Adj + preposition

Question 1

nice/ kind/ generous/ polite/ honest/ stupid/ silly etc.

Answer 1

OF somebody (to do st)

It was very nice of you to help me

Question 2

(be) nice/ kind/ good/ polite/ rude/ friendly / cruel etc.

Answer 2

TO somebody

Why were you so unfriendly to Lucy?

Question 3

angry/ annoyed/ furious/ upset

Answer 3

a) ABOUT something

There’s no point in getting angry about things that don’t matter

b) WITH somebody FOR doing something

Are you annoyed with me for being late?

Question 4

excited/ worried/ nervous/ happy etc.

Answer 4

ABOUT something

Are you nervous about the exam?

Question 5

pleased /satisfied/ happy/ delighted/
disappointed

Answer 5

WITH something you get or experience (including someone else’s behaviours or actions)

They were delighted with the present I gave them

Were you happy with your exam results?

Question 6

surprised/ shocked/ amazed/ astonished/ upset

Answer 6

AT/BY something

Everybody was surprised at/by the news

Question 7

impressed

Answer 7

WITH/BY somebody/something

I’m very impressed with/by her English

Question 8

fed up/bored

Answer 8

WITH something (inculding someone elese’s behaviours/actions)

I don’t enjoy my job anymore. I’m fed up/bored with it

Question 9

tired

Answer 9

OF something (inculding someone elese’s behaviours/actions)

I’m tired of waiting

Question 10

sorry

Answer 10

a) ABOUT a situation or something that happened

Sorry about last night (= Sorry about st that happened last night)

b) FOR/ABOUT something you did or caused = to apologise for something

• We usually say “sorry about” + noun (the smell, the mess, the delay, etc.).
• We usually say “sorry for” + -ing verb (sorry for being late, sorry for shouting, etc.).

So:

I’m sorry about the smell in this room.

I’m sorry for making the room smell of paint.

You can also say:

I’m sorry I shouted at you yesterday

d) FEEL/BE sorry FOR somebody in a bad situation

I feel sorry for Mark. He’s had a lot of bad luck

c) TO BE sorry TO DO something

1. to apologise at the time we do st

I’m sorry to bother you, but I need to ask you a question

2. you regret something that you’re doing or you feel bad about having to do it

I’ve enjoyed my stay here. I’ll be sorry to leave.

d) TO HEAR/ FEEL/ SAY TELL YOU etc. something = I feel sympathy or sadness because I’ve just learned that something bad happened.

I’m sorry to hear that you’re sick. → I feel bad that you’re unwell.

I’m sorry to hear that your dog died. → Expression of sympathy.

I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t get the job. → You’re showing concern and compassion.

Question 11

afraid/ scared/ frightened/ terrified

Answer 11

a) OF st/ st happening = event

I’m afraid of spiders

I’m afraid of being bitten

b) TO do st = action

People are afraid to walk here at night

Question 12

fond/ proud/ ashamed/ jealous/ envious

Answer 12

OF

Why is he so jealous of other people?

Question 13

suspicious/ critical/ tolerant

Answer 13

OF

They were suspicious of my motives (m@utiv = a reason for doing something)

Question 14

aware/ conscious

Answer 14

OF

No, I wasn’t aware of that

Question 15

capable/ incapable

Answer 15

OF

I’m sure you’re capable of doing the job well

Question 16

full/ short

Answer 16

OF

I’m full of energy

I’m short of money. Can you lend me some?

Question 17

typical

Answer 17

OF

It’s typical of him to keep everybody waiting

Question 18

certain/ sure

Answer 18

OF/ ABOUT

I’m not sure of that / I’m not sure about that

Question 19

good/ bad/ brilliant/ better/ hopeless etc.

Answer 19

AT

I’m not very good at repairing things

Question 20

married/ engaged

Answer 20

TO

Louise is married to an American

BUT

Louise is married with three children (= she is married and has three children=

Question 21

similar

Answer 21

TO

Your handwriting is similar to mine

Question 22

different

Answer 22

FROM/ TO

The film was different from/to what I’d expected

Question 23

interested

Answer 23

IN = st/ doing st

Are you interested in art?

TO hear/see/know st = expresses curiosity about a specific action or piece of information (especially with HEAR/ SEE/ KNOW).

I’m interested to hear your opinion.

We would be interested to see the results.

Question 24

keen

Answer 24

ON

Chris wasn’t keen on going out

Question 25

dependent/ independent

Answer 25

dependent = ON I don't want to be dependent on anybody Independent = OF I want to be independent of everyone

Question 26

crowded

Answer 26

WITH (people etc.) The streets were crowded with tourists

Question 27

famous

Answer 27

FOR The Italian city of Florence is famous for its art treasures

Question 28

responsible

Answer 28

FOR Who was responsible for all that noise last night?

Question 29

experienced

Answer 29

IN She's really experienced in handling customer complaints

Question 30

good/ bad/ dangerous/ better etc.

Answer 30

FOR someone/ something Eating vegetables is good for you/ your health

Question 31

involved/ implicated/ engaged/ incriminated

Answer 31

IN something Maria has been actively involved in community volunteer projects Several employees were implicated in the data breach She is engaged in several community outreach programs to help underprivileged children. The official was incriminated in the corruption scandal after the investigation revealed solid evidence.

Question 32

be sure/ likely/ bound

Answer 32

TO do something/ happen Carla is a very good student. She's bound to pass the exam It's possible I'll win the lottery one day, but it's not likely to happen

Question 33

(be) hard, easy, nice, safe cheap, exciting, impossible, difficult, good, dangerous, expensive, interesting etc.

Answer 33

(something) TO a) IT is hard TO understand HIM b) HE is hard TO understand Do you think it is safe to drink this water? Do you think this water is safe to drink? This is a difficult question to answer

Question 34

sorry/ surprised/ glad/ pleased/ relieved/ surprised/ amazed/ sad/ disappointed etc.

Answer 34

TO = to say how somebody reacts to something I'm sorry to hear that your mother isn't well I was surprised to hear that Tanya left her job I feel sorry to hear that your mother isn’t well She seemed surprised to learn the news.

Question 35

the next/ the last/ the only/ the first/ the second etc.

Answer 35

TO do something The next train to arrive at platform 4 will be the 10.50 to Liverpool I was the only one to arrive on time If I have any more news, you will be the first to know (= the first person to know)