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Prepositions after adjectives

Irritating to or irritating for?

Use irritating to to say who feels annoyed. Irritating for is uncommon as a direct adjective pattern and usually introduces a situation or experience instead.

Quick answer

Preferred pattern

Use irritating to + person to show who feels annoyed. Irritating for is possible in broader sentence structures, but not usually as the direct complement of irritating.

The buzzing sound is irritating to me.
His constant interruptions are irritating to the audience.
It can be irritating for commuters during rush hour.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
irritating to + person

Who feels annoyed?

Use irritating to to identify the person affected.

The delay was irritating to passengers.
Her comments became irritating to everyone in the room.
2
irritating for + person

In what situation is something annoying?

For often belongs to the larger structure and introduces the affected person in a situation.

Waiting for hours is irritating for young children.
The slow internet connection is irritating for remote workers.
3
irritating when + clause

Which situation causes annoyance?

When clauses are common with irritating to describe circumstances.

It is irritating when people talk during films.
I find it irritating when apps crash unexpectedly.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
irritating to
The noise is irritating to the neighbours.
Correct pattern showing who feels annoyed.
irritating for
The long form is irritating for new users.
For introduces the affected group in the situation.
irritating with
She is irritating with all those questions.
Possible but less natural than because of or due to in many contexts.

Common mistakes

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

Using for instead of to for the affected person

Use irritating to when directly naming who feels irritated.

✕ The sound is irritating for me. ✓ The sound is irritating to me.

Using irritating of

Irritating is not normally followed by of.

✕ His behaviour is irritating of the staff. ✓ His behaviour is irritating to the staff.

Confusing adjective and verb patterns

Irritate as a verb does not need a preposition.

✕ The noise irritated to me. ✓ The noise irritated me.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The constant beeping is irritating ___ customers.
2. Standing in line for hours is irritating ___ tourists.
3. I find it irritating ___ people interrupt meetings.

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Frequently asked questions

Is irritating to correct?

Yes. It is the standard way to show who feels annoyed.

Can I use irritating for?

Yes, especially in sentences describing situations that affect a group of people.

What is the difference between irritating and irritated?

Irritating describes the thing causing annoyance, while irritated describes the person feeling annoyed.

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