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Prepositions after adjectives

Powerful in, of, or for

Powerful can be followed by in when referring to an area or activity. Powerful for appears in limited contexts about effects or usefulness. Powerful of is generally nonstandard in modern English.

Quick answer

Which prepositions work with powerful?

Use powerful in for areas, fields, or actions. Powerful for can describe strong effects in a specific use. Powerful of is generally not idiomatic as a regular adjective-preposition combination.

She is powerful in local politics.
This tool is powerful for data analysis.
The company became powerful in the energy sector.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
powerful in + field or activity

Talking about influence within an area

Use powerful in for industries, organisations, politics, or activities.

The family is powerful in regional business.
He became powerful in government circles.
2
powerful for + purpose

Describing strong usefulness or effect

Powerful for can describe something effective for a task or purpose.

The software is powerful for visual design.
This medicine is powerful for pain relief.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
powerful in
She is powerful in international finance.
having influence within a field or setting
powerful for
The platform is powerful for team collaboration.
effective or useful for a purpose
powerful of
Powerful of is generally not used in modern English.
nonstandard as a regular adjective-preposition pattern
powerful at
He is powerful at the negotiating table.
at can function as a place or situation adjunct, not a fixed pattern after powerful

Common mistakes

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

Using powerful of as a standard pattern

Modern English does not normally use powerful of after the adjective.

✕ The company is powerful of the region. ✓ The company is powerful in the region.

Confusing powerful in and powerful for

Use in for influence within a field and for for usefulness or effect.

✕ She is powerful for politics. ✓ She is powerful in politics.

Using for with organisations instead of purposes

Powerful for usually introduces a function or use, not a group or institution.

✕ The minister is powerful for the party. ✓ The minister is powerful in the party.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The corporation is powerful ___ the technology sector.
2. This engine is powerful ___ heavy lifting.
3. Which option is generally nonstandard?

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Frequently asked questions

Can powerful in describe political influence?

Yes. Powerful in politics and powerful in government are common patterns.

Is powerful for always correct?

It is correct in contexts about usefulness, effect, or purpose, but less common than powerful in.

Why is powerful of considered nonstandard?

Modern English normally does not use of directly after powerful in this meaning.

packed-with-to-in-on, into "paid for" or "paid up"? painful for, to, in, at or of? "palatable to" or "palatable for"? "pale in" or "pale of"? "pandemic of" or "pandemic in"? "paramount to" or "paramount in"? paranoid about, of, in, with or over? partial to, of, in, towards or for? participating in, of, on, at or for? "particular about" or "particular to"? part-time at, in, for, as or with?

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