Collins Cobuild English Grammar (62 page)

contrast

correspondence

date

dealings

dissatisfaction

encounter

familiarity

identification

intersection

intimacy

involvement

link

parity

quarrel

relationship

sympathy

Here is a list of nouns that are usually followed by one of two prepositions. The list indicates the choice of prepositions available:

agreement about

agreement on

argument against

argument for

battle against

battle for

case against

case for

debate about

debate on

decision about

decision on

transition from

transition to

Here is a list of other nouns that are usually followed by a preposition.

complex about

crime against

grudge against

insurance against

reaction against

safeguard against

anger at

bond between

departure from

escape from

excerpt from

freedom from

quotation from

foray into

relapse into

awareness of

authority over

control over

As you can see from the lists and examples given above, it is often the case that words with a similar meaning are typically followed by the same preposition. For example,
appetite
,
craving
,
desire
,
hunger
, and
thirst
are all followed by
for
.

USAGE NOTE

2.289
  Some nouns are related to verbs that are always or often followed by a particular preposition. These nouns are followed by the same preposition as their related verbs, and they are used to indicate the thing that is affected by the action. For example,
to
is used after both the verb
refer
and the related noun
reference
.

We have already
referred to
this phenomenon.
…reverent
references to
the importance of home.
They swim about busily
searching for
food.
…the
search for
food.
I want to
escape from
here.
…an
escape from
reality.

2.290
  Some nouns referring to a feeling or state are related to an adjective that is usually followed by a preposition. These nouns are followed by the same preposition as their related adjectives. For example,
of
is used after the adjective
aware
and the related noun
awareness
.

She was quite
aware of
her current situation.
…the public’s increasing
awareness of
the problems.
He was
angry at
Sally Gardner for accusing him.
…her
anger at
the kids.

Nouns with adjectives

2.291
  When adjectives are used in clauses after nouns or pronouns to expand their meaning they can be followed by

prepositional phrases

…a warning to people
eager for a quick cure
.
those
responsible for the project
.

a
to
-infinitive

…remarks
likely to cause offence
.
It has been directed against those
least able to retaliate
.

expressions of time or place

…a concept
inconceivable a hundred years earlier
.
For the facilities
available here
, I must ask for a fee.

Note that you can use adjectives as qualifiers when they are preceded by time or measurement expressions.

…those
still alive
.
…a small hill
about 400 feet high
.

Note also that a few adjectives, such as
present
and
responsible
, can be used on their own after a noun or pronoun. The use of these adjectives is explained in paragraphs
2.58
to
2.62
.

other structures

2.292
  There are some other structures, especially those that indicate comparison, degree, or result, that often involve a qualifying structure. In particular, some words that modify adjectives, such as
more
,
too
, or
so
, often have a qualifying structure to complete their meaning.

Peter came in,
more excited than anyone had seen him before
.
Ralph was
too angry to think clearly
.
…steel cylinders
strong enough to survive a nuclear catastrophe
.
…a grand piano
as big as two coffins
.
She was
so ill that she couldn’st eat
.
Technology has made
such spectacular advances that it is difficult to keep up
.

The use of comparative adjectives plus
than
after noun phrases is explained in paragraphs
2.106
to
2.108
. Other ways of comparing things are explained in paragraphs
2.123
to
2.139
. The use of
so
…
that
and
such
…
that
is explained in paragraphs
8.58
to
8.63
.

Nouns followed by
to
-infinitive,
-ed
participle, or
-ing
participle:
something to eat
,
a girl called Patricia
,
a basket containing eggs

2.293
  The following
non-finite
clauses (= clauses containing a verb that has no tense) can be used to expand the meaning of a noun:
to
-infinitive clauses (see paragraphs
2.294
to
2.299
),
-ed
participle clauses (see paragraph
2.300
), and
-ing
participle clauses (see paragraph
2.301
).

nouns followed by
to
-infinitive clauses

2.294
  A
to
-infinitive clause is often placed after nouns in order to show what the thing referred to is intended to do.

The government of Mexico set up a programme
to develop new varieties of wheat
.
They need people
to work in the factories
.