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Prepositions after adjectives

Hopeful of, for, and about

Hopeful of and hopeful about are common in modern English. Hopeful for appears mainly when expressing hope for a result or person.

Quick answer

Which preposition fits with hopeful?

Use hopeful about for a situation or future event. Use hopeful of before a possible result, especially in formal English. Use hopeful for when expressing hope for someone or something.

We are hopeful about the negotiations.
She is hopeful of success.
They remain hopeful for a quick recovery.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
hopeful about + situation

Discussing a future situation

Hopeful about is common in everyday English.

Investors are hopeful about the new policy.
2
hopeful of + result

Expecting a positive outcome

Hopeful of is slightly more formal and often followed by nouns like success or improvement.

The team is hopeful of victory.
3
hopeful for + person/thing

Expressing hope for someone or something

Hopeful for often appears before a person or desired outcome.

Doctors are hopeful for his recovery.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
hopeful about
I'm hopeful about the project.
natural for situations and plans
hopeful of
They are hopeful of an agreement.
formal or neutral for expected results
hopeful for
We are hopeful for better weather.
expressing hope for a desired outcome

Common mistakes

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

Using hopeful about with a person

About usually introduces a situation, not a person needing support.

✕ We are hopeful about him. ✓ We are hopeful for him.

Avoiding of in formal contexts

Hopeful of is still standard in formal writing.

✓ The company is hopeful of growth next year.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She is hopeful ___ finding a solution.
2. We are hopeful ___ the future.
3. Doctors remain hopeful ___ a full recovery.

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Frequently asked questions

Is hopeful of formal?

Yes. It is especially common in formal and journalistic English.

Can I say hopeful about the future?

Yes. Hopeful about is very common with situations and plans.

Is hopeful for correct?

Yes. It is often used for hoped-for results or people.

halfway-through-between-up-down, to "handmade by" or "handmade in"? "hands-on with" or "hands-on in"? "handy for" or "handy in"? "happy with", "happy about" or "happy for"? hard for, on, at, of or in? harmful to, for, in, by or of? "harmless from" or "harmless to"? harsh on, in, for, with or to? "hateful to", "hateful towards" or "hateful of"? "hazardous to" or "hazardous for"? "head-to-head with" or "head-to-head in"?

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