Noun + Preposition Collocations

Noun + Preposition Collocations in English (With Examples & Practice)

You can know thousands of English words and still sound slightly… wrong. Not terribly wrong. Not “call an ambulance” wrong. Just foreign-speaker wrong.

Why?

Because English doesn’t only care which words you use — it cares which words go together.

We say:

• the reason for something
• a solution to a problem
• an interest in something
• an influence on someone

We don’t say:

❌ the reason of

❌ a solution for

❌ an interest about

These fixed combinations are called noun + preposition collocations, and learning them is one of the fastest ways to make your English sound natural, accurate, and exam-ready — especially for Cambridge exams such as B2 First and C1 Advanced.

In this lesson, you will learn the most useful noun + preposition patterns, with clear explanations and natural examples.

What are noun + preposition collocations?

Some nouns in English are almost always followed by a specific preposition. You usually cannot guess which one — you have to learn the whole combination as a unit.

For example:

• the reason for
• the solution to
• an interest in
• the effect on
• a connection with

Think of these as word partnerships. They like each other. They refuse to be separated. English is romantic like that.

Noun + OF collocations

(cause, content, type, description)

We often use of to talk about what something is about, what it contains, or what causes it.

Common examples:

• The police are investigating the cause of the accident.
• She has a fear of
• He was the love of her life.
• They are considering the possibility of moving house.
• Mary had a vague memory of her childhood.
• They took advantage of her kindness.
• Simon didn’t have any experience of that kind of job.
• Mrs Smith is a member of the Labour Party.
• Jane took a photograph of her family.
• The charity is trying to raise awareness of the problem.
• He has a bad habit of interrupting people.

Noun + IN collocations

(experience, change, increase, involvement)

We often use in when talking about areas, fields, changes, or participation.

Common examples:

• There has been a fall in the inflation rate.
• Everyone noticed a change in his behaviour.
• There was a significant rise in the water level after the flood.
• Peter had great difficulty in learning Japanese grammar.
• Lucy already has some experience in
• I took a lesson in windsurfing last summer.
• Sandra has a strong belief in
• Jill has shown an interest in biology since she was a child.
• We are seeing a steady increase in
• Bob didn’t have much success in his career.

Noun + TO collocations

(reaction, solution, damage, attitude, access)

We often use to to show direction, response, or connection.

Common examples:

• We accepted the invitation to Monica’s birthday party.
• What is the best solution to this problem?
• Pollution is a threat to wildlife in the river.
• The fire did serious damage to the farmhouse.
• My father’s reaction to the news was surprising.
• Brian has a very professional approach to his work.
• We had no reason to complain about the service.
• Polly expressed a desire to see her parents.
• The only access to the house is through the forest.

Noun + ON collocations

(effect, influence, decision, information, ban)

We often use on when something affects, concerns, or is focused on something else.

Common examples:

• Heavy rain had a bad effect on
• His friends had a huge influence on
• The government announced a ban on smoking in public places.
• The museum provides information on local history.
• The policeman wrote a report on the robbery.
• Janet is starting work on the project tomorrow.
• I need a decision on this by tomorrow.
• There is a public debate on this issue.

Noun + ABOUT collocations

(discussion, decision, concern, confusion)

We use about when talking about topics, subjects, or things we discuss or worry about.

Common examples:

• I need to make a decision about what to wear.
• There is growing concern about climate change.
• There was a lot of confusion about the procedure.
• Grandma told us a story about Peter Pan.
• They finally reached an agreement about the truce.
• He felt a lot of anxiety about his new job.
• The debate about teenage mental health continues.

Noun + WITH collocations

(relationship, connection, contact, link)

We use with to talk about connections and relationships.

Common examples:

• I have a date with Anna tomorrow.
• A man was arrested in connection with the robbery.
• She has a very close relationship with her parents.
• I don’t want to start a quarrel with
• We must not lose contact with each other.
• The internet provides a vital link with free education.
• She has great sympathy with people in difficult situations.

Noun + FOR collocations

(reason, need, respect, search, demand)

We often use for to talk about purpose, need, or target.

Common examples:

• The reason for his sadness was never explained.
• This medicine is an excellent cure for
• There is a growing demand for electric cars.
• The police continued their search for the missing child.
• Most people feel a need for
• Wesley has a real talent for
• Laura has a deep love for
• He felt great respect for his teacher.
• A teacher should not show preference for any student.

Why these collocations matter for exams and real English

Using correct collocations makes your writing sound natural and precise, improves your Use of English score, prevents “almost correct” mistakes and makes your speaking calmer and more confident.

Examiners notice this stuff. So do native speakers. So does that little voice in your head that wants your English to be excellent.

Final tip

When you learn a new noun, don’t learn it alone. Learn it with its favourite preposition. English words are like old married couples — they travel in pairs and don’t like surprises 😄

Download noun-preposition-exercise in PDF here

Look at verb + preposition collocations here

Look at adjective + preposition collocations here

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