Good at / bad at / clever at

The expression good at is used to talk about things that you enjoy or excel at doing. After good at, you can use a noun or an –ing form. Note the preposition: we use at, not in.

• I am good at cricket. (NOT I’m good in cricket.) (NOT I’m good with cricket.)
• Is she good at singing?
• My brother is good at drawing.
• She isn’t very good at dancing.
• That boy is quite good at sports.
• I’m not very good at singing.
• Are you good at dancing?
• She is very good at writing.

Bad at

Bad at is the opposite of good at.

• She is very bad at cooking. (= She can’t cook at all.)
• I’m not bad at tennis. (= I can play reasonably well.)
• Susie is bad at singing. (= She can’t sing at all.)

Clever at

Clever at has a similar meaning to good at.

• She is very clever at cooking. (= She is good at cooking.)
• I’m not very clever at painting.
• He is very clever at painting.
• Samuel is very clever at baseball.

Of course

Of course means ‘without any doubt’ or ‘certainly’.

• ‘Can you help me?’ ‘Of course.’

‘Of course’ can also be used for giving permission in a polite way.

• ‘May I come in?’ ‘Of course you may.’

Of course not

Of course not means ‘no’.

• ‘Could you lend me 100 dollars?’ ‘Of course not.’

Of course not is also used to refuse permission.

• ‘Can I borrow your car tonight?’ ‘Of course not. I need it.’