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Prepositions after adjectives

Sentimental with prepositions

Sentimental about is the most common pattern. Other prepositions are used in more limited contexts.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct after sentimental?

Use sentimental about for emotional attachment to things or memories. Sentimental over is possible for emotional reactions to events. Sentimental to and sentimental for are uncommon and usually avoided. Sentimental in describes manner or style.

She is sentimental about old photographs.
He became sentimental over his childhood memories.
The film is sentimental in tone.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
sentimental about + thing

Emotional attachment

Use sentimental about for objects, places, memories, or relationships with emotional value.

I'm sentimental about my first guitar.
They are sentimental about the family house.
2
sentimental over + event

Emotional reaction

Use sentimental over when reacting emotionally to a situation or memory.

She grew sentimental over the farewell speech.
He became sentimental over old letters.
3
sentimental in + respect

Describing style or behaviour

Use sentimental in to specify the area or manner in which something is emotional.

The novel is sentimental in parts.
He can be sentimental in conversations about family.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
sentimental about
She is sentimental about her school days.
Emotionally attached to memories or objects.
sentimental over
He became sentimental over the reunion.
Emotionally affected by an event or situation.
sentimental to
She feels attached to the necklace.
Sentimental to is not a standard pattern in current English.
sentimental for
He has affection for the old town.
Sentimental for is generally unnatural after sentimental.
sentimental in
The movie is sentimental in places.
Describes emotional style or character.

Common mistakes

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

Using sentimental to

English normally uses sentimental about, not sentimental to.

✕ She is sentimental to old songs. ✓ She is sentimental about old songs.

Using sentimental for

For does not normally follow sentimental directly.

✕ He is sentimental for his hometown. ✓ He is sentimental about his hometown.

Confusing over and about

About focuses on attachment; over often focuses on an emotional reaction.

✕ She cried sentimental about the ceremony. ✓ She became sentimental over the ceremony.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He is very ___ his childhood toys.
2. She became sentimental ___ the anniversary dinner.
3. The story is sentimental ___ tone.

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Frequently asked questions

Is sentimental about the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard way to express emotional attachment.

Can I use sentimental over?

Yes. It is used for emotional reactions to events or memories.

Why does sentimental to sound unnatural?

English usually expresses attachment with sentimental about instead.

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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