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Prepositions after adjectives

Slow in, slow on or slow for?

Slow in and slow on are standard in different contexts. Slow for compares someone or something with an expected standard.

Quick answer

How do these combinations differ?

Use slow in for areas of performance, slow on for reactions or understanding, and slow for comparisons with expectations.

She is slow in mathematics.
He was slow on the uptake.
The car is slow for a sports model.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
slow in + subject

Talking about weak performance in an area

Use slow in with subjects, skills, or processes.

He is slow in reading.
The team was slow in responding to complaints.
2
slow on + noun

Talking about understanding or reaction

Slow on often refers to mental speed or reaction.

She is slow on the uptake today.
The system is slow on startup.
3
slow for + comparison

Comparing with an expected standard

Use slow for when something is slower than expected within a category.

He is slow for his age.
This laptop is slow for a new device.
4
slow to + verb

Talking about delayed action

Slow to is another common pattern with verbs.

The company was slow to respond to complaints.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
slow in
She is slow in maths.
Not quick in a subject or activity.
slow on
He is slow on the uptake.
Slow to understand or react.
slow for
The runner is slow for a professional athlete.
Slower than expected in a category.
slow to
They were slow to act.
Delayed in taking action.

Common mistakes

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

Using slow on for school subjects

Use slow in for areas of study or performance.

✕ He is slow on chemistry. ✓ He is slow in chemistry.

Confusing slow for with purpose

Slow for compares with a standard.

✕ She is slow for finishing reports. ✓ She is slow in finishing reports.

Missing the comparison after slow for

Slow for usually needs a category or standard.

✕ The car is slow for. ✓ The car is slow for its class.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She is slow ___ responding to emails.
2. He is slow ___ the uptake.
3. The phone is slow ___ a premium model.

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Frequently asked questions

What does slow on the uptake mean?

It means slow to understand something.

Can slow in describe actions?

Yes. You can say someone is slow in responding or slow in learning.

When do I use slow for?

Use it when comparing something with a standard or category.

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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