動詞と形容詞の前置詞の使い方｜Talk about・Good at・Tired of の違いをマスターしよう
Prepositions like to, with, about, of, and for can completely change the meaning of a verb or adjective.
Small words - big difference.
This can be hard for Japanese learners because English prepositions do not match Japanese particles.
In this post, we focus on three useful groups that are often confused.
1. Talk About / Talk To / Talk With
These are easy to confuse, but each has a different focus.
Talk about - to discuss a topic
→ We talked about the new project.
Talk to - to speak to a person (one-way focus)
→ I need to talk to my manager about this problem.
Talk with - to speak together with someone (two-way conversation, slightly more friendly)
→ I talked with my colleague about our weekend plans.
Common Mistake:
✘ I talked about my teacher yesterday. (= correct English, but wrong meaning. It means you were gossiping.)
✔ I talked to my teacher yesterday. (= correct meaning)
Cultural Note:
British and American speakers both use talk to and talk with, but Americans tend to prefer talk with in casual, equal conversations, while British speakers often say talk to even when both people are speaking.
2. Good At / Good For / Good With
All use good, but the meaning changes depending on the preposition.
Good at - skilled in something
→ She’s good at cooking.
Good for - beneficial, healthy, or helpful
→ Walking every day is good for your health.
Good with - skilled at handling/using people, tools, or things
→ He’s good with children. / She’s good with numbers.
Common Mistake:
✘ I’m good for English. (Incorrect)
✔ I’m good at English. (Correct)
Cultural Note:
In business English, good with people or good with clients is common in CVs and interviews - it means you communicate well and handle relationships smoothly.
3. Tired Of / Fed Up With / Sick Of
These all show frustration or boredom, but the strength changes.
Tired of - bored of something
→ I’m tired of eating the same lunch every day.
Fed up with - informal, stronger, shows irritation/annoyance
→ I’m fed up with the noise from my neighbours.
Sick of - very strong and emotional
→ I’m sick of this weather!
Common Mistake:
✘ I’m tired from studying English. (wrong meaning - this means you are sleepy because you studied)
✔ I’m tired of studying English. (correct meaning - this means you are bored with it)
Cultural Note:
In British English, fed up with is common and mild.
In American English, sick of is more typical in casual speech.
Be careful: I’m sick of you! often sounds angry or rude.
Let’s look at some simple patterns that explain why these prepositions change the meaning.
General Patterns for Common Prepositions
A. To - Movement or Direction Toward Something
Core meaning: movement or focus towards something.
Used with verbs showing transfer or communication:
talk to someone (send words toward someone)
listen to (attention moves toward)
Used with adjectives showing orientation:
similar to, kind to, married to (connected or directed toward another person or situation)
Think of “to” as an arrow pointing toward something.
B. With - Togetherness or Accompaniment
Core meaning: shared space, cooperation, or action connecting someone/something.
Used with verbs describing connection:
talk with, argue with, meet with (doing something together)
Used with adjectives describing relationships or ability:
good with children, angry with someone, pleased with the results
“With” shows involvement or connection.
C. About - Topic or Subject
Core meaning: the focus, topic, or subject of thought or speech.
Used with communication or thinking verbs:
talk about, think about, worry about, complain about
Used with adjectives of emotion or thought:
excited about, nervous about, curious about
“About” indicates the topic, or the idea being discussed.
D. For - Purpose, Benefit, or Intended Target
Core meaning: benefit, purpose, or duration.
Used with adjectives and verbs of usefulness or intention:
good for you, wait for someone, apologise for something, responsible for a project
Often shows who or what receives the effect.
“For” shows who benefits or what the purpose is.
E. Of - Belonging, Origin, or Connection
Core meaning: origin or connection.
Used with adjectives of feeling or judgment:
afraid of, proud of, tired of, aware of
The preposition “of” shows what causes or defines the state.
“Of” signals source or cause - what the emotion or idea comes from.
Practice
Choose the correct option for each sentence:
I need to ______ my boss about my schedule.
A. talk about B. talk to C. talk with
He’s really ______ dealing with difficult customers.
A. good at B. good for C. good with
I’m ______ hearing the same excuses every day.
A. tired from B. fed up with C. good at
Conclusion
Using different prepositions can completely change meaning - even with the same verb or adjective.
By learning these patterns, you’ll avoid common mistakes and sound more fluent, natural, and confident in both casual and business English.
Answers:
B or C
A
B