Angry with Him: Meaning, Grammar, and How to Use It

Learning Italian also means mastering emotional nuances. Have you ever wanted to express frustration or disagreement towards someone but didn't know how? The expression "angry with him" is perfect for this. But what does it exactly mean to be angry with him? And how is it used correctly? This comprehensive guide will help you understand its meaning, grammar, and how to use it naturally, enriching your Italian vocabulary and helping you speak like a native.

Table of Contents

• What does “angry with him” mean?
• The Grammar Behind the Phrase: Rules and Common Mistakes
• Real Examples with “angry with him”
• Related Words and Expressions
• Conclusion

What does “angry with him” mean?

To feel or show anger or irritation towards a specific person (him).

• Angry is an adjective indicating a mood of strong irritation or rage.
• The preposition with establishes the direction of the anger. It is used to specify the person or thing towards which the emotion is directed.
• Him is a singular masculine third-person personal pronoun. It can be replaced by other pronouns (e.g., with you, with her, with them) or nouns (e.g., with Marco, with the boss).

The Grammar Behind the Phrase: Rules and Common Mistakes

Agreement of the adjective: a key point

The adjective "angry" must always agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the person or people expressing the anger.

• Masculine singular: "Mario is angry with Luca." (A man is angry)
• Feminine singular: "Anna is angry with her friend." (A woman is angry)
• Masculine plural: "The boys are angry with the teacher." (More males or a mixed group)
• Feminine plural: "The sisters were angry with their aunt." (More females)

The use of the preposition "with": who bears the anger

The preposition "with" is essential. It clearly indicates the person or, in rare cases, the object towards which the emotion of anger is directed. It's equivalent to "angry towards" or "angry at."

• Correct: "I am angry with you." (The anger is directed at "you").
• Incorrect: Do not use "at" (I am angry at you) or "of" (I am angry of you). These are common mistakes that can render the sentence incomprehensible or grammatically incorrect.
• As noted in WordReference forums, the preposition "with" is the standard choice to express the relationship between the feeling of anger and the person who is the object of it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Be cautious of some grammatical and meaning pitfalls:

• Confusing "angry with" and "angry for":
  • Angry with indicates the person or entity (a group, an institution) towards whom one feels anger: "I am angry with my colleague for his comment."
  • Angry for indicates the cause or reason for the anger: "I am angry for the train's delay." (The train is not the object of the anger, but the cause).
• Omitting the preposition: Do not simply say "I am angry him." This is incorrect. The preposition "with" is always necessary.
• Pronouns: After "with," use indirect object pronouns: "with me", "with you", "with him/her/you (formal)", "with us", "with you (plural)", "with them". Not subject pronouns ("with I").

Real Examples with “angry with him”

Here are some examples of how the expression "angry with him" and its variants are used in real contexts.

• Dialogue 1: A discussion between friends

  • Person A: "Mario isn't talking to me anymore, I don't understand why."
  • Person B: "Maybe he’s angry with him because of the project story. He thought you excluded him."

• Dialogue 2: A parent and a child

  • Person A: "Simone, you came home late again tonight."
  • Person B: "I know, mom, and I know you're angry with him for this. I'm sorry, next time I’ll let you know."

• Dialogue 3: A work situation

  • Person A: "The boss is in a bad mood today, seems like he's angry with everyone."
  • Person B: "Yeah, I heard he’s angry with him over the last quarter's results. They weren't good."

• Dialogue 4: A complicated relationship

  • Person A: "I don’t understand why he doesn’t want to see me anymore."
  • Person B: "He’s angry with him because you forgot his birthday. It’s important to him."

Related Words and Expressions

There are other expressions that can indicate similar emotional states but with different nuances.

Conclusion

Understanding and using the expression "angry with him" and its variants correctly is an important step in expressing your emotions in Italian. Keep in mind the agreement of the adjective and the correct use of the preposition "with" to avoid common mistakes and speak more naturally.

Now it's your turn! Try to create a sentence with "angry with..." and share it in the comments. It will be a great way to practice and see how this expression is used in real life!