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Prepositions after adjectives

Unresponsive to, in, at, for, or on?

Unresponsive is normally followed by to when someone or something does not react. Other prepositions usually introduce separate details such as place or topic.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows unresponsive?

Use unresponsive to for a lack of reaction or reply. Combinations like unresponsive in, at, for, or on are not standard complements after the adjective, though those prepositions may appear in other parts of the sentence.

The patient was unresponsive to treatment.
She became unresponsive to our emails.
The screen is unresponsive to touch.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
unresponsive to + stimulus

Describing no reaction

Use this pattern for people, machines, systems, or materials.

The child was unresponsive to noise.
The software became unresponsive to commands.
2
unresponsive to + communication

Describing lack of reply

This structure is common in business and everyday English.

He has been unresponsive to phone calls.
The company remained unresponsive to customer complaints.
3
unresponsive + adjunct on

Using on for topic or schedule

On can follow later in the sentence as a separate phrase.

The team was unresponsive on social media over the weekend.
The witness stayed unresponsive on that issue.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
unresponsive to
The device is unresponsive to voice commands.
Standard pattern for lack of response.
unresponsive in
The phrase unresponsive in is not normally used as the main complement.
In may introduce a separate context such as unresponsive in meetings.
unresponsive at
The phrase unresponsive at is not standard as a complement after the adjective.
At usually belongs to a place or time phrase.
unresponsive for
The phrase unresponsive for is not idiomatic after unresponsive.
Use to instead.
unresponsive on
He was unresponsive on the subject of costs.
On introduces a topic, not the adjective's main complement.

Common mistakes

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

Replacing to with for

Use to after unresponsive when talking about reactions.

✕ The patient was unresponsive for treatment. ✓ The patient was unresponsive to treatment.

Using at as the complement

At does not normally follow unresponsive directly.

✕ She was unresponsive at my messages. ✓ She was unresponsive to my messages.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The app became ___ user input.
2. He remained unresponsive ___ repeated requests.
3. The minister was unresponsive ___ that question.

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Frequently asked questions

Can unresponsive describe technology?

Yes. It is common for devices, apps, and systems that do not react to input.

Is unresponsive for correct?

No. Standard English uses unresponsive to.

Can on follow unresponsive?

Yes, when on introduces a topic rather than the adjective's complement.

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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