Collins Cobuild

Unit 48
Noun + preposition
Main points
‘Of’ can be used to add many different types of information, ‘with’
is used to specify a quality or possession.
Some nouns are always followed by particular prepositions.
1
You can give more information about a noun by adding a prepositional
phrase after it.
Four men on holiday were in the car.
A sound behind him made him turn.
2
You often use the preposition ‘of’ after a noun to add various kinds of
information. For example, you can use ‘of’ to indicate:
• what something is made of or consists of
…a wall of stone.
A feeling of panic was rising in him.
• what the subject matter of speech, writing, or a picture is
She gave a brief account of her interview.
There was a picture of them both in the paper.
• what a person or thing belongs to or is connected with

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She was the daughter of the village priest.
The boys sat on the floor of the living room.
• what qualities a person or thing has
She was a woman of energy and ambition.
They faced problems of great complexity.
3
After nouns referring to actions, you use ‘of’ to indicate the subject or
object of the action.
…the arrival of the police.
…the destruction of their city.
After nouns referring to people who perform an action, you use ‘of’ to
say what the action involves or is aimed at.
…supporters of the hunger strike.
…a student of English.
Note  that  you  often  use  two  nouns,  rather  than  a  noun  and  a
prepositional phrase. For example, you say ‘bank robbers’, not ‘robbers
of the bank’.
4
After nouns referring to measurement, you use ‘of’ to give the exact
figure.
…an average temperature of 20 degrees.
…a speed of 25 kilometres an hour.
You can use ‘of’ after a noun to give someone’s age.
Jonathan was a child of seven when it happened.
5
 You  use  ‘with’  after  a  noun  to  say  that  a  person  or  thing  has  a