3.9.2: Prepositions with Participles Used as Adjectives
- Page ID
- 362973
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Participles as Adjectives: Preposition Guide
1. Clear Rules
| Rule Type | Explanation | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Past Participles | The Past Participles describe the experiencer. The prepositions typically to show what caused the state or feeling |
|
| Present Participles | The Present Participles describe the cause/source. They don't usually need to prepositions. When they do, "to" (showing who experiences) is the most common preposition. |
|
| Active vs. Passive Logic | Past participles follow passive voice patterns; present participles follow active voice patterns | "I am surprised BY the news" vs. "The news is surprising" |
2. Semi-Predictable Patterns for Prepositions used with Past Participles
| Preposition | Semantic Function | Common Adjectives | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| by | What made you feel this way? (the thing that caused it) | surprised, impressed, shocked, amazed, inspired |
|
| about | What is your feeling focused on? (the topic you're thinking about) | worried, excited, confused, concerned, curious |
|
| with | How do you feel about something? (your reaction to it) | pleased, satisfied, bored, frustrated, annoyed |
|
| in | What area or field? (where your interest/involvement is) | interested, involved, experienced, skilled, engaged |
|
| of | What thing causes this feeling? (the object of your emotion) | tired, afraid, proud, ashamed, fond |
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| at | What specific thing or skill? (what you're reacting to or good/bad at) | good, bad, surprised, amazed, shocked |
|
3. Exceptions to Watch Out For
Same adjective, different prepositions with different meanings:
- excited BY (direct cause) vs. excited ABOUT (anticipation/topic)
- surprised BY (agent/cause) vs. surprised AT (reaction to something)
- good AT (skill) vs. good WITH (handling/managing)
Similar meanings, different prepositions:
- interested IN but fascinated BY
- bored WITH but tired OF
- confused ABOUT but puzzled BY
- pleased WITH but happy ABOUT
4. Most Common Collocations (Historical/Idiomatic)
These 20 combinations are best learned as fixed expressions: