worthy of" means deserving. These adjectives appear frequently in formal writing, news articles, and Cambridge C1 Advanced examination texts where precise vocabulary is expected.

With for: "liable for" means legally responsible, "eligible for" means qualified to receive something, "compensated for" means given payment for a loss, and "notorious for" means famous for something negative. With to: "hostile to" means aggressively opposed, "comparable to" means similar in quality or level, "integral to" means essential and inseparable, and "oblivious to" means completely unaware. This recall exercise removes multiple-choice options, requiring you to produce the correct preposition from memory — a far more demanding skill that mirrors real writing and speaking situations where no choices are provided.

Quick Rule

adjective + of (incapable / mindful / worthy) | adjective + for (liable / eligible / notorious) | adjective + to (hostile / comparable / integral)

1.She is incapable of telling a lie. (inability — use "of")
2.He isn't eligible for the scholarship this year. (qualification — use "for")
3.This evidence is indicative of a much larger problem. (suggestion — use "of")
4.Fresh vegetables are integral to a healthy diet. (essential — use "to")
5.The company was notorious for its poor working conditions. (negative fame — use "for")