A noun + preposition collocation is a familiar combination in which a noun is followed by a particular preposition. Common examples include reason for, solution to, increase in, and effect on.
The preposition connects the noun to another part of the sentence, as in the reason for a delay, access to information, or the difference between two proposals. Some nouns accept more than one preposition, depending on the relationship being expressed.
Common Noun + Preposition Collocations with Examples
The following combinations are grouped by preposition for easy reference. They are familiar patterns, though the choice of preposition can depend on the meaning.
Nouns Followed by To
| Collocation | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| Solution to | After several unsuccessful attempts, Nina found a solution to the recurring software problem. |
| Access to | Guests were given access to the rooftop garden during their stay. |
| Response to | The author’s response to the criticism was measured and thoughtful. |
| Damage to | The delivery company accepted responsibility for the damage to the antique desk. |
| Reaction to | Marcus was surprised by his daughter’s reaction to the news that they were moving abroad. |
Nouns Followed by For
| Collocation | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| Reason for | Nobody could explain the reason for the sudden cancellation of the ferry service. |
| Demand for | The bakery increased production after a sharp rise in demand for its sourdough bread. |
| Need for | The incident highlighted the need for clearer instructions at the climbing centre. |
| Responsibility for | As team leader, Marcus accepted responsibility for reviewing the final report. |
| Preference for | During the tasting session, several guests expressed a preference for the milder cheese. |
Nouns Followed by In
| Collocation | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| Increase in | An unexpected increase in passenger numbers led the railway company to add another service. |
| Decrease in | The hospital reported a decrease in missed appointments after introducing text reminders. |
| Interest in | A documentary sparked Mia’s interest in traditional pottery techniques. |
| Confidence in | Repeated equipment failures weakened the crew’s confidence in the new navigation system. |
| Change in | A change in the weather forced the family to postpone their hiking trip. |
Nouns Followed by Of
| Collocation | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| Cause of | The investigators were still trying to establish the cause of the warehouse fire. |
| Possibility of | The forecast raised the possibility of heavy snowfall on the mountain pass. |
| Knowledge of | Helena’s knowledge of local history made her an excellent choice to lead the walking tour. |
| Effect of | The researchers examined the effect of irregular night shifts on sleep quality. |
Nouns Followed by On
| Collocation | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| Effect on | A sudden change in the rehearsal schedule had an unexpected effect on the band’s preparations. |
| Impact on | The delayed flight had a considerable impact on the family’s holiday plans. |
| Influence on | Her grandfather’s travel journals had a lasting influence on Eleanor’s writing. |
| Ban on | The council introduced a temporary ban on parking along the narrow access road. |
Nouns Followed by With
| Collocation | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| Relationship with | Daniel maintained a close relationship with his former music teacher. |
| Problem with | Sophie discovered a problem with her laptop just before an important online interview. |
| Agreement with | The publisher reached an agreement with the photographer over the use of her images. |
| Difficulty with | Julia had some difficulty with the online payment form, so her brother helped her complete it. |
Nouns Followed by Between
| Collocation | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| Difference between | There was a noticeable difference between the two recordings, although they featured the same musicians. |
| Connection between | The investigation found no connection between the faulty alarm and the power failure. |
Other Common Combinations: At, Over, Into, From, and About
| Collocation | Example sentence |
|---|---|
| Attempt at | Leo’s first attempt at making sourdough bread produced a surprisingly good loaf. |
| Control over | After the ownership change, the founders no longer had control over the company’s daily operations. |
| Investigation into | The housing association launched an investigation into repeated failures of the building’s heating system. |
| Recovery from | Amelia’s recovery from the injury was slower than she had expected. |
| Information about | Before booking the trip, Natalie looked for reliable information about local transport options. |
How Prepositions Change the Meaning After Nouns
A noun may take more than one preposition because each can introduce different information. Sometimes both appear in the same sentence.
Increase In and Increase Of
Consider a company reporting its latest sales figures.
The company reported an increase of 15% in online orders.
The prepositions tell us two things:
- Increase of 15% identifies the size of the increase.
- Increase in online orders identifies what increased.
Both can appear together when we want to explain what increased and by how much.
The same information can be expressed with increase as a verb:
Online orders increased by 15%.
Here, increased is a verb, and by 15% expresses the size of the change.
Difference Between and Difference In
Suppose a clothing manufacturer is comparing two batches of fabric.
The quality inspector noticed a difference in texture between the two batches.
Difference in identifies the feature that differs: texture.
Difference between identifies the things being compared: the two batches.
Both prepositions contribute to the same comparison.
Effect Of and Effect On
The prepositions of and on can describe different parts of a possible cause-and-effect relationship.
The researchers examined the effect of irregular night shifts on sleep quality.
Effect of identifies the factor whose effect is being considered.
Effect on identifies what may be affected.
The sentence tells us what the researchers are investigating without claiming that their findings have already established a causal relationship.
A similar construction occurs with impact:
The report examined the impact of higher transport costs on small businesses.
Change In and Change To
Compare:
We noticed a change in the school timetable.
The school made several changes to the timetable.
The first sentence describes an observed difference. The second focuses on alterations made to an existing arrangement.
These are common tendencies, not fixed rules. Changes in the timetable can also describe deliberate alterations.
Agreement With and Agreement On
Consider:
The tenant reached an agreement with the landlord on the repairs.
Agreement with identifies the other party involved.
Agreement on identifies the matter settled.
Agreement with can also express sharing someone’s opinion:
I am in agreement with your assessment of the situation.
Invitation To and Invitation From
Olivia received an invitation from the publisher to the book launch.
Invitation from identifies who sent the invitation, while invitation to identifies the event.
In an invitation to all employees, however, to introduces the recipients rather than an event.
Using Noun + Preposition Collocations Correctly
The words following a preposition must fit the grammatical pattern. Some combinations introduce noun phrases, while others can be followed by an activity expressed through an -ing form.
Nouns Followed by -ing Forms
When a verb follows a preposition as its complement, it normally takes the -ing form.
There is growing interest in learning traditional woodworking skills.
The council discussed the possibility of reopening the old footbridge.
The new director suggested a different approach to managing the collection.
The same noun + preposition combinations can introduce noun phrases instead:
| With an -ing form | With a noun phrase |
|---|---|
| Interest in learning | Interest in local history |
| Possibility of reopening | Possibility of further delays |
| Approach to managing | Approach to the problem |
Prepositional To and the To-Infinitive
Not every to following a noun is a preposition.
Compare:
The department introduced a new approach to processing applications.
The department announced a new plan to process applications more quickly.
In approach to processing, to is a preposition followed by an -ing form.
In plan to process, to introduces an infinitive.
The distinction also matters with reason:
The repeated delays were the main reason for the complaint.
The repeated delays gave passengers a reason to complain.
In reason for the complaint, for introduces a noun phrase. In reason to complain, to complain is an infinitive construction expressing an action for which there is a reason.
The second is not a noun + preposition collocation.
Noun + preposition combinations are commonly classified as grammatical collocations, alongside other patterns involving verbs, adjectives, and prepositions.
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