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Participle Modifiers with Prepositions

Describing emotional reactions

 

 

 

Participle modifiers are paired with specific prepositions. 

 

convinced concerned amused frustrated pleased surprised confused entertained

 

 

Compare the word forms: 
ACTIVE VOICE  (verb) PASSIVE VOICE  (verb) PARTICIPLE  MODIFIER 

A verb in the past tense..

The verb in passive voice with a by-phrase.

The participle modifier.

The question surprised the President.

The President was surprised (by the question.)

The President was surprised at the question. (with)

The response confused the President.

The President was confused (by the response.)

The President was confused by  the response.

The news amused the President.

The President was amused (by the news.)

The President was amused with the news.

The President entertained the press.

The press was entertained (by the President.)

The press was entertained by the President.

The problem concerned the President.

The President was concerned (by the problem.)

The President was concerned with the situation.

The situation frustrated the President.
 

The President was frustrated (by the situation.)

The President was frustrated with the situation.

See Part Mod 2 -ed / -ing

Fred Armisen and Barak Obama
Comedian Fred Armisen /Barack Obama

 

 

 

 

 

Participle+Preposition Complements
NOUN or GERUND COMPLEMENT WH-CLAUSE COMPLEMENT

A  "be" verb (stative verb) commonly occurs before a participle + preposition combination. The expression is often followed by a noun phrase or a gerund clause.

In a similar way, the participle + preposition combination may be followed by a wh-clause (who, whom, who, where, when, how, why)

PARTICIPLE + PREP

The President was surprised at

NP / GER COMPLEMENT

the baby's cry. (noun phrase)
hearing the baby cry.  (gerund clause)

PARTICIPLE + PREP

The President was surprised at

WH-CLAUSE COMPLEMENT

what the baby did.

The President was confused by  

all the voices.
hearing everyone talk at once.

The President was confused by  

whom he should listen to first.

The President was concerned with

the situation.
letting the situation get worse.

The President was concerned with

why the situation was getting worse.

The President was entertained by

the comedian.
watching the comedian.

The President was entertained by

how the comedian mimicked him.

The President was pleased about

young people's response.
having young people respond positively.
 

The President was pleased about

how young people were responding.

complement – a word, phrase or clause which is necessary in a sentence to complete its meaning.

 

 

 

Participle Modifier & Preposition List

(Use may vary.)

ABOUT AT BY FROM

aggrieved about  (unfairly treated)

adept at  (skilled)

amused by / with

alienated from

annoyed about the delay

alarmed at

confused by

divorced from

concerned about

amazed at

distressed by

made from / of

confused about / by

amused at / by / with

embarrassed by

protected from

delighted about

angry at / with

encouraged by

removed from

excited about

astonished at

entertained by

refrained from

pleased about

delighted about / at

exhausted by

stopped from

undecided about

gifted at  (skilled)

frightened by

separated from

 

pleased at / with

impressed by

 
AGAINST

puzzled at

overwhelmed by

 FOR

discriminated against

skilled at

relaxed by

known for

rallied against

surprised at/ by/ with

terrified by

prepared for

 

talented at

unaffected by

qualified for

 

 

worried by

remembered for

 

IN OF TO WITH

bathed in sunlight

ashamed of

accustomed to

amused with

clothed in

composed of

addicted to

acquainted with

covered in / with

convinced of

committed to

annoyed with

disappointed in / by/ with

frightened of / by

connected to

associated with

dressed in

made of / from

dedicated to

blessed with

engaged in work

scared of

devoted to

bored with

interested in

terrified of

engaged to

coordinated with

involved in

tired of

limited to

covered with

rooted in (origin)

 

married to

crowded with

 

 ON / UPON

opposed to

disappointed with/in

 

based on

related to

endowed with

 

bent on

 

fascinated with/by

 

(dependent on)

 

filled with

 

(intent on)

 

finished with

 

 

 

frustrated with

 

 

 

furnished with

 

 

 

impressed with/by

 

 

 

pleased with

 

 

 

satisfied with

 

 

 

upset with

(CaGEL 6 §.3.1)

 

 

 

Common Mistakes
ERROR FIX

He was interesting seeing the movie. 

He was interested in seeing the movie.  (Use the -ed form)

I was embarrassing by what she said.

I was embarrassed by what she said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice

Pairing Prepositions with Participle Modifiers

 

 

Decide which preposition to use with each participial modifier.
  1. Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence. (Preposition usage varies among English speaking communities.)
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right. 

 

# YOUR RESPONSE CHECK ANSWER
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Related Practice:  Participle-Prep Prac  |  Gerund Objects  |  Verb + PP Prac 1  |  Verb + PP Prac 2  | Verb + PP Prac 3