JAMB UTMEUse of EnglishLexis & Structure2023

Choose the correct preposition: She is interested _____ music.

Aon
Bwith
CinCORRECT
Dof
AI
Toaster Teacher
Why the answer is C, and why the others tempt you.
**The reasoning** The verb "interested" follows a fixed pattern in English — it *always* pairs with the preposition **"in"**. This is called a **prepositional collocation**. Just like we say "good at" (not "good in") or "afraid of" (not "afraid from"), certain adjectives demand specific prepositions. There's no math here — it's simply how English speakers have agreed to use these words together over time. "Interested in" means your attention or curiosity is directed toward something. **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **"on"** — You might think of "focus on" or "keen on" and guess this works similarly. It doesn't. - **"with"** — Sounds casual, like "I'm with music," but "interested with" isn't standard English. - **"of"** — You may confuse it with expressions like "fond of" or "tired of," but interest takes "in," not "of." **Quick takeaway** Lock this in your memory: **"Interested IN"** — think of diving *into* something you love. When you see "interested" in any exam, your hand should automatically reach for "in."
Want this in Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa? Sign up free →

Practice more Use of English questions

JAMB UTME Use of English has thousands more questions like this — with Worked answers on every one.