Noun + complement: What can follow a noun?

Many nouns, especially abstract nouns, can be followed by ‘complements’ – other words and expressions that ‘complete’ their meaning. These complements can be prepositional phrases, infinitive expressions or clauses (with or without prepositions).

• Luke’s criticism of the plan made him very unpopular.
• I hate the thought of leaving you.
• Does she understand the need to keep everything secret?
• I admire your belief that you are always right.
• There’s still the question of whether we’re going to pay her.

Many nouns can be followed by more than one kind of complement.

• He didn’t give any reason for the changes.
• You’ve no reason to get angry.
• The main reason why I don’t believe her is this: …

Not all nouns can be followed by all kinds of complement.

• the idea of marriage
  the idea that I might get married
  (but not the idea to get married)
• freedom to choose
  freedom of choice
  (but not freedom of choosing)

Note that a related noun and verb may have different kinds of complement.

• I have no intention of resigning.
• I do not intend to resign.

Nouns (possessive or not) can also act as modifiers of following nouns.

• my father’s company
• garden furniture

For details of noun + noun structures, (see here).

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to decide which structures are possible after a particular noun. It is best to check in a good dictionary.

note

For more information about -ing forms after nouns, (see here).

For infinitives after nouns, (see here).

For should in clauses after nouns, (see here).

For subjunctives in clauses after nouns, (see here).

For the prepositions that are used after some common nouns, (see here).

For prepositions before clauses, (see here).

For relative clauses after nouns (e.g. the people who live next door), Relative clauses.