Noun + preposition combinations

Presentation
Q Nouns + prepositions
Here is a list of common nouns and the prepositions that normally follow them: access to advantage o f advice on alternative to application fo r benefit o f cause o f cheque fo r cost o f demand fo r difference betw een example o f experience of/in fall in /o f increase/decrease in /o f interest in invitation to lack o f matter w ith need fo r opinion o f order for price o f reason for reply to request fo r rise in /o f solution to tax on trouble w ith

Nouns followed by a choice of prepositions

Words referring to increases and decreases can be followed by in or o f In refers to the thing 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%.

Prepositions + nouns
Here is a list of some common preposition and noun combinations: a t a good price a t a profitAoss a t cost price a t short notice a t your convenience by airmail/email by car/bus, by cheque/credit card by hand by law by mistake by post by return fo r lunch fo r sale in a hurry in advance in bulk in charge o f in debt in general in my opinion in person in stock in the end in writing on application on business on foot on hold on holiday on loan on order on sale on the whole on time ou t o f date ou t o f order ou t o f stock to my mind under pressure w ith reference to

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

Noun + preposition combinations

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Practice
EXERCISE

Noun + preposition
C om plete th e senten ces using a n ou n from b o x A and a p rep osition fro m b o x B.

difference request experience trouble cheque

solution invitation reply advantage price

of of of -teto

to for for between 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 a in ........................................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 t h 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 prepositions

Read th e new spaper extract. Fill in th e blan k s w ith in or o f

No change in Eurozone rates

has left interest rates unchanged despite worries over the German economy. The last time there was a fa ll1 ........................interest rates was on 10 May, when the bank announced a c u t2 ........................ 0.25%, bringing the key interest rate for the Eurozone countries to 4.5%. The decision came hours after official figures showed a surprising increase 3........................ unemployment in Germany. Analysts had been forecasting a rise

4 ........................ 5,500 but the official figures reported an increase 5 ........................ 18,000, taking the total to just under four million. The ECB is also facing the problem

of a sharp increase 6........................ Eurozone inflation. The increase 7........................0.3% has pushed the annual rate to 2.9%, compared with a target of 2%.

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Noun + preposition com binations

ex er c is e

Preposition + noun combinations

In th e fo llo w in g telep h o n e con versations, fill in th e b lan k s w ith th e m issing prepositions.

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 just returned 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 one 4 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.
ex er c is e

Review
C om p lete th e fo llo w in g ex tra ct w ith th e m issin g prepositions.

If youre looking for an alternative 1.................... the traditional high street bank, then Internet banking may be a solution.
PROS: The main advantage 2 .............................Internet banks is that they have lower charges because they have no need 3 ...................... buildings or a branch network.4 ....................... the whole, they also offer slightly better rates for savers. After getting set up, a further benefit5 ...................... Internet banks is that you can have access 6 ...................... you money 24 hours a day and can make payments or transfer funds 7 ................... your convenience. CONS: Some customers worry about the potential lack 8 ................... 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 to meet a bank m an ager10......................person, and paying in cheques still has to be done 11........................post. Some banks also suffer from a lack 12......................cash machines.

Noun + preposition combinations

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Production
TASK 1
C om plete th e follow in g sentences u sing your ow n 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 dem and.....................................................

TASK 2

Rew rite th e fo llow in g senten ces in a d ifferen t way, using one o f th e phrases from page 175, sectio n G , Prepositions + nouns.

1 This machine doesn't work. This machine is ou t o f orde r. 2 Quick! I can't wait. 3 We lost money when we sold the car. 4 I usually drive to work. 5 The train didn't arrive late. 6 My house is on the market. 7 He owes money. 8 We expect delivery of the goods soon. I 'm ....................................................................... We sold the c a r ................................................. I usually go tow ro r k .......................................... The train arrived.............................................. My house i s ....................................................... Hei s ...................................................................... The goods a r e ...................................................

TASK 3

Look th rou g h th is ex tra ct from th e O xford W ordpow er D ictionary, w h ich gives a n u m ber o f d ifferen t idiom s using th e word han d . T h en fill in th e b la n k s w ith th e co rrect expression.

1 I have a problem on My hands,and I'd like your advice about what to do. 2 At first, some of the strikers on the picketline threw stonesat the police; then morejoined in and soon the demonstration got 3 We don t use machines at all; everything is
, ..................................................... ..................................................... , . , . .
J

E 2 M 3 (close/near) at hand (formal ) near

by hand 1 done by a person and not by machine: I had to do a ll the sewing by hand. (at) first hand (used about information that you have received) from sb who was closely involved: Did you get this information first h a n d ? Look at second-hand. in your hands in your possession, control or care: The matter is in the hands o f a solicitor.

be an old hand (at sth) 0 L D

in space or time: Help is close at hand.

4 When you arrive at your holiday villa,' one of J 7 7 our representatives will be r tO help you With any problems you may have. 5 I can't Stop the court case from going ahead. Everything is now ....................................... of 6 On the one hand, a job in England would be a good career move for me. people I know here in Milan.
T wrrnlrl m icc th p ..................................................' 1 VVUUiU im w Llie j r

on hand available to help or to be used: There ^ always an adult on hand to help when the children are playing outside. on yur hands being your responsibility: We seem to have a problem on our hands.

m o^e

off your hands not your responsibility any

......

on the one hand...on the other (hand) used for showing opposite points of view: On the

my lawyer, and I can t discuss it with you.

, , . . , . , ,

one hand, o f course, cars are very useful. On the other hand, they cause a huge amount o f pollution.

violence at footbaU matches

hand.

(get/be) out of hand not under control: opposite in hand

getting out of

out of your hands not in your control; not

yur responsibility: I can't help you, I'm
afraid. The matter is out o f my hands.

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Noun + preposition combinations