Noun + preposition (“ reason for,”“ cause of,”etc.)
A. Study this list of nouns + preposition. Sometimes other prepositions are
possible - a good dictionary will give you more information.
a check FOR (a sum of money):
■ They sent me a check for $100.
a demand / a need FOR something:
■ The company closed down because there wasn't enough demand for its
product.
a reason FOR something:
■ The train was late but no one knew the reason for the delay.
a rise / an increase / a fall / a decrease IN something:
■ There has been an increase in automobile accidents lately.
an advantage / a disadvantage OF something:
■ The advantage of living alone is that you can do what you like.
but we say "there is an advantage in (or to) doing something":
■ There are many advantages in (or to) living alone.
a cause OF something:
■ Nobody knows what the cause of the explosion was.
a photograph / a picture OF someone/something:
■ He always keeps a photograph of his wife in his wallet.
damage TO something:
■ The accident was my fault, so I paid for the damage to the other car.
an invitation TO a party / a wedding, etc.:
■ Did you get an invitation to the party?
a reaction TO something:
■ I was surprised at her reaction to what I said.
a solution TO a problem / an answer TO a question / a reply TO a letter / a key
TO a door:
■ Do you think we'll find a solution to this problem?
■ The answer to your question is "No"!
an attitude TO/TOWARD someone/something:

■ Look! That car is on fire.
(to be) ON the telephone / ON the phone:
■ I've never met her but I've spoken to her on the phone.
ON television / ON the radio:
■ I didn't watch the game on television. I listened to it on the radio.
(to be/to go) ON a diet:
■ I've put on a lot of weight. I'll have to go on a diet.
(to be/to go) ON strike:
■ There are no trains today. The railroad workers are on strike.
(to be/to go) ON vacation / ON business / ON a trip / ON a tour / ON a cruise /
ON an expedition, etc.
■ Did you go to Paris on business or on vacation?
■ One day I'd like to go on a world tour.
but you can also say "go to a place FOR a vacation / FOR my vacation":
■ Tom has gone to France for a vacation.
■ Where are you going for your vacation this year?
(to go/to come) FOR a walk / FOR a swim / FOR a meal, etc.:
■ She always goes for a walk with her dog in the morning.
■ After work we went to the restaurant for a meal.
(to have something) FOR breakfast / FOR lunch / FOR dinner:
■ What did you have for lunch?
Adjective + preposition (1)
Study these groups of adjectives + preposition. Sometimes other prepositions are possible - a
good dictionary will give you more information.
nice/kind/good/generous/mean/stupid/silly/intelligent/sensible/(im)polite/rude/ unreasonable
OF
someone (to do something):
■ Thank you. It was very nice/kind of you to help me.
■ It's stupid of her to go out without a coat. She'll catch cold.
but: (to be) nice/kind/good/generous/mean/(im)polite/rude/(un)pleasant/(un)friendly/cruel TO

aware/conscious OF something:
■ "Did you know they were married?" "No, I wasn't aware of that."
good/bad/excellent/brilliant AT (doing) something:
■ I'm not very good at repairing things.
married/engaged TO someone:
■ Linda is married to an American, (not with an American)
Adjective + preposition (2)
Study this list of adjectives + preposition:
sorry ABOUT something:
■ I'm sorry about the noise last night. We were having a party.
but: sorry FOR doing something:
■ I'm sorry for shouting at you yesterday.
You can also say:
■ I'm sorry I shouted at you yesterday,
(to feel/to be) sorry FOR someone:
■ I feel sorry for George. He has no friends and no money.
crazy ABOUT something:
■ Ann is crazy about Westerns. She'd go to the movies every night if a
Western were playing.
impressed BY/WITH someone/something:
■ I wasn't very impressed by/with the movie.
famous FOR something:
■ The Italian city of Florence is famous for its art treasures.
responsible FOR something:
■ Who was responsible for all that noise last night?
different FROM someone/something (in informal English we sometimes say different
THAN):
■ The movie was quite different from what I expected.
interested IN something:
■ Are you interested in art and architecture?

■ Would you care for a cup of coffee? (= Would you like ?)
■ I don't care for hot weather. (= I don't like )
ii) = look after someone:
■ She is very old. She needs someone to care for her.
take care OF someone/something (= look after):
■ Have a nice vacation. Take care of yourself!
■ Will you take care of the children while I'm away?
collide WITH someone/something:
■ There was an accident this morning. A bus collided with a car.
complain (TO someone) ABOUT someone/something:
■ We complained to the manager of the restaurant about the food.
concentrate ON something:
■ Don't look out the window. Concentrate on your work!
consist OF something:
■ We had an enormous meal. It consisted of seven courses.
crash/drive/bump/run INTO someone/something:
■ He lost control of the car and crashed into a wall.
depend ON someone/something:
■ "What time will you arrive?" "I don't know. It depends on the
traffic."
You can leave out on before question words (when/where/how, etc.):
■ "Are you going to buy it?" "It depends (on) how much it is."
die OF an illness:
■ "What did he die of?" "A heart attack."
Verb + preposition (2)
dream ABOUT someone/something:
■ I dreamed about you last night.
dream OF being something / doing something (= imagine):
■ I often dream of being rich.
also: "(I) wouldn't dream (of doing something)":

but: pay a bill / a fine / $50 / a fare / taxes, etc. (no preposition)
rely ON someone/something:
■ You can rely on Jack. He always keeps his promises.
Verb + preposition (3)
search (a person / a place / a bag, etc.) FOR someone/something:
■ I've searched the whole house for my keys, but I still can't find them.
■ The police are searching for the escaped prisoner.
shout AT someone (when you are angry):
■ He was very angry and started shouting at me.
but: shout TO someone (so that they can hear you):
■ He shouted to me from the other side of the street.
speak/talk TO someone ("with" is also possible):
■ (on the telephone) Hello, can I speak to Jane, please?
■ Who was that man I saw you talking to in the restaurant?
suffer FROM an illness:
■ The number of people suffering from heart disease has increased.
think ABOUT someone/something (= consider, concentrate the mind on):
■ You're quiet this morning. What are you thinking about?
■ I've thought about what you said and I've decided to take your advice.
■ "Will you lend me the money?" "I'll think about it."
think OF someone/something (= remember, bring to mind, have an idea):
■ She told me her name, but I can't think of it now. (not think about it)
■ That's a good idea. Why didn't I think of that?
We also use think OF when we ask for or give an opinion:
m "What did you think of the movie?" "I didn't think much of it."
The difference between think OF and think ABOUT is sometimes very small. Often you can
use OF or ABOUT:
■ My sister is thinking of (or about) going to Canada.
■ Tom was thinking of (or about) buying a new car, but changed his mind.
■ When I'm alone, I often think of (or about) you.

congratulate her on her success.
divide/cut/split something INTO (two or more parts):
■ The book is divided into three parts.
■ Cut the meat into small pieces before frying it.
do something ABOUT something (= do something to improve a bad situation):
■ The economic situation is getting worse and worse. The government
ought to do something about it.
explain (a problem / a situation / a word, etc.) TO someone:
■ Can you explain this word to me? (not explain me this word)
also: "explain (to someone) that/what/how/why " (note the word order):
■ Let me explain to you what I mean.
invite someone TO (a party / a wedding, etc.):
■ Have you been invited to any parties recently?
leave (a place) FOR (another place):
■ I haven't seen her since she left home for work this morning.
point/aim something AT someone/something:
■ Don't point that knife at me! It's dangerous.
Verb + object + preposition (2)
Study this list of verbs + object + preposition:
prefer someone/something TO someone/something (see also Unit 61):
■ I prefer tea to coffee.
protect someone/something FROM (or against) someone/something:
■ He put suntan lotion on his body to protect his skin from the sun. (or
.against the sun.)
provide someone WITH something:
■ The school provides all its students with books.
regard someone/something AS something:
■ I've always regarded you as one of my best friends.
remind someone OF someone/something ( = cause someone to remember):
■ This house reminds me of the one I lived in when I was a child.