Noun + preposition, e.g. trouble with

A Introduction

Read this true story about a prison escape.

Prisoners at a jail in Iowa in the US were trying to think of a way of escaping. At last they found an answer to their problem. They told the governor about their interest in drama and their need for creative activities. They put in a request for some tunnel-digging equipment for a play about coal-miners. They knew that the governor felt sympathy for his prisoners and wanted a good relationship with them, but they weren't surprised when he said no. But later, when the prisoners mentioned the importance of physical fitness, the governor agreed to let them use a trampoline. Their skill at trampolining was put to good use when six prisoners bounced over the prison wall and escaped.

Some nouns can have a preposition after them, e.g. way of, answer to, interest in.

The preposition often has a phrase with a noun after it.

the answer to the problem their interest in drama

And the preposition can sometimes have an ing-form after it.

a way of escaping their skill at trampolining

B Noun + preposition

Here are some more examples.

your ability in maths an example of this your opinion of the film

a cheap alternative to leather some experience of selling the price of food

an attack on the government an expert on computers

the reason for the delay my attitude to/towards him no hope of winning

respect for the environment a belief in God an invitation to a party

a student of chemistry the cause of the accident some knowledge of Italian

a substitute for meat the cost of living a lack of money

success at golf/in my search some damage to the car

something the matter with you a tax on alcohol a difficulty over/with visas

a new method of storing data having trouble with my teeth

C Connection, difference; increase, reduction, etc

One thing has a link with another.

a connection with another crime

Matthew's relationship with Emma

the contrast with yesterday's weather

There is a link between two things.

a connection between the two crimes

the relationship between Matthew and Emma

the contrast/difference between town and country

Look at these words for increases and decreases. We use in before the thing that is increasing or decreasing and of before the amount of the increase or decrease.

an increase/rise in the price an increase/rise of £10

a reduction/fall in the number of unemployed a reduction/fall of 3%

D Need, wish, etc

Nouns meaning 'need', 'wish' or 'request' can have for after them.

There's a need for more houses. There was no demand for the product.

Here are some examples: appetite for, application for, demand for, desire for, need for, order for, preference for, request for, taste for, wish for