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Preposition after adjective

substantial in, for, to, on or with?

Substantial combines with several prepositions depending on meaning. The most common patterns include substantial in, substantial for, and substantial to.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with substantial?

Use substantial in for areas or qualities, substantial for when something is large relative to a purpose or group, and substantial to when something matters greatly to someone. On and with are usually separate adjuncts, not fixed adjective patterns.

The company made substantial investments in renewable energy.
The fee is substantial for a small business.
The change was substantial to local residents.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
substantial in + area

Large amount within a field

Use in to show the field, activity, or category involved.

They achieved substantial progress in healthcare.
The region is substantial in size and population.
2
substantial for + purpose or group

Large relative to expectations

Use for when comparing something with a standard, group, or purpose.

The donation was substantial for a local charity.
That salary is substantial for an entry-level role.
3
substantial to + person or issue

Important or meaningful

Use to when something has importance to a person or matter.

The evidence is substantial to the investigation.
The distinction was substantial to historians.
4
substantial with + noun

Describing accompanying features

With is possible when it introduces an accompanying detail rather than a fixed complement.

The house is substantial with its stone walls and wide garden.
The report arrived substantial with supporting data.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
substantial in
The country is substantial in size.
Describes a large degree within an area or quality.
substantial for
The grant was substantial for a start-up.
Large relative to expectations or context.
substantial to
The issue is substantial to the debate.
Important or significant to something.
substantial on
The book is substantial on trade policy.
Possible when on introduces a topic, not a fixed adjective pattern.
substantial with
The proposal is substantial with new evidence.
With adds accompanying detail rather than acting as the main adjective complement.

Common mistakes

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

Using on as the main adjective complement

On usually introduces a topic, not the core adjective pattern.

✕ The changes are substantial on the company. ✓ The changes are substantial for the company.

Confusing in and for

Use in for areas or categories and for for comparison or suitability.

✕ The donation was substantial in a small school. ✓ The donation was substantial for a small school.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The company made substantial progress ___ research.
2. The amount is substantial ___ a family business.
3. The evidence is substantial ___ the case.

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Frequently asked questions

Is substantial in common?

Yes. It is often used for areas, qualities, or categories such as substantial in size.

Can I say substantial on a topic?

Yes, but on introduces the topic separately, as in a substantial book on economics.

Does substantial to mean important?

Yes. It can mean meaningful or significant to a person, issue, or discussion.

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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