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Prepositions after adjectives

understandable: to, for, by, in, or as

Understandable is most commonly followed by to. Other prepositions appear in specific meanings or sentence structures.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are natural with understandable?

Use understandable to when saying who can understand something. Understandable for can mean reasonable or expected for a person or situation. By sometimes introduces the person who understands, especially in passive-style wording. In and as are usually not standard fixed combinations after understandable.

The instructions are understandable to beginners.
Her reaction was understandable for someone under pressure.
The message was easily understandable by most readers.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
understandable to + person

Showing who can understand something

Use to for the audience or person who finds something clear.

The report is understandable to non-specialists.
The guide should be understandable to children.
2
understandable for + person/situation

Showing that something is reasonable or expected

For often means natural or unsurprising in a particular context.

His frustration was understandable for a new employee.
The delay is understandable for such a complex project.
3
understandable by + audience

Emphasising who is able to understand

By appears especially when discussing accessibility or readability.

The form must be understandable by all applicants.
The article was understandable by general readers.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
understandable to
The explanation was understandable to everyone.
Standard for identifying the audience.
understandable for
Her concern is understandable for a parent.
Standard when meaning reasonable or expected.
understandable by
The signs should be understandable by visitors.
Possible when focusing on who can understand something.
understandable in
The wording is understandable in context.
In usually introduces context, not a fixed adjective-preposition pattern.
understandable as
The comment was understandable as a joke.
As introduces a role or interpretation rather than a standard pattern after understandable.

Common mistakes

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

Using in as the main complement

In usually adds context rather than completing the adjective.

✕ The lesson is understandable in students. ✓ The lesson is understandable to students.

Using as for the audience

Use to or by for people who understand something.

✕ The report is understandable as readers. ✓ The report is understandable to readers.

Confusing to and for

To identifies who understands. For often means reasonable or expected.

✕ Her reaction was understandable to a parent. ✓ Her reaction was understandable for a parent.

Overusing by in everyday sentences

By is possible but often more formal than to.

✓ The instructions are understandable to most users.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The manual should be understandable ___ new employees.
2. His anxiety was understandable ___ someone in that situation.
3. The notice must be understandable ___ all passengers.

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Frequently asked questions

Is understandable to the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard way to identify who can understand something.

Can understandable for mean reasonable?

Yes. It often means natural or expected in a situation.

Is understandable in incorrect?

Not always. In can introduce context, such as understandable in theory, but it is not the usual fixed complement after the adjective.

ubiquitous in, on, across, throughout or for? "ugly in", "ugly for" or "ugly of"? ultimate in, of, for, on or as? "unacceptable to", "unacceptable in" or "unacceptable for"? unaccounted for unaccustomed to or in? unacquainted with unaffected by, in, for or with? "unaffordable for" or "unaffordable to"? unanimous in, on, about, regarding or for? "unattractive to" or "unattractive for"? "unavailable for" or "unavailable to"?

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