Lesson

Afraid of..., good at.., of/at/for + -ing

Adjective + preposition

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Afraid of..., good at.., of/at/for + -ing

This lesson explains how certain adjectives and prepositions are followed by the -ing form (the gerund). English often uses a preposition + gerund structure after adjectives and expressions: for example, 'afraid of' + -ing, 'good at' + -ing, and many constructions with 'of', 'at' or 'for' followed by -ing.

  • 'Afraid of' is followed by a gerund to describe what someone fears (e.g., afraid of missing a deadline).
  • 'Good at' is followed by a gerund to describe a skill or ability (e.g., good at negotiating).
  • 'Of', 'at', and 'for' each commonly precede an -ing verb after adjectives or expressions: choose the correct preposition based on meaning (fear, skill, reason/purpose).

Table

Prepositions + -ing: common patterns

Structure Meaning Example
afraid of + -ing fear of an action or situation I'm afraid of missing the deadline.
good at + -ing skill or ability She's good at giving client presentations.
thank you for + -ing / sorry for + -ing reason for gratitude or apology Thank you for reviewing the report.
for + -ing (purpose / function) used to indicate purpose or intended use This calendar is for scheduling meetings.

Tip

Key rule: preposition + -ing

After a preposition, use the gerund (-ing). Adjectives that take a preposition must be followed by that preposition and then the gerund.

  • After 'afraid', use 'of' + -ing: afraid of doing something.
  • After 'good', use 'at' + -ing: good at doing something.
  • Use 'for' + -ing to show purpose or intended use, and 'thank you for' / 'sorry for' + -ing for reasons.

Remember: preposition (of/at/for) → gerund (-ing)

Example

Examples in context

I'm afraid of missing the deadline.

She's good at giving client presentations.

Thank you for reviewing the report ahead of time.

The calendar is for scheduling meetings and deadlines.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Learners commonly make predictable errors with prepositions and the -ing form. Watch for these universal mistakes:

  • Using the infinitive after a preposition (incorrect: 'afraid of to miss'); use the gerund instead.
  • Choosing the wrong preposition (e.g., using 'for' where 'at' is needed for a skill).
  • Omitting the preposition and writing the gerund directly after the adjective when the preposition is required.
  • Confusing verbs that require gerunds with verbs that take infinitives; learn the pattern for each verb/adjective.

Check the required preposition and then use the -ing form.

Quiz

Choose the correct sentence:

Hint: Focus on the preposition that normally follows 'afraid' and remember to use -ing after a preposition.

Quiz

Complete: She's really good at _____ client presentations.

Hint: Think about the -ing form that expresses a skill after 'good at'.

Quiz

Choose the correct sentence:

Hint: Which preposition commonly follows 'thank you' before an -ing verb?

Key Points

Vocabulary

afraid

adjective CEFR B1 //əˈfreɪd//

feeling fear or worry about something

She is afraid of missing the meeting.

Expression

good at

adjective + preposition CEFR B1 //ɡʊd æt//

skilled in or able to do something well

He's good at negotiating contracts.

GrammarPoint

gerund

grammar_point CEFR B1 //ˈdʒɛrənd//

the -ing form of a verb used as a noun or after a preposition

Managing projects well requires planning and communicating.

Vocabulary

preposition

noun CEFR B1 //ˌprɛpəˈzɪʃən//

a word placed before a noun, pronoun, or -ing form to show relation (e.g., of, at, for)

Use the correct preposition before the gerund: afraid of, good at, thanks for.

Vocabulary

deadline

noun CEFR B1 //ˈdɛdlaɪn//

a time or date by which something must be finished

We are worried about missing the project deadline.

Vocabulary

presentation

noun CEFR B1 //ˌprɛzənˈteɪʃən//

an event where information is shown and explained to an audience

She prepared a detailed presentation for the client meeting.