Noun + preposition (“ reason for,”“ cause of,”etc.)
A. Study this list of nouns + preposition. Sometimes other prepositions are possible - a good dictionary will give you more information.
a check FOR (a sum of money):
■ They sent me a check for $100.
a demand / a need FOR something:
■ The company closed down because there wasn`t enough demand for its product.
a reason FOR something:
■ The train was late but no one knew the reason for the delay.
a rise / an increase / a fall / a decrease IN something:
■ There has been an increase in automobile accidents lately.
an advantage / a disadvantage OF something:
The advantage of living alone is that you can do what you like. but we say "there is an advantage in (or to) doing something":
There are many advantages in (or to) living alone.
a cause OF something:
■ Nobody knows what the cause of the explosion was.
a photograph / a picture OF someone/something:
■ He always keeps a photograph of his wife in his wallet.
damage TO something:
■ The accident was my fault, so I paid for the damage to the other car.
an invitation TO a party / a wedding, etc.:
■ Did you get an invitation to the party?
a reaction TO something:
■ I was surprised at her reaction to what I said.
a solution TO a problem / an answer TO a question / a reply TO a letter / a key TO a door:
Do you think we`ll find a solution to this problem?
The answer to your question is "No"!
an attitude TO/TOWARD someone/something:
■ His attitude to/toward his job is very negative.
a relationship / a connection / contact WITH someone/something:
Do you have a good relationship with your parents?
The police want to question a man in connection with the robbery. but: a relationship / a connection / a difference BETWEEN two things:

The police have said that there is no connection between the two murders.
There are some differences between British English and American English.

Preposition + noun (``by mistake,`` "on television`` etc.)

to pay BY check (but to pay IN cash or to pay cash):
■ Did you pay by check or in cash?
(to do something) BY accident / BY mistake / BY chance:
■ We hadn`t arranged to meet. We met by chance.
a play BY Shakespeare / a painting BY Rembrandt / a novel BY Tolstoy, etc.:
■ Have you read any books by Tolstoy? (= any books written by Tolstoy?)
(to be/to fall) IN love WITH someone:
■ Have you ever been in love with anyone?
IN (my) opinion:
■ In my opinion the film wasn`t very good.
IN time (= soon enough for something/soon enough to do something):
Will you be home in time for dinner? (= soon enough for dinner)
We got to the station just in time to catch the train.
ON time (= punctual, not late)
The 11:45 train left on time. (= it left at 11:45)
The conference was well organized. Everything began on time.
(to be) ON fire:
■ Look! That car is on fire.
(to be) ON the telephone / ON the phone:
■ I`ve never met her but I`ve spoken to her on the phone.
ON television / ON the radio:
■ I didn`t watch the game on television. I listened to it on the radio.
(to be/to go) ON a diet:
■ I`ve put on a lot of weight. I`ll have to go on a diet.
(to be/to go) ON strike:
■ There are no trains today. The railroad workers are on strike.
(to be/to go) ON vacation / ON business / ON a trip / ON a tour / ON a cruise / ON an expedition, etc.
Did you go to Paris on business or on vacation?
One day I`d like to go on a world tour.
but you can also say "go to a place FOR a vacation / FOR my vacation":
Tom has gone to France for a vacation.
Where are you going for your vacation this year?
(to go/to come) FOR a walk / FOR a swim / FOR a meal, etc.:
She always goes for a walk with her dog in the morning.
After work we went to the restaurant for a meal.
(to have something) FOR breakfast / FOR lunch / FOR dinner:
■ What did you have for lunch?
Adjective + preposition (1)