Intermediate grammar · Unit 131 · B1

Adjective + preposition 2

Prepositions

More adjectives with fixed prepositions: afraid of, proud of, aware of, short of, good at, married to, similar to, different from, interested in, keen on, dependent on, crowded with, famous for, responsible for.

Go to the exercises

A adjective + of

Adjectives + of
afraid / scared / frightened / terrified of
fond / proud / ashamed / jealous / envious of
suspicious / critical / tolerant of
aware / conscious of
capable / incapable of
full / short of
typical of
certain / sure of or about
  • "Are you scared of wasps?" "Yes, I'm terrified of them."
  • Why is she so jealous of her sister?
  • The shopkeeper was suspicious of the two lads by the sweets.
  • "Did you know the library was closing?" "No, I wasn't aware of that."
  • I'm sure you're capable of passing the exam.
  • My nephew is always full of energy, particularly at six in the morning.
  • I'm a bit short of cash this week. Could you get the coffees?
  • He's forgotten his wallet again. It's typical of him.
  • I think the match is on Saturday, but I'm not sure of that. / ... not sure about that.

B adjective + at, to, from, in, on, with, for

Adjective Preposition
good / bad / brilliant / better / hopeless at (not "good in")
married / engaged to (not "married with")
similar to
different from or to
interested in
keen on
dependent on (but independent of)
crowded with (people and so on), but full of
famous for
responsible for

Note that married with three children means married and with three children. It does not mean that the children are the spouse.

  • I'm hopeless at parallel parking. (not hopeless in)
  • Siân is married to a farmer from Anglesey. (not married with)
  • Siân is married with two children.
  • Your coat is very similar to mine.
  • Glasgow was different from what I'd imagined. / ... different to what I'd imagined.
  • Are you interested in football?
  • We stayed in. Nobody was keen on going out in the snow.
  • At eighteen I wanted to be independent of my parents, not dependent on them.
  • The beach was crowded with families. (but ... full of families)
  • Melton Mowbray is famous for its pork pies.
  • Who was responsible for leaving the freezer door open?

Exercises

131.1 Complete the sentences using an adjective and of. Choose from these adjectives.

ashamedawarecapableenviousproudscaredshorttypical

  1. I'm a bit short of time this morning. Can we talk later?

    I'm a bit short of time this morning. Can we talk later?

  2. Both my daughters passed their exams. I'm really them.

  3. I shouted at my best friend in front of everybody. I'm myself.

  4. Gran has sent a ten-pound note in a birthday card again. It's her.

  5. He couldn't organise a works party, never mind a festival. He isn't it.

  6. I never go on the Big Wheel. I'm heights.

  7. Nobody told me the road was closed. I wasn't it.

  8. I wish I had Ollie's job and his garden. I'm him.

131.2 Write sentences about yourself. Are you good at these things or not? You can use good, pretty good, not very good or hopeless.

  1. (fixing things)

    Example answer: I'm not very good at fixing things.

  2. (singing)

  3. (spelling)

  4. (remembering birthdays)

  5. (saving money)

131.3 Complete the sentences using an adjective and a preposition. Choose from these adjectives.

afraidcapabledifferentinterestedproudresponsiblesimilarsure

  1. I think the shop shuts at five, but I'm not sure of that.

    I think the shop shuts at five, but I'm not sure of that.

  2. Your bike is mine, but the gears are different.

  3. Don't worry about the dog. He's very gentle. There's nothing to be .

  4. I never read the sports pages. I'm not sport.

  5. The head teacher is the person who is everything that happens in the school.

  6. Ravi spent two years restoring that old car and he's very it.

  7. I was surprised when I visited Cornwall. It was what I'd expected.

  8. Jess could play for Wales one day. She's it.

131.4 Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.

  1. There were lots of shoppers in the high street. / The high street was crowded with shoppers.

    The high street was crowded with shoppers.

  2. There were a lot of boxes in the spare room. / The spare room was full .

  3. I don't like camping very much. / I'm not very keen .

  4. We haven't got enough milk. / We're short .

  5. Darren cooks very well. / Darren is very good .

  6. Nadia's husband is a vet. / Nadia is married .

  7. I don't trust that salesman. / I'm suspicious .

  8. Your opinion is not the same as mine. / Your opinion is different .

131.5 Put in the correct preposition.

  1. The garden is always full of birds in the morning.

    The garden is always full of birds in the morning.

  2. Our village is quite ordinary. It isn't famous anything.

  3. Ruby is very fond her grandad.

  4. You keep looking at your phone. You don't seem interested what I'm telling you.

  5. "The coach leaves at 6.15." "Are you sure that?"

  6. I suggested a walk up the hill, but nobody else was keen the idea.

  7. Most people now are aware the risks of too much sugar.

  8. The car park was crowded fans waiting for the band.

  9. Holly is twenty-six, but she's still completely dependent her parents.

  10. We're short volunteers at the food bank. We need more people to help.

See also