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Prepositions after adjectives

Advisable for or advisable to?

Advisable is commonly followed by to + verb or for + person. The two patterns have different grammatical functions.

Quick answer

How to use advisable

Use advisable to + verb to talk about a recommended action: It is advisable to leave early. Use advisable for + person/thing to show who would benefit or what something suits: This diet is not advisable for children.

It is advisable to check the contract carefully.
This treatment is not advisable for children.
It may be advisable to wait until morning.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
advisable to + verb

Recommended action

Use advisable to introduce an action that is wise or recommended.

It is advisable to save your receipts.
Doctors say it is advisable to rest after surgery.
2
advisable for + person

Suitable or wise for someone

Use advisable for to show who something is suitable or appropriate for.

The trip is not advisable for young children.
A low-salt diet is advisable for many patients.
3
advisable in + situation

Appropriate in a situation

Use in after advisable when referring to a context or circumstance.

Extra caution is advisable in bad weather.
Silence may be advisable in this situation.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
advisable to + verb
It is advisable to book early.
recommended action
advisable for + person
This route is not advisable for beginners.
suitable or wise for someone
advisable to + person
This change is advisable to investors.
nonstandard in current English; use advisable for investors or advise investors to instead
advisable for + activity
Regular breaks are advisable for long journeys.
appropriate in relation to an activity or situation

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using advisable to before a person

Advisable usually does not take to directly before a person.

✕ The plan is advisable to students. ✓ The plan is advisable for students.

Forgetting the infinitive after advisable to

Use the base form of the verb after to.

✕ It is advisable to checking the figures. ✓ It is advisable to check the figures.

Using a clause without it

English commonly uses dummy it before advisable + infinitive.

✕ Advisable to arrive early. ✓ It is advisable to arrive early.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. It is advisable ___ bring a jacket.
2. This medication is not advisable ___ pregnant women.
3. Extra care is advisable ___ icy conditions.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say advisable to someone?

Not usually. Use advisable for someone or use the verb advise: We advised the team to wait.

Is advisable followed by a gerund?

Usually no. English normally uses advisable to + base verb.

Can advisable describe situations?

Yes. You can say something is advisable in certain circumstances, such as advisable in emergencies.

abhorrent-to-in-for-of, about "ablaze with" or "ablaze in"? "able for" or "able in"? "abreast of" or "abreast with"? "absent from" or "absent in"? absolute in, for, of, to or as? "absurd to", "absurd in" or "absurd for"? abundant in, with, of, on or for? "abusive to", "abusive in" or "abusive towards"? "academic in" or "academic at"? "acceptable to" or "acceptable for"? accessible to, by, for, from or in?

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