“Ambitious to [infinitive]” vs. “ambitious about [gerund]”

Question

What is the correct preposition to use with ambitious?

I am ambitious to achieve success.

I am ambitious about achieving success.

possible duplicate of Are prepositions fixed for words? which suggests I have the ambition to succeed, I have an ambition for greatness
jwpat7's comment is the right answer: it's "ambition to", not "ambitious to" or "about".

Barrie England · Answer 1 · 2012-08-17 15:54:48Z

up vote 1 down vote

About is possible, but so, too, is for.

answered Aug 17 '12 at 15:54

Barrie England
78.8k487169

	@JeffSahol: Hmmm, I'd say that there 'to' was not so much a preposition as an infinitive marker. – Barrie England Aug 17 '12 at 18:42
	yipes, barrie...I was too ambitious there. – JeffSahol Aug 17 '12 at 18:46

Lynn · Answer 2 · 2012-08-17 18:20:15Z

up vote 1 down vote

As ambitious is an adjective, it rarely needs any preposition at all.

An ambitious man.
An ambitious concept.
An ambitious goal.

If you must have one, 'of' and 'for' are possible but also obsolete.

In your sentences, "I am ambitious" would cover it, or "my ambition is to succeed/achieve success"

edited Aug 17 '12 at 18:20

Lynn
8,53911543

answered Aug 17 '12 at 16:10

Roaring Fish
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2 Answers