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Prepositions after verbs

“Slow to” or “slow in” ?

Slow to and slow in are both used in English, but they express different ideas.

Quick answer

Choosing between slow to and slow in

Use slow to before an action, especially with verbs such as react, learn, or respond. Use slow in before an area, skill, or process.

She was slow to respond.
The company has been slow in adopting new technology.
He is slow to trust strangers.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
slow to + verb

Describing delayed action

Slow to is followed by an infinitive and describes hesitation or delayed response.

They were slow to react.
He is slow to forgive mistakes.
2
slow in + activity/area

Describing weakness or delay in a field

Slow in refers to a specific area, skill, or process.

The team was slow in adapting to changes.
She is slow in mathematics.
3
slow down

Reducing speed

Slow down is a common phrasal verb meaning reduce speed or pace.

Drivers must slow down near schools.
Production began to slow down in winter.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
slow to
He was slow to answer.
Delayed in performing an action.
slow in
She is slow in reading.
Not fast in a particular activity.
slow at
He is slow at calculations.
Alternative structure for ability or performance.

Common mistakes

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

Using in before a bare verb

Slow in is not followed directly by the base form of a verb.

✕ She is slow in understand jokes. ✓ She is slow to understand jokes.

Using to before a noun phrase

Slow to is usually followed by a verb, not a field or activity noun.

✕ He is slow to mathematics. ✓ He is slow in mathematics.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The manager was slow ___ react to the complaint.
2. She is slow ___ learning new software.
3. Traffic began to ___ near the bridge.

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Frequently asked questions

Is slow to more common with actions?

Yes. It is typically followed by an infinitive verb such as react or respond.

Can slow in describe ability?

Yes. It can describe someone who is not quick in a subject or activity.

Is slow at also correct?

Yes. Slow at is common when talking about skills or tasks, especially in informal English.

sack, by, sack, for, sack, from "sacrifice for" or "sacrifice to"? sail from, in, for, to or through? "salvage from" or "salvage in"? sanction by, for, in, with or according? satisfy with, by, in, about or after? "saturate with" or "saturate in"? save by, for, from, on or in? "say in", "say about" or "say to"? "scan for", "scan in" or "scan through"? "scar by" or "scar on"? scatter in, across, around, throughout or on?

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