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Prepositions after adjectives

“Mature in” or “mature for”?

Mature can be followed by different prepositions with different meanings. Mature in refers to an area of skill or development, while mature for usually means advanced compared with a typical age or stage.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with mature?

Use mature in to talk about a particular area, skill, or quality. Use mature for to compare someone or something with a usual age or stage. The two expressions are not interchangeable.

She is very mature in handling conflict.
He seems mature for his age.
The market is mature in several European countries.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
mature in + area

Talking about skill or development in a specific area

Use mature in when referring to emotional, intellectual, professional, or market development in a particular field or aspect.

The child is mature in social situations.
The company is mature in its approach to security.
2
mature for + age/stage

Comparing someone or something with a usual level

Use mature for to say that someone or something is more developed than expected for a certain age, class, or stage.

She is mature for a twelve-year-old.
His writing is mature for a beginner.
3
emotionally mature

Using mature without a following preposition

Mature is often used directly with an adverb or complement instead of a prepositional phrase.

They need someone who is emotionally mature.
The discussion remained surprisingly mature.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
mature in
She is mature in financial matters.
developed or skilled in a particular area
mature for
He is mature for his age.
more developed than expected at that age or stage
mature at
Children mature at different rates.
used with a time, age, or speed of development, not the same meaning as mature in or mature for
mature enough to
Are they mature enough to manage the project?
ready or responsible enough to do something

Common mistakes

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

Using mature for with a topic or skill

Use mature in for areas of knowledge, behaviour, or expertise.

✕ She is mature for dealing with customers. ✓ She is mature in dealing with customers.

Using mature in for age comparison

Use mature for when comparing someone with a usual age or level.

✕ He is mature in his age. ✓ He is mature for his age.

Confusing mature with ready

Mature does not always mean prepared. In some contexts, ready or old enough is more natural.

✕ The software is mature for release. ✓ The software is ready for release.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She is very ___ handling difficult clients.
2. The boy seems ___ his age.
3. People emotionally ___ different speeds.

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Frequently asked questions

Is “mature in” common in English?

Yes. It is used to describe development or ability in a specific area, such as mature in judgment or mature in business practices.

What does “mature for his age” mean?

It means someone behaves or thinks in a more developed way than is typical for that age.

Can I say “mature for dealing with people”?

That sounds unnatural. Use mature in dealing with people or mature enough to deal with people, depending on the meaning.

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