Be Distressed To Do vs. Distressed By Something distinguishes two directly documented complement patterns for the adjective “distressed.” Use distressed + to-infinitive for the directly documented infinitival construction; use distressed by + noun phrase for the separately documented prepositional construction. The page stays within those attested patterns and does not infer a broader rule from synonymy.
ReviewedEvidence2 sourcesSectionEnglish Usage
Quick answer
Use distressed + to-infinitive when the adjective takes its documented infinitive complement; use distressed by + noun phrase when the complement is introduced by the documented preposition.
Key details
Confusion Familyadjective-complement
Rule Familyadjective complementation
Termsdistressed + to-infinitive, distressed by + noun phrase
Choose the right form
Decision table for Be Distressed To Do vs. Distressed By Something
Meaning / situation
Construction
Decision
distress linked to an event/action
distressed + to-infinitive
use the infinitive construction
cause/source of distress
distressed by + noun phrase
name what causes the distress
Quick tests
Event-or-cause test
Does the complement present the event someone is distressed to encounter, or the cause of that distress?
If yes: Use “distressed to + verb” for the event.
If no: Use “distressed by + noun phrase” for the cause/source.
Caveat: Other prepositional patterns may exist, but this guide compares only the reviewed constructions.
Examples
Example
I was distressed to hear about the delay.
The infinitive presents the event associated with the distress.
Example
She was distressed by the repeated noise.
“By” names the cause of the distress.
Example
They were distressed to discover the damage.
The infinitive introduces the discovered event.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use distressed + to-infinitive for the directly documented infinitival construction; use distressed by + noun phrase for the separately documented prepositional construction.
Style Boundary
Treat this as a comparison of directly documented complement patterns, not as a claim that every other complement is impossible. Choose the construction that matches the intended grammatical relationship.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
Be Afraid To Do vs. Afraid Of Something distinguishes two directly documented complement patterns for the adjective “afraid.” Use afraid + to-infinitive for the directly documented infinitival construction; use afraid of + noun phrase for the separately documented prepositional construction. The page stays within those attested patterns and does not infer a broader rule from synonymy.
Be Alarmed To Do vs. Alarmed At Something distinguishes two directly documented complement patterns for the adjective “alarmed.” Use alarmed + to-infinitive for the directly documented infinitival construction; use alarmed at + noun phrase for the separately documented prepositional construction. The page stays within those attested patterns and does not infer a broader rule from synonymy.
Be Amused To Do vs. Amused By Something distinguishes two directly documented complement patterns for the adjective “amused.” Use amused + to-infinitive for the directly documented infinitival construction; use amused by + noun phrase for the separately documented prepositional construction. The guide stays within those attested patterns and does not infer a broader rule from synonymy.
Be Annoyed To Do vs. Annoyed About Something distinguishes two directly documented complement patterns for the adjective “annoyed.” Use annoyed + to-infinitive for the directly documented infinitival construction; use annoyed about + noun phrase for the separately documented prepositional construction. The page stays within those attested patterns and does not infer a broader rule from synonymy.
Be Astonished To Do vs. Astonished At Something distinguishes two directly documented complement patterns for the adjective “astonished.” Use astonished + to-infinitive for the directly documented infinitival construction; use astonished at + noun phrase for the separately documented prepositional construction. The page stays within those attested patterns and does not infer a broader rule from synonymy.
Be Astounded To Do vs. Astounded By Something distinguishes two directly documented complement patterns for the adjective “astounded.” Use astounded + to-infinitive for the directly documented infinitival construction; use astounded at/by + noun phrase for the separately documented prepositional construction. The guide stays within those attested patterns and does not infer a broader rule from synonymy.
