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Prepositions with nouns

Punishment with prepositions

Punishment commonly takes for before an offence and of after another noun such as fear or threat.

Quick answer

Common combinations with punishment

Use punishment for to state the reason or offence. Without punishment is a common phrase meaning with no penalty. Of punishment usually follows another noun, while in punishment is uncommon except in specific contexts.

The law allows severe punishment for fraud.
They acted without punishment for years.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
punishment for + offence

Giving the reason for a penalty

For introduces the crime, action, or behaviour.

He received punishment for cheating.
2
fear of punishment

Expressing concern about penalties

Of punishment usually follows another noun.

Children should not learn through fear of punishment alone.
3
without punishment

Showing absence of penalties

Without punishment means no negative consequence followed.

The company continued polluting without punishment.
4
in punishment

Describing a specific role or context

In punishment is rare and usually appears in formal or historical wording.

The phrase in punishment appears in some legal texts.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
punishment for
punishment for theft
penalty because of an action
of punishment
the threat of punishment
punishment linked to another noun
without punishment
They escaped without punishment.
with no penalty
to punishment
He was sentenced to punishment.
to belongs to the verb or phrase, not directly to punishment

Common mistakes

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

Using to directly after punishment

Punishment usually takes for when naming an offence.

✕ punishment to theft ✓ punishment for theft

Using in punishment as a normal complement

In punishment is uncommon in everyday English.

✕ They believed in punishment of late work. ✓ They believed in punishment for late work.

Confusing punishment for and punishment of

For names the offence; of often follows another noun.

✕ the punishment of speeding ✓ the punishment for speeding

Omitting without in fixed phrases

Without punishment is a common expression.

✕ They acted punishment. ✓ They acted without punishment.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The judge ordered severe ___ tax fraud.
2. Some children obey only because of fear ___
3. The officials acted ___ for many years.

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Frequently asked questions

What preposition usually follows punishment?

Punishment is most often followed by for when naming an offence.

Can punishment take of?

Yes, especially after another noun, such as fear of punishment or threat of punishment.

Is in punishment common?

No. It is rare and mostly limited to formal or historical language.

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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