0

Consider the following examples:

  1. Would you be interested in buying a ticket

  2. Jerry is very good at playing drums

The first sentence uses 'in' before the gerund while the second one uses 'at'. Why would that happen? Are there some patterns that we could use to apply 'in' and 'at' before the gerund. Is it wrong if I replace in with at in the second example?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

Either preposition is part of the verb. One is interested in something or good at something.

Being good in something doesn't sound too weird to me, but it does invoke a thought of cooking..

Improve this answer
2
  • Hi , Thanks, you mean 'part of the verb' means that 'in playing' is a single unit of word? And what you mean by 'thought of cooking'
    – Plain_Dude_Sleeping_Alone
    Nov 10, 2015 at 12:23
  • Tthe verbs are to be interested in sth. and to be good at sth., it has nothing to do with the gerund. To me, to be good in sth. sounds like it would make a good ingredient in a soup (Thus invoking thoughts of cooking).
    – Chieron
    Nov 10, 2015 at 12:24

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .