Be Saddened To Do vs. Saddened By Something distinguishes two directly documented complement patterns for the adjective “saddened.” Use saddened + to-infinitive for the directly documented infinitival construction; use saddened 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.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionEnglish Usage
Quick answer
Use saddened + to-infinitive when the adjective takes its documented infinitive complement; use saddened by + noun phrase when the complement is introduced by the documented preposition.
Key details
Confusion Familyadjective-complement
Rule Familyadjective complementation
Termssaddened + to-infinitive, saddened by + noun phrase
Choose the right form
Decision table for Be Saddened To Do vs. Saddened By Something
Meaning / situation
Construction
Decision
sadness triggered by an event presented as an infinitive
saddened + to-infinitive
use the reviewed infinitive construction
the cause or stimulus of sadness named explicitly
saddened by + noun phrase
use “by” to name what caused the feeling
Quick tests
Event-or-cause test
Are you expressing the upsetting event through an infinitive, or naming the cause directly?
If yes: Use “saddened to + verb.”
If no: Use “saddened by + noun phrase.”
Caveat: Stay within the attested patterns rather than extending the comparison into an exhaustive rule for every complement of “saddened.”
Examples
Example
We were saddened to learn that the program was ending.
The infinitive presents the event that produced sadness.
Example
We were saddened by the abrupt announcement.
“By” introduces the cause of the reaction.
Example
He was saddened to read the report and saddened by its conclusions.
The sentence contrasts event with cause.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use saddened + to-infinitive for the directly documented infinitival construction; use saddened 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.
