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Nouns and prepositions from English Grammar Today

Many nouns have particular prepositions which normally follow them. Here are
some common examples:

nouns preposition examples

18 is the age at which you are allowed to vote.

age, attempt, point at

What’s the reason for your unhappiness?

need, reason,
for Nobody seems to have responsibility for the
responsibility
budget.

Changes in society have meant that young

changes, differences, people leave home earlier.
in
increase There’s been a steady increase in the value of
the euro.

The police inquiry into the theft continues.

inquiry, investigation,
into She did some research into the causes of back
research
pain.

This is an example of international

cause, example, way of collaboration.
We need to find another way of doing things.

approach, reaction, My reaction to it all was to try to forget it.

to
response Her response to the criticism was very strong.

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Typical errors

Go to our website to get the address of your nearest branch.

address
Not: … the address to your nearest branch.

I saw an advertisement for a teaching job in Malawi which looked

advertisement interesting.
Not: … an advertisement of a teaching job …

There is a growing awareness of the impact of climate change among the

awareness young.
Not: … a growing awareness about the impact of climate change …

Changes in our diet have meant that more and more people suffer heart
disease. (changes that happen)
Not: Changes of our diet …
change The director of studies must be informed of any changes to the
timetable. (changes that people purposely make)
Not: … of any changes in the timetable. (This means changes that
happen, not those that people purposely make.)

Congratulations on your new job!

congratulations
Not: Congratulations for your new job!

I’d like to do a course in computer programming if I could find a good one.

course
Not: … a course of computer programming …

We went to see an exhibition of Viking jewellery.

exhibition
Not: … an exhibition about Viking jewellery.

Do you have any previous experience of working with children?

(usually followed by the -ing form of a verb)
experience Not: … previous experience in working with children?
She has ten years’ experience in television and radio.(usually followed by a noun)
Not: … ten years’ experience on television and radio.

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There has been an increase of 200,000 in the city’s population in the last
ten years.
increase (Of is used before numbers and quantities
decrease after increase/decrease/growth; in is used before the thing affected by the
growth change.)
Not: … an increase of the city’s population …
(Compare change in, above.)

Can you give us some information on/about bus tours, please?

information
Not: … some information of bus tours …?

He seems to have less interest in everything these days.

interest
Not: … less interest to everything these days.

The invitation to the reception at the embassy arrived the next day.
invitation
Not: The invitation of the reception …

For this job you need some knowledge of Portuguese.

Not: … some knowledge in Portuguese.
knowledge
He has an amazing knowledge of European history.
Not: … an amazing knowledge about European history.

I need some lessons in how to set up a website.

lesson
Not: I need some lessons of how to …

Can anyone become a member of your book club?

member
Not: … a member in your book club?

Questionnaires are not necessarily the best method of collecting

sociological data.
Not: … the best method to collect …
method

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We understand the need for change but we should move slowly.

Not: … the need of change …
need (Of is used with need in the expression in need of:
The village is in need of a community centre where people, especially
young people, can go in the evenings.)

I was a newcomer to windsurfing so I was very nervous.

newcomer
Not: I was a newcomer of windsurfing …

I’d love to show you some of the nice places in my hometown.

place
Not: … the nice places of my hometown.

The possibility of making contact with other intelligent beings in the

possibility universe is very small.
Not: The possibility to make contact …

The problem of finding a good babysitter is one that many parents have
problem faced.
Not: The problem to find …

I’ve never understood the reason for all these different forms we have to
reason fill in.
Not: … the reason of all …

We all know the risks of getting a virus if we don’t protect our computer.
risk
Not: … the risks for getting a virus …

She did a translation into English of some ancient Chinese poems.

translation
Not: … a translation in English …

The visit to the temple was the high point of the holiday.
visit
Not: The visit in the temple …

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Some nouns, particularly abstract nouns, have to be followed by a prepositional

phrase in order to demonstrate what they relate to. They cannot just stand by
themselves. There is usually only one possibility of preposition which must be used
after a particular noun. Occasionally alternatives are possible. But in either event it
is a matter of learning which prepositions can be used with which nouns.

Nouns followed by 'to'

answer/reply/
access to addiction to allusion to
response to
contribution to damage to devotion to reference to
relevance to resistance to solution to threat to

 The court ordered that access to his children would be restricted to alternate
Sundays.
 It was his contribution to molecular biology that won him the Nobel prize.
 Addiction to alcohol is perhaps as serious as addiction to drugs in this country.
 The damage caused to his house was colossal after the hurricane.
 There is no solution to this problem.
 His answer/response/reply to his neighbour's accusation of damage to the fence
that divided them was to seek the advice of a solicitor.

Note that the verbs and adjectives that these nouns are related to are often
followed by the same preposition:

 He is no longer addicted to alcohol and is devoted to his friend who weaned him off
it.

Nouns followed by 'for'

admiration for bid for cure for demand for recipe for
respect for responsibility room for search for thirst for
for

 I have nothing but admiration for the way he handled a very difficult situation.
 There is no known cure for this type of snake bite.
 The demand for this new generation of mobile phone cannot be satisfied.
 I have a wonderful recipe for a simple pasta dish that I must give you.
 She is a thoroughly spoilt child and has no respect for her parents.
 The search for the missing teenager was called off as darkness fell.
 The children in this deprived area show a real thirst for learning.

It is sometimes the case that nouns with a similar meaning are followed by the same
preposition. Thus appetite, craving, hankering, hunger, desire, longing,
passion are all synonyms of thirst and they are all followed by the preposition for:

 I had a craving/longing/appetite/hunger/hankering for oysters when I was

pregnant.

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Nouns followed by 'with'

connection with date with dealings with meeting with

involvement
link with quarrel with sympathy with
with

 I've got a dinner date with Tommy on Saturday. ~ That's nice. How
romantic!
 I've got a meeting with the architects this afternoon, so I shall be home
late.
 His dealings with Grenville Engineering were suspended and all links /
connections with the organisation were severed.
 I have no quarrel with his teachers. I think they did all they could to deter
him.
I have every sympathy with his family. They must be so upset that he is
now in prison.

Note that all of these nouns imply some sort of relationship with people or things
and they all have the linking preposition with.

Other nouns - other prepositions

ban on grudge anger at bond between excerpt

against from
awareness of grasp of control over authority over hold on

 There is going to be a complete ban on fishing in the North Atlantic. The

fishing stocks are so depleted.
 They bore a grudge against their neighbours and hadn't spoken to them
for two years.
 His anger at the way the refugees were being treated was clear to see.
 The bond between mother and child is one that can never be broken.
 There was an excerpt from Verdi's Aida on the Radio Three last night.
 His grasp / understanding / awareness of mathematics left a lot to be
desired.
 She no control over her emotions.
 She has some sort of authority over him and he has a hold on her. They
are well-matched.

Certain nouns - choice of preposition

agreement about / on debate about / on decision about / on

difficulty with / in love of / for transition from / to
need of / for
reason for / to arguments for / against case for / against

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