28 PHRASAL VERBS AND PATTERNS WITH PREPOSITIONS
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NOTE
Sometimes the choice of preposition depends on the meaning. a We can be happy/pleased/delighted with something close to us, something that is ours. About and at are more general. We're pleased with our new flat. We're pleased at/about the election result. b After furious, angry and annoyed we use at or about for what has made us angry and with for the person we are directing our anger towards. Polly was annoyed at/about the mix-up over her ticket. She was annoyed with the travel agent. c Sorry for means sympathy for someone. I'm sorry about the delay. I'm nearly ready. I felt sorry for Daniel. He had a miserable time. d Anxious for means 'wanting'. I'm anxious about my health. I'm anxious for the results of the tests. e Concerned takes about, for or with. We're very concerned about the missing girl. (= worried about) We're concerned for her safety. (= wanting) Alison's research is concerned with social trends. (= about, involved in) f We are grateful to a person for an action. I'm very grateful to you for all your help.
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We use good at etc to talk about ability. Lee is good at skating. (= He can skate well.) You're brilliant at maths. I'm hopeless at languages. We use good for to say that something makes you healthy. Physical exercise is good for you. Over-eating is bad for you. To say how we behave towards another person we use good to, rude to etc. You've been very good to/kind to me. You've helped me a lot. The waiter was barely polite to us.
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Here are some more examples of adjective + preposition. absent from work available to members/available for hire capable of better things clear to/obvious to all the spectators conscious of/aware of what you're doing dependent on public money different to/from our normal routine a town famous for its history fit for a marathon a bucket full of water guilty of murder harmful to the environment involved in various activities kind to animals a door made of steel married to/engaged to a postman opposed to the plan popular with young people present at the meeting ready for/prepared for the journey related to a friend of ours responsible for our safety safe from attack the same as always I'm serious about what I said short of time similar to my last job successful in my search food suitable for freezing superior/inferior to other products sure of/certain of the facts a style typical of/characteristic of the period used to/accustomed to late nights Welcome to Wales. nothing wrong with me