Combining Adjective + Preposition in English: Adjective Government
By Author Giljonnys Dias da Silva
In English, certain adjectives are naturally followed by specific prepositions to form meaningful expressions. This combination is known as “adjective government”. It refers to the grammatical rule where an adjective "governs" or requires a certain preposition to be used with it. These combinations are essential for expressing emotions, opinions, states of being, and relationships between ideas.
Although there’s no strict logical rule for which preposition follows which adjective, native speakers learn them naturally through usage. For English learners, especially Portuguese speakers, it’s important to memorize common adjective + preposition combinations and practice them in context.
She is afraid of spiders.
Ela tem medo de aranhas.
He is interested in learning new languages.
Ele está interessado em aprender novos idiomas.
She is good at playing the piano.
Ela é boa em tocar piano.
They are proud of their achievements.
Eles estão orgulhosos de suas conquistas.
I'm excited about the upcoming vacation.
Estou animado com as próximas férias.
He is tired of waiting for the bus.
Ele está cansado de esperar pelo ônibus.
This book is different from the one I read last week.
Este livro é diferente do que eu li na semana passada.
Paris is famous for its landmarks.
Paris é famosa por seus pontos turísticos.
His opinion is similar to mine.
A opinião dele é semelhante à minha.
She is angry at her friend for being late.
Ela está brava com sua amiga por estar atrasada.
Common Adjective + Preposition Combinations
Here’s a list of frequently used adjective + preposition combinations, with English examples and their Brazilian Portuguese translations.
The words somebody, something and some place were written in bold and italics because they are replaced in English sentence constructions.
absorbed in something
accomplished in something
accountable for something
accountable to somebody
accused of something
accustomed to something
acquainted with something
addicted to something
affectionate to somebody
affectionate towards somebody
afraid of somebody/something
agreeable to somebody/something
akin to something
alarmed at somebody/something
alarmed by somebody/something
alien to somebody
amazed at something
amazed by something
amiss about something
amiss with something
angry about something
angry at somebody
angry with somebody for something
annoyed about something
annoyed by something
annoyed with somebody
annoyed with somebody for something
anxious about something
anxious for somebody
applicable to somebody/something
appreciative of something
ashamed of somebody/something
associated with something
astonished at something
astonished by something
attentive to somebody/something
aware of something
bad at something
bad for somebody/something
based on something
beneficial for something
beneficial to somebody/something
bent on something
blessed with something
blind in something
blind to something
bored of somebody/something
bored with somebody/something
bored with something
born in some place
born into something
born of somebody
born to somebody
born with something
brilliant at something
busy for something
busy with somebody/something
capable of something
careful about something
careful of something
careful with something
cautious about something
centered on something
centered upon something
certain about something
certain of something
charged with something
clever at something
clever of somebody
clever with something
committed to something
common in something
common to somebody/something
competent at something
competent for something
competent in something
composed of something
compounded of something
concerned about something
concerned at something
concerned by something
concerned for something
concerned in something
concerned over something
condemned to something
confident about something
confident in something
confident of something
conscious of something
content with something
contrary to something
convicted of something
convinced by somebody/something
convinced of something
crazy about something
critical of somebody/something
crowded with somebody
cruel to somebody
cruel to somebody/something
cured of something
dedicated to something
delighted about something
delighted at something
delighted by something
delighted for somebody
delighted with something
dependent on somebody for something
dependent on somebody/something
dependent upon somebody for something
dependent upon somebody/something
deprived of something
desirous of something
despairing of something
destitute of something
detrimental to somebody/something
devoted to something
different from somebody/something
different in something
different to somebody/something
diffident about something
diffident of something
disappointed about something
disappointed at something
disappointed by something
disappointed in something
disappointed with somebody/something
discouraged by something
disgusted at somebody/something
disgusted by somebody/something
disgusted in somebody
disgusted with somebody/something
disgusted with yourself
dishonest about something
dishonest of somebody
dishonest with somebody
disobedient to somebody/something
disrespectful to somebody/something
earnest in something
easy about something
easy for somebody
easy of something
eligible for something
emphatic about something
engaged in something
engaged to somebody
engaged with somebody/something
envious of somebody
equal in something
equal to somebody/something
equivalent of something
equivalent to something
excellent for something
excited about something
excited at something
excited by something
excited for somebody/something
exhausted from something
exposed to something
faithful to somebody/something
false of somebody
false to somebody
familiar to somebody
familiar with something
famous as somebody
famous for something
fatigued from something
fatigued with something
fearful about something
fearful for somebody
fearful of something
fed up with something
fit for somebody/something
fluent in something
fond of somebody/something
free from something
free of something
friendly to somebody
friendly towards
frightened about something
frightened of somebody/something
frightened for somebody
full of something
furious about something
furious at something
furious with somebody for something
generous in something
generous of somebody
generous to somebody
generous with something
glad about something
glad for somebody
glad of something
good about something
good at something
good for something
good of somebody
good to somebody
good with something
grateful for something
grateful to somebody
greedy for something
grounded in something
grounded on something
guilty of something
happy about something
happy at something
happy for somebody
happy in something
happy with somebody/something
harmful to somebody/something
honest about something
honest to somebody
honest with somebody
hopeful about something
hopeful of something
hopeless at something
hopeless with something
identical to somebody/something
identical with somebody/something
ignorant about something
ignorant of something
ill with something
immaterial to somebody/something
immersed in something
impartial to somebody/something
impatient at something
impatient of somebody
impatient with somebody/something
impolite of somebody
impolite to somebody
important for somebody/something
important to somebody/something
impressed at something
impressed by somebody/something
impressed with something
improper about something
improper for somebody/something
indifferent to something
indispensable for something
indispensable to somebody/something
indulgent to somebody
indulgent towards somebody
indulgent with somebody
infected by something
infected with something
infested with something
innocent of something
insincere to somebody
insistent about something
insistent on something
intelligent of somebody
intent on something
intent upon something
interested in something
intimate with somebody
invisible in something
invisible to somebody/something
involved in something
irrelevant to somebody/something
jealous of somebody
keen on something
kind of somebody
kind to somebody
known for something
lame in something
lax in something
level with something
liable for something
liable to something
lost to something
lost without somebody/something
loyal to somebody/something
mad about something
mad at somebody
mad for somebody/something
mad on somebody/something
mad with somebody/something
made of something
married to somebody
mean to somebody
mean with something
mindful of somebody/something
mistaken about somebody/something
moved by something
native of some place
nervous about something
nervous of somebody/something
nice of somebody
nice to somebody
obedient to somebody/something
obliged to somebody
obliged to somebody for something
occupied in something
occupied with something
opposed to something
overcome by something
overcome with something
overwhelmed by something
overwhelmed with something
partial to somebody/something
particular about something
particular to somebody/something
pleasant to somebody
pleased about something
pleased at something
pleased for somebody
pleased with somebody/something
polite to somebody
popular among somebody
popular with somebody
previous to something
productive of something
proficient in something
proper to something
proud of somebody/something
quick at something
radiant in something
radiant with something
ready for somebody/something
ready with something
reduced to something
relative to somebody/something
relevant for somebody/something
relevant to somebody/something
reliable to somebody
remembered for something
responsive to somebody
requisite for something
requisite to something
respectful of somebody
responsible for somebody/something
responsible to somebody/something
responsible with something
right about something
right for somebody
rude of somebody
rude to somebody
sad about something
sad at something
sad for somebody/something
satisfied of something
satisfied with somebody/something
scared of somebody/something
sensible about something
sensible for something
sensible of somebody
sensitive to something
serious about somebody/something
serious for somebody/something
sincere to somebody
shocked at somebody/something
shocked by somebody/something
short of something
sick of something
significant for somebody
significant to somebody
silly of somebody
similar to something
slow at something
slow for something
slow in something
slow of something
sorry about something
sorry for somebody
steeped in something
strong on something
stupid of somebody
subordinate to somebody/something
suitable for somebody/something
sure of something
surprised at something
surprised by something
suspicious about something
suspicious of something
terrified of somebody/something
thankful for something
thoughful of something
thoughtless of something
tired from something
tired of something
tired with something
tolerant of something
true for somebody/something
true of somebody/something
true to somebody/something
truthful about something
truthful with somebody
typical of somebody
unfaithful to somebody
unfriendly to somebody
unkind about somebody
unkind to somebody
unpleasant to somebody
unreasonable of somebody
unreliable to somebody
untrue to somebody/something
untruthful about something
untruthful with somebody
unworthy of somebody/something
unfit for somebody/something
upset about something
upset by something
upset over something
used to something
veiled in something
versed in something
visible between something
visible from something
visible to somebody/something
weak in something
wise of somebody
wise to somebody/something
worried about something
worthy of somebody/something
wrong about somebody/something
wrong with somebody/something
zealous in something
Why is this important?
In Brazilian Portuguese, prepositions often differ, so translating directly might lead to errors. For example:
I'm good at math.
Sou bom em matemática.
Note that English uses at, but Portuguese uses em.
Learning these pairs improves fluency and prevents awkward or incorrect
sentences.
She's afraid of spiders.
Ela tem medo de aranhas.
He’s good at painting.
Ele é bom em pintura.
I'm interested in science fiction.
Estou interessado em ficção científica.
Paris is famous for its cuisine.
Paris é famosa por sua culinária.
We’re tired of waiting.
Estamos cansados de esperar.
She’s proud of her achievements.
Ela está orgulhosa de suas conquistas.
He is responsible for the budget.
Ele é responsável pelo orçamento.
They are excited about the trip.
Eles estão empolgados com a viagem.
I'm accustomed to waking up early.
Estou acostumado a acordar cedo.
She’s worried about the test.
Ela está preocupada com a prova.
Tips for Learning Adjective + Preposition Combinations
Make flashcards with the adjective, preposition, and example sentence.
Practice using them in real situations (writing or speaking).
Listen to native speakers of English (movies, series, podcasts) and take note of new combinations.
Don’t translate literally—memorize the expression as a whole.
Final Thoughts
Adjective + preposition combinations are a vital part of fluent English. They add precision and nuance to your speech and writing. Although they can be tricky because there are no fixed rules, consistent exposure and practice will help you use them naturally.
Bibliographic References
Murphy, Raymond. English Grammar in Use. 5th ed., Cambridge University Press, 2019.
A widely used grammar reference for learners of English. Contains sections on adjective + preposition combinations with explanations and practice exercises.
Carter, Ronald, and Michael McCarthy. Cambridge Grammar of English: A Comprehensive Guide. Cambridge University Press, 2006.
This book offers in-depth insights into grammar usage in real contexts, including adjective and preposition patterns.
Quirk, Randolph, Sidney Greenbaum, Geoffrey Leech, and Jan Svartvik. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Longman, 1985.
A highly detailed academic reference with information on adjective government and syntactic structures.
Biber, Douglas, Stig Johansson, Geoffrey Leech, Susan Conrad, and Edward Finegan.
Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Longman, 1999.
This book provides corpus-based data on common adjective + preposition combinations in different registers.
Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 2016.
Clear explanations on common learner difficulties, including collocations like adjective + preposition.
Celce-Murcia, Marianne, and Diane Larsen-Freeman. The Grammar Book: An ESL/EFL Teacher's Course. 2nd ed., Heinle & Heinle, 1999.
A standard reference for English teachers, covering grammar teaching, including adjective complements.
McCarthy, Michael, and Felicity O’Dell. English Collocations in Use: Intermediate & Advanced. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
This book focuses on natural collocations, including adjective + preposition combinations, with example sentences and usage notes.
Huddleston, Rodney, and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge University Press, 2002.
A theoretical grammar work for more advanced readers, explaining adjective complementation structures.