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Prepositions after adjectives

Oblivious to or oblivious of

Oblivious to is the standard modern pattern. Oblivious of also appears, especially in formal or literary styles.

Quick answer

Oblivious to is the usual choice

Use oblivious to for something a person does not notice or is unaware of. Oblivious of is also used, but it is less common and often more formal.

He was oblivious to the danger.
She seemed oblivious to everyone's concerns.
They remained oblivious of the criticism.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
oblivious to + fact/event

Being unaware of something

Use to with facts, sounds, risks, or situations unnoticed by someone.

The driver was oblivious to the warning signs.
She stayed oblivious to the noise around her.
2
oblivious of + fact

Formal or literary variation

Of can appear in careful or literary English with a similar meaning.

He appeared oblivious of the tension in the room.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
oblivious to
She was oblivious to the problem.
Standard modern pattern meaning unaware.
oblivious of
He seemed oblivious of the risks.
Less common but accepted, often more formal.
oblivious about
They were oblivious about the changes.
Not a natural choice in this meaning.
oblivious at
She was oblivious at the meeting.
At can describe place, not the object of unawareness.

Common mistakes

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

Using about after oblivious

About is not normally used with oblivious.

✕ He was oblivious about the issue. ✓ He was oblivious to the issue.

Confusing place with complement

At may show location rather than what is unnoticed.

✕ She was oblivious at the warning. ✓ She was oblivious to the warning.

Overusing oblivious of in casual English

Of is acceptable but can sound formal or literary.

✕ My friend was oblivious of the text messages. ✓ My friend was oblivious to the text messages.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He was oblivious ___ the traffic behind him.
2. Which option is more formal or literary?
3. She remained oblivious ___ the criticism.

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Frequently asked questions

Is oblivious of wrong?

No. It is accepted, though less common and often more formal than oblivious to.

Which is more common: oblivious to or oblivious of?

Oblivious to is the standard everyday choice.

Can I say oblivious about?

That combination is not natural in this meaning.

obedient-to-unto-in-by, of "objective in" or "objective about"? "obligatory for" or "obligatory on"? observable in, by, from, to or on? obsessed with, by, about, in or over? obsessive about, in, over, with or to? "obsolete in" or "obsolete by"? "obtainable in" or "obtainable from"? "obvious to", "obvious from" or "obvious in"? odd to, for, about, in or on? offensive to, in, against, on or about? official with, in, for, on or at?

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