Noun + preposition
reason for · cause of · increase in · solution to · contact with — Complete Guide
Nom + préposition
reason for · cause of · increase in · solution to · contact with — Guide Complet
Master the prepositions that follow nouns: demand for, cause of, increase in, solution to, contact with, difference between and many more.
Maîtrisez les prépositions qui suivent les noms : demand for, cause of, increase in, solution to, contact with, difference between et bien d’autres.
In English, many nouns are followed by a fixed preposition. You cannot always predict which preposition is used — it must be learned. The most important groups are: for (demand, need, reason), of (cause, picture, advantage), in (increase, fall, rise), to (solution, damage, attitude) and with/between (contact, relationship, difference).
En anglais, beaucoup de noms sont suivis d’une préposition fixe. On ne peut pas toujours deviner laquelle — il faut l’apprendre. Les groupes les plus importants sont : for (demand, need, reason), of (cause, picture, advantage), in (increase, fall, rise), to (solution, damage, attitude) et with/between (contact, relationship, difference).
Noun + FOR — demand, need, reason, excuse
Nom + FOR — demand, need, reason, excuse
| Noun | Preposition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nom | Préposition | Exemple |
| a demand / a need | FOR | There was no demand for its product. / There’s no need for that. |
| a reason | FOR | Nobody knew the reason for the delay. (NOTPAS reason of) |
| an excuse | FOR | There’s no excuse for behaviour like that. |
| a search | FOR | The search for a cure continues. |
There’s no excuse for behaviour like that. There’s no need for it.
The train was late, but nobody knew the reason for the delay. (NOT reason of) The company went out of business. There was no demand for its product.
There’s no excuse for behaviour like that. There’s no need for it.
The train was late, but nobody knew the reason for the delay. (PAS reason of)
Noun + OF — cause, picture, advantage, disadvantage
Nom + OF — cause, picture, advantage, disadvantage
| Noun | Preposition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nom | Préposition | Exemple |
| a cause | OF | The cause of the explosion is unknown. |
| a picture / photo / map / plan / drawing | OF | Rachel showed me some pictures of her family. |
| an advantage / a disadvantage | OF | The advantage of living alone is freedom. |
I had a map of the town, so I found my way around.
The advantage of living alone is that you can do what you like.
But note: there is an advantage IN doing something or an advantage TO doing something:
There are many advantages in living alone. or many advantages to living alone. The cause of the explosion is unknown.
I had a map of the town, so I found my way around.
The advantage of living alone is that you can do what you like.
Mais notez : there is an advantage IN doing something ou an advantage TO doing something :
There are many advantages in living alone. ou many advantages to living alone.
Noun + IN — increase, decrease, rise, fall
Nom + IN — increase, decrease, rise, fall
Going UP → in
En hausse → in
Going DOWN → in
En baisse → in
Last year was bad for the company. There was a big fall in sales.
A sudden drop in temperature caused problems. There has been an increase in the number of road accidents recently.
Last year was bad for the company. There was a big fall in sales.
A sudden drop in temperature caused problems.
Noun + TO — solution, damage, attitude, invitation
Nom + TO — solution, damage, attitude, invitation
| Noun | Prep | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nom | Prép | Exemple |
| damage | TO | damage to the car |
| an invitation | TO | an invitation to the wedding |
| a solution | TO | a solution to the problem (NOTPAS solution of) |
| a key | TO | the key to the door / to success |
| an answer / a reply | TO | an answer to your question / a reply to a letter |
| a reaction | TO | her reaction to the news |
| an attitude | TO/TOWARDS | his attitude to/towards his job |
I was surprised at her reaction to my suggestion.
His attitude to his job is very negative. or His attitude towards his job.
The accident was my fault, so I had to pay for the damage to the other car. I hope we find a solution to the problem. (PAS a solution of)
I was surprised at her reaction to my suggestion.
His attitude to his job is very negative. ou His attitude towards his job.
The accident was my fault, so I had to pay for the damage to the other car.
Noun + WITH / BETWEEN — relationship, contact, connection, difference
Nom + WITH / BETWEEN — relationship, contact, connection, difference
… WITH one person/thing
… WITH une personne/chose
… BETWEEN two things
… BETWEEN deux choses
The police believe there is no connection between the two crimes.
There are some differences between British and American English.
The police want to question a man in connection with the robbery. Do you have a good relationship with your parents?
The police believe there is no connection between the two crimes.
There are some differences between British and American English.
The police want to question a man in connection with the robbery.
Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first.
Complétez la deuxième phrase pour qu’elle ait le même sens que la première.
Complete with the correct preposition.
Complétez avec la bonne préposition.
Put in the correct preposition.
Mettez la bonne préposition.
Complete using a noun + preposition from the list.
Complétez en utilisant un nom + préposition de la liste.
damage to · difference between · invitation to · key to · need for · photos of · reason for · reply to
damage to · difference between · invitation to · key to · need for · photos of · reason for · reply to
Frequently Asked Questions — Noun + preposition
Questions fréquentes — Nom + préposition
This is simply a fixed collocation in English. French says raison de, which looks like ‘of’, but English uses for: the reason for the delay. Think of it as: a reason = justification/purpose → purpose takes for.
C’est simplement une collocation fixe en anglais. Le français dit raison de, mais l’anglais utilise for : the reason for the delay.
In standard English, the correct form is always solution to a problem. ✗ solution of the problem is incorrect. Example: I hope we find a solution to the problem.
En anglais standard, la forme correcte est toujours solution to a problem. ✗ solution of the problem est incorrect.
Use increase in to say which area increased: an increase in prices. Use increase of to give the amount: an increase of 10%. Both can appear in one sentence: an increase of 10% in prices.
Utilisez increase in pour dire dans quel domaine : an increase in prices. Utilisez increase of pour donner la quantité : an increase of 10%.
Both are correct and interchangeable: his attitude to work = his attitude towards work. Towards is slightly more formal. Both are common in British and American English.
Les deux sont corrects et interchangeables : his attitude to work = his attitude towards work.
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