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 Fisk is making his third attempt at the world
record.

What’s the reason for your unhappiness?

need, reason,
for Nobody seems to have responsibility forthe
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.

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

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 tothe
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

course one.
Not: … a course of computer programming …

We went to see an exhibition of Viking jewellery.

exhibition
Not: … an exhibition about Viking jewellery.

experience 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?
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
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 …

member Can anyone become a member of your book club?

 Not: … a member in your book club?

Questionnaires are not necessarily the best method ofcollecting

method sociological data.
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

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 …

(“Nouns and prepositions” from English Grammar Today © Cambridge University Press.)
Verbs: multi-word verbs
from English Grammar Today
Multi-word verbs are verbs which consist of a verb and one or two particles or
prepositions (e.g. up, over, in, down). There are three types of multi-word verbs: phrasal
verbs, prepositional verbs and phrasal-prepositional verbs. Sometimes, the name
‘phrasal verb’ is used to refer to all three types.

Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs have two parts: a main verb and an adverb particle.

The most common adverb particles used to form phrasal verbs are around, at, away,
down, in, off, on, out, over, round, up:

bring in go around look up put away take off

Meaning

Phrasal verbs often have meanings which we cannot easily guess from their individual
parts. (The meanings are in brackets.)

The book first came out in 1997. (was published)

The plane took off an hour late. (flew into the air)

The lecture went on till 6.30. (continued)

It’s difficult to make out what she’s saying. (hear/understand)

For a complete list of the most common phrasal verbs, see the Cambridge International
Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

Formality

Phrasal verbs are often, but not always, less formal than a single word with the same
meaning.

Compare
 phrasal verb more formal single word

We need to sort the problem out. We need to solve/resolve the problem.

The team only had an hour The team only had an hour
to put the stage up before the to erect/construct the stage before the
concert. concert.

Phrasal verbs and objects

Many phrasal verbs take an object. In most cases, the particle may come before or after
the object if the object is not a personal pronoun (me, you, him, us, etc.).

Compare

(p = particle; o = object [underlined])

particle before the object particle after the object

She brought [P]up [O]three kids all I brought [O]my children [P]up to be
alone. polite.

Do you want me to take [P]off [O]my

Come in. Take [O]your coat [P]off.
shoes?

If the object is a personal pronoun (me, you, him, us, etc.), we always put the pronoun
before the particle:

I’ve made some copies. Would you like me to hand them out?

Not: Would you like me to hand out them?

Oh, I can’t lift you up any more. You’re too big now!

Not: I can’t lift up you any more.

We usually put longer objects (underlined) after the particle:

Many couples do not want to take on the responsibility of bringing up a large family of
three or four children.

We can use some phrasal verbs without an object:

break down get back move in/out

carry on go off run away

drop off hang on set off

eat out join in wake up

The taxi broke down on the way to the airport and I thought I nearly missed my flight.

We’d better set off before the rush-hour traffic starts.

What time did you wake up this morning?

A good learner’s dictionary will tell you if the phrasal verb needs an object or can be
used without one.

Prepositional verbs

Prepositional verbs have two parts: a verb and a preposition which cannot be separated
from each other:

break into (a house) get over (an illness) listen to

cope with (a difficult situation) get on look after (a child)

deal with (a problem) get off look at

depend on go into look for

 do without lead to look forward to

Prepositional verbs and objects

Prepositional verbs always have an object, which comes immediately after the
preposition. The object (underlined) can be a noun phrase, a pronoun or the -ing form of
a verb:

Somebody broke into his car and stole his radio.

I don’t like this CD. I don’t want to listen to it any more.

Getting to the final depends on winning the semi-final!

Some prepositional verbs take a direct object after the verb followed by the
prepositional phrase.

associate … with remind … of

protect … from rob … of

provide … with thank … for

(do = direct object; po = object of preposition [both underlined])

Hannah reminds [DO]me of [PO]a girlfriend of mine.

How can we protect [DO]children from [PO]dangerous material on the Internet?

I’d like to thank [DO]everyone for [PO]their kindness.

Prepositional verbs or phrasal verbs?

Not all phrasal verbs need an object. Prepositional verbs (e.g. listen to, depend on)
always have an object after the preposition:

I’ve got a great new CD. Shall we listen to it?

Not: Shall we listen to?

With phrasal verbs the object can come before or after the particle if the object is not a
pronoun. With prepositional verbs, the object is always immediately after the
preposition.(Objects are underlined.)

Compare

Do you always look up every new

word in a dictionary? Phrasal verb: the object can come
Do you always look every new before or after the particle up.
word up in a dictionary?

Prepositional verb: the object is after

Could you look after my bagwhile I go
the preposition.
and buy the tickets?
Not: Could you look my bag after…

Phrasal-prepositional verbs

Phrasal-prepositional verbs have three parts: a verb, a particle and a preposition. The
particle and the preposition cannot be separated. Many of these verbs are often used in
informal contexts, and their meaning is difficult to guess from their individual parts.

Verb + particle + preposition

catch up with get on with look out for

come up against listen out for look up to

do away with look down on put up with

face up to look forward to watch out for

 get away with look in on

Ken’s just chatting to a friend. He’ll catch up with us in a minute. (reach, join)

Do you get on with your neighbours? (have a good relationship with)

We look forward to meeting you on the 22nd. (anticipate with pleasure)

See also:
 Look forward to
Phrasal-prepositional verbs and objects

The object (underlined below) always comes immediately after the preposition, and not
in any other position:

She was a wonderful teacher. We all looked up to her. (respected)

Not: We all looked her up to. or We all looked up her to.

Some phrasal-prepositional verbs also take a direct object after the verb as well as an
object of the preposition:

fix … up with put … down to put … up to

let … in on take … out on

(do = direct object; po = object of preposition [both underlined])

She fixed [DO]us up with [PO]a violin teacher. We’re really grateful to her. (fixed us up
with = arranged for us)

We just put [DO]the accident down to [PO]bad luck; there’s no other reason. (put down
to = think the cause or reason is)

(“Verbs: multi-word verbs” from English Grammar Today © Cambridge University Press.)
Prepositional phrases
from English Grammar Today

Prepositions and their complements

Prepositional phrases consist of a preposition and the words which follow it (a

complement). The complement (underlined below) is most commonly a noun phrase or
pronoun, but it can also be, an adverb phrase (usually one of place or time), a verb in
the -ing form or, less commonly, a prepositional phrase or a wh-clause:

They first met at a party. (preposition + noun phrase)

She was taken ill during the film. (preposition + noun phrase)

Would you like to come with me please? (preposition + pronoun)

From there, it’ll take you about half an hour to our house. (preposition + adverb)

Until quite recently, no one knew about his paintings. (preposition + adverb phrase)

She’s decided on doing a Chinese language course. (preposition + -ing clause)

Not: … decided on to do …

It’s a machine for making ice-cream. (preposition + -ing clause)

If you can wait until after my meeting with Jack, we can talk then. (preposition +
prepositional phrase)

We were really surprised at what they wrote. (preposition + wh-clause)

We can put an adverb before a preposition to modify it. This applies mainly to
prepositions of time or place which are gradable (above, before, far, deep, down,
opposite):

They’ve moved far into the country.

They left the party just before us.

You can’t miss it. His office is almost opposite the coffee machine.

Prepositional phrases after verbs

Prepositional phrases can be complements of verbs. If we need a special preposition to

introduce the complement of the verb, we call such verbs ‘prepositional verbs’:

Do these keys belong to you?

We’re not happy but we do approve of their decision.

We sometimes use an adverb particle before the preposition. The verb + adverb particle
+ preposition structure forms a verb which has a single meaning. We call such verbs
‘phrasal prepositional verbs’. Their meaning is often not related to the meaning of the
original verb:

She really looks up to her grandfather. (admires)

We’re all looking forward to having a few days’ holiday together. (anticipate with
pleasure)

See also:
 Verbs: multi-word verbs
(“Prepositional phrases” from English Grammar Today © Cambridge University Press.)