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Preposition after adjective

Desperate for, in, to, about or at?

Desperate is commonly followed by for or an infinitive with to.

Quick answer

Using desperate with prepositions

Use desperate for before a noun and desperate to before a verb. Desperate about is also possible for strong concern. In and at usually introduce separate contexts, not direct complements.

desperate for help
desperate to win
desperate about the delay

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
desperate for + noun

Strongly needing something

Use for with things wanted or needed urgently.

The team was desperate for funding
2
desperate to + verb

Strongly wanting to act

Use to before an infinitive.

She is desperate to leave
3
desperate about + situation

Feeling extreme worry

About can introduce a troubling topic.

He became desperate about the debt

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
desperate for
They are desperate for rain.
Standard for urgent need.
desperate in
He acted desperately in difficult conditions.
In usually introduces a context, not the complement after desperate.
desperate to
I am desperate to speak with her.
Standard before a verb.
desperate about
She is desperate about her finances.
Possible for intense worry.
desperate at
He was desperate at times.
At is uncommon directly after desperate.

Common mistakes

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

Using for before a verb

Use to plus verb after desperate.

✕ desperate for leave ✓ desperate to leave

Using in as the main complement

In usually adds context, not the object of need.

✕ desperate in money ✓ desperate for money

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They were desperate ___ assistance.
2. She is desperate ___ succeed.
3. He became desperate ___ the situation.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between desperate for and desperate to?

Desperate for is followed by a noun. Desperate to is followed by a verb.

Can I say desperate about?

Yes. It can express extreme worry about a situation.

Is desperate in correct?

Only when in introduces a separate context, not as the main adjective pattern.

daily, for, daily, with, daily, in damaging to, for, of, in or as? damn about, near, for, to or as? "dangerous for" or "dangerous to"? "dark in", "dark for" or "dark of"? "daunting for" or "daunting to"? dead in, on, by, at or of? deadly to, in, for, of or with? "deaf to" or "deaf in"? dear to, in, for, of or as? deceased in, to, for, at or on? "decent in" or "decent for"?

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