of illness
Connection with symptoms, causes, or effects
Of links illness to another noun.
The patient reported symptoms of illness.
“Of illness” or “to illness”?
Of illness usually follows another noun, while to illness is uncommon except after adjectives or verbs that require to.
Quick answer
Which form is natural?
Use of illness after nouns such as symptoms, cause, or fear. To illness is not usually used directly, but to can follow another word, as in vulnerable to illness.
She showed signs of illness.
Doctors investigated the cause of illness in the village.
Older adults may be vulnerable to illness during winter.
Doctors investigated the cause of illness in the village.
Older adults may be vulnerable to illness during winter.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
vulnerable to illness
Risk or susceptibility
To appears after adjectives like vulnerable or prone.
Children can be vulnerable to illness in crowded spaces.
recover from illness
Health improvement
From commonly follows recover.
He is recovering from illness slowly.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
of illness
The effects of illness can last for months.
Connected to illness through another noun.
to illness
This is uncommon directly after illness; use vulnerable to illness or similar structures.
To usually depends on another adjective or verb.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using to illness directly after a noun
English usually prefers of illness or another structure.
✕ the cause to illness ✓ the cause of illnessOmitting the adjective before to illness
To needs a governing word such as vulnerable or prone.
✕ people to illness ✓ people vulnerable to illnessQuick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. Doctors studied the causes ___
2. Some patients are vulnerable ___ during winter.
3. She is recovering ___ after surgery.
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Frequently asked questions
Is of illness correct?
Yes. It is common after nouns such as signs, causes, symptoms, or effects.
Can I say to illness?
Usually only after another word, such as vulnerable to illness or prone to illness.
What preposition follows recover?
Recover is commonly followed by from when talking about illness.
Related preposition guides
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