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Preposition after adjective

secretive: about, in, with, by, or for?

Secretive most often takes about or with. Other prepositions may appear in special contexts but are not standard fixed combinations.

Quick answer

Which prepositions follow secretive?

Use secretive about for topics and secretive with for people or information-sharing. Secretive in can describe behaviour in a situation. By and for are uncommon after secretive.

He is secretive about his income.
She became secretive with reporters.
The company was secretive in its public statements.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
secretive about + topic

Hiding information about something

Use about to introduce the subject that someone avoids discussing.

They are secretive about future plans.
He stayed secretive about the deal.
2
secretive with + person

Not sharing information with someone

With identifies the person or group receiving limited information.

She is secretive with her colleagues.
The agency remained secretive with journalists.
3
secretive in + context

Describing behaviour in a situation

In can introduce a context where someone behaves secretly.

The team was secretive in meetings with investors.
4
secretive by nature

Describing personality

By appears in expressions such as by nature, not as a fixed complement after secretive.

He is secretive by nature.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
secretive about
She is secretive about her age.
not willing to discuss a topic
secretive with
He is secretive with the press.
not sharing information with someone
secretive in
The group was secretive in public discussions.
behaving secretly in a context
secretive for
They were secretive for security reasons.
for introduces a reason, not a fixed adjective pattern

Common mistakes

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

Using secretive by as a general pattern

By usually belongs to expressions like by nature.

✕ She is secretive by her plans. ✓ She is secretive about her plans.

Using for instead of about

Use about to introduce the hidden topic.

✕ He is secretive for his finances. ✓ He is secretive about his finances.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The actor is very secretive ___ his personal life.
2. She became secretive ___ her manager.
3. The company was secretive ___ negotiations.

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Frequently asked questions

Is secretive about the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard way to describe hidden topics.

What does secretive with mean?

It means not openly sharing information with a person or group.

Can secretive be followed by for?

Only in expressions of reason, such as for security reasons. It is not a fixed adjective-preposition combination.

sacred-to-in-by-of, for "sad for" or "sad about"? "safe for", "safe from" or "safe in"? sanguine about, in, of, on or for? "satisfactory to" or "satisfactory for"? satisfied with, of, by, in or on? "satisfying for" or "satisfying to"? scarce in, for, at, on or of? scared of, to, about, for or by? "scary for" or "scary to"? "scathing about", "scathing in" or "scathing of"? "sceptical about" or "sceptical of"?

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