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Preposition after adjective

sweet for, to, of, with or in?

Sweet combines with different prepositions depending on meaning. Sweet to and sweet of are especially common.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with sweet?

Use sweet to for behaviour toward someone and sweet of for commenting on a kind action. Sweet with can describe a flavour combination or manner. Sweet for often refers to preference or suitability in specific contexts. Sweet in is uncommon as a fixed pattern.

She was sweet to the children.
It was sweet of you to call.
This tea is too sweet for me.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
sweet to + person

Describing kind behaviour

Use to when someone behaves kindly toward another person.

He has always been sweet to his grandparents.
The nurse was sweet to the patient.
2
sweet of + person

Commenting on a thoughtful action

Use of after it was to praise a person's considerate action.

It was sweet of her to send flowers.
That was sweet of you.
3
sweet with + ingredient/flavour

Describing flavour combinations

With can describe what something tastes like or contains.

The sauce is sweet with honey.
The dessert was sweet with ripe mango.
4
too sweet for + person

Expressing preference or suitability

For introduces the person affected by the taste or style.

The coffee is too sweet for me.
This perfume is too sweet for everyday use.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
sweet to
She is always sweet to new students.
Kind or gentle toward someone.
sweet of
It was sweet of him to help.
Used to praise a considerate action.
sweet with
The drink is sweet with cinnamon.
Describes flavour or ingredients.
sweet for
This cake is too sweet for children.
Shows suitability or personal preference.
sweet in
The fruit is rich in flavour.
Sweet in is not a common fixed adjective pattern.

Common mistakes

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

Using of for behaviour toward someone

Use sweet to for how someone treats another person.

✕ She is sweet of her neighbours. ✓ She is sweet to her neighbours.

Confusing sweet of and sweet to

Sweet of comments on an action; sweet to describes behaviour.

✕ It was sweet to you to help. ✓ It was sweet of you to help.

Using sweet in as a fixed pattern

In usually introduces another idea, not a complement after sweet.

✓ The sauce is sweet with vanilla.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. It was very sweet ___ you to remember my birthday.
2. The teacher was sweet ___ the nervous child.
3. This drink is too sweet ___ me.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between sweet to and sweet of?

Sweet to describes behaviour toward someone. Sweet of praises a person's action.

Can sweet be used with with?

Yes. Sweet with is common when talking about flavours or ingredients.

Is sweet in common English?

Not as a regular adjective pattern. In usually belongs to another part of the sentence.

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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