Adjective + preposition
Adjective + preposition
ABOUT
Use the following
adjectives followed by 'about'. Each group of adjectives have the same or
related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions.
- angry / annoyed /
furious about something
Example:
I'm really angry about our losses on the stock market!
- excited about
something
Example:
He's excited about his birthday party next week.
- worried / upset
about something
Example:
He's worried about his upcoming examinations.
- sorry about
something
Example:
I'm very sorry about Losing your book.
AT
Use the following
adjectives followed by 'at'. Each group of adjectives have the same or related
meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions.
- good / excellent /
brillant at something OR at doing something
Example:
They are excellent at planning fun parties.
- bad / hopeless at
something OR at doing something
Example:
Unfortunately, I'm hopeless at being on time.
AT / BY
Use the following
adjectives followed by 'at' or 'by'. Each group of adjectives have the same or
related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions.
- amazed / astonished
/ shocked / surprised at OR by something
Example:
I was amazed at his stamina.
FOR
Use the following
adjectives followed by 'for'. Each group of adjectives have the same or related
meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions.
- angry with someone
for something
Example:
I'm really angry with John for his total lack of responsibility.
- famous for something
Example:
She's famous for her watercolor paintings.
- responsible for
something
Example:
You'll have to speak to John, he's responsible for customer complaints.
- sorry for doing
something
Example:
He says he's sorry for shouting at you.
- (to feel or be)
sorry for someone
Example:
I really feel sorry for Pam.
FROM
Use the following
adjectives followed by 'from'.
- different from
somone / something
Example:
His photographs are very different from his paintings.
Adjective Preposition Combinations - # 2 - 'of
/ on / to / with'
OF
Use the following adjectives
followed by 'of'. Each group of adjectives have the same or related meanings.
Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions.
- nice / kind / good /
generous of someone (to do something)
Example:
It was very nice of him to buy me a present.
- mean of someone (to
do something)
Example:
It was very mean of Susan to say that to Tom.
- stupid / silly of
someone (to do something)
Example:
I'm afraid it was stupid of me to come.
- intelligent / clever
/ sensible of someone (to do something)
Example:
That was quite sensible of Tom.
- polite of someone
(to do something)
Example:
It was very polite of Peter to invite my sister to the party.
- impolite / rude of
someone (to do something)
Example:
I can't believe how rude it was of Jack to shout at his daughter in front of
all those people.
- unreasonable of
someone (to do something)
Example:
Don't be so hard on yourself! It's unreasonable of you to expect to
understand everything immediately.
- proud of something
or someone
Example:
I'm very proud of my daughter's wonderful progress in school.
- ashamed of someone
or something
Example:
She's ashamed of her bad grades.
- jealous / envious of
someone or something
Example:
She's really envious of her sister's wealth.
- aware / conscious of
something
Example:
Teens are often overly conscious of skin blemishes.
- capable / incapable
of something
Example:
Peter is quite capable of conducting the meeting on his own.
- fond of someone or
something
Example:
She is so fond of her niece.
- short of something
Example:
I'm afraid I'm short of cash tonight.
- tired of something
Example:
I'm tired of your complaining!
ON
Use the following
adjective followed by 'on'. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions.
- to be keen on
something
Example:
She is very keen on horses.
TO
Use the following
adjectives followed by 'to'. Each group of adjectives have the same or related
meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions.
- married / engaged to
someone
Example:
Jack is engaged to Jill.
- nice / kind / good /
generous to someone
Example:
She was very generous to me when I was staying with her.
- mean / impolite /
rude / unpleasant / unfriendly / cruel to someone
Example:
How can you be so unfriendly to your neighbors?
- similar to something
Example:
His painting is similar to Van Gough.
WITH
Use the following
adjectives followed by 'with'. Each group of adjectives have the same or
related meanings. Use the verb 'to be' with these expressions.
- angry / annoyed /
furious with someone for something
Example:
I'm furious with my brother for having lied to me!
- delighted / pleased
/ satisfied with something
Example:
He is quite satisfied with his results.
- disappointed with
something
Example:
She's really disappointed with her new car.
- bored / fed up with
something
Example:
Let's go. I'm fed up with this party.
- crowded with
(people, tourists, etc.)
Example:
Disneyland is crowded with tourists
in July.
Differences between Action and
Stative Verbs
All verbs in English are classified as either stative or action
verbs (also referred to as 'dynamic verbs'). Action verbs describe actions we
take (things we do) or things that happen. Stative verbs refer to the way
things 'are' - their appearance, state of being, smell, etc. The most important
difference between stative and action verbs is that action verbs can be used in
continuous tenses and stative verbs can not be used in continuous tenses.
For example:
Action Verbs
She's studying math with Tom at the moment. AND She
studies math with Tom every Friday.
They've been working since seven o'clock this morning. AND They worked
for two hours yesterday afternoon.
We'll be having a meeting when you arrive. AND We are going to meet next
Friday.
Stative Verbs
The flowers smell lovely. NOT Those flowers are smelling
lovely.
She heard him speak in Seattle Seattle
They'll love the concert tomorrow evening. NOT They'll be loving the
concert tomorrow evening.
Common Stative Verbs
There are many more action verbs than stative verbs. Here is a list
of some the most common stative verbs:
be
hate
like
love
need
belong
believe
cost
get
impress
know
reach
recognize
taste
think
understand
You may notice that some of these verbs can be used as action verbs
with different meanings. For example, the verb 'to think' can either express an
opinion, or the process of considering. In the first case, when 'think'
expresses an opinion it is stative:
I think she should work harder on her math.
She thinks he is a fantastic singer.
'Think', however, can also express the process of considering
something. In this case 'think' is an action verb:
They're thinking about buying a new house.
She's thinking of joining a health club.
Generally, stative verbs fall into four groups:
Verbs Showing Thought or Opinions
know
believe
understand
recognize
Verbs Showing Possession
have
own
belong
possess
Verbs Showing Senses
hear
smell
see
feel
Verbs Showing Emotion
love
hate
want
need
If you are unsure of whether a verb is an action verb or a stative
verb ask yourself the following question:
Does this verb relate some sort of process or a state?
If it relates a process, then the verb is an action verb. If it
relates a state, the verb is a stative verb.
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