Be Upset To Do vs. Upset About Something distinguishes two directly documented complement patterns for the adjective “upset.” Use upset + to-infinitive for the directly documented infinitival construction; use upset 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.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionEnglish Usage
Quick answer
Use upset + to-infinitive when the adjective takes its documented infinitive complement; use upset about + noun phrase when the complement is introduced by the documented preposition.
Key details
Confusion Familyadjective-complement
Rule Familyadjective complementation
Termsupset + to-infinitive, upset about + noun phrase
Choose the right form
Decision table for Be Upset To Do vs. Upset About Something
Meaning / situation
Construction
Decision
reaction to seeing, hearing, learning, or doing something
upset + to-infinitive
use the infinitive event construction
distress about a named event, decision, or situation
upset about + noun phrase
use “about” for the matter
Quick tests
Event-or-topic test
Does the complement express the triggering event as a verb, or identify the topic of the distress as a noun phrase?
If yes: Use “upset to + verb.”
If no: Use “upset about + noun phrase.”
Caveat: Both patterns are standard; the distinction is the complement relationship, not a ranking of one form over the other.
Examples
Example
I was upset to hear that the session had been canceled.
The infinitive expresses the event that triggered the reaction.
Example
I was upset about the cancellation.
“About” introduces the matter causing the reaction.
Example
He was upset to lose the booking and upset about the extra fee.
The paired example shows the two complement types.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use upset + to-infinitive for the directly documented infinitival construction; use upset about + 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.
