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Prepositions after adjectives

How to use “unfortunate” with prepositions

Unfortunate for and unfortunate in are both possible, but they express different meanings.

Quick answer

Use “unfortunate for” for affected people

Unfortunate for introduces the person or group affected by a bad situation. Unfortunate in is used with areas, situations, or qualities where someone lacks success or luck.

The delay was unfortunate for passengers.
She was unfortunate in her choice of partners.
It was unfortunate for the whole team.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
unfortunate for + person/group

Showing who is affected

Use for to identify who experiences the negative result.

The decision was unfortunate for small businesses.
The timing was unfortunate for us.
2
unfortunate in + area/situation

Showing lack of success in something

Use in with fields, situations, or aspects of life.

He was unfortunate in love.
They were unfortunate in their investments.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
unfortunate for
The storm was unfortunate for local farmers.
Shows who is negatively affected.
unfortunate in
She has been unfortunate in business.
Shows the area where bad luck or problems occurred.
unfortunate with
He was unfortunate with money.
Possible in some contexts, but less direct than unfortunate in.

Common mistakes

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

Using in for affected people

Use for when referring to the people affected.

✕ The cancellation was unfortunate in the guests. ✓ The cancellation was unfortunate for the guests.

Using for with areas of life

Use in for fields or situations.

✕ She was unfortunate for business. ✓ She was unfortunate in business.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The delay was unfortunate ___ the passengers.
2. He has been unfortunate ___ love.
3. Which sentence is correct?

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Frequently asked questions

Can both forms be correct?

Yes, but they express different ideas. Unfortunate for focuses on people affected, while unfortunate in focuses on situations or areas of life.

Is “unfortunate in love” natural English?

Yes. It is a common expression about bad luck in relationships.

Can I say “unfortunate for business”?

Usually no. English normally says unfortunate in business.

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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