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Preposition after adjective

Expressive of, in, with, about or as?

Expressive of is the main pattern for showing feelings or qualities. Other prepositions are used in more specific contexts or separate sentence structures.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with expressive?

Use expressive of when something shows a feeling, attitude, or quality. Expressive in refers to the area or manner of expression. Expressive with can describe style or use of features. Expressive about is uncommon. Expressive as is usually part of a different structure, such as expressive as an artist.

Her music is highly expressive of grief and hope.
He is very expressive in his writing.
The actor was expressive with facial gestures.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
expressive of + feeling/quality

Showing emotions or characteristics

Expressive of is the standard pattern when something reveals emotions, attitudes, or qualities.

The painting is expressive of loneliness.
His tone was expressive of frustration.
2
expressive in + medium/activity

Describing where expression happens

Use expressive in for a form of communication or artistic activity.

She is expressive in conversation.
The children were expressive in their drawings.
3
expressive with + feature/tool

Describing expressive use of something

Expressive with can describe how someone uses voice, movement, or artistic tools.

The dancer was expressive with her hands.
He is expressive with colour and texture.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
expressive of
The poem is expressive of deep sadness.
Shows or reveals a feeling or quality.
expressive in
She is expressive in her speeches.
Shows expression through a medium or activity.
expressive with
He is expressive with his voice.
Describes expressive use of a feature or tool.
expressive about
She is not very expressive about her emotions.
Possible but less common; about introduces the topic discussed.
expressive as
He is expressive as a performer.
As introduces a role or identity, not the adjective pattern itself.

Common mistakes

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

Using expressive about too broadly

Expressive of is usually more natural for showing emotions or qualities.

✕ The music is expressive about sorrow. ✓ The music is expressive of sorrow.

Confusing expressive of and expressive in

Expressive of names the feeling shown, while expressive in names the medium.

✕ She is expressive of her writing. ✓ She is expressive in her writing.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The sculpture is expressive ___ human suffering.
2. He is especially expressive ___ poetry.
3. The singer was expressive ___ her gestures.

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Frequently asked questions

Is expressive of the main pattern?

Yes. Expressive of is the standard way to describe something that reveals emotions or qualities.

Can expressive about be correct?

Yes, but it is less common and usually refers to discussing emotions or opinions.

Why is expressive as different?

As introduces a role or identity, such as expressive as an actor, rather than a direct adjective-preposition pattern.

eager-for-to-in-about, on "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"?

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