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Prepositions after adjectives

Disturbing: which preposition to use

Disturbing is most commonly followed by to or for depending on the meaning. About, in, and of usually belong to a larger phrase rather than directly to disturbing.

Quick answer

Most common uses of disturbing

Use disturbing to someone to describe emotional effect on a person. Use disturbing for someone when something creates difficulty or harm for them. About, in, and of usually introduce separate ideas rather than being fixed combinations with disturbing.

The news was disturbing to many residents.
The images were disturbing for young children.
She heard something disturbing about the company.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
disturbing to + person

Showing emotional effect on someone

Use to when something causes worry, shock, or discomfort to a person.

The report was disturbing to investors.
His comments sounded disturbing to the audience.
2
disturbing for + person/group

Showing difficulty or harm for someone

Use for when discussing consequences or suitability for a person or group.

The loud environment is disturbing for patients.
The scene may be disturbing for younger viewers.
3
disturbing about + noun

Referring to the troubling aspect of something

About does not usually depend on disturbing itself. It introduces the topic that is troubling.

There is something disturbing about his explanation.
We noticed nothing disturbing about the results.
4
disturbing in + place/area

Describing where something disturbing exists

In usually introduces a place, field, or situation, not a fixed adjective pattern.

They found disturbing behaviour in the classroom.
There were disturbing trends in recent data.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
disturbing to someone
The announcement was disturbing to staff.
emotionally upsetting to a person
disturbing for someone
The uncertainty has been disturbing for employees.
causing difficulty or discomfort for someone
disturbing about something
There is something disturbing about his story.
the troubling aspect concerns a topic
disturbing in something
They observed disturbing patterns in the survey.
the disturbing thing exists within a place or context
disturbing of
That use is not standard in current English.
of is generally not used directly after disturbing as an adjective

Common mistakes

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

Using of directly after disturbing

Disturbing is not normally followed by of.

✕ The film was disturbing of many viewers. ✓ The film was disturbing to many viewers.

Confusing to and for

To focuses on emotional effect. For focuses on impact or suitability.

✕ The speech was disturbing for me to hear. ✓ The speech was disturbing to me.

Treating about as a fixed adjective pattern

About usually belongs to the noun or idea that follows.

✕ The report is disturbing about. ✓ There is something disturbing about the report.

Using in without a context noun

In usually needs a place, field, or situation.

✕ The behaviour was disturbing in. ✓ The behaviour was disturbing in school.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The documentary was disturbing ___ many viewers.
2. The noise is disturbing ___ hospital patients.
3. There is something disturbing ___ his explanation.

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Frequently asked questions

Is disturbing to more common than disturbing for?

They have different meanings. Disturbing to someone focuses on emotional reaction, while disturbing for someone focuses on impact or consequences.

Can I say disturbing about?

Yes, but about usually introduces the topic being discussed, as in something disturbing about the situation.

Is disturbing of correct?

No. Disturbing is not normally followed directly by of in standard English.

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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