Good at, Interested in, Afraid of

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Good at, Interested in, Afraid of

In this lesson, you can use good at, interested in and afraid of.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Before you start

Name an interest or a skill.

See one possible response

I’m interested in photography.

You complete a short profile for a weekend learning group.

What you will practise
  • Use good at, interested in and afraid of.
  • Add an activity with ing after the preposition.
  • Ask about interests and skills.

Answer first. Then check one model. Keep the meaning and the target pattern.

Learn adjective and preposition together

Learn good at, interested in and afraid of as complete patterns. Put a noun after the preposition: good at maths, interested in music, afraid of heights. The adjective tells us the kind of information; the preposition connects its topic.

I’m interested in photography.

My cousin is afraid of heights.

The Asian woman examines a camera, lens and small photo album with curious sustained interest, talking to the brunette about photography. Use the concrete photography props, no claim of professional expertise.
I’m interested in photography.The noun names the topic of interest.

Use -ing for an activity

After these prepositions, an activity normally uses -ing: good at explaining, interested in learning, afraid of falling. Do not use to directly after the preposition. Keep the activity clear and concrete.

She’s good at explaining things.

I’m interested in learning to cook.

Ask and explain

Use be in questions and negatives: Are you interested in art? I’m not good at drawing. Add a short detail or reason. Being interested in something does not mean you are already skilled at it.

Are you good at solving puzzles?

I’m interested in painting, but I’m not good at it yet.

The brunette clearly explains the controls of a camera and lens to the Asian woman, using a patient focused gesture while the listener follows with understanding. Show the explaining activity, with the same relevant objects and no text in the image.
She’s good at explaining things.The activity uses an -ing form after at.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Then compare the meaning and grammar with the model.

1. She’s interested ___ science.

Compare a model and explanation

in

Interested commonly takes in for the topic.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

2. I’m good ___ remembering names.

Compare a model and explanation

at

Good at introduces this skill.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

3. He’s afraid of fall.

Compare a model and explanation

He’s afraid of falling.

The activity after of uses -ing.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

4. You are interested in design.

Compare a model and explanation

Are you interested in design?

Be moves before the subject.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

5. I’m good at singing. Say this is not true.

Compare a model and explanation

I’m not good at singing.

Not follows am; keep at and the activity.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

6. Interested in music; good at music. Which describes interest rather than skill?

Compare a model and explanation

Interested in music.

Interest does not establish ability.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

7. I’m interested in the new course. Use it.

Compare a model and explanation

I’m interested in it.

The object pronoun follows in.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

8. State an interest, a skill and a concern about speaking to many people.

Compare a model and explanation

I’m interested in travel. I’m good at planning. I’m afraid of speaking to large groups.

Use each adjective with its own preposition and suitable complement.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

A short conversation

Listen to the exchange, then take one role. The speaker labels identify roles; do not narrate them.

Open the conversation transcript

Group leader: Are you interested in the cooking session?

Member: Yes, but I’m not good at cooking yet.

Group leader: That’s fine. What are you good at?

Member: I’m good at following instructions, and I’m interested in learning.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract, then choose the best answer. These three questions have their own score.

1. What does the speaker say?
Read the listening transcript

I’m interested in swimming, but I’m not good at it yet.

2. Who is described as skilled?
Read the listening transcript

Rosa is good at drawing. Her brother is interested in drawing but prefers to watch for now.

3. Which activity interests the speaker?
Read the listening transcript

I’m afraid of heights, so I don’t want the climbing activity. I’m interested in the art class.

Answer key with explanations

  1. What does the speaker say?

    They have interest but limited skill.: The positive interest and negative skill are explicit.

    Compare all choices
    • They have interest but limited skill.: The positive interest and negative skill are explicit.
    • They are already very skilled.: Not good at it yet says otherwise.
    • They have no interest.: Interested in is positive.

  2. Who is described as skilled?

    Rosa.: Good at drawing identifies her skill.

    Compare all choices
    • Only the brother.: His interest is stated, not skill.
    • Rosa.: Good at drawing identifies her skill.
    • Neither person.: Rosa is explicitly described as good at it.

  3. Which activity interests the speaker?

    The art class.: The final sentence gives the interest.

    Compare all choices
    • Neither activity.: The art class is positively mentioned.
    • Climbing.: They explicitly decline that activity.
    • The art class.: The final sentence gives the interest.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.

1. Complete: interested ___ languages.
2. Complete: good at ___ clear notes.
3. Complete: afraid ___ loud noises.
4. Ask about interest in the course using the correct be-question and preposition.
5. Which statement concerns skill?
6. Choose the correct negative.
7. Which conclusion is safe from I’m interested in painting?
8. Choose the complete activity phrase.
Answer key with explanations

  1. Complete: interested ___ languages.

    in: In introduces the topic of interest.

    Compare all choices
    • of: Of belongs to afraid of in this set.
    • at: At belongs to good at in this target set.
    • in: In introduces the topic of interest.

  2. Complete: good at ___ clear notes.

    writing: A preposition takes the -ing activity form here.

    Compare all choices
    • writing: A preposition takes the -ing activity form here.
    • write: A bare verb does not fit after at.
    • to write: A to-infinitive is not the requested complement after at.

  3. Complete: afraid ___ loud noises.

    of: Of introduces the feared thing.

    Compare all choices
    • at: At does not form this intended phrase.
    • of: Of introduces the feared thing.
    • in: In is not the target preposition with afraid.

  4. Ask about interest in the course using the correct be-question and preposition.

    Are you interested in the course?: The question uses be and retains in.

    Compare all choices
    • Do you are interested in the course?: Do is not added before are.
    • Are you interested the course?: The preposition is missing.
    • Are you interested in the course?: The question uses be and retains in.

  5. Which statement concerns skill?

    I’m good at repairing bikes.: Good at describes ability in this activity.

    Compare all choices
    • I’m good at repairing bikes.: Good at describes ability in this activity.
    • I’m afraid of falling.: This describes a concern.
    • I’m interested in bikes.: This describes interest, not necessarily skill.

  6. Choose the correct negative.

    I’m not good at singing.: Not follows am and the pattern is complete.

    Compare all choices
    • I not good singing.: Be and at are missing.
    • I’m not good at singing.: Not follows am and the pattern is complete.
    • I’m not good to at sing.: The complement structure is incorrect.

  7. Which conclusion is safe from I’m interested in painting?

    The speaker has an interest in painting.: That is what the sentence states.

    Compare all choices
    • The speaker is afraid of all paintings.: No fear is stated.
    • The speaker is an expert painter.: Interest does not prove expertise.
    • The speaker has an interest in painting.: That is what the sentence states.

  8. Choose the complete activity phrase.

    interested in learning: In is followed by an -ing activity.

    Compare all choices
    • interested in learning: In is followed by an -ing activity.
    • interested in to learn: Do not combine in directly with a to-infinitive here.
    • interested learning in: The preposition should precede its complement.

Use it in your own words

Your profile

State one interest and one skill, using a noun for one and an -ing activity for the other.

Reveal a possible response

I’m interested in music. I’m good at organising events.

  • Use correct prepositions
  • Distinguish interest from skill

Use invented personal information if preferred.

Ask a partner

Ask two profile questions and give a possible answer to one.

Reveal a possible response

Are you interested in design? Are you good at drawing? I’m interested in design, but I’m not good at drawing yet.

  • Use be in questions
  • Keep the prepositions
  • Allow different interest and skill levels

Accept natural elaboration.

Put it all together

Choose a weekend class from art, cooking or walking. Explain your interest, a useful skill and one concern; ask the organiser one question.

Reveal a possible response

I’m interested in cooking. I’m good at following instructions, but I’m afraid of making a mess. Is the class good for beginners?

  • Use all three target units
  • Connect the profile to a choice
  • Ask a practical question

The concern can be fictional and low-stakes.

Take it with you

Keep the prepositions in good at, interested in and afraid of. Use a noun or an activity ending in ing after them.