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September 17, 2014

risk

This week’s language tip helps with using the patterns that follow the noun risk. The noun risk is not normally followed by an infinitive. Use the pattern the/a risk of doing something:
✗ Smokers themselves have a high risk to get cancer.
✓ Smokers themselves have a high risk of getting cancer.
✗ If you eat too much you run the risk to have serious health problems.
✓ If you eat too much you run the risk of having serious health problems.
Risk can also be followed by a simple prepositional phrase:
  • The risk of a major nuclear accident must be taken seriously.
  • The President runs the risk of assassination with every public appearance.
In certain circumstances, risk can be followed by an infinitive:
  • You may have to be self supporting for quite a while, which is a big risk to take.
  • Hoping that everything will go right is quite a risk to take with your oral health.
Source: Macmillan Language Tips

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