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Prepositions after adjectives

burning of, in, at, by or for?

Burning can combine with several prepositions depending on meaning. Burning for and burning with are common adjective patterns, while other prepositions often introduce place or cause.

Quick answer

Which prepositions follow burning?

Use burning for to express strong desire and burning with for intense emotion. Burning in often refers to location. Burning of is usually a noun phrase rather than an adjective pattern.

She was burning for revenge.
He stood there burning with anger.
There was a burning in the fireplace.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
burning for + desire

Expressing strong desire

Burning for describes intense longing or eagerness.

The team was burning for victory.
2
burning with + emotion

Showing intense emotion

Burning with is used for emotions such as anger, shame, or curiosity.

She was burning with curiosity.
3
burning in + place

Describing location

Burning in usually refers to something physically on fire in a place.

A candle was burning in the window.
4
burning at + rate/level

Talking about speed or intensity

Burning at can describe a measured rate or intensity.

The engine was burning at full power.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
burning of
The burning of old letters upset him.
noun phrase meaning the act of burning
burning in
A fire was burning in the stove.
shows location of a fire
burning at
The fuel was burning at a high temperature.
shows rate, level, or intensity
burning by
The candle was burning by the door.
by usually introduces location beside something, not a fixed pattern
burning for
She was burning for change.
shows strong desire or longing

Common mistakes

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

Using burning of as an adjective pattern

Burning of is usually a noun construction, not an adjective followed by a preposition.

✕ He was burning of anger. ✓ He was burning with anger.

Confusing burning for and burning with

For expresses desire; with expresses emotion.

✕ She was burning with success. ✓ She was burning for success.

Using by as the emotional complement

Burning by normally refers to position, not emotion.

✕ He was burning by jealousy. ✓ He was burning with jealousy.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She was burning ___ excitement before the concert.
2. The activists were burning ___ reform.
3. A small fire was burning ___ the corner.

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Frequently asked questions

What does burning for mean?

It means feeling a very strong desire for something.

Can burning with describe emotions?

Yes. Burning with is commonly used with emotions such as anger, shame, or excitement.

Is burning of correct?

Yes, but usually as a noun phrase, such as the burning of wood.

bad, for, bad, of baffling to, for, in, as or of? bankrupt in, by, for, as or with? "barefoot in" or "barefoot on"? "bare of", "bare with" or "bare in"? "basic of" or "basic to"? beautiful in, with, on, for or to? beholden to, for or on? "beloved by", "beloved to" or "beloved of"? "bemused by" or "bemused at"? "beneficial to" or "beneficial for"? bereft of, at, by, in or without?

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