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Preposition before noun

“Of pension” or “for pension”?

Pension commonly appears with for when talking about eligibility or purpose. Pension of is used mainly to state an amount or type.

Quick answer

Common combinations with “pension”

Use for with pension when referring to eligibility, applications, or support. Use pension of to state a value or category. Of pension is not usually a fixed expression by itself.

She applied for a pension at age 65.
He receives a pension of $2,000 a month.
Workers became eligible for pension benefits.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
apply for a pension

Talking about requests and eligibility

Use for after apply, qualify, or eligible when discussing pension access.

Many workers apply for a pension after retirement.
2
pension of + amount

Stating the value of a pension

Use pension of to specify an amount or type.

She receives a pension of €1,500 per month.
3
pension for + group/purpose

Showing who receives support

Use for to identify the people receiving the pension.

The government created a pension for veterans.
4
on a pension

Describing financial status

Use on a pension to describe someone living from pension income.

They survive on a pension alone.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
of pension
The calculation of pension costs took months.
of relates to another noun, not a fixed pattern with pension itself
for pension
She qualifies for pension benefits.
for shows eligibility or purpose
pension of
He receives a pension of £900 monthly.
states an amount or category
on a pension
Many retirees live on a pension.
describes a source of income

Common mistakes

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

Using “of pension” as a general phrase

Pension does not usually take of directly in everyday expressions.

✕ She asked of pension. ✓ She asked about her pension.

Forgetting an article with countable uses

Pension often needs a or the in singular form.

✕ He applied for pension. ✓ He applied for a pension.

Confusing amount and eligibility

Use pension of for amounts and for pension for eligibility.

✕ He gets for pension $800. ✓ He gets a pension of $800.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She applied ___ a pension last year.
2. He receives a pension ___ $1,200 a month.
3. Many elderly people live ___ a pension.

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Frequently asked questions

Is “for pension” correct?

Yes, especially in phrases like apply for a pension or qualify for pension benefits.

When do we use “pension of”?

Use it to state an amount or type, such as a pension of $2,000 a month.

Is “of pension” natural English?

Not usually as a direct combination. It normally appears inside larger noun phrases such as cost of pension reform.

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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