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Prepositions with nouns

Of damage or for damage?

Damage commonly appears in phrases such as damage to property and compensation for damage. Of damage is limited to set expressions like cause of damage.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct with damage?

For damage is common when talking about compensation, responsibility, or punishment. Of damage usually appears when damage is the result, source, or type in a larger noun phrase, such as extent of damage or cause of damage.

The company paid compensation for damage to the building.
Investigators found the cause of damage to the bridge.
We are assessing the extent of damage after the storm.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
compensation for damage

Talking about payment or responsibility

Use for damage when someone pays, sues, or accepts responsibility because harm was caused.

The insurer paid for damage caused by flooding.
He was liable for damage to the equipment.
2
cause of damage

Identifying what created the harm

Use of damage in noun phrases that describe source, type, or amount.

The engineers discovered the cause of damage to the engine.
Photos showed the extent of damage after the fire.
3
damage to + object

Naming what was harmed

Damage is most often followed by to when naming the affected thing.

The storm caused damage to several houses.
There was serious damage to the road.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
for damage
The tenant paid for damage to the wall.
used for compensation, blame, or responsibility
of damage
Experts estimated the extent of damage.
used in noun phrases describing amount, cause, or type
damage to
The fire caused damage to the roof.
names the thing affected by harm

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using of instead of to after damage

Damage normally takes to before the affected object.

✕ damage of the car ✓ damage to the car

Using for damage as a description of amount

Use of damage for phrases about amount or source.

✕ the extent for damage ✓ the extent of damage

Using of damage alone as a general pattern

Of damage usually belongs inside a larger noun phrase.

✕ The report spoke of damage everywhere. ✓ The report described widespread damage.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The company accepted responsibility ___ damage to the fence.
2. Investigators found the cause ___ damage to the machine.
3. The flood caused damage ___ several homes.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say compensation of damage?

Compensation for damage is the standard expression.

Is of damage always wrong?

No. It is correct in phrases such as cause of damage, extent of damage, and risk of damage.

What preposition follows damage when naming the affected thing?

English normally uses damage to something.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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