What’s next?
by Dina Vilcu
Adjective + preposition structures
If you have read the previous issue of our magazine, you will remember, maybe, the little story about getting stuck in conversation when the right preposition isn’t there for you, but also about improvising your way out. (Sometimes you might even be right, because some of the adjectives can take more prepositions and have the same or a very similar meaning – such as, for example, angry with/ about/ over). Well, that was just the beginning. This page will show you some more of those tricky structures and, while trying to put a bit of order in this chaos, I decided to choose structures including adjectives which refer to the way you feel about something or someone.
So, check your mastery of preposition by choosing the right one for the next sentences:
about of to with in
1. If you are afraid ……. snakes, I don’t think you should take this trip to the jungle.
2. She was so excited ………. her new car that she couldn’t wait trying it.
3. If you are bored ………. all the places you’ve seen, you should try something new.
4. It’s good to be kind ……… the people who ask for your help.
5. Confident …… your ability as you are, you’ll do just fine in the exam.
Now, try vice versa. You have the prepositions; try to fill in with the adjectives they go with:
1. You can be ………….. with yourself. You’ve done very well in the exam.
2. Don’t be ………….. of him. If you work hard, you can be as good as him.
3. He goes to all the matches because he’s ……………. about football.
4. Don’t be so ……….. to your sister. You know how sensitive she is.
5. If you’re ………….. in history, you’ll love this museum.
Use the expressions above and try to imagine or remember how you would feel in the following situations:
1. You are alone at home, there’s a big storm and now there is also a power cut.
2. Everybody was against you in this dispute but finally you were right.
3. Your life time rival has just won a competition against you.
4. After waiting a lot, you finally got the car of your dreams.
5. All your friends are out of town and you’re watching this action movie for the third time.
Key:
Exercise 1
1 of
2. about
3. with
4. to
5. in
Exercise 2
1. pleased
2. envious
3. crazy
4. mean
5. interested