Introduction

Are you still confused whether to use at or in with good? Should you say sorry about or sorry for? What’s the difference? Well, you are going to learn some of the most common adjective preposition combinations in this new Grammar episode from English Plus podcast. You will learn common combinations and you will have the chance to practice what you will learn all in one place.

Audio Episode

Adjective Preposition Combinations

NICE OF YOU, NICE TO ME

nice / kind / good / generous / polite / honest / stupid / silly etc. OF somebody (to do something)

Thank you. It was very nice of you to help me.

It was stupid of me to go out without a coat in such cold weather.

(be) nice / kind / good / generous / polite / rude / friendly / cruel etc. TO somebody

They have always been very nice to me. (not with me)

Why were you so unfriendly to Lucy?

ADJECTIVE + ABOUT / WITH

angry / annoyed / furious / upset ABOUT something | WITH somebody FOR doing something

There’s no point in getting angry about things that don’t matter.

Are you annoyed with me for being late?

Lisa is upset about not being invited to the party.

excited / worried / nervous / happy etc. ABOUT something

Are you nervous about the exam?

pleased / satisfied / happy / delighted / disappointed WITH something you get or experience

They were delighted with the present I gave them.

Were you happy with your exam results?

ADJECTIVE + AT / BY / WITH / OF

surprised / shocked / amazed / astonished / upset AT / BY something

Everybody was surprised at the news. or … by the news.

I hope you weren’t shocked by what I said. or … at what I said.

impressed WITH / BY somebody/something

I’m very impressed with (or by) her English. It’s very good.

fed up / bored WITH something

I don’t enjoy my job anymore. I’m fed up with it. / I’m bored with it.

tired OF something

Come on, let’s go! I’m tired of waiting.

SORRY ABOUT / FOR

sorry ABOUT a situation or something that happened

I’m sorry about the mess. I’ll clear it up later.

Sorry about last night. (= Sorry about something that happened last night)

sorry FOR / ABOUT something you did or caused

I’m sorry for shouting at you yesterday. (or sorry about shouting)

Sorry for the delay. (or Sorry about the delay)

You can also say ‘I’m sorry I (did something)’:

I’m sorry I shouted at you yesterday.

feel / be sorry FOR somebody in a bad situation

I feel sorry for Mark. He’s had a lot of bad luck. (not I feel sorry about Mark)

ADJECTIVE + OF

afraid / scared / frightened / terrified OF …

‘Are you afraid of spiders?’ ‘Yes, I’m terrified of them.’

fond / proud / ashamed / jealous / envious OF …

Why is he so jealous of other people?

suspicious / critical / tolerant OF …

They didn’t trust me. They were suspicious of my motives.

aware / conscious OF …

‘Did you know he was married?’ ‘No, I wasn’t aware of that.’

capable / incapable OF …

I’m sure you are capable of doing the job well.

full / short OF …

Amy is a very active person. She’s always full of energy.

I’m a bit short of money. Can you lend me some?

typical OF …

He’s late again. It’s typical of him to keep everybody waiting.

certain / sure OF or ABOUT …

I think she’s arriving this evening, but I’m not sure of that. or … not sure about that.

ADJECTIVE + AT / TO / FROM / IN / ON / WITH / FOR

good / bad / brilliant / better / hopeless etc. AT …

I’m not very good at repairing things. (not good in repairing things)

married / engaged TO …

Louise is married to an American. (not married with)

but Louise is married with three children. (= she is married and has three children)

similar TO …

Your handwriting is similar to mine.

different FROM or different TO …

The film was different from what I’d expected. or … different to what I’d expected.

interested IN …

Are you interested in art?

keen ON …

We stayed at home. Chris wasn’t keen on going out.

dependent ON … (but independent OF …)

I don’t want to be dependent on anybody.

crowded WITH (people etc.)

The streets were crowded with tourists. (but … full of tourists)

famous FOR …

The Italian city of Florence is famous for its art treasures.

responsible FOR …

Who was responsible for all that noise last night?

Practice

Choose the correct preposition. (In some sentences, more than one preposition is possible)

1. 
They were delighted ______ the present I gave them.

2. 
It was nice ______ you to come and see me when I was ill.

3. 
Why are you always so rude ______ people? Why can’t you be more polite?

4. 
We always have the same food every day. I’m fed up ______ it.

5. 
We had a good holiday, but we were disappointed ______ the hotel.

6. 
I can’t understand people who are cruel ______ animals.

7. 
I was surprised ______ the way he behaved. It was completely out of character.

8. 
I’ve been trying to learn Japanese, but I’m not very satisfied ______ my progress.

9. 
Tanya doesn’t look very well. I’m worried ______ her.

10. 
I’m sorry ______ yesterday. I completely forgot we’d arranged to meet.

11. 
There’s no point in feeling sorry ______ yourself. It won’t help you.

12. 
Are you still upset ______ what I said to you yesterday?

13. 
Some people say Kate is unfriendly, but she’s always been very nice ______ me.

14. 
I’m tired ______ doing the same thing every day. I need a change.

15. 
We interviewed ten people for the job, and we weren’t impressed ______ any of them.

16. 
Vicky is annoyed ______ me because I didn’t agree with her.

17. 
I’m sorry ______ the smell in this room. I’ve just finished painting it.

18. 
I was shocked ______ what I saw. I’d never seen anything like it before.

19. 
Jack is sorry ______ what he did. He won’t do it again.

20. 
The hotel was incredibly expensive. I was amazed ______ the price of a room.

21. 
Paul made the wrong decision. It was honest ______ him to admit it.

22. 
You’ve been very generous ______ me. You’ve helped me a lot.

23. 
Our neighbors were very angry ______ the noise we made.

24. 
Our neighbors were furious ______ us for making so much noise.

25. 
Amy is always full ______ energy.

26. 
My hometown is not a very interesting place. It’s not famous ______ anything.

27. 
Kate is very fond ______ her younger brother.

28. 
You look bored. You don’t seem interested ______ what I’m saying.

29. 
‘Our flight departs at 10.35.’ ‘Are you sure ______ that?’

30. 
I wanted to go out for a meal, but nobody else was keen ______ the idea.

31. 
These days everybody is aware ______ the dangers of smoking.

32. 
The station platform was crowded ______ people waiting for the train.

33. 
Mark has no money of his own. He’s completely dependent ______ his parents.

34. 
We’re short ______ staff in our office right now. We need more people to do the work.

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<a href="https://englishpluspodcast.com/author/dannyballanowner/" target="_self">Danny Ballan</a>

Danny Ballan

Author

Danny is a podcaster, teacher, and writer. He worked in educational technology for over a decade. He creates daily podcasts, online courses, educational videos, educational games, and he also writes poetry, novels and music.

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