Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after adjectives

How to use 'counterproductive' with prepositions

'Counterproductive to' is the most common pattern. 'Counterproductive for' is also used when focusing on the person, group, or goal affected.

Quick answer

Which preposition should you use?

Use 'counterproductive to' when something works against a goal, process, or purpose. Use 'counterproductive for' when focusing on the person, organisation, or activity negatively affected.

The policy is counterproductive to long-term growth.
Late-night emails are counterproductive for employee wellbeing.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
counterproductive to + goal

Working against a goal or purpose

Use 'counterproductive to' for aims, plans, progress, or development.

The argument was counterproductive to negotiations.
2
counterproductive for + person/group

Negative for someone or something

Use 'counterproductive for' to identify who or what is harmed.

The pressure is counterproductive for young players.
3
counterproductive in + activity

Within a specific situation

Use 'in' for the context where negative effects occur.

Such behaviour is counterproductive in team discussions.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
counterproductive to
The strategy is counterproductive to innovation.
It works against the intended goal.
counterproductive for
The schedule is counterproductive for staff morale.
It negatively affects a group or situation.
counterproductive in
Interruptions are counterproductive in meetings.
The negative effect happens within a context.

Common mistakes

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

Using 'to' with people instead of goals

'Counterproductive to' usually introduces a goal or process, not a person.

✕ The workload is counterproductive to employees. ✓ The workload is counterproductive for employees.

Using 'for' with abstract goals

Use 'to' for aims and objectives.

✕ The policy is counterproductive for economic recovery. ✓ The policy is counterproductive to economic recovery.

Dropping the preposition

The adjective normally needs a following preposition.

✕ The plan is counterproductive growth. ✓ The plan is counterproductive to growth.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The new rule is counterproductive ___ creativity.
2. Working overtime is counterproductive ___ many employees.
3. Phone interruptions are counterproductive ___ classrooms.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is 'counterproductive to' the standard pattern?

Yes. It is the most common choice for goals, plans, and outcomes.

Can I use 'counterproductive for people'?

Yes. This form focuses on who is negatively affected.

Is 'counterproductive against' natural?

It is much less common. English usually prefers 'counterproductive to'.

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"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account