Bored - bored with - bored of

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello everybody, this is my very first question here!

I’ve always used the expression “I’m bored”, but I’ve never used the word “bored” followed by any preposition.
I’ve heard that some authorities on language reckon that it can only be followed by “with” or “by”, but I’m rather sure to have heard some native English speakers say “I’m bored of”.

What do you think about that? Is it acceptable?

Thank you very much!

2

Hi Polly,

Fashions change and this seems to be happening with bored. There is a slight difference between bored by and bored with. You can be bored by politics, meaning that you don’t find any interest in people talking about or discussing politics. If you are bored with politics, it means that you personally have had enough of politics, which is being discussed here and now around you or that you yourself are personally involved in it. Bored of frequently makes an appearance nowadays but is found more in spoken rather than written English. It’s always difficult to say what is acceptable or not in a case like this because there is no logical reason why it should be with/by/of. After all it’s quite usual to say: tired of.
Alan

3

I, too, thank you, Alan, for the reply.

I was searching the Web and found this thread.

I was curious because I had just read a sentence that said “They’re [people in a certain country] extremely bored of vodka.”

It appeared in a very reputable American magazine.

James

4

I did a little research on ‘bored of’ and it seems it’s acceptable in conversational English.

TOEIC listening, photographs: Relaxing on the couch

5

Thank you, Torsten.

6

Hello everyone,

What is the difference between “get bored” and “be bored”?

I get bored when I go to the school. ( general statement)

I’m bored right now.
This TV channel is so sh.t. I’m not interested in it. I’m bored.
Did you enjoy the party? No, I didn’t. Actually I was so bored. ( a moment in the past)

edit1: I’m getting bored = I’m bored. ?

7

Both indicate that boredom exists, but get bored indicated that the boredom us a fairly recent phenomenon.

I am bored of Three Stooges movies, but I can watch two or three Marx Brothers movies before I get bored.