CARROTTA
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🔗 Compendium
Grammar
EN
English — Adjective + preposition
Many English adjectives are followed by a fixed preposition. The combination is set by usage, not logic, so it is learned as a whole: afraid of, good at, interested in.
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How it works
✓ Rule
The adjective keeps its preposition before a noun, pronoun or -ing form: I'm afraid of dogs, She's good at drawing, We're proud of you. The verb after the preposition takes -ing: keen on cycling, worried about failing.
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Common patterns
| Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| afraid of | She's afraid of spiders. | fear |
| good / bad at | He's good at maths. | skill or ability |
| interested in | I'm interested in history. | interest |
| keen on | They're keen on cycling. | enthusiasm, liking |
| proud of | We're proud of you. | pride |
| worried about | She's worried about the exam. | worry, concern |
| married to | He's married to a doctor. | relationship |
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Good to know
⚠ Note
The preposition often differs from your own language, so translating it word for word fails: say good at maths (not good in maths) and married to someone (not married with someone). Learn each adjective together with its preposition.