A word that means to be interested

I may be mistaken here but to me if I say that I have an «interest» in something, the other person might assume that I view that thing in a positive light (e.g. «I am interested in the stock market» could be perceived as «I like the stock market»). Is there a word which will signify not only that I am interested in something but that I am interested in a purely academic sense?

For example, I would feel uncomfortable saying «I am interested in serial killer’s psychopathy and childhood trauma». What word could I replace «interested» with that would more or less mean «I am interested in serial killer’s psychopathy and childhood trauma but in a purely academic sense»?

I looked at synonyms for ‘interested’ that could convey that I am interested but that don’t have the positive connotations that are attributed to the word. ‘Absorbed’ and ‘engrossed’ came up but those seem to be stronger words than merely just interested so they don’t help. ‘Intrigued’ and ‘curiosity’ also came up and those seem to be pretty much the same as ‘interested’ and appear to have the same connotation as well.

I might be wrong to assume the positive connotation of ‘interested’ or ‘intrigued’ but I usually see it in writing and speech with such a connotation. What do you think? Is there a word that could fit better than ‘interested’ or ‘intrigued’? Am I wrong to assume a positive connotation when there is none?

Decapitated Soul's user avatar

asked Jun 8, 2020 at 21:13

Ross Leavitt's user avatar

4

A word that signifies an interest in something but in an academic sense?

You have given your own answer:

«I have an academic interest in the psychopathy and childhood traumas of serial killers.»

This is opposition to a lurid/morbid/obsessive, etc. interest.

answered Jul 18, 2020 at 8:21

Greybeard's user avatar

GreybeardGreybeard

36.7k3 gold badges40 silver badges108 bronze badges

You could say » I regularly examine/study/research serial killer’s psychopathy and childhood trauma » and that would get the idea across.

answered Jun 8, 2020 at 21:21

user387838's user avatar

You could say «I am learning about psychopathy and childhood trauma.» or, if you want something a little stronger, you can try «I am gaining many insights into psychopathy and childhood trauma.»

answered Jun 18, 2020 at 7:33

Vakula 's user avatar

What is another word for “interested”? Following is a list of synonyms for “interested” with example sentences and ESL pictures. Learning these words to use instead of “interested” will help you enhance your vocabulary.

Table of Contents

Interested Synonym

“Interested” Definition and Examples

Meaning of “Interested”:

“Interested” is simply defined as giving attention to something or the people and things involved. It means having a concern or showing curiosity or fascination. It could also mean having a stake or claim or being influenced by personal interests.

Examples:

  • We are not interested in watching anything related to politics.
  • I am interested in learning a foreign language.
  • Gere became interested in Buddhism in the 1970s.

Other Words for “Interested”

Often-used synonyms for “Interested”.

  • Absorbed
  • Agog
  • Attentive
  • Burning with curiosity
  • Captivated
  • Eager
  • Engrossed
  • Fascinated
  • Inquiring
  • Intent
  • Intrigued
  • Keen
  • Riveted

An ultimate of 100+ different words to use instead of “interested”.

  • Absorbed
  • Active
  • Advantaged
  • Affected
  • Agape
  • Agog
  • Alert
  • Amenable
  • Anxious
  • Attentive
  • Attracted
  • Attractive
  • Biased
  • Burning with curiosity
  • Captivated
  • Careful
  • Caring
  • Cautious
  • Champing
  • Charmed
  • Colored
  • Committed
  • Concentrating
  • Concerned
  • Considering
  • Curious
  • Delighted
  • Diligent
  • Eager
  • Endued
  • Engaged
  • Engrossed
  • Enraptured
  • Entertained
  • Enthusiastic
  • Entranced
  • Excited
  • Exciting
  • Fascinated
  • Fascinating
  • Focused
  • Funny
  • Game
  • Hearing
  • Hearkening
  • Heedful
  • Immersed
  • Impatient
  • Implicated
  • Impressed
  • Individual
  • Inquiring
  • Inquisitive
  • Intent
  • Interesting
  • Intoxicated
  • Intrigued
  • Investigative
  • Involved
  • Keen
  • Meddlesome
  • Mindful
  • Nosy
  • Observant
  • Occupied
  • Partial
  • Partisan
  • Passionate
  • Piqued
  • Pleased
  • Predisposed
  • Prejudiced
  • Preoccupied
  • Prying
  • Questioning
  • Rapt
  • Receptive
  • Recommendable
  • Regardful
  • Related
  • Relevant
  • Responsible
  • Responsive
  • Restless
  • Riveted
  • Searching
  • Sharp
  • Snoopy
  • Solicitous
  • Stimulated
  • Strange
  • Sympathetic
  • Tantalized
  • Thrilled
  • Titillated
  • Useful
  • Vigilant
  • Warped
  • Watchful
  • Willing
  • Worried

Synonyms for Interested with Examples

Learn “interested synonym” examples in English.

  • Absorbed

They are absorbed in the experiment.

  • Agog

The villagers were agog for the news.

  • Attentive

She was very attentive to her guests.

  • Burning with curiosity

I’m burning with curiosity – you must tell me who’s won!

  • Captivated

The children were captivated by his thrilling story.

  • Eager

Robert was eager to talk about life in the Army.

  • Engrossed

He seemed completely engrossed in his book.

  • Fascinated

I’m fascinated by the trivia of everyday life.

  • Inquiring

A man has been inquiring for you at the office.

  • Intent

She was intent on pursuing a career in business.

  • Intrigued

The natives were intrigued with the color of our skin.

  • Keen

She’s very keen to learn about Japanese culture.

  • Riveted

I was absolutely riveted by her story.

More interested synonym examples in English:

  • My hobby is chess. Are you interested in learning?
  • We shall be interested in hearing your comments.
  • He did not seem at all interested in the subject.
  • I casually mentioned that I might be interested in working abroad.
  • I’m not interested in all this scientific malarkey.
  • She is always interested in space science.
  • He wasn’t interested in growing flowers in the garden.

Another Word for Interested | Infographic

Another Word for Interested | 100+ Synonyms for "Interested" with ExamplesPin

Last Updated on January 11, 2021

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From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishLoans, Companies, Businessinterestin‧terest1 /ˈɪntrɪst/ ●●● S2 W1 noun
 
 
1 [singular, uncountable]INTERESTED if you have an interest in something or someone, you want to know or learn more about theminterest in
 My parents encouraged my interest in science.

 I’d recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in jazz.

 Ben has shown an interest in learning French.

 My mother had never expressed any interest in the garden.

 Babies soon begin to take an interest in the world around them.

 John appeared to have no interest in girls.

 I watched the first few episodes, but soon lost interest.

 The last round of bidding aroused considerable interest.

 Our survey reveals a disturbing lack of interest in teacher training.

 I read your article with great interest.
2 [countable usually plural]INTERESTED an activity that you enjoy doing or a subject that you enjoy studying
 His interests include walking and golf.

 As a biologist, my main interest has been human genetics.

 Her outside interests (=interests that are not part of her work) were numerous.


3 [uncountable]INTERESTED a quality or feature of something that attracts your attention or makes you want to know more about it
 A Persian rug will add colour and interest to your hallway.
be of (no) interest (to somebody) (=be interesting or not interesting to someone)
 It’s a book that will be of interest to a wide range of readers.

 What you do in your private life is of no interest to me.

 art galleries, museums and other places of interest

 topics of general interest (=that everyone wants to know about)
4 [uncountable] a) BFLthe extra money that you must pay back when you borrow moneyinterest on
 The interest on the loan is 16% per year.

 How much are the monthly interest payments?
b) BFLmoney paid to you by a bank or financial institution when you keep money in an account there
 an account that pays higher interest

 The more you save, the more interest you’ll earn.
compound interest, interest rate, simple interest
5 [countable usually plural, uncountable]ADVANTAGEOWN the things that bring advantages to someone or somethingprotect/look after/safeguard somebody’s interests
 The regulations were introduced in order to safeguard the interests of local fishing communities.
be in somebody’s (best) interest(s) (to do something) (=be the best thing for someone)
 The court decided that it was in the girl’s best interests to remain with her grandparents.
have somebody’s (best) interests at heart (=care about someone and want to do what is best for them)
 He has your best interests at heart, you know.

 We’ve got to balance economic interests and environmental interests.


6 be in the national/public interest7 in the interest(s) of justice/safety/efficiency etc8 (just) out of interest/as a matter of interest9 [countable]BBC if you have an interest in a particular company or industry, you own shares in it
 The company is believed to be keen to sell its extensive brewing interests.

 His business interests are spread throughout Europe.
controlling interest (=enough shares to control what decisions are taken)
 In 1986 GM acquired a controlling interest in the sports car maker Lotus.
10 [countable usually plural]BGROUP OF PEOPLE a group of people in the same business who share aims or ideas
 Farming interests now dominate many of the National Park committees.

 The majority of Brazil’s huge commercial interests support the measure.

 the need to reduce the influence of special interests (=groups who are concerned about particular subjects)
11 have no interest in doing something12 declare an interest (in something)13 human interest/love interest self-interest, → conflict of interest, → vested interestCOLLOCATIONSverbshave an interest in somethingSteve has a keen interest in bird-watching.show interest in somethingHe had shown great interest in her work.express an interest in something (=say that you are interested in something)A number of well-known film directors have expressed interest in the script.take an interest in something (=be interested in something)Jacky first took an interest in golf when he was about six years old.have no interest in somethingAndy had no interest in politics.lose interest in something (=stop being interested)Tilda had lost interest in what was being said.arouse/generate/attract interest (=make people interested)This extraordinary story has aroused interest in many quarters.feign interest (=pretend to be interested)Ted scanned the report, feigning interest.interest growsInterest in the project has steadily grown.interest wanes (=becomes less)When his initial interest waned, the teacher paid more attention to him.adjectivesgreat interestThe government has shown great interest in the idea.enormous/intense interest (=very great)This tournament has created enormous interest.considerable/strong/keen interestThe results of their work will be of considerable interest.special/particular interestNatural history was a special interest of his.a personal interest in somethingHe took a personal interest in the lives of his workers.renewed interest (=starting again after it had stopped)There has been a renewed interest in abstract painting in recent years.a consuming interest (=a very strong feeling of interest)Roland had a consuming interest in cricket.a long-term/abiding interest (=an interest you have had for a long time)She has had a long-term interest in antiques.phrasesa lot of interestThere has been a lot of interest in the story.a great deal of interest (=a lot of interest)The exhibition has generated a great deal of interest.a lack of interestThe show was cancelled due to a lack of interest on the part of the public.


Examples from the CorpusinterestJosie isn’t really an archaeologist, it’s just an interest of hers.Although the government has made some shares in National Oil Products available, it intends to maintain its controlling interest.Agricultural and environmental interests have both been influential in water policy.The bank has interests in several companies, including a 15% share of Morgan’s Brewery.Her interests were the same as most young girls — pop music, boys and clothes.a high interest savings accountGolf is also one of his interests.In retirement, Nelson added personal computing to his interests.He is expected to concentrate on developing his hotel interests.John had put his grandfather’s money in the bank, and was getting $400 a month in interest.She got about two hundred thousand and a life interest in another two hundred thou.Credit companies charge huge amounts of interest.The best rate of interest the banks can offer is around 14 per cent.Altering banks’ liquidity or the rate of interest are indirect methods of controlling spending.They will be able to marry the two sets of interests to the benefit of the Province.They took a cool professional interest which matched the matter of fact way they were dealing with the crisis of our disintegrating home.The President should be doing more to advance U.S. interests abroad.If you had half a million dollars you could easily live off the interest.What’s the interest on the loan?


with … interestWith interest, as I’ve already suggested.He is a distinguished astrophysicist with a lifelong interest in space.The certificates are, of course, quoted daily with accrued interest.The research will involve analysis of legal documentation, synthesis of existing research and interviews with representatives of interest groups.There have been many with consuming interest for golf who never developed an intrigue for putting.The hospital has four consultant physicians, one with a special interest in gastroenterology.He fed the crystal into a reader and watched with interest as the file scrolled up.outside interestsOthers found that the sheer workload of the course left them unable to develop outside interests, such as reading or the theatre.Now Martin is looking forward to spending his retirement enjoying outside interests which will include travelling, walking and watching cricket.His outside interests were numerous and varied.One sees again and again that such people grow in outside interests.Making a mental note not to let outside interests interfere with her work, she began to inject the puppies.Ms. Walters has many outside interests.Some of his many outside interests include reading, theatre and debating.He has got to ask how things are going at home or about my outside interests.This would force campaigns to pay less attention to outside interests and more to the people at home. of general interestEach one of perhaps a group of four should prepare a brief summary of an article of general interest.Cuttings of general interest can be stored under different categories in box files.As a foreigner and a teacher, I was the object of general interest and respect.A few points of general interest might usefully be restated here.Questions of general interest can be sent to him at the newspaper.Two results of general interest emerge from this preliminary analysis.


interest … earnAs the dividends are paid they can be reinvested, and hence interest can be earned.At the same time, the government lost millions in interest not earned while taxes, fees, and fines went uncollected.All your accounts remain separate, but the amount of interest you earn is based on the family’s total.In between, you might receive a check twice annually for the interest earned on that bond.They are a gamble and your stake is the interest you would earn on the cash.It follows that the defendant will be entitled to the interest it has earned on deposit up to the point of acceptance.This total is then divided by interest expense to obtain the times interest earned ratio.have somebody’s (best) interests at heartWith mutations around, the cells within a plant of splurge-weed will not have all the same genetic interests at heart.They have your best interests at heartcontrolling interestLate in 1886, the Charles Harrahs, father and son, bought a controlling interest.All of these are projects in which the government holds a controlling interest and in which it has a strong commercial partner.Not a controlling interest, then, but a powerful one.That will be harder to bear if there is little hope of a controlling interest in the near future.Mr Morgado said that the group would seek a controlling interest in companies and that it would play an operating role.Host Marriott Corp. said it will pay $ 112. 5 million to acquire controlling interest in five hotels.The government sold its controlling interest in the national phone company.This in turn will further aid the process of controlling interest rates.Carl Zeiss has a 51 percent controlling interest in the new company.


special interestsSchools must design their own local units to take account of local circumstances and special interests.The influence of pressure groups and special interests will become pervasive.They see Congress as controlled by special interests and having little concern for average people.Other options are fraught with more complications because of the possibility of contributions from special interests.But even if it is, the incident raises concerns about the influence of special interests.A must for anyone concerned with advertising to businesses, government, associations and consumer groups with special interests.Phillip Hodson is a psychotherapist with special interests in children’s problems.interestinterest2 ●●● W2 verb [transitive]
 
 
1 INTERESTEDto make someone want to pay attention to something and find out more about it
 Here’s an article which might interest you.

 What interests me is all the history of these places.
it interests somebody that/how/to do
 It may interest you to know that a number of scholarships are available.
2 interest yourself in something3 OFFERto try to persuade someone to buy, do, or eat somethinginterest somebody in something
 The salesman tried to interest me in the higher-priced model.
Could I interest you in a drink/dessert etc? (=used as a polite way of offering someone a drink etc)


→ See Verb tableExamples from the CorpusinterestThe infant tries to reproduce events that interest him or her.What interests me most is where he got all that money in the first place.The book doesn’t really interest me that much.It’s always best to choose the subject that interests you, not the one your parents want you to do.There was an article in yesterday’s paper that might interest you.What interests … isWhat interests me is the psychology — or pathology — of women, what women will do in the name of love.What interests me is the singularly local nature of some phenomena.What interests me is what discussions such as these reveal about the relationship between television and the Press.From Longman Business Dictionaryinterestin‧terest /ˈɪntrɪst/ noun1[uncountable]FINANCE an amount paid by a borrower to a lender, for example to a bank by someone borrowing money for a loan or by a bank to a DEPOSITOR (=someone keeping money in an account there)Any spare cash is best put in a savings account where it will earn interest.US savings bonds will pay interest at 7.01% from May 1 through Oct. 31.interest ona period during which you only pay interest on the loan and make no capital repaymentsSome credit cards don’t charge interest on unpaid balances. accrued interest add-on interest bank interest bond interest building society interest compound interest debenture interest ex interest gross interest imputed interest net interest simple interest true interest2[countable]FINANCE shares that you own in a company, or a part of a company that a person or organization ownsSYNHOLDING, STAKEinterest inHighlands Gold Ltd holds a 30% interest in the mine.He acquired interests in a number of publishing companies. controlling interest majority interest minority interest working interest3vested interest disapproving a group of people with strong reasons for wanting something to happen because they will gain an advantage from itHe is determined to preventpowerful vested interests from blocking the reform.4[countable]LAW the possession of rights, especially to land, property etcThe husband can release his interest in the legal estate to his wife. beneficial interest see also conflict of interest, open interest, short interestOrigin interest1 (1400-1500) Anglo-French interesse, from Latin interesse to be between, make a difference, concern, from esse to be

Laura Kate Bradley / Moment / Getty Images

by Kate Woodford

On this blog, we often look at the various English words and phrases that we use to express the same concept. This week we’re focusing on the word ‘interesting’. There are lots of synonyms (or rather, ‘near-synonyms’) for this adjective but most carry an extra meaning. In this post, I’ll try to show the differences in meaning between these near-synonyms and provide you with a range of ‘interesting’ vocabulary!

If you find something extremely interesting, you can use the adjective fascinating:

I read a fascinating book on the subject.

It’s a fascinating subject.

If something interests you, partly because you cannot fully understand it and want to know more, you might describe it as intriguing:

The novel’s opening chapter is very intriguing.

A book, film or activity that is so interesting, it completely holds your attention, might be described as absorbing:

I found his last novel very absorbing.

Even stronger than ‘absorbing’, but with the same meaning is the adjective engrossing:

It’s a really engrossing story.

Something that holds all your attention because it is both interesting and exciting might be described as compelling:

I found the whole film compelling from start to finish.

Other adjectives with a similar meaning are riveting and gripping:

The first act of the play was completely riveting.

It’s a really gripping read.

Meanwhile, if a talk, book, film, etc. is interesting because it makes you think a lot about a subject, you can say that it is thought-provoking:

It was a very thought-provoking talk.

A job or discussion that is stimulating makes you keep feeling interested, often by providing you with new ideas:

He finds his new job much more stimulating.

We had a very stimulating discussion.

Sometimes, things are interesting in a rather unusual way. For this combination of qualities, we have the adjective curious:

There were some very curious-looking frogs in there.

Conversation or company that is interesting and enjoyable is sometimes described as sparkling, especially if it is clever and funny:

Georgie was in sparkling form.

The conversation was positively sparkling.

Gossip (= news about other people’s private lives) that is interesting because it is rather shocking may be described informally as juicy:

I’ve got some juicy gossip for you!

There is also a group of ‘interesting’ adjectives that mean ‘interesting enough to be spoken of’, for example notable:

Was anything notable said in the meeting?

A more formal way of saying this is worthy of attention/notice/note:

We saw a couple of fairly entertaining short films but nothing worthy of note.

An event that is interesting enough to be described in a news report may be described as newsworthy:

Nothing newsworthy ever happened in her parents’ town.

If you find something engrossing, thought-provoking or stimulating this week, perhaps you’d like to tell us?

  • #1

What does ‘ would’ mean in the following sentence ? And can I use ‘ will’ instead of ‘ would’?

I have heard many wonderful things about your company and would be very interested in working for you.

  • sound shift


    • #2

    It’s an implied conditional: «I would be very interested in working for you if you had an opening.» «Will» would not work here.

    • #3

    I still have a question. the 2 nd conditional implies very low possibility. When you actually writing a letter after seeing an ad, why use 2 nd condition instead of

    I will very interested in working for you .

    • #4

    What does ‘ would’ mean in the following sentence ? And can I use ‘ will’ instead of ‘ would’?

    I have heard many wonderful things about your company and would be very interested in working for you.

    I think it’s just linguistic/communicative attenuation, meaning that «would» is used to soften the message, in that «I will be very interested» could come across as too forward, too direct. In other words, «would» is sign of politeness.

    Loob


    • #5

    You could say «I am very interested in working for you».

    GreenWhiteBlue


    • #6

    I still have a question. the 2 nd conditional implies very low possibility. When you are actually writing a letter after seeing an ad, why use the 2 nd conditional instead of

    I will very interested in working for you .

    «I will very interested» is always wrong; you need the word «be» in there. Even if you made that correction, though, it would not be a natural thing to say in English. There is no certainty that you will be hired in the future, and therefore you cannot say what you will do; you can only speak of what you would do if you were hired — which may not happen.

    You should also be aware that most native speakers are never taught about «1st conditionals» or «2nd conditionals.» This terminology is very unfamiliar to most of us, and most of us do not think of conditional tenses in this way.

    Vronsky


    • #7

    Is «I would interested to hear…» wrong? For example,

    DonnyB


    • #8

    Is «I would interested to hear…» wrong? For example,

    No, it’s not wrong: it’s quite a normal style in parliamentary language.

    It’s an implied conditional: «I would interested to hear the minister’s comments on that [if he/she were to make any comment(s)]» :)

    Vronsky


    • #9

    No, it’s not wrong: it’s quite a normal style in parliamentary language.

    It’s an implied conditional: «I would interested to hear the minister’s comments on that [if he/she were to make any comment(s)]» :)

    I’m asking about the verb be. :)
    Shouldn’t it be «I would be interested to hear the minister’s comments on that [if he/she were to make any comment(s)]»

    I suppose that be can be omitted in conversational English.

    GreenWhiteBlue


    • #10

    It should be «I would be interested…», and it is almost certainly a typographical error that the «be» is left out of the report. The «be» is not omitted in conversational English, and it is highly unlikely that the original speaker left it out.

    DonnyB


    • #11

    I’m asking about the verb be. :)
    Shouldn’t it be «I would be interested to hear the minister’s comments on that [if he/she were to make any comment(s)]»

    I suppose that be can be omitted in conversational English.

    Oh sorry! Yes, you’re right: I didn’t spot that. :oops:

    Hansard is supposed to be verbatim transcript of what is said in Parliament. It may be a misprint, or it may be that the person omitted the «be» when saying it, and so it’s been reported correctly. There’s no way as far as I know of telling which it is.

    Vronsky


    • #13

    It’s an implied conditional: «I would be very interested in working for you if you had an opening.» «Will» would not work here.

    Hi, I have a question about this example. Would it be possible to use «would be interested in» but with the present tense in the if clause (as a mixed conditional maybe)?
    Here’s another (lousy) example: If he likes me, I’d be interested in dating him.

    Thanks.

    Loob


    • #14

    Hi Eien

    Your sentence
    If he likes me, I’d be interested in dating him.
    looks fine to me.

    • #15

    Thank you for the answer, Loob. Roymalika’s deleted question was interesting, so I’ll ask it again (I hope he/she doesn’t mind): How is «If he likes me, I’d be interested in dating him» different from «If he liked me, I’d be interested in dating him«? To me, it sounds like «If he liked me, I’d be interested in dating him» is more hypothetical, but that’s just my impression. I’d really appreciate some input about this.

    Last edited: Oct 6, 2020

    We use prepositions before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show time, direction, place or location, spatial relationships, or to introduce an object. So, do we say “interested in” or “interested on” in English?

    “Interested in” is used to indicate the interest (or eagerness) of someone in the subject they want to know more about or the action they wish to perform. The preposition of location or time “in” functions to indicate a state of being that someone is metaphorically “inside of.” Less often, we can use the expression “interested to” followed by a verb of perception. “Interested on” is never correct.

    This is one of several combinations of adjectives and prepositions in English that you’ll need to memorize. Read on to further understand the adjective and preposition combinations and what other prepositions we may use in conjunction with the adjective “interested.”

    Prepositions are relationship words, and they answer questions concerning where, what, who, and when (source). The British Council of English notes there are some adjectives that go with specific prepositions, and there are no strict grammar rules that dictate which preposition we use with which adjective (source).

    Prepositions and Collocations

    Preposition collocations are two words — usually a preposition and a noun, verb, or adjective that go together and simply sound correct to a native English speaker. Some can be very difficult to justify, so you’ll need to memorize them as their combination does not change (source). 

    There are many cases in the English language where we combine an adjective with a preposition, and “interested in” is one of them (source). Here are a few of the most common combinations of adjectives with the preposition “in”: 

    • Giovanni is interested in classic Italian art. 
    • The teacher was very disappointed in the behavior of her class.
    • She was highly skilled in hockey and soccer.
    • Jeremy is very involved in volunteer work.

    Unlike some phrasal verbs, preposition collocations are set, and we cannot insert the object between the adjective and the preposition.

    For more on word combinations with prepositions, check out “Appreciation of or for: When to Use Each Preposition in Conjunction with Appreciation.”

    How Do You Use “Interested in” in a Sentence?

    One such adjective and preposition combination is “interested in,” which is the most common combination for the adjective “interested.”

    Let’s take a look at this example:

    • Sally is interested in the project

    The preposition “in” connects the subject with the object of the preposition, indicating what has Sally’s interest. The same applies to the following examples where the object (noun) follows the preposition.

    • John is interested in astronomy, so he bought a telescope.
    • The politician’s son was not the least bit interested in politics.

    We can also follow “interested in” with a verb that acts like a noun, which we call a “gerund.”

    • I am interested in exploring Mexico.

    Prepositions of Location: “In”

    Still, what is the rationale for using the preposition “in” with “interested”? The preposition “in” is a positive preposition of location — one of two types that express spatial relations. 

    Prepositions of location appear with verbs that describe states or conditions, and one of the prepositions of location that sometimes cause difficulty is “in.”

    Spatial (Physical) Prepositions

    The preposition “in” indicates that an object lies within the boundaries of an area or within the confines of a volume (source). For example: 

    • My house is in Cape Town  
    • I am in South Africa. 

    In these two sentences, the preposition locates the house within a geographical area and the person speaking within a country. Both sentences answer the question of where.

    • There are four rooms in the house and a beautiful fireplace in the bedroom. 

    In this sentence, the preposition indicates objects within the confines of a definite volume. It shows two things — the rooms are within the confines of the house, and the object (fireplace) is within the bedroom. 

    Time Prepositions

    The preposition “in” also functions to describe a lengthy unit of time, such as days, weeks, months, years, or seasons. For example: 

    • The market will be held in the summer. 
    • The United States declared independence in 1776. 

    Metaphorical Time and Location Prepositions 

    One of the more complicated uses of prepositions is metaphorical prepositions, where we use them to show location or time in metaphorical circumstances. 

    Many often think of abstract situations and moods like being in love or pain as something that a person is metaphorically “inside of,” so we often use the preposition “in” for those situations.

    The Writing Center for the University of Nevada, Reno, notes that a good way to understand metaphorical prepositions is to think of abstract ideas such as love, states of being, danger, difficulties, or words as being a physical box (source). 

    In the following examples, imagine each abstract noun as being a physical box that people can climb into, step out of, or walk through.

    • I am in a bad mood. 
    • Tom and Jane are in love. 
    • He cannot express himself in words.
    • He was the leading researcher in the field of biochemistry. 

    “Are You Interested in” Meaning

    We can conclude, then, that when someone asks, “are you interested in” something, they’re asking about your condition or state of being. They’re using the preposition in the abstract or metaphorical sense to ask whether you are excited to know more about something, learn more about it, or spend time doing it.

    When Do We Use “In” and “On”? 

    We can use the prepositions “in” and “on” with nouns to indicate spatial location. However, when we perceive something as a flat surface, then we use  the preposition “on.” When referring to the volume or area of an enclosed space, we use the preposition “in.”

    See the examples in the table below to get a better understanding: 

    Type of Space Location Sentence with Preposition Explanation
    Flat Surface Field  The boys were playing football on the field.  The field is a flat surface without any fences.  
    Flat Surface Basketball Court  There were six players on the basketball court.  The court is an open space that is not enclosed — though it might be in an auditorium.
    Enclosed Area Boxing Ring The boxers went ten rounds in the ring.  The boxing ring is an enclosed space. 
    Enclosed Area Field The cows were grazing in the field.  The field is an area with fences — it is enclosed. 

    For more on the prepositions “in” and “on,” check out our article, “In the Website or on the Website: Using the Right Preposition.”

    Do We Say “Interested in” or “Interested on” Buying?

    Since we’re using an adjective referring to our state of being when we talk about the desire to buy something, we always say “interested in” instead of “interested on.” For example: 

    • I am interested in buying some property. 
    • I am interested in buying your car. 

    However, we might use a phrasal verb like “plan on” with “buying” (source).

    • I plan on buying some property.

    Do We Say Interested In or Interested By?

    What if something causes you to be interested? Would it be correct to say, “I was interested by it”? No, it would not. However, we could say we were intrigued by something (source).

    I was intrigued by her comments yesterday.

    This is another collocation you’ll need to memorize.

    Interested In vs. Interested To

    There is one other preposition that we can use after “Interested.” We can use “Interested to” when “to” functions as part of an infinitive verb — a verb in its “to form.”  Infinitive verbs can function as subjects, objects, or adjectives.

    Examples: 

    Id be interested to know whether recycling makes a difference to the environment. 

    Im interested to see how that turns out.

    “Interested to” can function only with verbs of perception and “knowing,” such as “hear,” “see,” “learn,” “read,” “know,” “find out,” etc.  

    I am interested to know why she committed the crime.

    When someone uses “interested to” in a sentence of the past tense, the expression indicates they have already learned about something and found it interesting.

    I was interested to hear that Jake had divorced Sarah.

    When we use “interested” with a verb that is not a verb of perception, “interested in” is the only correct option.

    Correct:     I am interested in reading.

    Incorrect:     I am interested to reading. 

    Phrasal Verb: “Interest in” 

    While “interested in” is a preposition collocation with an adjective, “interest in” is a phrasal verb. Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and an adverb or preposition, or both, and they’re idiomatic (source). 

    This phrasal verb means to attempt to interest someone in something. It can be about a particular subject or an attempt to persuade someone to buy, do, or eat something (source).

    Unlike collocations, phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable. If a phrasal verb is separable, you can separate the two words by placing the direct object in the middle. “Interest in” is a separable phrasal verb that we can therefore separate by placing the direct object in the middle. 

    Example: 

    • Can I interest you in our latest vintages? 

    Interested vs. Interesting

    It’s common for English learners to mix up the adjectives “interested’ and “interesting” when they say, “I am interesting” instead of “I am interested.” Saying, “I am interesting” sounds a tad narcissistic.

    The adjective “interested” indicates that someone shows interest in something or wants to learn more about something. The adjective “interesting” means that something arouses curiosity or interest or holds or catches attention — the opposite of boring. This article was written for strategiesforparents.com.

    In other words, “interested” describes a feeling of wanting to learn more about something or someone. In contrast, “interesting” describes the thing that makes someone feel that way. You feel interested in something because that thing is interesting (source). 

    Consider the following examples that demonstrate how we use  “interesting”: 

    • It was a very interesting book — it kept me in suspense from start to finish. 
    • It was interesting to hear what Tom had to say about the book. 

    Notice how the sentences use “interesting” with the preposition “to” plus the infinitive. 

    Examples: 

    • It was interesting to meet so many new people at the conference.
    • The documentary was interesting to watch.

    Now compare this to how we’ve used “interested”: 

    • Thomas was interested in geography.
    • If you are interested in working in a bank, you should study finance.
    • Are you interested in meeting me for lunch later?

    What Does It Mean to Be Interested?

    The word “interested” is an adjective that describes showing interest in something and giving it your attention. If you find interest in something, you find it exciting and want to know more about it, or you want to engage in a certain action (source). 

    The following examples indicate wanting or not wanting to know more about something.

    • I am very interested in archeology.
    • We would be interested to hear your thoughts on the lesson.
    • I am not particularly interested in history.

    In the following examples, someone is asking whether someone wants to do something:

    • Are you interested in joining the art club?
    • There is a presentation on Russian dancing tonight if you are interested.

    The adjective “interested” can also mean to be affected or involved — to be in a position to gain from a situation or be affected by it (source). 

    • Several interested parties were eager to get involved in the development. 

    Final Thoughts

    We have learned that we use the expression “interested in” as opposed to “interested on” as it is a common preposition collocation. It highlights a person’s eagerness to know more about a certain subject or to do something. 

    We also discovered that we could use the preposition “to” with “interested” in combination with verbs of perception, like “know” and others.

    Make sure you practice these collocations often to memorize them and increase your fluency.

    Confusing
    Words


    Choose the correct form for each
    sentence:

    1. You would rather/had better be on time, or they
    will leave without you.
    2. I have been sitting by myself/on my own.
    3. She lay/laid on the bed reading a book.
    4. The cost of life/living increased by 80% last year.
    5. Can you tell/say the difference between these two products?
    6. We have had to postpone/cancel the meeting until Wednesday.
    7. These machines are controlled/inspected at least once a day.
    8. The plane was postponed/delayed by an hour due to a blizzard.
    9. Before coming here, I studied economics/economy at university.
    10. I was interesting/interested to hear your remark.
    11. He applied for a job/work as a personnel officer.
    12. Some employees have a long travel/journey to work every day.
    13. Which measurement/measure should I take first – the width or the
    length of the room?
    14. We expect prices to raise/rise by at least fifty per cent next
    month.
    15. We will only exchange your answering machine if you bring the receipt/recipe.
    16. He is working on a science degree/title in chemistry.



    Answers and Explanations:

    1. had better (had better expresses advisability and
    often implies warning of bad consequences, but would rather expresses preference: I
    would rather go to a movie tonight than study grammar
    );

    2. by myself (by myself means completely alone, but on
    my own
    also means without help: I can’t carry it on my own; it’s too heavy);

    3. lay (to lie [lay, lain] means to be in a flat position
    on a surface, but to lay [laid, laid] means to put down);

    4. living (living [here] is a standard one reaches in
    food, drink, etc., but life is nearly always an active force that enables a plant,
    an animal, a person, etc. to continue existing);

    5. tell (to tell [here] means to show or to recognize:
    tell the time, but to say means to pronounce sounds or words);

    6. postpone (to postpone means to delay to some later
    time, but to cancel [cancell BrE] means to give up or call off a planned
    activity: She canceled her trip);

    7. inspected (to inspect means to examine details or
    quality of something, but to control means to direct: The council
    controls the city
    );

    8. delayed (to delay means to do something later than
    planned, but to postpone means to move to some later time: We are postponing our
    vacation until August
    );

    9. economics (economics is the science, but
    economy
    is an example of the careful use of money, time, etc.);

    10. interested (to be interested means to have or show
    interest, but interesting is often an adjective: an interesting book. However,
    interesting is sometimes used as an adverb, especially in colloquial speech: That’s
    interesting
    [to know]);

    11. job (job is nearly always a regular paid employment,
    but work is nearly always an activity which uses effort with a special purpose,
    not for amusement);

    12. journey (journey is a trip of some distance, usually
    by land, but travel usually suggests traveling for long distances and long periods
    of time: He came home after years of foreign travel);

    13. measurement (measurement means the act of measuring a
    length, height, etc., but measure is an amount in a system for calculating size,
    weight, etc.: An hour is a measure of time);

    14. rise (to rise means to increase or go up to a higher
    position, but to raise means to move someone or something to a higher position:
    They raised the curtain and the play began
    );

    15. receipt (receipt is a written statement that one has
    received money, but recipe is a set of instructions for cooking a dish: a recipe
    for making bread,
    [fig] a recipe for a happy marriage);

    16. degree (degree is a title given by a university, but title is
    a name given to a book, etc., or a word before a person’s name: Mr., Doctor, Colonel)

    Вставьте предлоги (in, of, with ,for ) в пробел.
    1. The word ‘hobby’ means а large variety _things that people do _
    their free time.
    2. Teenagers are fond _ digital technologies.
    3. There are hobЬies which are not only interesting _ you, but also
    useful _ the whole family.
    4. Hobbies make our life interesting especially when there are people
    similar interests around us.
    5. Can you tell me _ your hobbies?

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