Page 181 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

a f t e r a d j e c t i v e s : a f r a i d o f / f o r ,
Prepositions afraid of/for, e t c .
P r e p o s i t i o n s after adjectives:
etc.

adjectives are commonly followed by particular prepositions. You can find information
Some
Some adjectives are commonly followed by particular prepositions. You can find information
in a good dictionary. Here we will look at some adjectives that can be followed by
about these
about these in a good dictionary. Here we will look at some adjectives that can be followed by
preposition or another, depending on the meaning. Study these examples.
one
one preposition or another, depending on the meaning. Study these examples.

afraid + of/for concerned + about/with
afraid + of/for
concerned + about/with
I'm a little concerned about your exam
afraid of flying.
Janet had
always
been
• ¢ Janet had always been afraid of flying. ^ 9° • I'm a little concerned about your exam
leave the country,
(= worried)
They tried to
afraid
for
results.
• ¢ They tried to leave the country, afraid for • results. (= worried)
lives.
This section of the book
is concerned
their own
their own lives. • ¢ This section of the book is concerned
with (= about) adjectives.
with (= about) adjectives.
angry or annoyed + about/with
angry or annoyed + about/with
She
little annoyed about the delay.
felt a
• ¢ She felt a little annoyed about the delay. glad + for/of
glad + for/of
something)
I'm very glad for you.
(about something) • ¢ I'm very glad for you.
(about
I'm not angry with you, Paul.
I'd be glad of some help.
• ¢ I'm not angry with you, Paul. • ¢ I'd be glad of some help.
somebody)
(with
(with somebody)
pleased + about/at/with
pleased + about/at/with

Was he pleased about/at the news?
answerable + for/to • ¢ Was he pleased about/at the news?
answerable + for/to
He's really pleased with the car.
for
She is answerable
(= responsible for)
• ¢ She is answerable for (= responsible for) • ¢ He's really pleased with the car.
something)
the money that has disappeared. (with something)
(with
the money that has disappeared.
The committee is answerable only to (= has
She felt pleased with Paul.
• ¢ The committee is answerable only to (= has • ¢ She felt pleased with Paul.
the President.
its actions to)
somebody)
to explain
(with
to explain its actions to) the President. (with somebody)

about/for
anxious + about/for right + + about/for
anxious + about/for
right
anxious
Ministers are
increasingly
You're right about Tom. He is moving to
about
• ¢ Ministers are increasingly anxious about • ¢ You're right about Tom. He is moving to
(= worried about) the cost of health care. Spain.
Spain.
(= worried about) the cost of health care.
We're sending her to
(= want very much) the
a
I'm anxious
school that we
for
• ¢ I'm anxious for (= want very much) the • ¢ We're sending her to a school that we
work to be done as soon as possible. think is right for her.
work to be done as soon as possible.
think is right for her.

about/for
bad or good + at/for sorry + + about/for
bad or good + at/for
sorry
She's very good/bad at languages.
I'm
sorry about giving you such a hard
(=
• * She's very good/bad at languages. (= • ¢ I'm sorry about giving you such a hard
successful) time.
successful)
time.
You should drink this. It's good/bad for
felt
I felt really sorry for Susan
(=
• ¢ You should drink this. It's good/bad for • ¢ I felt really sorry for Susan (= felt do?
• ¢ He's very good with his hands. (= skilful)

(= healthy or beneficial)
for her), but what could I
you.
you. (= healthy or beneficial)
sympathy for her), but what could I do?
sympathy
also
also
good + about/to/with
good + about/to/with
She
felt good about winning the prize.
• ¢ She felt good about winning the prize.
(= pleased with herself)
(= pleased with herself)
Tom was good to us (= kind) when times
• * Tom was good to us (= kind) when times
hard.
were
were hard.
He's very good with his hands.
(=
skilful)
When a verb follows an adjective + preposition it takes an -ing form:
a
an
-ing form:
verb
adjective
follows
+ preposition
an
D
it takes
When
do something wrong.
I don't agree with smacking children if they
• ¢ I don't agree with smacking children if they do something wrong.
land
speed record.
for holding the world
famous
• ¢
He was
He was famous for holding the world land speed record.
Compare:
Compare:
report them to the police, and
You were
right to
• * You were right to report them to the police. and
You were right about seeing Mark in town. He's got a new job there.
• * You were right about seeing Mark in town. He's got a new job there.
anxious
and
We're
avoid problems,
to
• * We're anxious fo avoid problems. and
anxious
about not having enough time.
I'm
I'm anxious about not having enough time.
• ¢
Prepositions after verbs =
verbs
afer
Preoosiions => ERTIES