Adjective + preposition combinations

PresentationO Adjectives + prepositions

Many adjectives are followed by a particular preposition. Here is a list of commonadjectives and the prepositions that normally follow them:

accustomed to enthusiastic abou t related to

afraid o f excited abou t rich in

answerable to famous for satisfied with

attached to guilty o f serious abou t

aware o f interested in similar to

capable o f opposed to suitable for

dependent on pleased w ith suspicious o f

different to popular with used to (= accustomed to)

doubtful abou t proud o f worried abou t

0 FormThese adjectives and prepositions may be followed by a noun or noun phrase:The sales department were very excited abou t th e new model.When followed by a verb, the -ing form must be used:I would be interested in looking into your proposals in some more detail.

G Adjective + choice of prepositionSome adjectives can be followed by either of two or more prepositions. Look at thesecommon examples and at the differences in meaning:

annoyed abou t something He was annoyed abou t the mistakes in the brochure.

annoyed with someone They were annoyed with us for the late delivery.

good/bad a t something I'm very bad a t chemistry.

good/bad for something A rise in interest rates would not be good for industry.

good/bad with something She's studying to be a vet because she's good with animals.

responsible to someone The Sales Manager is responsible to the Marketing Director.

responsible for something In my job, I am responsible for checking the accounts.

sorry abou t something I am sorry a bou t the way my department has performed thisyear - it has been a difficult time.

sorry fo r doing something I am so sorry fo r keeping you waiting.

(feel) sorry for someone I feel very sorry fo r Mr Hasan. He has been made redundant.

Adjective + preposition combinations 171

PracticeEXERCISE O

EXERCISE ©

Adjectives + prepositionsComplete the sentences with a suitable preposition or adjective. Then complete thepuzzle to find the missing words.

1 The Curico Valley in Chile is famous -for its fine wines.2 If you are serious.......................... going ahead with this, let's have a meeting.3 These new mobile phones are very popular.......................... our younger customers.4 The DVL767 digital camcorder i s .......................... to the DV3000 in many ways, but it is

slightly cheaper.5 The salesman did not want to sell me the most expensive model he had because he

said it would not really b e .......................... for me.6 Wage demands a re ............................. to inflation in a number of important ways.7 The Finance Director said he was strongly.......................... to awarding everyone a 5%

pay rise, and explained that the company could not afford it.8 South Africa i s .......................... in natural resources like diamonds and gold.9 I have to travel by car or boat because I a m .......................... of flying.

10 He has very little experience. I don't think he would b e .......................... of runningsuch a large project.

11 He was found.......................... of fraud and was sent to prison for three years.12 1 would be very .......................... in discussing the idea of a joint venture.

•f o r

4 ----- -----5 -----

6

7

8

910

11

12

FormFill in the blanks with the verbs from the box, using the -ing form.

buy hire manufacture move run take

1 I am interested in buying a new computer. Could you tell me a little about thedifferent models you have?

2 Some of the staff are not very enthusiastic about.......................... to our new offices.3 My boss is not afraid o f .......................... risks.4 Most politicians know nothing about business, and wouldn't be capable of

.......................... a small business.5 Our Personnel Manager is responsible fo r .......................... new staff.6 Ferrari is famous fo r .......................... sports cars.

172 Adjective + preposition combinations

EXERCISE ©

As another accounting scandal breaks in the USA,there have been calls for changes in the regulationof audits. It is clear that the current system is notvery 1 ^ood At detecting fraud. It seems it is all too

easy for someone who is 2 ..............................figures to create a completely misleadingimpression, as the black hole of $4 billion inWorldcom's accounts shows. The Securities and

-•—• i.rViirh is 3

Adject ives + choice of preposit ionC o m p l e t e the n e w s p a p e r a r t i c l e w i t h the a d je c t i v e s a n d p r e p o s i t i o n s

b a d fo r g o o d a t g o o d w ith

re s p o n s ib le t o

Chief Financial Officers of all Fortune 500companies personally 4 ................................shareholders for the accuracy of the accounts.

in the box.

a n n o y e d w ithre s p o n s ib le fo r

Many institutional investors are 5 .............................the SEC for failing to act sooner. As one analystexplained 'It is no good apologizing and saying youare 6 .............................. these failings after they“O —impression, as the black hole ot :h uimw,

Worldcom's accounts shows. The Securities and are 6 ................................ ------------- -Exchange Commission, which is 3 ............................. happen. We need to stop them before they happen,overseeing audits, has proposed a number of because another scandal like this would be reallychanges, and others have suggested making the ........ investor confidence .

EXERCISE O ReviewComplete this letter from a conference centre to a potential customer, using the

words in the box. c a p a b le fa m o u s in te re s te d

re s p o n s ib lea c c u s to m e d

p o p u lar

aw are

p rou drich

H O T E L

s e l a n g w

Miss L. WuP.O. B°x 36293Sai KungHong Kong

JakartaINDONESIA

W .162.M 908®"2fax: 162-2H 9086522

of vaaaan hoteteelangof.com

The hotel has an excellent range of facilities including anOlympic swimming pool, tennis courts, and a seven-hectare garden, and you may be 5fact that the area is 6

of theu m c a io - ....................... in cultural interest.

In addition, our seven restaurants are 74.1— -------ii — - • •

riony ixw.

Dear Miss Wu,I am delighted to hear that you may choose the HotelSelangor as the venue for your next conference inIndonesia, and I am writingto introduce myselfas theperson 1 re.£f>or̂ ible. for liasing with potential conference

organisers.We are 2 .......................of the high levels of service we

offer and are 3 ....................... to organizing largeconferences. As you will see from the enclosed brochure,we are 4 .......................of providing facilities rangingfrom a small meeting room to a large banqueting hall for

over 1,200 people.

for their excellent cuisine, and I am enclosing samples ofthe menus that have been 8 .......................withconference delegates in the past.

Please let me know whether you would be9 ....................... in taking the matter further, and I will behappy to discuss any further requirements you have.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

À bdu ü a k

Nooraini Bt Abdullah(Conference Manager)

A d je c t iv e + preposition combinations

ProductionT A SK 1

T A S K 2

T A S K 3

Rewrite the sentences, using the words in brackets.

1 A lot of executives like the BMW 5 series.(popular) The. E>MW ST series is popular with e.xe.cwtive.s.

2 I don't think she can do the work.(capable)........................................................................................................

3 Everyone knows Bordeaux because of its fine wines.(famous)........................................................................................................

4 Mr Renaldinio is the person who hires new staff.(responsible).................................................................................................

5 The Industrial Society thinks that higher taxes are a bad idea,(opposed)......................................................................................................

6 Would you like to arrange a meeting?(interested)....................................................................................................

Answer the follow ing questions, using the words in italics.1 What are you responsible for in your job?

In My job , I'm responsible, -for re.se.archin^ ne.w allergy drw^s.2 Who are you answerable to?

3 What are you good at?

4 What other jobs in the company would you be capable o f doing?

5 What sort of salary would you be satisfied with?

Using a word from box A, and a word from box B, write sentences about yourself.

A Br moklo afraidinterested prouddifferent similar

to in-cnr ofof to

1 I think. I d be. capable, o f doin^ what My boss doe.S.

2 ........................................................................................................3 ........................................................................................................4 ........................................................................................................5 ........................................................................................................6 ........................................................................................................

174 Adjective + preposition combinations