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Prepositions after adjectives

Down with different prepositions

The adjective down is common in informal English. Some prepositions form fixed expressions, while others simply add extra information about time, topic, or place.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with down?

The most common fixed pattern is down to when talking about causes, responsibility, or reduced numbers. Down on means critical of someone or something. Prepositions such as for, about, and in usually introduce separate information rather than forming a fixed adjective pattern.

The final decision was down to the manager.
Sales are down to 50 units this week.
She is always down on herself after mistakes.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
down to + cause/person

Showing the reason or responsibility

Down to often means caused by or dependent on someone or something.

The delay was down to bad weather.
Success is largely down to preparation.
2
down to + number/level

Showing reduction

Down to can describe a decrease to a lower amount, level, or stage.

We are down to our last ticket.
The temperature dropped down to zero overnight.
3
down on + person/thing

Being critical or negative

Down on is an idiomatic pattern meaning critical of or unfriendly toward someone or something.

Why are you so down on remote work?
He has been down on himself lately.
4
down for + activity/plan

Showing willingness in informal English

In informal English, down for means willing or available for something.

Are you down for dinner tonight?
I am down for a quick meeting tomorrow.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
down to
The mistake was down to poor communication.
A standard expression for cause, responsibility, or reduction.
down on
She is down on noisy restaurants.
A standard idiomatic expression meaning critical of or opposed to something.
down for
I am down for a weekend trip.
An informal expression meaning willing, scheduled, or included.
down about
He feels down about the exam results.
About introduces the topic of the feeling; it is not a fixed adjective-preposition pattern.
down in
They are down in the basement.
In introduces location, not a special pattern selected by down.

Common mistakes

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

Using down about as a fixed pattern

About usually introduces the topic causing the feeling, not a special adjective-preposition combination.

✕ She is down about with her grades. ✓ She is down about her grades.

Confusing down to with because of

Down to is followed directly by a noun phrase.

✕ The problem is down to because of traffic. ✓ The problem is down to traffic.

Using down on for physical position

Down on usually means critical of something, not physically lower.

✕ The keys are down on the table below. ✓ The keys are on the table below.

Using down for in formal writing

Down for is informal and may sound too casual in professional contexts.

✕ All staff are down for attending the seminar. ✓ All staff are scheduled to attend the seminar.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The cancellation was ___ technical problems.
2. Why are you so ___ social media lately?
3. Are you ___ a game after work?

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Frequently asked questions

Is down to formal or informal?

Down to is common in both formal and informal English, especially when discussing causes or reductions.

Can I say down about something?

Yes. About can introduce the topic of a feeling, as in feel down about work. The fixed adjective pattern is feel down, not down about.

What does down on mean?

Down on means critical of, negative about, or unfriendly toward someone or something.

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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