Noun + preposition combinations

PresentationQ Nouns + prepositions

Here is a list of common nouns and the prepositions that normally follow them:

access to cost o f invitation to reply to

advantage o f demand for lack o f request for

advice on difference betw een matter with rise in /o f

alternative to example o f need for solution to

application for experience of/in opinion o f tax on

benefit o f fall in /o f order for trouble with

cause o f increase/decrease in /o f price o f

cheque for interest in reason for

© Nouns followed by a choice of prepositionsWords referring to increases and decreases can be followed by in or o f In refers to thething that has risen or fallen; o f refers to a quantity or amount:There has been a large fall in exports over the last few months.There has been a fall o f 9.7%.

Q Prepositions + nounsHere is a list of some common preposition and noun combinations:

a t a good price by post in person on sale

a t a profitAoss by return in stock on the whole

a t cost price for lunch in the end on time

a t short notice fo r sale in writing out o f date

a t your convenience in a hurry on application out o f order

by airmail/email in advance on business out o f stock

by car/bus, in bulk on foot to my mind

by cheque/credit card in charge o f on hold under pressure

by hand in debt on holiday with reference to

by law in general on loan

by mistake in my opinion on order

Look at the following examples:Because o f the traffic, I often come to work on foot.I'll confirm that in writing.What department are you in charge of?

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PracticeEXERCISE O Noun + preposition

Com plete the sentences using a noun from box A and a preposition from b ox B.

difference solutionrequest invitationexperience replytrouble advantagecheque price

of toof forof for-te- betweento with

1 Thank you very much for your invitation to the launch party.2 At the moment the bank is considering o u r ....................................... a larger overdraft,

and it will let us have a decision next week.3 In my opinion, the m ain ........................................having a credit card is that you can

pay for things over the phone.4 Have we received a ........................................that letter we sent them last week?5 Yes, they've paid us. We received a ........................................$18,000 a few days ago.6 I don't think he would be suitable for the job in Tokyo. He has had very little

........................................working overseas.7 In the long term, inflation is linked to th e ....................................... raw materials.8 Is there a n y ........................................these two modems? They look the same to me.9 We had a lot o f ........................................one of our customers who wouldn't pay us, so

we took legal advice.10 Let me know if you can think of a ........................................the problem.

EXERCISE 0 Noun + choice of prepositionsRead the newspaper extract. Fill in the blanks w ith in or of

No change inEurozone rates

has left interest rates unchangeddespite worries over the Germaneconomy. The last time there was afall1 ........................ interest rateswas on 10 May, when the bankannounced a cu t2 ........................0.25%, bringing the key interest ratefor the Eurozone countries to 4.5%.The decision came hours afterofficial figures showed a surprisingincrease 3........................unemployment in Germany.Analysts had been forecasting a rise

4 ........................ 5,500 but the officialfigures reported an increase5 ........................ 18,000, taking thetotal to just under four million.The ECB is also facing the problem

of a sharp increase 6........................Eurozone inflation. The increase7........................0.3% has pushed theannual rate to 2.9%, compared witha target of 2%.

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e x e r c i s e © Preposition + noun combinations

In the follow ing telephone conversations, f ill in the blanks w ith the m issingprepositions.

A A: Hello, Finance.B: Good morning. I'm calling ^i-th reference to a cheque I've just had from you. I'm

afraid you have put the wrong year on it 2........................ mistake. The bank have justreturned it because it is 3........................ of date.

A: I'm so sorry. It must be because it's January. If you send it back we'll issue a new one4 return.

B A: Hello, can you put me through to the Marketing Department, please?B: Yes, of course ... I'm afraid the line's busy, I'll have to put you 1........................ hold

for a moment.A: OK ...C: Hello, Marketing.A: Could I speak to the person who is 2........................ charge of booking advertising

space, please?C: I'm afraid she's away 3........................ business at the moment. Can I help you?A: Well, we are currently offering some attractive discounts for next month's issue of

Face magazine.C: Well, 4........................ the whole we don't book advertising space 5..........................such

short notice, but if you'd like to give us details of your rates 6........................ writing,we'll look at them and let you know.

e x e r c i s e O Review

Com plete the follow ing extract w ith the m issing prepositions.

If you’re looking for an alternative 1.................... thetraditional high street bank, then Internet banking maybe a solution.

PROS: The main advantage 2 .............................Internet banks isthat they have lower charges because they have no need3 ......................buildings or a branch network.4 .......................the whole, they also offer slightly better rates for savers. Aftergetting set up, a further benefit5 ...................... Internet banksis that you can have access 6 ...................... you money24 hours a day and can make payments or transfer funds

7 ................... your convenience.

CONS: Some customers worry about the potential lack8 ................... security of dealing with money online, but the

banks have worked hard to find solutions 9 ......................security problems. Internet banks do not offer the facilities tomeet a bank m anager10......................person, and paying incheques still has to be done 11........................post. Some banksalso suffer from a lack 12......................cash machines.

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TASK 1

TASK 2

TASK 3

Com plete the follow ing sentences using your own ideas.1 I don't have much experience o-f dealing with difficult cwstoMars.2 I don't think there is much difference.........................................................3 Do you think immigration is responsible for the rise ..............................4 It will be difficult to find a solution.............................................................5 During the winter months, the demand.....................................................

Production

Rewrite the follow ing sentences in a different way, using one o f th e phrases frompage 175, section G , Prepositions + nouns.

1 This machine doesn't work. This machine is out o f order.

2 Quick! I can't wait. I 'm .......................................................................3 We lost money when we sold the car. We sold the c a r .................................................4 I usually drive to work. I usually go to wro rk ..........................................5 The train didn't arrive late. The train arrived..............................................6 My house is on the market. My house i s .......................................................7 He owes money. He i s ......................................................................8 We expect delivery of the goods soon. The goods a re ...................................................

Look through this extract from the Oxford Wordpower D ictionary, w hich gives anum ber o f different idiom s using the word hand. Then fill in the blanks w ith thecorrect expression.

1 I have a problem on My hands, and I'd likeyour advice about what to do. E 2 M 3 (close/near) at hand (formal)nearJ in space or time: Help is close at hand.

2 At first, some of the strikers on the picket line be an old hand (at sth) 0LDby hand 1 done by a person and not by

threw stones at the police; then more joined machine: I had to do a ll the sewing by hand.

in and soon the demonstration got (at) first hand (used about information thatyou have received) from sb who was closely

..................................................... involved: Did you get this information first, . „ , . . h a n d ? Look at second-hand.

3 We don t use machines at all; everything is, in your hands in your possession, control or

..................................................... care: The matter is in the hands o f a solicitor.

4 When you arrive at your holiday villa, one of „ . . ......J 7 7 ' off your hands not your responsibility anyour representatives will be mo e

r on hand available to help or to be used: TheretO help you With any ^ always an adult on hand to help when the

children are playing outside.problems you may have. on y°ur hands being your responsibility: We

seem to have a problem on our hands.5 I can't Stop the court case from going ahead. on the one hand...on the other (hand) used

for showing opposite points of view: On theEverything is now ....................................... of one hand, o f course, cars are very useful. On

the other hand, they cause a huge amount o fmy lawyer, and I can t discuss it with you. pollution.

„ , , . . , . „ , , (get/be) out of hand not under control:6 On the one hand, a job in England would be violence at footbaU matches getting out ofj r hand. opposite in handa good career move for me. out of your hands not in your control; not

T wrrnlrl m icc thp y°ur responsibility: I can't help you, I'm..................................................' 1 VVUUiU im w Llie afraid. The matter is out o f my hands.people I know here in Milan.

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