DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS – ADJECTIVES + PREPOSITION - 1

GUIDE – Study this group of adjectives + prepositions:

nice / kind / good / generous / mean / stupid / silly / intelligent / clever / sensible / (im)polite / rude / unreasonable / OF someone (to do something):

- Thank you. It was very nice / kind of you to help me.- It’s stupid of her to go out without a coat. She’ll catch cold.

but: (to be) nice / kind / good / generous/ mean / (im)polite/ rude / (un)pleasant/ (un)friendly / cruel TO someone:

- She has always been very nice / kind to me. (NOT ‘with me’)- Why were you so rude / unfriendly to Ann?

angry / annoyed / furious {ABOUT something: { WITH someone FOR doing something:

- What are you so angry/ annoyed about?- They were furious with me for not inviting them to the party.

delighted / pleased / satisfied / disappointed WITH something:- I was delighted / pleased with the present you gave me.- Were you disappointed with your examination results?

bored / fed up WITH something:- You get bored / fed up with doing the same thing every day.

surprised / shocked / amazed / astonished AT / BY something:- Everybody was surprised / shocked at/ by the news.

excited / worried / upset ABOUT something :- Are you excited about going on holiday next week?- Ann is upset about not being invited to the party.

afraid / frightened / terrified / scared OF someone/something:- ‘Are you afraid of dogs?’ ‘Yes, I’m terrified of them.’

proud / ashamed OF someone / something :- I’m not ashamed of what I did. In fact I’m quite proud of it.

jealous / envious / suspicious OF someone / something:- Why are you always so jealous of other people?- He didn’t trust me. He was suspicious of my intentions.

aware / conscious OF something:- ‘Did you know they were married?’ ‘No, I wasn’t aware of that.’

good / bad / excellent / brilliant / hopeless AT (doing) something:- I’m not very good at repairing things.

married / engaged TO someone:- Linda is married to an American. (NOT ‘with an American’)

A. How do you feel about George in each situation?

1. George has kept you waiting for hours. (annoyed)I’m _______________________________________________him.

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2. George hasn’t been eating well recently. (worried)I’m _______________________________________________him.

3. George has been telling lies about you. (angry)I’m _______________________________________________him.

4. George is much better at everything than you are. (jealous)I’m _______________________________________________.

5. George is big, strong, aggressive and violent. (afraid)I’m _______________________________________________.

6. You’ve had enough of George. (fed up)I’m _______________________________________________.

7. But George is your husband. (married)I’m _______________________________________________.

B. Complete these sentences with the correct preposition.

1. I was delighted ________ the present you sent me.

2. It’s very nice ________you to let me use your car. Thank you very much.

3. Why are you always so rude ________your parents? Can’t you be nice ________them?

4. It wasn’t very polite ________him to leave without saying thank you.

5. I can’t understand people who are cruel ________animals.

6. Why do you always get so annoyed ________little things?

7. The people next door are annoyed ________us ________making so much noise last night.

8. We enjoyed our holiday but we were rather disappointed ________ the hotel.

9. I was surprised________the way he behaved. It was quite out of character.

10. She doesn’t often go out at night. She’s afraid________the dark.

11. I’ve been trying to learn Spanish but I’m not very satisfied ________my progress.

12. Jill starts her new job on Monday. She’s quite excited ________it.

13. I was shocked ________what you said. You should be ashamed ________yourself.

14. Did you know that Linda is engaged ________a friend of mine?

15. I had never seen so many people before. I was astonished ________the crowds.

16. Bill has been doing the same job for too long. He’s bored ________it.

17. These days everybody is aware ________the dangers of smoking.

18. Are you still upset ________what I said to you yesterday?

19. She’s quite nice but I wouldn’t like to be married ________her.

20. Mr. Davis spends a lot of time gardening. His garden is very well-kept and he’s very proud ________it.

in Raymond Murphy – ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE – CUP,1986

KEY

A.1. I’m annoyed with him.2. I’m worried about him.3. I’m angry with him.4. I’m jealous of him.5. I’m afraid of him.6. I’m fed up with him.

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7. I’m married to him.

B.1. with2. of3. to ……to4. of5. to6. about7. with …….. for8. with9. at / by10. of11. with12. about13. at/by ………of14. to15. at / by16. with17. of18. about / by19. to20. of

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