Adjectives and Prepositions

Adjectives and Prepositions: A Practical Grammar Activity with free printable PDF worksheet

Adjectives and Prepositions

Adjectives and Prepositions

Understanding the connection between adjectives and prepositions is an important part of mastering English. Many adjectives are paired with specific prepositions, and knowing these combinations will help students sound more natural and fluent when speaking or writing. This activity helps students practice matching adjectives with the correct prepositions and using them in context.

How to Play Adjectives and Prepositions

Part A: Match the Sentence Halves

The goal of this exercise is for students to match the sentence halves with the correct adjective + preposition combination. Below is a list of sentences with missing parts. Students must match the sentence halves by choosing the correct preposition.

Instructions:

• Match the sentences with the correct preposition from the list.
• Each sentence is about feelings, preferences, or states of being, and students must match adjectives to the prepositions that follow them.

Example:
“I’m interested ____ English.”
Answer: “I’m interested in English.”

Now, let’s try it with the rest!

1. I’m interested ____
   a. at English. She got 100% in her last test.
2. Paolo is absent ____
   b. of me because I just got a promotion.
3. I’m bored ____
   c. of his friend because he’s just bought a Ferrari.
4. My dad got angry ____
   d. about Tom. He didn’t come home last night.
5. My girlfriend is proud ____
   e. about their trip around the world next week.
6. I’m not very keen ____
   f. of taking the lift. He has to use the stairs.
7. Manchester in England is famous ____
   g. in web design, but I hate programming.
8. I’m really worried ____
   h. from school today because he’s sick.
9. Helen and Mary are excited ____
   i. on maths. I think it’s so boring.
10. Terry’s scared ____
    j. with me, because I came home late.
11. Estelle’s really good ____
    k. for its football team.
12. Walter’s jealous ____
    l. with taking the bus. I want to go by car instead.

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Part B: Work in Pairs

Once the matching exercise is complete, ask students to work in pairs. In this step, students will describe the pictures using adjective + preposition collocations they practiced in Exercise A.

Instructions:

• Look at the pictures provided by the teacher (or create your own).
• Use the adjective + preposition pairs from Exercise A to describe the pictures.
• For example, if the picture shows someone studying, students could say: “She is interested in web design.”

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Part C: Complete the Questions

Now, let’s practice using adjective + preposition collocations in questions. Students will complete the sentences with the correct preposition and then ask and answer these questions in pairs.

Instructions:

• Complete each question with the correct preposition from the options below.
• Then, ask and answer the questions in pairs, using your own ideas.

1. What are you interested ___________?
2. Do you get excited ___________ going on holiday?
3. Are you jealous ___________ your friends?
4. What school subjects are you keen ___________?
5. What do you get angry ___________ people about?
6. How often are you absent ___________ class?
7. What is your hometown famous ___________?
8. What are you scared ___________?

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Why Use Adjectives and Prepositions in Your Classroom?

✅ Improves Sentence Structure – Helps students understand how adjectives and prepositions work together.
✅ Expands Vocabulary – Students learn important adjective + preposition collocations for expressing emotions and preferences.
✅ Enhances Communication Skills – By practicing these collocations, students improve both their speaking and writing abilities.
✅ Interactive and Engaging – This activity keeps students active and involved, making grammar fun and memorable.
✅ Flexible for All Levels – You can adjust the difficulty level by choosing different adjectives and prepositions to match students’ proficiency.

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Final Thoughts

The Adjectives and Prepositions activity is a great way for students to get comfortable with adjective + preposition combinations. Whether they are describing people, places, emotions, or preferences, this exercise helps students use adjectives naturally in a variety of situations.

Try it in your next class and watch your students become more fluent in their use of adjectives and prepositions! 🎉✨

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Also check out these English grammar resources