Episode 79: Good At, Afraid Of

Adjective + preposition — Biographical Traits (B1-B2)

Grammar Box

Meaning: Many adjectives require specific prepositions to complete their meaning. These combinations are largely fixed — you must learn which preposition goes with which adjective.

Form: Adjective + preposition + noun/gerund. “Good at mathematics,” “afraid of failure,” “interested in history.” The preposition doesn’t change even if the meaning is similar to other adjectives.

Example 1: “Einstein was brilliant at physics but terrible at social situations, yet deeply interested in human nature.” (Each adjective has its specific preposition.)

Example 2: “Marie Curie was passionate about science, dedicated to research, and unconcerned with fame or money.” (Different prepositions for different adjectives.)

Common mistake: Wrong: “He was good in mathematics.” Better: “He was good at mathematics.” (Good takes “at,” not “in,” even though skilled takes “in.”)

The Challenge

Luna studied biographies and frowned. “Professor, why is it ‘good at’ but ‘skilled in’? They mean almost the same thing. And why ‘afraid of’ but ‘worried about’? How am I supposed to remember all these combinations?”

The watch glowed with biographical warmth. Professor Wisdom appeared, holding what looked like character sketches. “These combinations reveal how language has evolved through use, not logic. Let me show you how different historical figures’ character traits demonstrate these patterns.”

The Journey

Through history, remarkable individuals have been defined not just by achievements but by characteristic combinations of traits. Eleanor Roosevelt was afraid of public speaking initially, yet became brilliant at communication, deeply committed to human rights, and completely unconcerned with critics’ opinions. She was interested in social justice, passionate about equality, and capable of transforming her fears into strengths.

Vincent van Gogh was terrible at selling his own work, unsuccessful in relationships, yet extraordinarily talented at capturing emotion through color. He remained dedicated to his artistic vision despite being dependent on his brother for money, desperate for recognition, and increasingly worried about his mental health. He was fascinated by Japanese art, obsessed with finding authentic expression, and ultimately responsible for revolutionizing how artists thought about color.

Frederick Douglass was born enslaved but became expert at rhetoric, famous for his eloquence, and instrumental in ending slavery. He was aware of the power of words, conscious of his responsibility to those still enslaved, and determined to use language as a weapon against injustice. He was proud of his self-education, angry about systemic oppression, yet hopeful about human capacity for change.

Harriet Tubman was skilled in navigation, experienced in evading capture, and fearless of the consequences if caught. She was responsible for rescuing over 70 enslaved people, renowned for her courage, and successful in every mission she led. She was accustomed to danger, prepared for any emergency, and convinced of the moral necessity of her work.

Marie Curie was absorbed in her research, indifferent to comfort, and unconcerned with gender barriers that should have stopped her. She was devoted to pure science, contemptuous of those who wanted to profit from her discoveries, and guilty only of being too dedicated to work that eventually killed her through radiation exposure. She was qualified for every honor she received, worthy of the Nobel Prizes she won, yet humble about achievements that transformed physics and chemistry.

These individuals shared certain patterns: they were often bad at following conventions, resistant to giving up, and willing to be different from others. They were typically aware of obstacles, conscious of risks, yet undeterred by criticism. Most were passionate about causes larger than themselves, committed to purposes that gave their lives meaning, and unconcerned with comfort or safety when principles were at stake.

The Deep Dive

Adjective + preposition combinations are fixed expressions learned through usage, not rules. “Good at” and “bad at” take “at,” but “skilled in” and “experienced in” take “in.” “Afraid of” and “scared of” take “of,” but “worried about” and “concerned about” take “about.” There’s often no logical reason — just historical development of the language.

Common patterns include: Emotions often take “about” (worried about, excited about) or “of” (afraid of, scared of, tired of). Abilities typically take “at” (good at, bad at, brilliant at). Interest/involvement usually takes “in” (interested in, involved in, absorbed in). Direction toward often uses “to” (committed to, dedicated to, devoted to). But these are tendencies, not rules, and exceptions abound.

The preposition can change meaning: “He’s good at English” (skilled in the subject) versus “He’s good in English class” (behaves well in class, though this is less common). When followed by a verb, use the gerund (-ing form): “good at swimming,” “afraid of failing,” “interested in learning.” Never use infinitive after these combinations.

More Examples

History: “Gandhi was committed to nonviolence, experienced in protest methods, yet initially afraid of public speaking before becoming famous for his oratory.”

Science: “Darwin was interested in natural variation, aware of the controversy his theories would cause, yet determined to publish despite being worried about religious backlash.”

Everyday: “I’m terrible at remembering names, bad at math, but good at languages and passionate about learning new things despite being afraid of making mistakes.”

Formal: “Researchers must be conscious of ethical implications, committed to rigorous methodology, and responsible for ensuring data integrity regardless of pressure to produce quick results.”

Informal: “My dad’s great at fixing cars, useless at cooking, totally absorbed in his hobbies, and completely indifferent to fashion trends that everyone else obsesses about.”

Contrast: “Skilled in diplomacy” vs. “Good at negotiating” vs. “Capable of compromise” vs. “Successful in mediation” — similar meanings, different prepositions.

Practice & Reflection

Exercises:

1. Fill in the blank: “Einstein was brilliant _ physics, interested philosophy, but terrible __ managing money and unconcerned _____ fame.”

2. Correct the mistake: “Marie Curie was dedicated for research and afraid from the obstacles she faced as a woman in science.”

3. Choose and explain: Which is correct?
   a) “He’s good in mathematics.”
   b) “He’s good at mathematics.”

4. Rewrite: Add appropriate prepositions: “She was skilled ___ languages, passionate ___ education, and committed ___ helping others learn.”

5. Compare: What’s the difference in preposition? “worried about the exam” vs. “afraid of failing.”

6. Your reflection: Describe yourself or someone you admire using at least five different adjective + preposition combinations.

Answer Key:
1. at… in… at… with (or about) — each adjective has its specific preposition
2. Change “for” to “to” and “from” to “of” — “dedicated to,” “afraid of”
3. (b) is correct — “good” takes “at,” not “in” (though “skilled” takes “in”)
4. skilled in/at, passionate about, committed to (fixed combinations)
5. “Worried about” takes about; “afraid of” takes of — different adjectives require different prepositions
6. Check: Did you use correct prepositions? Good at, interested in, afraid of, committed to, worried about, passionate about, skilled in?

The Lesson

Luna practiced writing. “I’m interested in English grammar, committed to improving my skills, but still afraid of making mistakes. I’m good at understanding patterns but terrible at remembering irregular forms. I’m passionate about learning, though sometimes worried about whether I’ll ever be truly fluent.”

“Perfect,” Professor Wisdom said warmly. “You’ve used these combinations naturally. Notice how each adjective-preposition pair adds a different dimension to your self-description. You’re not just describing traits — you’re showing how you relate to different aspects of learning.”

“So these fixed combinations are like… personality portraits?” Luna asked.

“Exactly. When biographers write ‘Lincoln was committed to preserving the Union, aware of the war’s terrible cost, yet determined to see it through,’ each preposition creates a different relationship between the person and the concept. These combinations evolved because they express subtle distinctions that matter in describing human character. That’s why you can’t just swap prepositions — ‘committed to’ shows dedication in a way that ‘committed with’ or ‘committed about’ couldn’t express.”

Luna nodded. “I’m becoming more confident about using these patterns, less worried about making mistakes, and more aware of how precise English can be.”

“Now you’re thinking like a biographer,” the Professor replied.