PREPOSITION
A. BOUND PREPOSITION
1. NOUN AND PREPOSITION
nouns preposition examples
18 is the age at which you are allowed to vote.
age, attempt, point at
Fisk is making his third attempt at the world record.
What’s the reason for your unhappiness?
need, reason,
for
responsibility
Nobody seems to have responsibility for the budget.
Changes in society have meant that young people
leave home earlier.
changes, differences,
in
increase
There’s been a steady increase in the value of the
euro.
The police inquiry into the theft continues.
inquiry, investigation,
into
research
She did some research into the causes of back pain.
This is an example of international collaboration.
cause, example, way of
We need to find another way of doing things.
My reaction to it all was to try to forget it.
approach, reaction,
to
response
Her response to the criticism was very strong.
2. Typical errors
These are some of the most typical errors with nouns. A good learner’s dictionary will tell
you which prepositions to use after nouns.
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
interesting.
advertisement
Not: … an advertisement of a teaching job …
There is a growing awareness of the impact of climate change among the
young.
awareness
Not: … a growing awareness about the impact of climate change …
change Changes in our diet have meant that more and more people suffer heart
disease. (changes that happen)
Not: Changes of our diet …
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)
Not: … previous experience in working with children?
experience
She has ten years’ experience in television and radio. (usually followed by a
noun)
Not: … ten years’ experience on television and radio.
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 after increase/decrease/growth; in
decrease is used before the thing affected by the change.)
growth 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.
method
Not: … the best method to collect …
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 universe
is very small.
possibility
Not: The possibility to make contact …
The problem of finding a good babysitter is one that many parents have
faced.
problem
Not: The problem to find …
I’ve never understood the reason for all these different forms we have to fill
in.
reason
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 …