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Prepositions after adjectives

Pale in or pale of

Pale can appear with in when describing a feature or area, but pale of is not a standard modern combination after the adjective.

Quick answer

Do we say pale in or pale of?

Pale in can appear when in introduces a feature or body area, such as pale in colour or pale in the face. Pale of is not a standard modern adjective-preposition pattern.

She looked pale in the face.
The fabric appears pale in natural light.
The expression pale of is not standard modern English.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
pale in + feature

Describing where paleness appears

Use in to introduce the area, feature, or condition connected with paleness.

He seemed pale in the cheeks.
The paint looks pale in bright sunlight.
2
pale with + emotion

Describing the cause of paleness

With is common when emotion or illness causes someone to look pale.

She went pale with shock.
He was pale with exhaustion.
3
pale compared with + noun

Making comparisons

Pale often appears in comparison structures rather than fixed adjective-preposition combinations.

Their achievements pale compared with hers.
The sequel pale compared with the original.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
pale in
She looked pale in the face.
In introduces the area or condition where paleness appears.
pale of
Pale of is not a standard modern adjective pattern.
Use pale in, pale with, or another structure instead.
pale with
He was pale with fear.
Shows the cause of the paleness.
pale beside
Their efforts pale beside hers.
Used in comparisons meaning seem weaker or less important.

Common mistakes

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

Using pale of as a regular pattern

Pale of is not idiomatic in modern standard English.

✕ She looked pale of fear. ✓ She looked pale with fear.

Confusing in and with

In introduces an area or condition, while with introduces a cause.

✕ He was pale in shock. ✓ He was pale with shock.

Using pale in without context

In needs a following area, feature, or condition.

✕ She looked pale in. ✓ She looked pale in the face.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He turned pale ___ fear.
2. She looked pale ___ the face after the race.
3. Which construction is nonstandard in modern English?

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Frequently asked questions

Is pale in a fixed adjective pattern?

Not usually. In often introduces a body area, condition, or setting.

What preposition is common with emotions?

With is common for causes such as fear, shock, or illness.

Can pale be used in comparisons?

Yes. Expressions like pale beside or pale compared with are common.

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