Preposition: at or by?

[Joe333]

Sentence: I am amazed by/at your reluctancy to answer simple queries.

Question: Which preposition should come in the sentence, at or by? Also tell me the logic behind it.

Thanks and regards

[5jj]

Sentence: I am amazed by/at your reluctancye to answer simple queries.
Question: Which preposition shall should come in the sentence, at or by?

Either. If we use 'by', we are perhaps seeing the 'amazed' more as a past participle in a passive construction. With 'at', 'amazed' is more adjectival.

However, there is no practical difference between the two.

[Joe333]

Either. If we use 'by', we are perhaps seeing the 'amazed' more as a past participle in a passive construction. With 'at', 'amazed' is more adjectival.

However, there is no practical difference between the two.

Thanks for telling that subtle difference. That is what I was looking for as both were looking correct to me. But I did not completely get that "adjectival" part in your reply. Can you explain it a bit, a bit more?

[5jj]

Thanks for telling that subtle difference. That is what I was looking for as both were looking correct to me. But I did not completely get that "adjectival" part in your reply. Can you explain it a bit, a bit more?

Some past participles have been used as adjectives for so long, that they are, in effect, adjectives.

1. What you say interests me. I am interested by what you say.
Here we appear to have a present simple passive construction. 'interested' is the past participle of the verb 'interest'..

2a. I am unhappy about what you are saying.
Here, 'unhappy' is clearly an adjective.

2b. I am interested in what you say.
'interested' appears to be an adjective.

Personally, I don't think it matters what we call these words. I have mentioned this simply because you asked.