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Prepositions after adjectives

clever in, with, at, about, or for

Clever is most commonly followed by at or with. Other prepositions are possible in more specific contexts.

Quick answer

Which prepositions follow clever?

Use clever at for skills and activities. Use clever with for handling tools, people, or resources. Clever about can mean careful or informed about something.

She's clever at solving puzzles.
He's clever with computers.
They were clever about managing costs.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
clever at + activity

Skilled at doing something

At is the most common choice for abilities and tasks.

My niece is clever at mathematics.
2
clever with + tool/person

Good at handling something

With is used for tools, materials, animals, or people.

She's clever with children.
3
clever about + topic

Wise or strategic about something

About often suggests practical judgement or informed behaviour.

He was clever about his investments.
4
clever in + area

Showing skill in a field

In can introduce a field or area of ability.

The company is clever in digital marketing.
5
clever for + noun

Intelligent considering age or situation

For compares ability with expectations.

She's clever for a six-year-old.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
clever at
He's clever at negotiation.
skilled in an activity
clever with
She's clever with technology.
good at handling something
clever about
They were clever about timing.
strategic or sensible regarding something
clever in
The team is clever in design.
skilled within a field
clever for
He's very clever for his age.
more intelligent than expected

Common mistakes

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

Using clever with for activities

Use at for tasks and activities.

✕ She is clever with chess. ✓ She is clever at chess.

Using clever for without comparison

For usually introduces a standard of comparison.

✕ He is clever for mathematics. ✓ He is clever at mathematics.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Maria is clever ___ languages.
2. He's very clever ___ animals.
3. They were clever ___ reducing costs.

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Frequently asked questions

Which is more common: clever at or clever in?

Clever at is more common for skills and activities.

Can clever with describe people?

Yes. Clever with people means good at dealing with them.

What does clever for mean?

It compares someone's intelligence with expectations, often related to age or experience.

calm, in, calm, for, calm, about "candid about" or "candid in"? capable of or in? careful about, with, of, in or on? careless about, with, in, of or on? caribbean in, for, with, to or on? "catastrophic for" or "catastrophic to"? "cautious about" or "cautious in"? celtic in, for, on, at or to? central to, in, for, at or of? "certain of" or "certain about"? "challenging for" or "challenging of"?

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