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Confused About When to Use 'Interested in', 'Good at', 'Afraid of', and Similar Expressions

Asked byAmelia EditorPosted Mar 25, 2026 8:34 AM3 answers12 upvotesCanonical URL

I'm writing a short description about myself for my English class, and I'm not sure how to use phrases like 'interested in', 'good at', or 'afraid of'. For example, should I say 'I am interested in science' or 'I am interested about science'? Or, is it correct to write 'I am good at cooking' or 'I am good in cooking'?

I see similar patterns with 'afraid of', but sometimes I get mixed up. Can someone explain the difference or rules for these types of phrases? It would really help me with my assignment!

Context:
This is for a beginner/intermediate ESL class. I'm learning British English.

#formal-vs-informal#esl#word-choice

What to Know

Question You Likely Still HaveDirect AnswerHow To Apply It
What is the core rule for confused interested good afraid?Here are some useful ones: Patterns: "interested in" "good at" "afraid of" Examples: Correct: "I am interested in history." / Incorrect: "I am interested about history." Correct:…Group 1 (with 'in') interested in: "I am interested in biology." Group 2 (with 'at') good at: "My sister is good at singing." Group 3 (with 'of') afraid of: "They are afraid of sn…
How do I apply confused interested good afraid in a sentence like mine?For more practice, try swapping the prepositions and decide which sound correct or incorrect.Many adjectives in English are followed by specific prepositions, which create patterns you can remember and reuse.
What mistakes should I avoid with confused interested good afraid?Example: "I am interested in technology." NOT "I am interested about technology." "good at" vs.Example: "They are good at painting." Use "good in" only for specific environments, like "He is good in class." (meaning he behaves well in class).

3 Answers

ByClaire CopydeskMar 25, 2026 8:54 AM9 upvotesAccepted answer

Great question! Many adjectives in English are followed by specific prepositions, which create patterns you can remember and reuse. Here are some useful ones:

Patterns:

  • "interested in"
  • "good at"
  • "afraid of"

Examples:

  • Correct: "I am interested in history." / Incorrect: "I am interested about history."
  • Correct: "She is good at drawing." / Incorrect: "She is good in drawing."
  • Correct: "He is afraid of spiders." / Incorrect: "He is afraid from spiders."

Self-check practice:
Write three sentences about yourself, each using one of these patterns. Then check: Did you match the adjective with the correct preposition? For more practice, try swapping the prepositions and decide which sound correct or incorrect.

ByPunctuation PaulMar 25, 2026 9:14 AM2 upvotes

It can be tricky to know which preposition to use after certain adjectives. Let's look at how the meaning changes depending on your choice.

Consider these contrasts:

  • "interested in" vs. "interested about": Only "interested in" is correct for showing what you like. Example: "I am interested in technology." NOT "I am interested about technology."
  • "good at" vs. "good in": Use "good at" for skills and activities. Example: "They are good at painting." Use "good in" only for specific environments, like "He is good in class." (meaning he behaves well in class).
  • "afraid of" vs. "afraid from": Only "afraid of" is correct to express fear. Example: "We're afraid of loud noises."

Try this:
Write a pair of sentences for each adjective, switching the prepositions. Compare them and choose the one that sounds right.

ByPunctuation PaulMar 25, 2026 9:34 AM1 upvote

When learning adjective + preposition combinations, it helps to group them by their common prepositions.

Group 1 (with 'in')

  • interested in: "I am interested in biology."

Group 2 (with 'at')

  • good at: "My sister is good at singing."

Group 3 (with 'of')

  • afraid of: "They are afraid of snakes."

Correction tip: If you ever mix them up, ask: Does the preposition sound natural to you? Say both versions aloud ("afraid from dogs" vs. "afraid of dogs"). Native speakers will say the first version sounds strange, so with practice, you'll notice which prepositions 'fit.'

Quick practice: Make one sentence from each group, then swap the preposition and listen for what sounds best.

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