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Preposition after adjective

Strange to or strange for?

Strange to is the common pattern for reactions or experiences. Strange for usually introduces a person or situation and is often followed by an infinitive clause.

Quick answer

Which form is correct?

Use strange to for something that seems unusual to a person: strange to me. Use strange for before a person or situation when describing unusual behaviour or circumstances: strange for him to leave early.

It seemed strange to me at first.
It was strange for her to complain so loudly.
The city felt strange to visitors during the festival.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
strange to + person

Showing who finds something unusual

Use strange to identify the person who experiences something as unusual.

The custom seemed strange to us.
Her silence was strange to everyone.
2
strange for + person + to-infinitive

Describing unusual behaviour

Use strange for before a person and an infinitive when someone's action is unexpected.

It is strange for him to ignore the email.
It felt strange for them to agree so quickly.
3
strange that + clause

Commenting on a surprising fact

A that-clause is common after strange when discussing a situation or fact.

It is strange that nobody noticed.
I found it strange that she never called.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
strange to
The rule sounded strange to me.
A person experiences something as unusual.
strange for
It is strange for Alex to miss a meeting.
Someone's behaviour or situation is unusual.
strange for + noun
Cold weather is strange for this region.
Unusual in a particular context or place.

Common mistakes

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

Using strange to before an action

Use for before a person and infinitive.

✕ It is strange to him to arrive late. ✓ It is strange for him to arrive late.

Confusing reaction and behaviour

Use strange to for the person who feels something is unusual.

✕ The noise sounded strange for me. ✓ The noise sounded strange to me.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The idea sounded ___ me at first.
2. It was ___ her to cancel at the last minute.
3. The food seemed ___ the tourists.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say strange for me?

Yes, but usually in patterns like strange for me to understand or strange for me to see. Use strange to me for reactions.

Is strange to someone more common than strange for someone?

They have different uses. Strange to someone describes perception, while strange for someone often describes unusual behaviour.

Can strange be followed by a clause?

Yes. Patterns such as it is strange that... are very common.

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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