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An action noun linked to a second noun by “of” (or irregular equivalent) is like a verb with its object
ACTION NOUNS AND THEIR PARTNER PREPOSITIONS
The term “action noun” is used in this blog for any noun that is very similar to a particular verb in both spelling and meaning. Examples are movement, spelt substantially like the verb MOVE and able to mean “moving”, and existence, obviously similar to EXIST and able to mean “existing”. The different ways in which different verbs change their spelling to create an action noun are fairly limited and can be quite predictable (see 249. Action Noun Endings). There are a variety of situations where an action noun might be preferable to a verb (see 131. Uses of “Action” Nouns).
Action nouns share not just their forms and meanings with verbs, but also an ability to combine with other nouns saying who or what is involved in the action or state being expressed. These other nouns – the “subjects” and “objects” of verbs – cannot be given the same names with an action noun, because those names are by definition associated with verbs. They could, however, be called “subject-like” and “object-like” because if the action noun is changed into its equivalent active verb, they will become either its subject or object.
English has various ways of marking a noun as subject-like or object-like. One of these is with prepositions – special ones in each case. In this post I wish to examine what these prepositions are with object-like nouns, and how they can be used. The prepositions needed for subject-like nouns are considered separately in the post 49. Prepositions after Action Nouns 2.
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THE REGULAR PREPOSITION WITH OBJECT-LIKE NOUNS
Verb objects are explained within this blog in the post 8. Object-Dropping Errors. In the following sentence, demand is the object of the verb may create:
(a) Lowering the price of a commodity may create demand.
The action noun related to may create is creation. How might it be linked with demand in the following sentence?
(b) … can stimulate economic growth.
One possibility is demand creation, with the object-like noun placed directly in front of the action noun (see 136. Types of Description by Nouns, #7). Sometimes, though not here, you can even add an apostrophe ending to the first noun, e.g. the atmosphere’s pollution (see 58. Optional Apostrophe Endings). An alternative to both of these, however, is to use the preposition of – the creation of demand in (b).
The preposition needed before an object-like noun is very commonly of, but not always: some action nouns need a different, often unpredictable preposition. We could say as a result that of is the “regular” preposition with object-like nouns, while its various alternatives are “irregular”. As might be expected, combinations requiring of are rarely a problem for speakers of other languages trying to learn English, whereas those needing a different preposition can cause errors. These are the focus of the rest of this post.
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IRREGULAR PREPOSITIONS WITH OBJECT-LIKE NOUNS
Before considering irregularities, it is important to appreciate that there are some alternatives to of that do not qualify. Consider this:
(c) Development in the North has been less rapid.
Here, the action noun development is followed by in rather than of. However, to conclude that the preposition with object-like nouns alongside development is the irregular in would be incorrect. The reason is that the North here corresponds not to an object of the verb DEVELOP (saying what has been developed) but to an adverb of place (saying where something – probably the economy – has been developed).
This interpretation is supported by the fact that of can replace in after development in (c), and would give the North a more object-like meaning: we would understand that all of it received development rather than just a part (for full details, see 201. Words with Complicated Grammar, #1). Thus, in deciding whether an action noun uses an irregular preposition with object-like nouns, we must be very sure that our examples actually include such a noun.
We must also be sure in analysing examples that an action noun really is present. Consider this use of receipt:
(d) The receipt for the goods should be placed on file.
No action is being expressed by receipt here. It refers to a physical object that people are given to prove they have paid for something. Hence, for cannot be classified as an object-showing preposition. In fact, if we use receipt with its alternative meaning of “receiving”, it takes the regular preposition of:
(e) On receipt of news from Rome, Caesar hurried back.
This kind of variability is possessed by numerous action nouns. With some, the non-action meaning is, like that of receipt in (d), a result of an action (see 14. Action Outcomes); with others, such as entrance (+ to), it is a typical location of one (see 19. Activity Locations).
Other examples, with their non-action preposition, are a solution to a problem, an introduction to a text, a conclusion to a debate, an exception to a rule (see 215. Naming Exceptions), a change to a quantity, a comparison between two things, and a discussion about an issue. For more, see 280. Alternative Meanings of Action Nouns.
Bear in mind, however, that some verb-related nouns – often expressing speech or thought – keep the same preposition of a following noun (usually of) even when they have a non-action meaning. This is the case, for example, with definition, description, illustration and representation.
Action nouns that truly do not allow of before an object-like noun are of two types: those derived from “prepositional” verbs and those that are simply irregular. Both types may be best thought of as nouns with a “typical” preposition (see 111. Words with a Typical Preposition).
1. Prepositions after Nouns Made from Prepositional Verbs
A prepositional verb is a verb and preposition working together to express a particular meaning. Sometimes there is an intervening word – either a noun, as in make fun of and put a stop to (see 123. Prepositional Verbs Containing a Noun), or an adverb, as in crack down on, look forward to and end up with (see 139. Phrasal Verbs, #5). However, it is combinations with no intervening word that are especially relevant here. Examples are LOOK AT, DEPEND ON, FOCUS ON, LEAD TO, STAND FOR, REACT TO, REFER TO and THINK OF (see 42. Unnecessary Prepositions and 44. Troublesome Prepositional Verbs).
Not all of the verbs in this kind of combination can be made into an action noun, but if one can the preposition with object-like nouns is the same as the one in the verb. Of the given examples, DEPEND ON, FOCUS ON, REACT TO and REFER TO have corresponding action nouns: dependence, focus, reaction and reference. The preposition linking each of these to their “object” is then not of, but on, on, to and to respectively. Where no corresponding action noun exists, the gerund (-ing) form of the verb (without the in front) is the only way of making it usable like a noun.
It is important in applying this rule to be sure that the verb is “prepositional” and not “phrasal”. Verbs of this latter kind involve a small word that might be a preposition elsewhere but with them is an adverb. For guidelines on telling the difference, see 139. Phrasal Verbs. An example is SHUT DOWN. Some phrasal verbs can be made into an action noun (e.g. a shutdown: see 26. One Word or Two?), but they need to be separated from an object-like noun by the regular of.
Very occasionally, three-word prepositional verbs containing a middle adverb can act like the two-word kind. For example CRACK DOWN ON can be made into the action noun a crackdown plus object-showing preposition on, and CATCH UP WITH can become a catch-up plus with. Like phrasal verbs, these three-word prepositional verbs become action nouns by joining the verb and adverb together.
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2. Prepositions after Other Action Nouns
Irregular action nouns, which have a more unpredictable preposition before an object-like noun, simply have to be memorised. Here is a sample list that I have made (sth means something, sb somebody):
An interesting feature of the prepositions here is that they will sometimes create a double meaning involving one of their other common uses besides the one with object-like nouns (see 301. Structures with a Double Meaning 5, #5). In other cases, however, the preposition can make it clear which meaning of the noun is intended. For example, to before a noun after instruction will clarify that instruction means “command” rather than “teaching” (see 314. Words with Complicated Grammar 4, #4).
Now here is an exercise to help interested readers to assess their command of this preposition topic.
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PRACTICE EXERCISE: PREPOSITION SELECTION
In the following, you have to decide what preposition should be written where indicated. Answers are given below.
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1. Essays often involve definition ……… key concepts.
2. All requests ……… assistance should be made in writing.
3. The introduction ……… your topic should take no more than 5 minutes.
4. Feedback on a task should avoid undue emphasis ……… weaknesses.
5. A reference is needed with an application ……… postgraduate study.
6. Struggles ……… grammar are an unavoidable part of writing.
7. It is pointless to engage in comparison ……… past and present heroes.
8. There is no solution ……… some mathematical problems.
9. A last-minute change ……… plan has, unfortunately, been necessary.
10. Every approach ……… the problem of drug misuse has already been tried.
11. The management would not tolerate any opposition ……… their plans.
12. All enquiries ……… job vacancies are best made in writing.
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Answers
1 = of; 2 = for; 3 = of (action meaning); 4 = on; 5 = for (from prepositional verb apply for); 6 = with (from prepositional verb struggle with); 7 = of (action meaning); 8 = to (non-action meaning); 9 = of (action meaning); 10 = to; 11 = to; 12 = about (from prepositional verb enquire about)
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