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Prepositions after adjectives

Progressive with different prepositions

Progressive commonly takes in to describe development in an area. Other prepositions usually add separate meanings rather than forming fixed combinations.

Quick answer

How is progressive used with prepositions?

Use progressive in to describe advancement in a field or attitude. Progressive about and progressive with are also used in specific contexts. On and for are usually not fixed complements after progressive.

The school is progressive in its teaching methods.
She is progressive about workplace policies.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
progressive in + area

Advancement in a field

Use in for areas of policy, education, science, or social attitudes.

The country is progressive in environmental policy.
2
progressive about + issue

Modern or open-minded attitudes

About can introduce a topic of opinion or attitude.

They are progressive about parental leave.
3
progressive with + change

Gradual development

With can describe continuing movement or improvement.

The patient is progressive with physical therapy.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
progressive in
The company is progressive in its hiring practices.
Advanced or modern in a particular area.
progressive about
She is progressive about gender equality.
Holding modern views on a topic.
progressive on
The mayor is progressive on climate policy.
On introduces the topic; common in political discussion.
progressive for
That rule was progressive for its time.
For its time is a time comparison, not a fixed adjective pattern.

Common mistakes

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

Using for as the main complement

Progressive does not normally take for directly as its complement.

✕ The school is progressive for education. ✓ The school is progressive in education.

Confusing on with in

On introduces a topic of opinion, while in introduces a field or area.

✕ The company is progressive on its technology systems. ✓ The company is progressive in its technology systems.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The university is progressive ___ research methods.
2. She is progressive ___ social issues.
3. The senator is progressive ___ healthcare reform.

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Frequently asked questions

Is progressive in correct?

Yes. It is the standard pattern for development or modern approaches in a field.

Can I say progressive on an issue?

Yes. This is common in political and social discussions.

Is progressive for natural English?

Usually only in expressions like progressive for its time, where for adds comparison rather than completing the adjective.

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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