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Prepositions after adjectives

How to use eager with prepositions

Eager is commonly followed by to plus an infinitive or by for plus a noun. Other prepositions usually belong to a different structure or sound unnatural directly after eager.

Quick answer

Most common patterns with eager

Use eager to + verb to talk about wanting to do something, and eager for + noun to talk about wanting a thing or event. Eager about is possible when discussing the topic causing excitement. Eager in and eager on are not standard complements after eager.

She is eager to start the project.
The children were eager for the holidays.
He sounded eager about the trip.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
eager to + verb

Showing willingness or excitement to act

Use eager to followed by an infinitive when someone strongly wants to do something.

We are eager to hear the results.
I was eager to meet the new manager.
2
eager for + noun

Wanting an event, object, or result

Use eager for before a noun or noun phrase.

Fans were eager for the concert.
She is eager for a promotion.
3
eager about + topic

Talking about the subject causing excitement

Use eager about to identify the topic someone feels excited about.

They are eager about the expansion plans.
He seemed eager about the opportunity.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
eager to + verb
She is eager to learn.
Standard pattern for wanting to do something.
eager for + noun
They were eager for news.
Standard pattern for wanting a thing or event.
eager about + topic
He is eager about the new design.
Used for the topic that creates excitement or interest.
eager in
She was eager in discussions.
Here in introduces an activity or setting, not a complement selected by eager.
eager on
The team was eager on arrival.
On here functions as a time or situation adjunct, not a normal complement after eager.

Common mistakes

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

Using eager in as a direct complement

Eager is not normally followed directly by in to express desire.

✕ She is eager in the job. ✓ She is eager for the job.

Using eager on to express enthusiasm

On is not a standard complement after eager.

✕ He is eager on the project. ✓ He is eager about the project.

Forgetting the infinitive after eager to

Use a base verb after to.

✕ We are eager to the meeting. ✓ We are eager to attend the meeting.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She is eager ___ meet the client.
2. The children were eager ___ summer vacation.
3. He sounded eager ___ the new plan.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say eager to do something?

Yes. Eager to plus a verb is the most common structure.

Is eager for correct?

Yes. Use eager for before nouns such as news, change, or success.

Is eager on standard English?

No. On is not normally used directly after eager as its complement.

"early in", "early on" or "early for"? earnest in, with, on, for or at? easy for, on, in, to or with? "economical with" or "economical in"? "ecstatic about" or "ecstatic with"? "effective in", "effective at" or "effective for"? "efficient in" or "efficient at"? elderly in, with, at, of or as? elegant in, with, of, as or to? eligible for, to, in or under? "embarrassed by" or "embarrassed about"? "embarrassing for" or "embarrassing to"?

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