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Preposition after adjective

pretty + preposition

Pretty is often followed by in when describing clothes or appearance. Other prepositions usually add context rather than form fixed combinations.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with pretty?

Pretty in is common for clothing or appearance: pretty in blue. Pretty with can describe features or decorations: pretty with flowers. On, for, and at are usually separate context phrases rather than fixed adjective patterns.

She looked pretty in red.
The table was pretty with candles and flowers.
The child drew pretty patterns on the wall.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
pretty in + clothes/colour

Describing appearance in clothing

Use pretty in to describe how someone looks wearing something.

He said she looked pretty in silver.
The girls were pretty in their festival costumes.
2
pretty with + feature

Describing decoration or added features

Use pretty with when something becomes attractive because of a feature.

The garden is pretty with spring flowers.
The room looked pretty with soft lighting.
3
pretty on + object

Describing appearance on someone or something

On usually introduces the person or thing wearing or displaying something.

That hat looks pretty on you.
The colour appears pretty on silk fabric.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
pretty in
She looks pretty in green.
Standard for clothing or colours worn by someone.
pretty with
The balcony was pretty with vines.
Shows what makes something attractive.
pretty on
That necklace looks pretty on her.
Describes appearance on a person or object.
pretty for
She is pretty for her age.
Compares someone with an expected standard.
pretty at
She is pretty at drawing.
Not standard. Use good at drawing instead.

Common mistakes

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

Using pretty at for ability

Pretty does not normally describe skill with at.

✕ He is pretty at chess. ✓ He is good at chess.

Confusing pretty in and pretty with

Use in for clothing and with for features or decoration.

✕ She looks pretty with blue. ✓ She looks pretty in blue.

Using on without a clear object

Pretty on usually needs a person or thing after on.

✕ The dress is pretty on. ✓ The dress looks pretty on her.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She looks pretty ___ black.
2. The hall was pretty ___ lanterns.
3. Which sentence is standard?

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Frequently asked questions

Can pretty be used without a preposition?

Yes. You can simply say someone or something is pretty.

Is pretty in only used for clothes?

It is most common with clothes and colours, but it can also describe appearance in costumes or styles.

Does pretty for sound rude?

Sometimes. Pretty for your age or pretty for a beginner may sound comparative or slightly critical depending on context.

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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