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Prepositions with nouns

How to use prepositions with disaster

Disaster commonly appears with of in phrases about risk or cause, and with for in phrases about preparation or suitability.

Quick answer

Which preposition should you use with disaster?

Use of disaster in expressions such as risk of disaster or scenes of disaster. Use for disaster in contexts about preparation, readiness, or suitability, such as prepare for disaster.

The storm created a real risk of disaster.
Emergency teams train for disaster response.
The area showed scenes of disaster after the flood.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
risk of disaster

Describing danger or possibility

Of links disaster to a noun such as risk, threat, or fear.

Officials warned about the risk of disaster during the heatwave.
2
prepare for disaster

Planning ahead

For is used with preparation or readiness before a disaster happens.

Families should prepare for disaster situations.
3
recipe for disaster

Describing something likely to fail

For disaster appears in idiomatic expressions about likely negative results.

Poor communication is a recipe for disaster in healthcare.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
of disaster
The documentary showed scenes of disaster.
Used after nouns that describe type, result, or subject.
for disaster
The city is preparing for disaster.
Used with preparation, planning, or expected events.
disaster for
The delay was a disaster for local businesses.
For shows who is affected.

Common mistakes

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

Using for disaster without a clear context

For disaster usually needs a verb or noun about preparation or effect.

✕ They discussed for disaster. ✓ They discussed plans for disaster response.

Confusing of disaster with possession

Of disaster normally follows another noun.

✕ The town of disaster was evacuated. ✓ The town faced a disaster.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The agency trains volunteers ___ disaster response.
2. There is a serious risk ___ disaster.
3. Poor planning can become a recipe ___ disaster.

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Frequently asked questions

Is risk of disaster correct?

Yes. Of is commonly used after nouns such as risk, threat, and fear.

When do we use for disaster?

Use it in contexts about preparation, planning, or expected negative outcomes.

Can disaster be followed by for?

Yes, especially in phrases like disaster for tourism or prepare for disaster.

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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