Just like adjectives and verbs, many nouns are followed by specific prepositions. Mastering these combinations is essential for natural English.
For
| Noun | Example | | --------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | reason for | What is the reason for the delay? | | need for | There is a need for change. | | respect for | She has great respect for her teacher. | | talent for | He has a talent for music. | | plan for | Do you have a plan for the weekend? |
In
| Noun | Example | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | increase in | There was an increase in sales. | | decrease in | A decrease in temperature is expected. | | change in | We need a change in policy. | | interest in | She has an interest in photography. | | difficulty in | He had difficulty in finding a job. |
Of
| Noun | Example | | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | advantage of | Take advantage of this opportunity. | | disadvantage of | The disadvantage of this plan is cost. | | cause of | What is the cause of the problem? | | result of | The result of the test was positive. | | example of | This is an example of good writing. |
With
| Noun | Example | | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | relationship with | She has a good relationship with her boss. | | connection with | I have no connection with that company. | | problem with | There is a problem with my computer. | | agreement with | We reached an agreement with them. |
Between
| Noun | Example | | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | difference between | The difference between cats and dogs is clear. | | connection between | Is there a connection between the two events? | | relationship between | The relationship between diet and health is important. | | contrast between | The contrast between light and dark is striking. |
To
| Noun | Example | | ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | solution to | We need a solution to this problem. | | answer to | What is the answer to this question? | | response to | There was no response to my email. | | attitude to/toward | She has a positive attitude to work. |
On
| Noun | Example | | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------- | | effect on | This has a positive effect on health. | | impact on | Technology has a big impact on our lives. | | information on | I need more information on this topic. | | comment on | Do you have any comments on my work? |
Common Mistakes
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Incorrect: What is the reason of this change?
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Correct: What is the reason for this change?
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Incorrect: I need a solution of this problem.
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Correct: I need a solution to this problem.
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Incorrect: There was an increase of sales.
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Correct: There was an increase in sales.