Adjective + Preposition Collocations

Collocation

Example sentence

Angry about

The citizens were angry about the corruption.        

Anxious about 

She felt rather anxious about her health. 

Embarrassed about       

She felt embarrassed about forgetting his name.      

Enthusiastic about        

He was enthusiastic about the idea.     

Excited about   

The children are very excited about the Christmas holiday.   

Furious about  

The neighbour was furious about the broken window.       

Happy about    

She wasn’t very happy about her new job.             

Mad about       

She was mad about Lady Gaga. 

Nervous about 

He was nervous about his exam.

Optimistic about           

She was optimistic about the future. 

Pessimistic about          

He felt pessimistic about his chances to win the race.

Sad about         

I’m really sad about your loss.   

Upset about     

She was upset about missing the meeting.            

Worried about 

Most parents are worried about their children using social media.             

Collocation

Example sentence

Amazed at        

We were amazed at the size of the streets in the city.           

Angry at            

He was angry at the injustice.    

Annoyed at       

The speaker was annoyed at the interruptions.    

Bad at  

British people are really bad at learning languages.       

Clever at            

She was clever at finding the best bargains.           

Good at             

He’s never been good at writing.             

Hopeless at      

I’m hopeless at maths.  

Mad at

He was mad at her for being late.             

Present at         

I wasn’t present at the meeting. What was it about?       

Shocked at        

Everyone was shocked at the bad news.   

Skilled at           

He was skilled at making money.             

Slow at

The police were very slow at finding the bank robbers.           

Lucky at             

He’s been lucky at cards.             

Collocation

Example sentence

Amazed by        

Everyone was amazed by her story.             

Delighted by     

He was delighted by the good news.             

Disturbed by    

She felt disturbed by her neighbour’s strange behaviour. 

Fascinated by   

All attendees were fascinated by his speech.

Impressed by   

The tourists were impressed by the archaeological site.       

Inspired by        

The novel was inspired by real events.

Shocked by       

Everyone was shocked by the murderer’s confession.  

Surprised by     

She was surprised by his lack of good manners. 

Collocation

Example sentence

Famous for       

The city was famous for its hospitality.        

Grateful for      

I’m grateful for your help.           

Prepared for     

We should be prepared for bad weather.            

Ready for          

He felt ready for marriage.         

Responsible for

A pilot is responsible for passengers’ safety.        

Respected for  

They were respected for being the best carpenters in the area.        

Sorry for            

She felt sorry for the sick man.   

Suitable for       

Do you think this TV programme is suitable for a child?        

Thankful for     

We are thankful for a wonderful evening.             

Collocation

Example sentence

Absent from     

He’s been absent from school all week.   

Different from 

His opinion was different from hers.    

Free from          

This food is organic and free from additives.           

Made from       

This bag is made from recycled plastic bottles.  

Protect from    

You should wear sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun.    

Safe from          

If you get in, you’ll be safe from the dog.      

Collocation

Example sentence

Disappointed in             

His parents were disappointed in him.      

Experienced in 

She is experienced in teaching Biology.

Interested in    

Are you interested in chess?       

Involved in        

Tom was involved in a legal dispute.

Present in         

Vitamin D is naturally present in breast milk.       

Skilled in           

You can get a job in this company if you are skilled in metalwork.  

Successful in     

The couple was successful in their careers.

Talented in       

Her son was talented in music.  

Collocation

Example sentence

Accused of        

He was accused of stealing.        

Afraid of            

Are you afraid of the dark?         

Ashamed of      

You should be ashamed of yourself for being always late.    

Aware of           

They were aware of the problem.             

Capable of        

Do you think you are capable of doing your homework by yourself?             

Certain of          

The marathon runner was certain of success.

Envious of         

I am envious of you having a day off tomorrow.         

Fond of

I am very fond of theatre.           

Full of  

The cafe was full of people.        

Guilty of            

The jury found him guilty of forgery.             

Hopeful of        

We are hopeful of victory.          

Independent of

She was independent of her parents.             

Jealous of          

People were jealous of his wealth.             

Made of            

The table is made of wood.         

Nice of 

It is nice of you to help. 

Proud of            

Her parents were very proud of her.             

Scared of           

Are you scared of heights?          

Sweet of            

How sweet of you to come to my birthday!            

Tired of

I’m tired of your complaints.       

Typical of          

The house is typical of the neighbourhood.

Collocation

Example sentence

Accustomed to

Her eyes were accustomed to the dark.    

Addicted to      

He was addicted to sweets.        

Allergic to         

She is allergic to peanuts.           

Attached to      

He was attached to his family.   

Committed to  

He was committed to his work. 

Dedicated to    

The author dedicated the book to his mother.        

Indifferent to   

It is difficult to be indifferent to brutality.            

Married to        

He was married to a French woman.             

Opposed to      

Many people are opposed to the death penalty.  

Receptive to     

He has always been receptive to public opinion.  

Related to         

Here are some expressions related to happiness.    

Rude to

Her son was rude to me.             

Similar to          

Her opinion was similar to mine.

Collocation

Example sentence

Angry with        

Are you angry with me?

Bored with        

I am bored with this film.            

Blessed with     

We were blessed with nice weather.            

Content with    

She is quite content with her job.             

Connected with             

A bad diet is connected with health issues. 

Delighted with 

He was delighted with his new computer.          

Disappointed with         

They were disappointed with the hotel service.    

Fed up with      

I am fed up with living in the city.             

Familiar with    

Are you familiar with Roman history?

Furious with     

His mother was furious with him.             

Pleased with    

I’m pleased with the exam results.             

Popular with    

The club is popular with young people.

Satisfied with   

He wasn’t satisfied with his phone, so he took it back to the shop.